How is it used incorrectly here?
Snarf has already said they "don't take kindly" when people make judging comments but don't read the OP. And I agree with them on this point.
I voted "yes" in this poll. The net effect is that if you want to participate in the conversation (especially early on), you're expected to perform a task (lots of reading) before doing so. Isn't that the basic definition of gatekeeping? How is this different from telling someone that can't comment on a book trilogy before reading the last book, except the book is a 2000 word, 4x 8.5x11" page manifesto?
So that particular thing was slightly different- it was more about pulling a quote from a different thread, which I didn't think was representative, when this entire thread was created to explore the specific subject and had a more full articulation of the issue. I try to be fair to others, sometimes succeed, and hope that others do the same for me.
More fully, I generally think it's possible to have nuanced and occasionally contradictory opinions and thoughts on subjects. Other than certain universal truths, such as the perfidy of Bards and the dead-eyed soullessness of Elves, we should be able to discuss things and have fun doing so. In the end, this thread will pass, and CR will continue on.
For the most part, I work under the assumption that some people like reading my long posts, and some don't. But people can write about whatever they want in the comments!
Alternatively, if you don't like the word "gatekeeping" here, what word should I use instead? This is a case where I would value advice over snide comments.
I don't think that there is any gatekeeping. Because I'm not excluding anyone- I write for myself. That some people don't like it (or choose not read it) simply means that not everyone enjoys it.
If you like the subject matter of the title, fire away! Given the propensity of thread drift, we will all be talking about orcs within 50 pages anyway.
But if you need a term for an intimidating amount of verbiage that puts you off of reading something, how about... Prousting? As in, "I was going to read Snarf's latest 20,000 word digression into why the smell of a cannoli sent him into a reverie about the relationship between early 'Skilled Play' D&D and the oeuvre of Tarantino, but c'mon, that's some serious Prousting."