Exclusivity has its uses. It can be a necessity when it comes to matters that shouldn’t be handled by just any old Joe. It can also protect peoples’ interests in a positive way, when it is used correctly. Unfortunately, many people take these reasons as a cue to use it for the dumbest of reasons. Gatekeeping is not a pastime that will endear you to many, but that doesn’t stop the internet from being overrun with countless examples of it. 

In theory, you might think that a group would be delighted to see their niche (or common!) passion gain more interest. However, if social media is anything to go by that couldn’t be further from the truth. While newbies can get annoying, those who rage against them are straight-up insufferable. At least their ridiculousness can be amusing, as with the examples below. There’s nothing more foolish than somebody with an overinflated ego.