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@ Nic
2025-05-17 02:57:25
Gatekeeping is often criticized for creating barriers to entry, especially in cultural communities like Star Wars fandom or video games. The common belief is that it excludes newcomers and stifles growth.
But while gatekeeping can be exclusionary, it also serves a vital function: it helps protect spaces from being diluted or co-opted by people who neither understand nor respect their foundations.
Take comic books, for example, an industry that’s been invaded by writers more interested in pushing agendas than honoring the characters or storytelling traditions. The result? A collapse in narrative quality and audience trust.
Yes, gatekeeping can sometimes prevent needed evolution. But when used wisely, it's a defense mechanism. One that preserves the integrity and identity of a culture or community from opportunists who don’t care about what made it special to begin with.
That’s exactly why I’ll continue to gatekeep in the bitcoins vs sats debate. Some things are worth protecting.