“The High Cost of Gatekeeping: Why the Industry Needs Less Ego and More Empathy”

In a recent Instagram exchange behind the scenes, a familiar pattern played out—one that’s become all too common in emerging industries: a new voice enters the space with questions, ideas, and a little fire… only to be met with condescension, insult, and the tired hiss of gatekeeping.

The messages came from someone operating under the handle that will unname, who reached out not to collaborate or build bridges, but to tear down. Their words were scathing: calling the recipient a “CCD rat,” mocking their posts, dismissing their experience, and insisting they “do better.” The rant spiraled into personal attacks, with lines like “Your pitch sucks,” “Go twirl signs outside gas stations,” and “Don’t make the industry into a joke.”

This isn’t about hurt feelings. It’s about culture. Gatekeeping like this is part of what’s holding the industry back.

It’s the idea that unless you’ve got years behind the counter or scars from corporate trenches, your voice doesn’t count. That memes are hurtful. That unless you’re part of the old guard, you’re just another clown in the circus.

But here’s the truth: every movement needs fresh eyes and new energy. Every generation reinvents the wheel in their own way—and sometimes, that’s what pushes things forward. Memes are political. Data is a tool for change. And humor? It’s often the only thing that keeps people coming back to the fight.

The real enemy isn’t inexperience—it’s arrogance. It’s the belief that wisdom only lives in years, not in curiosity. It’s people who confuse dominance with leadership, who’d rather belittle new voices than guide them.

Gatekeeping breeds silence. And in a world that still criminalizes this plant, silencing anyone trying to create dialogue—even through memes, jokes, or mistakes—isn’t just petty. It’s dangerous.

This industry was built by people who risked their freedom to grow, heal, and share. The least we can do now is make room for new voices without trying to bury them under our own insecurities.

So to the old guard: be better teachers.

And to everyone stepping into this space with something to say—keep going. Keep questioning. Keep making noise.

Even if it deafens a few egos along the way.