When I was a kid, most of my D&D material came from one of the local discount stores.  There was Van Leunen's, and there was K-Mart (yes, the same K-Mart that makes Walmart look like Macy's).  Both stocked D&D in a special section next to the toys.  When I began to accumulate MERP/RM stuff back in my senior year of high school, I got it from the local Waldenbooks.  

Now that I think about it, all three destinations are gone.

I didn't set foot into a game or comic shop until college, when I started going to The Tin Soldier.  If I'd have been looking at games at The Tin Soldier first, I might not have stuck with the hobby, because they used to treat kids as either people who destroy minis battles or thieves waiting for an opportunity.  The discount stores and the book store left me alone to peruse at leisure.  Maybe they were watching me, but my kid radar didn't go off.

Catpissmen.  New terminology to me, but an instantly recognizable stereotype.  I haven't had much problem with them though.  I think there is another kind of obnoxious neckbeard that doesn't necessarily smell bad, and isn't necessarily fat but is invested in some kind of not easily recognizable geek "counter-culture" of which TRPGs are just one facet.  

They are hipsters basically, that seek some kind of exclusivity in their hobbies so passive-aggressively attempt to shut 'casuals' or 'normalfags' out of the loop just like actual hipsters.  It's the exclusivity of tolerance.  Those people who have standards are made to feel unwelcome, but if you are both personally repulsive and are accepting of other repulsive people then you are part of the in-crowd.

Quote from: Wolf, Richard;664625Catpissmen.  New terminology to me, but an instantly recognizable stereotype.  I haven't had much problem with them though.  I think there is another kind of obnoxious neckbeard that doesn't necessarily smell bad, and isn't necessarily fat but is invested in some kind of not easily recognizable geek "counter-culture" of which TRPGs are just one facet.  

They are hipsters basically, that seek some kind of exclusivity in their hobbies so passive-aggressively attempt to shut 'casuals' or 'normalfags' out of the loop just like actual hipsters.  It's the exclusivity of tolerance.  Those people who have standards are made to feel unwelcome, but if you are both personally repulsive and are accepting of other repulsive people then you are part of the in-crowd.

Not just rpg games.  "Hipster elitism" is a widespread thing in other niches.

Whether rpg games, heavy metal music, punk rock music, Mensa, horror movies, heavy boozers, stoners, etc ...