Nerd Culture Gatekeeping

An issue that I think is still prevalent even today. But the pressure that you have to prove how much of a nerd you are to be accepted within certain circles.

Especially with how mainstream Nerd Culture is becoming, it's almost as if we have to prove we're not just riding the wave and even if we were, whats so wrong about that?

I'm sure everyone has experienced the feeling of not being nerdy enough, or even judged for not having played a certain game, or knowing all the character's names in a show, or not following all the episodes of Critical Role.

Is it just due to an elitist mindset in nerd culture? or is it perhaps more of a defensive mechanism to protect from 'fake nerds' just riding the mainstream wave?