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Notes -
To add to OP's reply I think it's clear in retrospect that the social factors that propelled Gamergate to mainstream visibility had been brewing for a long time up until 2014. For one, online journalism had also been in a sorry state for a long time, one consequence being that those who were picking up PC game journalism as a job were increasingly urban liberal normies who originally dreamed about working for famous mainstream publications and felt that they had to settle for something much less as they lacked other options. They usually had an antipathy for gaming and gamers, especially hardcore male gamers. and basically resented the whole subculture that was now providing them with a meagre livelihood. Also, feminist culture warriors had been aware for a long time that unlike television, movies, literature and science fiction, PC gaming was 'off the reservation', not yet subjected to feminist influence and transformation, populated by many sexist failson dudebro fans yet unaffected by the culture war. The Blue Tribe in general was increasingly characterized by radicalization, desperation and bitterness during those times. The Tea Party happened, OWS seemed promising but puttered out, Obama was increasingly seen as a disappointment and a bummer by many leftists, the Dems lost seats during the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections.
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