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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Meech17" data-source="post: 9535073" data-attributes="member: 7044459">I'm going to go out on a Positive/Glass-Half-Full limb here.I think the nerds did win.. And by extension so did many others. I think Parmandur is on to something here. The internet made the world much, much smaller. I was talking to my family about this recently, but the negative side of it. We've seen proliferation in things like wacky fringe beliefs and conspiracies like Flat Earth. It used to be that if you had this idea that the Earth was flat, you'd bring it up to your friends and family, and they'd laugh at you and make you sit at the kids' table at Thanksgiving. But now.. you can grab your phone from there at the kids' table, and hop on social media where you'll find hundreds or thousands of other people who also think the Earth is flat, strengthening your beliefs. This is goes the same way for good things too. You live in a small rural town where no one cares about Comic Books, or Fantasy novels? Now you can go online and find your tribe.  The Nerd interests were just small things that made the nerds different. It allowed for bullies to 'Other' them. Bullies haven't gone anywhere, it's just that now bullying is also changing to adapt to modern times. Cyberbullying among teens is horrific. I don't know if I'm going to say being a nerd is now cool... However, it is socially acceptable now. Something I think we need to do is define 'Nerd'. Some say it's just a person who is interested in stereotypical 'Nerd' Hobbies. TTRPGs, Video Games, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, etc. I'd argue however, that anyone can be a nerd.. And being a nerd is about being super invested, enthusiastic, or dedicated to a "Thing". This thing could be D&D.. It could be Magic The Gathering (I'm a nerd for both of these things.) But my girlfriend is a nerd for KPop, and Hockey. My boss is a nerd for Professional Football. My girlfriend has a friend who I'd consider a 'Fashion Nerd'. There have always been these flavors of nerdiness. For instance your Star Wars nerds and your Star Trek nerds, are historically at odds. These groups would get picked on bullied, but I don't think it was because they were nerds.. But rather they were just different. They liked niche things, and that gave bullies ammunition to other them. These days however, with the internet allowing us to all find our little tribes, everyone is able to get nerdy about the things they love. If you bully someone now for liking a niche hobby, and there are other adults nearby, you'll likely be ostracized more for that then your target will be. Unless of course those other adults are also wangrods.. Which is possible, but I feel like it's less likely these days. A little over a year ago now Magic the Gathering had a crossover set with Lord of the Rings, and sold a 1 of 1, serialized card depicting The One Ring. This card inspired a Willy Wonka-esque golden ticket hunt that ended in Post Malone purchasing the card for around $2,000,000.00  Of course this type of story is the kind that escapes orbit and makes it to the general population. During this period I got a text from that friend I mentioned earlier who I consider to be a fashion nerd. She sent me a link about the One Ring and asked if I knew anything about it.. Asked what made it so special. There was no judgement.. She just knew I was into MTG and was curious. I'm not trying to diminish anyone's experience.. And I'm sure some people do still get bullied for their niche hobbies.. But I think it's far more common that it's acceptable to be a nerd about things these days. While there are downsides to this like the commodification of the things we love and hold dear.. I think the mainstream appeal has largely been a net positive.</blockquote>

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