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PSA: The 'no true fan' gatekeeping at my local shop is getting out of hand
I heard a guy at Gotham Comics in Toledo tell a new reader they weren't a 'real fan' because they only watched the movies, which is a toxic attitude that actively shrinks our hobby and community.
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marymorgan24d ago
My cousin got that at a record store in Akron last year. She was buying a Beatles album because she liked the new documentary. The clerk asked her a trivia question about the White Album, and when she didn't know, he just sighed and shook his head. She hasn't gone back to any shop since. That kind of stuff just kills the fun for people who are trying to get into something new. It makes the whole community look bad.
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simonw4123d ago
That "sighed and shook his head" part is the worst. My buddy had a similar thing happen when he was buying his first vinyl, some classic rock album. The guy behind the counter gave him this whole lecture about proper needle care, talking so fast it was confusing. My friend just wanted to listen to music, not get a degree in turntable science. It totally took the wind out of his sails. Those gatekeeping moments can ruin a new hobby before it even starts. Good record stores make you feel welcome, not stupid.
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