I guess it started in late 2011, when I got internet service at my house back. Ponies, everywhere I looked. It was sort of stupid to see. Everywhere I looked, there'd be related videos, references, music, art, all that crap. It drove me insane.
The very first post I made in this thread was a stupid joke regarding Fluttershy and Tails with some crude paint down to signify murder. It was childish, and I found the flaming to be a big role in getting me to reconsider. However, Youtube aided. I caught myself looking more and more at ponies. At first, I can only figure, it was from sheer irony.
Then I heard this. Not surprisingly, the fanbase is able to deliver. That song, I loved it. I figured, "If the fanbase can make this kind of stuff, I may as well see how it's causing it." From there, I entered the series.
I despised it at each moment. I thought, "I'm watching a show about talking horses, what am I doing?" And then, reality strikes me with the fact that I've watched Lucky Star, Azumanga Daioh, Powerpuff Girls Z, and Honey & Clover. So I persevered. I was keeping up with the fandom, watching videos, listening to music, seeing awesome fanart, the usual.
And I stopped seeing it ironically.
They'll criticize me, sure. They'll harass me, alright. But who cares? I like the show legitimately. That's that.
So basically, if you feel the fault is in the content itself, and you actually take it on, know that there's actually
a lot of people who started it out with the same thought. Some will give up, some will give in. Just try it, and you'll see where you stand.