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Zero Arguments for Gatekeeping
August 20th, 2024
Some people don't like teaching beginners. That's alright. You do what's enjoyable for you. There's one type of behavior I don't like though: gatekeeping, such as claiming that if someone doesn't understand something that we consider simple, then they don't belong in the industry.
It's hurtful, because it's basically telling someone that they're hopeless, even though they only just begun their journey. Beginners are especially sensitive to such criticism. To hear a seasoned programmer say that will undermine their confidence, or worse, drive them away. Besides, how can one claim that about a person without even meeting them?
Gatekeeping is also irrational, because nobody is born with the knowledge of programming concepts, no matter how simple. At some point, we acquire this knowledge. Some do it on their own, some with the help of others. Some get it faster than others. However, they will get something else faster than others. We have different abilities, interests and ways of reasoning. That's why we come together in communities to exchange. Programming isn't a profession reserved to some intellectual elite. My kid learned to make video games at 8. I'm sure that a professional can eventually understand loose coupling, especially if they read a book.
Gatekeeping is also destructive, because the world cannot function without new programmers who will, through learning and practice, replace those who retire. To reject or obstruct programmers based on arbitrary criteria instead of teaching them will spell the slow death of our industry. We're already seeing the effects of not hiring enough entry-level developers. Public gatekeeping claims like that make things even worse.
We don't end up with unmaintainable code because someone couldn't figure out something on their own in five seconds. As long as we're willing to teach and people are willing to learn, they'll eventually write the code that we'll all be happy to maintain.
There are zero arguments in favor of arbitrary gatekeeping.