Just want to back you up here and say the deeper ethos sometimes DOES matter. People need to stop acting like a piece of generally good advice applies to every situation ever. The “stop gatekeeping” pendulum has swung a bit too far (although the principle is great and, incidentally, punk as fuck!).
When did we decide everything has to be for everyone, and everyone has a right to participate in everything, just by virtue of existing? What would these folks say to someone who walks around in - e.g., Sikh cultural accoutrement - but has zero interest (and even a snobbish disdain) for the underlying religion? “Good for them, we shouldn’t gatekeep”? Fuck outta here.
On the one hand, all culture and art is syncretic, full stop. I’m not saying punk rock is off limits in any way, that’d be absurd. But at this point it’s got what, like 40 years of maintaining a broadly consistent ethos or spirit? That’s remarkable, it’s valuable, and it’s only been possible because of gatekeeping - passionate community members putting forth effort to maintain the community identity. In a time when every damn thing of cultural significance is being hollowed out and commoditized for profit, we should all celebrate punk rock staying punk.
Fuck yeah, it was wired reading that entire thing with no pushback against the idea that gatekeeping is bad. Really feels like a childish position to hold, and i don’t mean that I’m a condescending way, i mean that they’ve never seen anything they care about get worse because it got diluted.
Actually after a re-read, you were constructive and made reasonable points throughout. My bad, I dunno why I interpreted that last one so harshly, wasn’t really my business anyway.
Almost every punk I’ve ever met considers the Sex Pistols to be posers and Johnny Rotten is a complete sellout and reactionary asshole.
You can call it gate keepy but this kind of anticapitalist and anticonsumptionist gatekeeping is what kept punk rock from being recuperated.
no true punksman
Just want to back you up here and say the deeper ethos sometimes DOES matter. People need to stop acting like a piece of generally good advice applies to every situation ever. The “stop gatekeeping” pendulum has swung a bit too far (although the principle is great and, incidentally, punk as fuck!).
When did we decide everything has to be for everyone, and everyone has a right to participate in everything, just by virtue of existing? What would these folks say to someone who walks around in - e.g., Sikh cultural accoutrement - but has zero interest (and even a snobbish disdain) for the underlying religion? “Good for them, we shouldn’t gatekeep”? Fuck outta here.
On the one hand, all culture and art is syncretic, full stop. I’m not saying punk rock is off limits in any way, that’d be absurd. But at this point it’s got what, like 40 years of maintaining a broadly consistent ethos or spirit? That’s remarkable, it’s valuable, and it’s only been possible because of gatekeeping - passionate community members putting forth effort to maintain the community identity. In a time when every damn thing of cultural significance is being hollowed out and commoditized for profit, we should all celebrate punk rock staying punk.
Fuck yeah, it was wired reading that entire thing with no pushback against the idea that gatekeeping is bad. Really feels like a childish position to hold, and i don’t mean that I’m a condescending way, i mean that they’ve never seen anything they care about get worse because it got diluted.
Fascinating read you two, thanks
You can tell yourself whatever you want to feel superior to others, I guess
What a dismissive, reductive response. As if your point of view is the only one with any merit.
Didn’t cry about it when we got told how nobody is a “real goth” anymore and everybody is just a filthy poser, but that is what got you all upset?
How about you fold your opinion so it’s full of sharp edges and shove it up your pooper?
Actually after a re-read, you were constructive and made reasonable points throughout. My bad, I dunno why I interpreted that last one so harshly, wasn’t really my business anyway.