I'm all for diversity, but this is ridiculous
July 30, 2013 7:28 AM Subscribe
There's no where to hide anymore. The United States Air Force has a Brony squadron! Here's the squadron patch.
Considering the prevalence of Mickey Mouse and other characters in military iconography in past wars, this doesn't seem like much of a break with tradition. It's pretty awesome, actually; If you're all about the machismo, what better way to prove it than doing every manly-man thing plus wearing pink and appreciating children's cartoons?
posted by ardgedee at 7:35 AM on July 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 7:35 AM on July 30, 2013 [4 favorites]
Why is Rainbow Dash not on that patch?
posted by ursus_comiter at 7:43 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ursus_comiter at 7:43 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Why is Rainbow Dash not on that patch?
I doubt they're flying some weird mashup of a AGM-136 and a Dash 8.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:53 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
I doubt they're flying some weird mashup of a AGM-136 and a Dash 8.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:53 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
But according to Barger, the students of the 14-05 don’t see themselves as bronies at all. “The class never really wanted it in the first place,” he says. “They thought it was so off the wall that it was hilarious.”
Isn't this what's called 'taking the piss'?
posted by jquinby at 7:54 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Isn't this what's called 'taking the piss'?
posted by jquinby at 7:54 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
A Wonderbolts patch might have been a better choice. It's weird to use the more generic logo when the show has a military pilot themed group. Of course, I assume the Wonderbolts are based on the Blue Angels and the Air Force folks might not want to go with a loosely Navy inspired patch.
posted by Drinky Die at 7:57 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by Drinky Die at 7:57 AM on July 30, 2013
As the parent of a three year old girl, I love watching MLP because it means I'm not watcing fucking Super Why.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:58 AM on July 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:58 AM on July 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
Mod note: We had a MeTa thread about perceptions of Bronies a while ago. If you want to have another go at that discussion you're welcome to start another one there. Please let's not ascribe characteristics here to a group of people that one assumes has at least some diversity in its make-up, thanks.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 8:00 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane (staff) at 8:00 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
The patch wasn’t embraced by everyone in the unit. “There was at least one non-brony who straight up refused to wear it and I overheard another complaining to his mom about it,” said a commenter who claimed to be one airman’s stepmother. “But the flight instructor (who was a captain) was wearing it and he had no problems with his masculinity.”
This article is a joke, right?
posted by andoatnp at 8:04 AM on July 30, 2013
This article is a joke, right?
posted by andoatnp at 8:04 AM on July 30, 2013
Why did I expect them to be drone pilots? Must re-examine my assumptions.
posted by boo_radley at 8:06 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by boo_radley at 8:06 AM on July 30, 2013
My Little Drony
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:08 AM on July 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by Steely-eyed Missile Man at 8:08 AM on July 30, 2013 [10 favorites]
Many of the patches submitted include pop culture references: The Hangover, Facebook and the “Got Milk” ad campaign have all been adopted in the past. Because of this, the Air Force has to seek approval from the copyright holders. Sometimes the holders approve it. Sometimes they don’t. My Little Pony and the Hub Network’s parent company, Hasbro, approved. The other patch designs submitted by the 14-05 didn’t get cleared.
posted by Optamystic at 8:11 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by Optamystic at 8:11 AM on July 30, 2013
My Little Drony
Friendship is Tragic.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:11 AM on July 30, 2013 [13 favorites]
Friendship is Tragic.
posted by Drinky Die at 8:11 AM on July 30, 2013 [13 favorites]
My Little Pony and the Hub Network’s parent company, Hasbro, approved.
Ah, so fighting games is a no. Fighting for real is okay!
posted by Drinky Die at 8:12 AM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Ah, so fighting games is a no. Fighting for real is okay!
posted by Drinky Die at 8:12 AM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Yeah, it's sarcastic hazing, not fan-love.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:15 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:15 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
The comments on the squadron patch link are hilarious.
Also, Death Wears a Bunny Slippers remains a superior patch (previously).
posted by exogenous at 8:21 AM on July 30, 2013 [5 favorites]
Also, Death Wears a Bunny Slippers remains a superior patch (previously).
posted by exogenous at 8:21 AM on July 30, 2013 [5 favorites]
Flying is magic, dammit.
posted by Old'n'Busted at 8:32 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Old'n'Busted at 8:32 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
I find myself disturbed that Hasbro approved a military use for their show.
One of the central themes of MLP is finding non-violent resolution to conflicts, so associating the show with people who make their living dropping bombs on other people and killing them seems improper to me.
That it is apparently seen/used as yet more homophobic themed hazing than the result of actual fans in the military makes the patch even more problematic for me.
