11 Year Old MLP Fan Commits Suicide

[Lauren]

I was on YouTube a few minutes ago and I found out from one of the people that I'm subscribed to is that an 11 year old boy name Michael Morones tried to kill himself by hanging himself and his parents found him by his bunk bed. He was bullied at school for liking My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and being called "gay" because of it. He's in the hospital in critical conditions due to brain damage from the attempt and the Brony community is helping out his family to raise money for his medical expenses. The MLP cast members and show's community have also spoken out and are helping out as well to pray for Michaels life.

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This is just very sad and tragic to hear about this, especially since I am a huge fan of the show myself. I respect males for liking the show along with us girls. I find it ironic that MLP, made originally for at least children, has the majority of the fanbase consistent of males and females who are in high school/college and grown adults. I hardly ever see any fans of the show who are actual children under the age of 15.

[juhouh]

That's why it's better to keep these internet fandoms as a secret. The best of luck for him anyways

[TheLionPrince]

That's tragic and so heartbreaking! Children these days are so fragile that anything from being a homosexual to being cyberbullied on the Internet can push them over the edge. Michael should have at least told a school counselor, his parents, or a trustworthy adult about his problems, but clearly it was not the case. It's heartwarming to some innate goodness in us humans to raise money for him, and I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers. As for the bullies, I hope after Michael's suicide attempt that they learn the errors of their ways.

[FlipMode]

Watch a documentary called Bronies, it completely changed my view on the MLP fan base. I thought people were liking it because "OH LOOK AT ME I'M SO DIFFERENT BECAUSE I LIKE A KID / GIRL SHOW!" it wasn't until I realized and had the appeal explained to me that I understood it really.
It's still not a show for me though, but I do understand the appeal of it and nobody deserves to be ridiculed for their interests and tastes regardless (unless it's something truly evil obvs) there's a lot worse things to be a fan of.

[Wrightfan]

Not a MLP:FIM fan but this is such a terrible story. I wish him a full recovery. We really need to rethink gender attitudes.

[Lauren]

[quote="juhouh"]That's why it's better to keep these internet fandoms as a secret.[/quote]
FALSE

That's not the point. No person shouldn't have to keep their fandoms and the things they love a secret and hide themselves from the world. You have the ability to express however you want and be respected for what you like no matter what gender/age you are. If you had to hide all of your fandoms, personality traits, and other details you like to share about yourself, then you're pretty much a blank slate.

[SlayerOfLight]

It's sad, nobody should be bullied over what he/she likes. However Im not gonna lie, I do think MLP really is indeed more of a show for girls. But still, this tragedy shouldn't have happened just because he likes a show more directed towards girls.

[InsaneSeagull]

Lauren, do you know what happened to this boy? Has he survived?:(

It's a really, really sad story. It doesn't have that much to do with MLP, as it has with the mentality of the people, or (even worse) kids. I know how horrible it feels being an outcasts among people you share class with. Really, I do. People can be really mean towards anyone who is different in any way. It really turns out that people should keep silent about their interests, so they wouldn't get bullied. Eh, all we can do is hope for him. *hugs the boy*

[SophieCub]

That's very sad, knowing a young boy is getting bullied about liking something different. Different is good. Plus, I hate when people use 'gay' as an insult. I'm not gay but my friend is and there's nothing wrong with it, I don't find it offensive in any way yet people still use it against others like it's the worst thing to be in the world. I hope people realise that liking something else is okay and I hope kids can stand up and face these bullies.

I hope this poor boy is okay, it would break my heart into pieces if he wasn't. He'll be in my thoughts and prayers anyway, the poor soul. Stay strong bronys!!

[FlipMode]

[quote="SophieCub"] Different is good.[/quote]

I don't think so. I mean it's fine if you're actually being yourself and just happen to like something that other people may not then sure but kids these days seem to be purposely trying to stand out from others by liking weird stuff even if they aren't interested really, then complain that they are treated differently. Which brings me on quite nicely to my next point.

The only reason he was bullied for liking MLP is one thing and one thing only: school. That's more or less what it boils down to. Now a lot of you guys here on MLK are younger so you probably haven't experienced this yet but the older members here (not using the term "older" in a derogatory term) can probably tell you more about this if you're interested.
All that conditioning you have from where you are in school and other kids find out you like something they don't and will use that as ammo against you... Once you get out of those developmental years and especially past college... Nobody cares what you like or don't like any more.

In school the only thing you have is each other so when one is different it stands out and is basically painting a target on himself. But when you are in you're twenties, you can walk around doing absolutely anything and people don't even think twice. If you come to Brighton for a week and spend a bit of time in town, you will see some ridiculous looking people, men dressed as women, women dressed as men, don't even double take but in school you'd be bullied for that.
Because as we get older, we get so in tuned with our selves and our own lives that we just don't have time to waste on people who don't like the same stuff as us.

When I was a kid in school who had a pet tarantula:
Positive reaction: Wow that's cool, aren't you scared of the poison killing you though?
Negative reaction: OMG THAT'S WEIRD YOU'RE GAY ETC

Now I'm 22? Completely different!
Positive reaction: Oh cool, I love exotic pets like reptiles etc, we have a snake (or bearded dragon or whatever the case may be)
Negative reaction: Hmm spiders are not really for me dude.

You could say it is because people get more mature as they grow older but you'd be wrong, the truth is more so that people are just selfish and they just don't care any more. They have more important things to worry about than broadening their horizons and experiencing new things outside their comfort zone. I mean, Britain's Got Talent is on TV tonight aint nobody got time to care about you liking spiders.

And that goes for anything. If you like something in school that someone else doesn't, they WILL hate on you for it and you will be called gay, why? Because it is school and that's just how school is. But when you're older? You can walk around with an MLP T shirt and the only people who will ever even mention it are fellow fans.