AASB28 - Semantics of Fandom Labels
Anonymous said to askasanebrony:
When people say "I'm an mlp fan or pegasister NOT a brony. There's a big BIG difference!" I can't help but feel they've got some pretty petty insecurity issues they need sorting out. Idk about you but it just seems like people who give the semantics excuse have invested way too much in it. As if they've so much to lose in their life over someone calling them that new age fandom term they despise. Whatever I guess. What do you think of the semantics excuse?
I've spoken about labels and stuff on several occasions, so I'll open this by reminding people that labels are entirely a personal thing, you can subscribe to whatever label you want, or none at all, it's up to you.
So if you want to be an MLP Fan rather than a Brony, that's fine, go ahead.
But what we're discussing here are the ones who specifically say they're an 'MLP fan', not a brony to avoid the stigma.
So why are people so adamant about using these alternate labels? Is it an insecurity thing? Yea kind of... they're using it as a means to identify with a fandom, but also distance themselves from the idiots, which is a reasonable thing to want to do.
But the problem is that just because you use a certain label, it doesn't immediately make you immune from idiocy. It's not like the bronies set out to associate with morons and idiots – so what stops you from being one just because you use a different label? Nothing.
The only thing that actually proves you to be one of the good people is the way you conduct yourself, and the way you treat others – this is how we should be measuring people, not by the term they've branded themselves with.
So yea, it's an argument of semantics, and I don't like semantics. I dislike people who nitpick over words – I'm interested in context and meaning, not getting every little word spot on.
You can be whatever label you want to be, but don't use labels as some means of immunising yourself against generalisations, because you are yourself generalising the term you're shunning in order to do that.