The other day I was at my local comic book store (back issues and dollar bin of course) and since I had nothing to do that day I went over to the table top gaming section and some people playing DnD were taking a break and since I've always wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons or something like it I talked to the Dungeon Master and he was very friendly and let me watch their next session. All this to say it really infuriates me how the whole "toxic nerd" or "toxic fandom" perception has become a reality.
Nerds (not meant as an insult of course since I'm one) have always been a pretty open group if you show an interest in the hobby. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten recommendations in this group, especially with Anime/Manga since I am pretty much a normie in those areas (working my way out of normie status with Anime). Also, there have been numerous times where I've talked someone's ear off because they asked me where to start reading comics of certain characters, what Star Wars EU books they should read, endless discussion about Skyrim lore, Science Fiction books, and the list goes on. Also we all remember online forums in the 90s and early 00's.
I just despise how nerdiness is seen as so horrible now simply because people who have been invested in a book, game, or hobby are demonized when some douchebag takes over the IP and makes unnecessary or pointless changes. Rings of Power being the latest example. Heaven forbid as well if you go into the comments section of a gaming site and have the weird idea that a gaming site is for gaming news/info and not for political diatribes of the journalists.
So, who do you blame most for this? Us nerds for being too friendly and not gate keeping properly? Shills in media? The rise of the fake geek and the trendiness of "nerd stuff" to people who then get jobs in things they don't really care about? People like Anita and Zoe?
Give royal space force: wings of Honnêamise a try, it's one of my favorite movies.
As for nerds we were inconvenient, from MTV making a wrestling show that hid the audience other than plants or Nintendos 'I'm not a gamer' ads it's clear they've seen us as a blockade from a less critical, more consumer driven market.
That sounds like a good one! Great analysis. I remember when I first started seeing nerds attacked or those who wanted a faithful adaptation attacked.
It's super beautiful and full of creative design work, definitely a movie I notice something new and neat everytime from the design of the weapons to things like phones and the money.
Yeah around the time of xmen 2 was when it started off but that whole first wave of 2000s comic movies were embarrassed as hell to be associated with us. I also think normies are more lucrative, most nerds worth their salt wont buy official gw paints or premade terrain, make their own character sheets and miniatures. That DIY attitude has to die as far as their concerned.