3 ms·

I think it ultimately boils down to the proliferation and growing acceptance of "nerdy" hobbies and pastimes. I think the near-universality of videogames played

I think it ultimately boils down to the proliferation and growing acceptance of "nerdy" hobbies and pastimes. I think the near-universality of videogames played a big role in this. Almost every piece of "nerdy" culture I've experienced (D&D, MTG, many comics, Anime) I've found through video games directly or through interactions with other gamers. That and accessibility. You can buy DnD book over the internet instead of having to go to your local comic store. But the fact that it no longer has a significant impact on social status is probably the biggest change.

krapp 8y ago
I think it really began with the web. The mainstreaming of "nerd" culture began with the mainstreaming of owning and using a computer, which used to be something only nerds did outside of business. Video game culture came after bringing nerd culture with it, with the advent of forums and social media, fandom and fan generated content. A lot of people have learned about D&D by watching streaming plays like Critical Role, for instance, or gotten into fandoms through fan fiction sites.