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I have always been a Pink Floyd fan. Growing up with a guitar-playing father, the music of the bands had a big impact on my life, so it was only natural to buy a t-shirt with their name on it. After all, those nostalgic memories weren’t reason enough to wear it — without other proof.
From the moment he opened his mouth, I knew I was in trouble. What started as a friendly remark about my shirt from a stranger quickly turned into a test of my fan worth. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Pink Floyd’s albums, only certain songs. Therefore, I couldn’t face the opportunity and defend my honor as a fan, but I didn’t have to.
Most music fans have experienced this kind of gatekeeper. If not, you’ve probably heard or seen the meme. To that end, I’m sure we all have something to do with the frustration that comes with gatekeeping and the desire to avoid it as much as possible.
To be fair, my experience was a fairly harmless interaction. Admittedly, this kind of behavior is relatively harmless in the big picture, and it might even help bond avid fans together. . However, it is unnecessary and cumbersome for several reasons.
First of all, gatekeeping is inherently exclusive. Trying to exclude casual listeners from avid listeners means that someone may only be worthy of the “fan” label if they can meet a certain threshold. Whether you prefer niche songs over songs or know the true meaning behind obscure lyrics, there are a lot of arbitrary boxes that must be checked to be considered top-ranked.
Not doing so can not only be embarrassing, but it can also harm your mental health. However, gatekeeping inherently hinders access to and benefits from the community, leading to lower self-esteem, increased anger and anxiety.
In a way, we get diehard fan frustration when someone wears the merchandise of an artist they love for aesthetic reasons rather than genuine love for the group. great effort and attention to. Still, that logic will only get you so far.
With all the brands and clothing items we walk around every day, it is doubtful that we have a deep knowledge of each of them. There are many works of art where the goods they wear have not received the same level of scrutiny. Basically, if you can’t explain the widespread lore behind the “Shrek” t-shirt, you shouldn’t expect someone wearing a Nirvana shirt to do the same.
Gatekeeping is not only irrational, it is also counterproductive. As an avid fan, wouldn’t it be nice to have others support your favorite band? It’s never in the artist’s own interest to exclude fans. Instead, you run the risk of alienating people from your beloved group or encouraging them to hide their fan status.
Above all, there’s only one reason why gatekeeping is stupid — who cares? After all, everyone should be free to live their own life. That includes wearing what you like and hearing what you like. If someone who only knows “Bohemian Rhapsody” is wearing a Queen shirt, it’s fine.
If you fit into this category of individuals, don’t worry. We are all guilty of looking down on mainstream trends. Make a genuine effort to make them feel included by complimenting their musical tastes instead of putting them on the spot. If you want to avoid the possibility of being seen, you can simply say “nice shirt”.
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