💾 Archived View for ainent.xyz › gemlog › 2022-11-11-gatekeeping-gemini.gmi captured on 2024-08-18 at 17:21:28. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
⬅️ Previous capture (2023-07-10)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
There has been lots of discussion on Gemini lately on 'gatekeeping' Gemini. Worse, this term is tossed around as if it were a bad thing, a bug. It is not. In Gemini and in the broader world, gatekeeping is a feature not a bug. There are exceptions, for sure, like in most concepts.
Still with me after that one? Then let's dig in, my open-minded friend.
Philosophically, I see it as both good and necessary, and not just regarding Gemini. Nothing worthwhile should be easy; few things easy are worthwhile. This concept is lost in modern American culture, where instant gratification trumps all. Gemini culture, however, eschews instant gratification, making it oxymoronic that Gemininauts don't want to gatekeep. Perhaps there is some cognitive dissonance afoot?
On the practical side, the higher the barrier to entry, the fewer that will make it through. Those who do will be the most intelligent, capable, and motivated. This will lead to further:
To be fair, intelligence is not equal to tech skills and vice versa. So this approach does ensure Gemini content stays tech-centric. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more non-tech content. With that thought, maybe a high barrier but not necessarily a highly technical barrier would be best?
By way of contrast, a lower barrier would just bring a deluge of migrants, radically shifting the cultural landscape, alienating and ultimately supplanting those who contributed to it in the first place. This will lead to less of all of the above, except decentralization.
Do we really want the general public invading, bringing along their web-centric culture? Isn't that what Gemini is trying to get away from? Now if the newcomers assimilated into Gemini's thoughtful longform essay culture, then I'd welcome them. Would they, though? Meh, maybe? Gemini isn't exactly extensible, therefore comparing to other influx-laden scenarios of the day may be apples-to-oranges; perhaps those who prefer the web would simply return to it? Nonetheless, it should be considered.
When I set out to write this, I did not intend it to be loaded with political undertones. In hindsight, I guess that is inevitable with such a topic.
It occurs to me that 'gatekeeping' is simply yet another hiveminded buzzword in the woke cult, or as a wise man once referred to it: mind virus.