Gatekeepin' it real: On the natural condition of fandom

[Xenonnonex]

Yeah. Not trolling. Im pretty serious about it. Not a joking matter.

Then spell out that gosh-darn acronym before making people search for it so they can derive any meaning or coherence from your post.

Keep the language Grandma-friendly, please.

 

[Esker]

This whole derailment is a classic troll technique: construct some straw men, imply that the debate is poorly defined because someone used a word that can mean different things in different contexts, insist that discussion of the original topic must cease until the ambiguity is settled, paint those who don't think the debate really needs to go meta as unreasonable since You're Really Just Trying To Have A Civil Conversation, all the while keeping focus off a discussion that makes you uncomfortable for Reasons, but where you know articulating your real point of view will not make you seem reasonable or persuasive.

Seems to me not responding to the derail and going back to the actual topic is the most productive tack here.

 

[Gradine]

So, in the interest of having an actually useful conversation, what are some of the tactics we can use, on an individual level, to call out and combat gatekeeping in our spaces when we see it?

 

[Celebrim]

So, in the interest of having an actually useful conversation, what are some of the tactics we can use, on an individual level, to call out and combat gatekeeping in our spaces when we see it?

Please actually discuss that. In fact, in the interest of furthering that conversation, I promise to stay out of the thread if it stays on that topic.

 

[Xenonnonex]

So, in the interest of having an actually useful conversation, what are some of the tactics we can use, on an individual level, to call out and combat gatekeeping in our spaces when we see it?

Put gatekeepers in their place for their poopy behavior and try to encourage a more welcoming environment to be in.
Talk to gatekeepers to encourage acknowledgement and be welcoming of others.
Actively try to be encouraging of others playstyles.
If gatekeepers are particularly resistant to being talked to or are being particularly vocal physically force them out. If this is inexcusable leave the space with the others for another location or venue.

Language!

 

[Esker]

So, in the interest of having an actually useful conversation, what are some of the tactics we can use, on an individual level, to call out and combat gatekeeping in our spaces when we see it?

This isn't exactly an answer to your question about how to call it out, but I would say that a helpful thing is for members of the traditional "in group" to readily call out gatekeeping so that the burden doesn't fall exclusively on those who have managed to be accepted by fan communities despite one or more "out group" membership. Also if "in group" members call it out, it helps normalize gatekeeping as undesirable, making the call out less likely to seem like sour grapes.

 

[generic]

Are you trying to say fans must meet certain standards to be considered fans? I want you to be clear.

Not really, I should have been more clear. Replace "fan" with "player of D&D", and my statement makes a lot more since. Given, I do acknowledge that the context of this thread is the exclusionary nature of "fandom", not "having played the game". And sure, some of my deflections were a bit off-topic. So, here, I do acknowledge that I must agree with you in that "fandom" is self-defined, but "having played the game" is not.

 

[MichaelSomething]

If you're wondering about the orginal point of this thread:

Voice Actor Matt Mercer and a bunch of his voice actor friends have an online show where they play Dungeons and Dragons. Lots of people watch that show and really like it. One side effect is that this group of people are getting drawn into Dungeons and Dragons.

People who have been playing Dungeons and Dragons don't like this development. They want to exclude these new people from Dungeons and Dragons for various reasons. They will act with hostility towards the new people in an attempt to keep the new people from joining Dungeons and Dragons.

This exclusion is being called "Gatekeeping" and Morrus considers it bad and wants it to stop.

Am I missing anything??

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Zardnaar]

In my soon to be released Gnomes and Paladin's the RPG I'm gonna have to gate keep it to stop anyone from playing.

The plot revolves around Edgelord a sentient rapier of great power. It grants +5000 power. You can spend power to shout limbs back on, jump to the moon and martial healing.

It's Gnome centric with 3 other races- Tiefling,Dragonborn and Drow. GK discretion on half campires. Edgelord was forged by the Drow.

Instead of DMs you have GK's or gatekeepers. Their job is to stop anyone playing G&P.