161Pony – Exposing fascism in MLP fandom

For those immersed in the fandom across various platforms, the mention of the imageboard derpibooru undoubtedly evokes recognition. Housing millions of images spanning diverse themes, the platform caters to a broad spectrum.

And when I say „all kinds,“ we I it emphatically. This encompasses explicit sexual content, images laden with violence, and at times, a disturbing fusion of both. It extends further into realms of overt racism, as evidenced by the popularity of a ponysona explicitly inspired by Nazi ideology, as previously discussed.

An article written in the wake of George Floyd’s death sheds light on the existence of a racist searchable tag on derpibooru, leading to the discovery of 900 such images. This raises a pertinent question: How were such images permitted on the site initially? Was it an endorsement from some quarters, or did some fail to recognize the problematic nature of these images?

During the protests, alt-right users took the opportunity to mock them with their racist depictions. The defense for these images often rested on the notion of „freedom of art,“ accompanied by an insistence that ponies should steer clear of political discussions. However, this seemed to be selectively applied, as progressive images were not afforded the same latitude. The dichotomy was evident – it was deemed problematic when a pony espoused messages like BLM or ACAB, while portraying MAGA in comics was either lauded or dismissed as a joke. The implicit message is clear: Political pony depictions are unwelcome unless they align with far-right ideologies.

Ignoring racism is inherently political, as it perpetuates systems that favor the privileged while endangering marginalized groups and ethnic minorities through the propagation of hate. A laissez-faire policy itself carries political implications, and for a significant period, derpibooru had to define its stance.

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