Gatekeeping Doesn’t Make You A God, It Just Makes You An Asshole
Get this, I’m walking along a strip of bars and restaurants with my friend and I spot an absolutely beautiful car. I’m talking a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe that looked like it had cruised right out of the 50s. Cherry red, white top, a real work of art. I stopped to drool shamelessly for a bit, and the owner came out and noticed my adoration. He asked if I liked old cars, and I responded with a blatant “Duh, I do possess eyes with sight” sort of statement.
He then launched a series of questions about engines and mods and whatnots and I was instantly lost. I told him I only know the basics of how an engine works thanks to many engineering classes, but I do like the way old cars looked. The guy was instantly aghast, his friendly demeanor doing a complete 180 into sour and closed off. He proceeded to tell me that I couldn’t say I liked cars without knowing anything about the specifics, and not to waste people’s time with my “girlish musings”.
Boy, I got a lot to say about that last bit. But that’s a whole other article.
What that guy just did was something I’ve encountered a great deal in things I’m interested in…
