You said that Pokemon wasn't philosophy, I claimed it was- that is what I mean by gatekeeping, like someone can only delve into philosophy if they read a subset of like 5 European men from 200 years ago. I think if you tell anyone that as a child you read Hume and Locke and your mind exploded, they would come to the conclusion that you're trying to show off, which is the impression I got. It's the "as a child" part. I've read them too and don't see how any child could like that but if you are that 1% then I'll eat my words. There were other flags too, such as the excessive verbosity beyond the point of reason. But if you just speak that way because you love to, and not to show off or sound erudite, I'll eat my words. Happy to be wrong, this has just been my impression.
"You said that Pokemon wasn't philosophy, I claimed it was- that is what I mean by gatekeeping, l"
Opposite timeline, you first said it was philosophy, i argued that's stretching words until they mean nothing. I guess a couch can be food if you want it to, but
that's not what most people mean.
"I think if you tell anyone that as a child you read Hume and Locke and your mind exploded, they would come to the conclusion that you're trying to show off"
I think i said teenager? Or kid? I was 16-18. It's an extremely normal time for someone to read weirder literature, if that's what they are into. The sensation you had that this is showing off i think i spoke to, but understand - it's the gatekeeping part that makes no sense. It is abnormal to enjoy old-timey philosophy, or indeed math texts (I also think "enjoyment" might not be the right word. If you're reading the axioms of 'elements' is it really enjoyment... maybe "marvel", i don't know) but the move thinking it must be gatekeeping in virtue of that is what i don't get.
"There were other flags too, such as the excessive verbosity beyond the point of reason."
Of course this depends on what reason you imagine there could be. Remember paragraph spacing? For such a simple thing it's quite possible for me and my colleague to vehemently disagree on the reason why we do it. I might not normallt write that way myself, or see the reason in it - but i wouldn't assume negligence or malice because i sa someone else do it.
That being said, i guess i do have my own "markers" that triggers me thinking that someone is showing off, which certainly aren't 100% either.
I do have the feeling though, that i certainly *could* have taken that approach to some of your messages. As in "I have a math PhD, therefore you are bullshitting."
I hope you have a great day/week. I didn't quite achieve my goal in post, but perhaps i'll make a new one and get teased again another day
This post was edited by emiq on Apr 16 2026 02:20am