Earlier quoted context omitted.
I like Alan Moore’s take: A culture retreats into the comfort of nostalgia in especially uncertain times. I feel retro fad of this generation is precisely this. Edit: I’m sure that observation has more refined roots, but I’m far from well-read or well-cultured. But if someone happens to know, please let know!
I think it would be more accurate to say, that technology went in the wrong direction and the further we go down our current path, the more people realize this. So some folks have decided to go back to something they knew worked, and the supply and demand sides are both growing big enough to run a viable business off of.
The 1990s to aughties were highly optimistic times. Things like LGBT rights would’ve struggled in any other decades, but we really believed that open borders and accessible communication would break down barriers; and for a time it look liked it would.
Even weirdoes like myself, who had serious personal reservations about enabling China or Russia began to have doubts.
Fast forward to now: Technology is one very easy way to push back against those that benefit in the current economic and political outcome. And entire generations thinking they’re “cooked”.
Edit: I wonder how many HN under 40 even understand the term “fast-forward”.