It’s still subzero here, although right now it is 0 F, -17.7 C. So “subzero” is not entirely accurate. But for the windchill.
It’s sunny again, and it strikes me the post after a post that has resonated with people is a tough blinking cursor to face. Perhaps all my good words were exhausted.
Perhaps not.
I hope not.
We’ll see how this goes.
This, well, afternoon since it’s actually after noon, I’ve got gatekeeping on my mind. There are the professional gatekeepers, the ones who, for a living, let people into things or keep them out: admissions people; peer reviewers; human resources. Gatekeeping is their job.
And then there are the amateurs.
Oh are there amateurs. People seem to like to gatekeep everything, from which books or TV shows are acceptable to how it’s acceptable to enjoy them; foods people should or should not enjoy; names people can and cannot use for themselves; who can or can’t use public areas, as we’ve seen in countless videos.
There is positive gatekeeping as well, the first I’ve seen really, like on Spoutible where bigotry shall not pass, double spears blockade.
But sometimes, aside from the positive gatekeeping, we have to ask ourselves what is at the heart of these boundaries we try to set for other people. Why do we think it’s our business?
Why do we think they should care what we think?
Again, this does not include things that harm other people, because as you know, I’m the first to put on my gatekeeper hat and grab my sword. Sparing others harm is a good use of the medium.
But why does it matter if other people like different foods? How does it affect you if someone prefers a name different from their given name? Who cares if someone enjoys that show you think is the worst thing ever to exist on airwaves?
It’s wasted energy, and all it does is snatch away joy. But it’s not like you can even take that joy on board for yourself when you snatch it.
Joy doesn’t work that way, at least not for most people, and if your joy comes from making other people suffer you should get some help for that, it’s not healthy for anyone, including you.
In the simplest of terms, it’s easier to mind your own business than to not, but even where you have an opinion on the matter, maybe take a second to think about why, to consider where it comes from. It often has more to do with us than the subject at hand.
Have a great Tuesday.
A Bit to Read 
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