In simple language, the internet slang term “Gatekeeper” refers to a person who acts as a self-appointed authority, determining who is allowed access to a particular interest, community, or knowledge. Gatekeepers often set guidelines and standards that others must meet in order to be considered legitimate or worthy of participating in a specific group or conversation.
Examples:
– Example 1: Imagine someone is new to a video game and expresses their excitement about it on an online gaming forum. A gatekeeper might respond dismissively, saying, “If you haven’t played this game since its release, you’re not a real fan.” In this case, the gatekeeper is trying to assert their superiority by defining who can be considered a “true” fan of the game.
– Example 2: Let’s say a person on social media shares their opinion about a popular TV series, expressing their dislike for it. A gatekeeper could jump into the conversation and say, “Your opinion doesn’t matter because you haven’t read the books it’s based on.” Here, the gatekeeper is belittling the person’s viewpoint because they don’t meet their criteria of having read the original source material.
In summary, gatekeepers try to control and limit access to certain communities or knowledge by imposing their own set of standards and excluding those who don’t meet them. It’s important to remember that gatekeeping can hinder diversity of voices and prevent people from feeling welcome or included in online spaces.
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