EOTO PT.2

Gatekeeping

    Gatekeeping when someone takes the role of deciding who and who should not be apart of a community or identity. Its a controlling person who tries to make the topic of interest seem special to them and exclude others who arent "good enough" to join in. They are the guards of the gate if the gate was a community online. The issue with gatekeeping is that when someone gatekeeps it disables communities to grow and include diversity in conversation. It does nothing but hurt communities and effects members inside and outside the group. An over controlling person is the last trait you want in a moderator. Refusal of entry just closes off a group by not allowing new ideas and concepts to be introduced in the conversation it can lead to simple minded thinking which acts like a glorified safe space. Its a poor use of regulation techniques. I agree that communities should have light rules before entry to avoid spammers and trolling but not to the extent that is seen on the internet. Almost any idea or concept can be subject to gatekeeping. Political ideologies are the most frequent topics that are guarded by a gatekeeper examples include phrases like "if you arent a republican you can't speak about this issue" or "name 5 songs of this band before wearing a band tee". Its the adult equivalent to not letting the band kids sit at your lunch table because you play on the football team. 

Sources: https://medium.com/tunapanda-institute/gate-keeping-in-the-era-of-new-media-3585251d0743#:~:text=Examples%20of%20gatekeepers%20in%20the,who%20was%20a%20social%20psychologist.