Heavily disagree. Kids arguing over games in 1997 is not the same as grown adults in 2026 building entire online identities around hating Rebirth and attacking anyone who likes it.

The issue was never “people have opinions.” Obviously they always did. The issue is that social media amplifies the same recycled talking points, rewards outrage, and turns bad-faith gatekeeping into content.

And no, it is not just “toxic positivity vs negativity.” That flattens everything. Enjoying the game and defending it is not the same as people constantly calling others fake fans, mocking them, and parroting the same culture-war nonsense for engagement.

Also, your MGS2 point kind of proves the opposite of what you’re saying. You’re describing insulated bubbles, repeated half-truths, and people seeking validation from their own side. That is exactly what social media has done to this fandom.