WTF Hasbro?
posted by sotonohito at 8:48 AM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
One of the central themes of MLP is finding non-violent resolution to conflicts, so associating the show with people who make their living dropping bombs on other people and killing them seems improper to me.
That it is apparently seen/used as yet more homophobic themed hazing than the result of actual fans in the military makes the patch even more problematic for me.
WTF Hasbro?
posted by sotonohito at 8:48 AM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Needs a /hazing or /sarcasm tag.
posted by theora55 at 9:22 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 9:22 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
Semi-related article from Stars & Stripes: Fort Carson Bronies combine childhood whimsy with military duty
posted by cadge at 9:51 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by cadge at 9:51 AM on July 30, 2013
Even less related: Fort Hood, Texas has a life-sized statue of Frazetta's Death Dealer, the mascot of III Corps.
posted by Zed at 10:28 AM on July 30, 2013
posted by Zed at 10:28 AM on July 30, 2013
Enid, the small city that relies on Vance AFB for its existence, is kind of a weird little place. Before Owen K. Garriot (the astronaut who's probably best known to MeFites as the father of Richard Garriot, aka Lord British), its most famous resident was probably David E. George, who claimed to be John Wilkes Booth (and enjoyed a postmortem career when his embalmed body toured Southern carnivals where, for a small fee, people could shake hands with the man who shot Lincoln). Not a lot to do there.
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:57 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 10:57 AM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
Flying is Magic?
That sounds perilously close to "fucking airplanes, how do they work?" Followed quickly by "And I don't wanna talk to an aeronautical engineer, y'all motherfuckers lying, and getting me pissed."
You think this is scary - picture an Air Force Juggalo squadron...
posted by Naberius at 12:15 PM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
That sounds perilously close to "fucking airplanes, how do they work?" Followed quickly by "And I don't wanna talk to an aeronautical engineer, y'all motherfuckers lying, and getting me pissed."
You think this is scary - picture an Air Force Juggalo squadron...
posted by Naberius at 12:15 PM on July 30, 2013 [2 favorites]
You think that's scary?
Brony Juggalos.
posted by mikurski at 12:23 PM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Brony Juggalos.
posted by mikurski at 12:23 PM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
But according to Barger, the students of the 14-05 don’t see themselves as bronies at all. “The class never really wanted it in the first place,” he says. “They thought it was so off the wall that it was hilarious.”
Yeah, it's sarcastic hazing, not fan-love.
Important: a lot of bronydom IS THIS. If older versions of MLP weren't so bad/stereotypical, the current rendition would not be nearly so popular. That's why the 4chan culture went overboard with it for a whle; as a way of tweaking others about it, while being in the know about its awesomeness.
My Little Pony and the Hub Network’s parent company, Hasbro, approved. The other patch designs submitted by the 14-05 didn’t get cleared.
The brony community has learned in the past that Hasbro is not really all that enlightened concerning fan works, but this is something, at least.
posted by JHarris at 1:28 PM on July 30, 2013
Yeah, it's sarcastic hazing, not fan-love.
Important: a lot of bronydom IS THIS. If older versions of MLP weren't so bad/stereotypical, the current rendition would not be nearly so popular. That's why the 4chan culture went overboard with it for a whle; as a way of tweaking others about it, while being in the know about its awesomeness.
My Little Pony and the Hub Network’s parent company, Hasbro, approved. The other patch designs submitted by the 14-05 didn’t get cleared.
The brony community has learned in the past that Hasbro is not really all that enlightened concerning fan works, but this is something, at least.
posted by JHarris at 1:28 PM on July 30, 2013
Reached for comment, the Marines confirmed they have no plans for a Brony-themed unit at this time, politely wished everyone at the Air Force a wonderful summer vacation, and then went back to work.
posted by officer_fred at 2:42 PM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by officer_fred at 2:42 PM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]
A bunch of techie STEMlords are Bronies? Color me surprised.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:27 PM on July 30, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:27 PM on July 30, 2013
I recently met someone who is a mid-20something active duty Air Force person who is somehow involved with room inspections on base, and he was completely overjoyed to do inspections on more than one room recently and discover MLP stuff all over the place.
I have no idea really how all this stuff is actually perceived in the military, but for this one guy, who is definitely a brony and also is a furry, he felt like he had discovered hidden kindred spirits in his midst.
posted by hippybear at 6:15 PM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
I have no idea really how all this stuff is actually perceived in the military, but for this one guy, who is definitely a brony and also is a furry, he felt like he had discovered hidden kindred spirits in his midst.
posted by hippybear at 6:15 PM on July 30, 2013 [3 favorites]
Um.... yes. Proved it again last night, in fact.
posted by hippybear at 6:24 PM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 6:24 PM on August 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by Zed at 7:31 AM on July 30, 2013 [1 favorite]