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It's gatekeeping, and no better than any other kind. I wonder how many truly excellent craftspeople they've held back or let go because they couldn't pass a tes

It's gatekeeping, and no better than any other kind. I wonder how many truly excellent craftspeople they've held back or let go because they couldn't pass a test for a skill unrelated to their actual work. It calls the standing of those who do pass that test into question as well. But some people are into gatekeeping, I guess.

motohagiography 5y ago
Arguably, competence itself is the ultimate gatekeeper. One either did the work or didn't, recognizing when someone has done it is valuable, and offering deference to demonstrable expertise is efficient and wise. In most disciplines, there are key things you can't learn until you have the experience to understand them. There is a moral dimension to it as well, since we can't understand what we don't create, and talking about things we don't understand means bullshitting, which is both weak for everyone and ultimately deceptive. If you want to fold the cat, work for 25 years. If you don't want to work for 25 years, don't fold the cat. Someone who folded that cat after 25 years isn't gatekeeping. The 25 years they spent before that is all the moat they need. I don't think anyone who hasn't spent that time gets to criticize it and be taken seriously.
- notacoward 5y ago
  > If you want to fold the cat, work for 25 years. If you don't want to work for 25 years You seem to have left out the unrelated to the job part. To keep this civil, I'll just pretend I believe that you forgot and remind you. It's central to this discussion. Without it, your entire first paragraph is a non sequitur. > I don't think anyone who hasn't spent that time gets to criticize More gatekeeping. Also, if 25 years is the qualification for having an opinion then it applies to any opinion. Why should your defense of the practice be taken any more seriously than others' criticism?
  - motohagiography 5y ago
    I was saying that unless the people who have spent the time doing it, get to say what's related to the job or not. My support of the practice is based on having spent decades developing skills in a variety of fields, some from masters with several decades of experience. Gatekeeping is an excuse people who suck at things make for not being accepted as a peer, when anyone who has been involved in a culture based on skill in any meaningful way recognizes skill is the truth, and complaints are complaints. If you want to stop gatekeeping, become great at something and become a great teacher, otherwise, find another discipline.

motohagiography 5y ago

Arguably, competence itself is the ultimate gatekeeper. One either did the work or didn't, recognizing when someone has done it is valuable, and offering deference to demonstrable expertise is efficient and wise. In most disciplines, there are key things you can't learn until you have the experience to understand them. There is a moral dimension to it as well, since we can't understand what we don't create, and talking about things we don't understand means bullshitting, which is both weak for everyone and ultimately deceptive. If you want to fold the cat, work for 25 years. If you don't want to work for 25 years, don't fold the cat. Someone who folded that cat after 25 years isn't gatekeeping. The 25 years they spent before that is all the moat they need. I don't think anyone who hasn't spent that time gets to criticize it and be taken seriously.

notacoward 5y ago
> If you want to fold the cat, work for 25 years. If you don't want to work for 25 years You seem to have left out the unrelated to the job part. To keep this civil, I'll just pretend I believe that you forgot and remind you. It's central to this discussion. Without it, your entire first paragraph is a non sequitur. > I don't think anyone who hasn't spent that time gets to criticize More gatekeeping. Also, if 25 years is the qualification for having an opinion then it applies to any opinion. Why should your defense of the practice be taken any more seriously than others' criticism?
- motohagiography 5y ago
  I was saying that unless the people who have spent the time doing it, get to say what's related to the job or not. My support of the practice is based on having spent decades developing skills in a variety of fields, some from masters with several decades of experience. Gatekeeping is an excuse people who suck at things make for not being accepted as a peer, when anyone who has been involved in a culture based on skill in any meaningful way recognizes skill is the truth, and complaints are complaints. If you want to stop gatekeeping, become great at something and become a great teacher, otherwise, find another discipline.