Since everypony is sharing their story, I'll copypasta mine from an earlier thread today. The question I was responding to was "What do you expect to get out of the fandom?"
But to answer the question, I suppose that when I entered the fandom, I was a bitter, angry young man. Angry at the world, but angry at myself mostly. My brother introduced me to the fandom for the lols, for we both have an absurdist sense of humor, and the premise that adults, particularly males, latched onto My Little Pony is inherently absurd. Especially considering that we grew up with the utterly vapid entries of the franchise from the 80's.
I suppose that my initial goal of lol-seeking was attained, for I did have a chuckle and have had many since. But there was something pricking me in the back of my mind, that though I saw immediately that there was a lot of fun to be had by engaging in silliness such as this, there was a certain sincerity that I just didn't understand.
That's why I watched my first episode, to conduct the research for myself. My father always used to say, "never knock something until you try it," and I have lived by those wise, wise words. At first I was confused further, and propelled further research into the show. Eventually it turned into a marathon session of season 1 and half of 2 (for it was ongoing at the time) TWICE. When I stood up from my desk, sore because I had sat glued to my computer screen for so many hours, I felt something else, this weird tingly feeling like butterflies in my stomach.
I can't quite explain it, even to this day, but I imagine it was a little bit like how the Grinch felt when his heart grew suddenly. All the cynicism, all the bitterness and hate and negativity that I had accrued just seemed to fade for a bit. And with every Saturday I woke up early to catch the new ep and discuss it with like minded people, I felt a little bit more of that negativity just keep melting away.
I will sadly be departing your company for some time, but I have every intention of returning someday soon. This group, this insane premise, that so many could be touched by something so wild as candy-coated horses, has helped to build some of the fondest, happiest memories I have had in a long time. I have no intention of abandoning it forever, for I feel that there are many happy memories still to make. I love you all and will miss you in my absence, but it is a bittersweet parting, for I know that I'll be back someday. Moony said it best when I settled here 5 months ago: "/Oat/hana means family. And that means nobody gets left behind." I'll never forget the warm greeting he and many others gave to me, and I look forward to my return.
Edited a bit for clarityDammit Rocky. I said I wasn't going to say goodbye. Well, with no shit tears in my eyes, consider this my farewell letter. Based Anon, signing off.
Last edited at Wed, Feb 20th, 2013 22:50