Who is even saying this? Can you give some examples?
ninja edit: The question is there because I want to know the reasoning better. It cant just be this.
ninja edit: The question is there because I want to know the reasoning better. It cant just be this.
I suspect the people most troubled by this new wave are those who use chess as a crutch for their own identity. If chess is viewed as a game for sophisticated, intelligent, cultured, etc, people, then they as chess players are also sophisticated, intelligent, cultured, etc. When that image of chess is threatened then they personally feel threatened.
Personally I'm glad to see the sudden rise in popularity, and don't care who's playing as long as they're having fun and not ruining it for others. (I'm at a master level.)