I just don't agree with your second point. Everyone who has watched the video can see that she's gushing about something that made a big difference in her life. She's not making a point by point critical analysis of D&D and why it is objectively superior to other TTRPGs; she's expressing her own passion.
If someone finds that off-putting, the problem is them, not her. Like, Taylor Swift is not my jam particularly, but when my young friend, which is a massive Swiftie, waxes effusive about her, I don't find it off-putting. I'm happy that she gets such joy from the music. It obviously speaks to her. Context matters, and similarly this is someone responding emotionally to something that is important to them.
I don't care what game she is praising. Let her have her joy. It's wholesome, not off-putting.
Again, I co-sign everything and I have already subscribed to the newsletter! Unfortunately, I was told that it was only available on-line, and I don't have internet access..... anyway ... this reminded me of a point I made before.
I think one of the major motifs of my various essays is that people like what they like. And that's okay!
If a person self-identifies as a fan of something, then why not? I mean, who am I to judge? I thought this was the whole "high culture, low culture" thing we try to avoid. If you prefer Cheetos to caviar, more power to you. Heck, if you prefer to eat your caviar on Cheetos, I am not going to come to your house and slap that weird combination from your orange digits.
Sixteen years ago, or so, there was a young person who told me that they loved comedy, and they loved Dane Cook. As someone who followed comedy at the time, and certainly had OPINIONS, I was a little taken aback. I can be judgey judgey about that kind of statement, but hey- why not? I remember thinking, "At least they are enjoying comedy!" So I held my tongue and appreciated the unreserved enthusiasm of a person.
Hidden behind the verbiage I often see people employ when they are "looking down on others" is the implicit assertion- once you know better, your taste will improve, and you will like the things that I do.* I just don't agree with that. We've seen this time and again- "genre" films were disreputable, until Cahiers du Cinema. Pop culture wasn't high art- but what about Warhol or Lichtenstein? You have to understand art in order to make art. Unless it's outsider art. Or primitive art. Or ... whatever.
You get the idea. I live by a few, simple ideas-
1. People like what they like.
2. Elves are dead-eyed, soulless abominations.
3. It is better and easier to convince someone to try something by telling them that this is new thing is good and fun, than by trying to convince them that they are bad or ignorant for liking what they like.
4. There are only two things in the world that I cannot abide; people who are intolerant of the roleplaying choices of others, and bards.
5. It's better to try and understand why people like what they like than to assume people don't know better.
6. I don't know about you, but I take comfort knowing that he's out there. The Dude. Takin' er easy for all us sinners arguing on enworld.
See? Simple ideas, happy life.
I was in Vietnam a while back, I had a lot of amazing food at high end places. But one of the
best times I had was at some ramshackle place, eating chả rươi and drinking fresh beer (daily brewed) in Hanoi with locals and having a great time despite the lack of any common language. It was an experience. But I am 100% sure that it is not for everyone. If you look up chả rươi, you'll see why. The fact that I liked it, doesn't mean that everyone will like it.
*I will leave it as an open exercise as to how this applies to TTRPGs.
