Blogging and Podcasting Are Gatekeeping Concepts

Humans are meant to think and share their thoughts in writing, audio, and
video.

The fact that this is called “podcasting”, or “blogging”, or “being a
YouTuber” is simply a remnant of a primitive and unhealthy society that we
need to evolve away from.

Everyone on Earth should be enabled to learn, and grow, and think—and to
share their thoughts and opinions with others. They shouldn’t
have to, of course, but it should be normal to do so. They should be
raised to think that it’s part of their value as a human to think for
themselves, and to have ideas and opinions that are valuable to others.

Right now that’s not the case. Think about what percentage of people in the
world think they have ideas to offer. I’d guess over 99% of the world (who
knows the real number) thinks having and sharing ideas is special, and not
for someone like them.

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Two ideas that belong in the past: 1) Smoking improves your health, and 2)
Thinking and sharing is only for special people.

We saw this before with the democratization of reading.

500 years ago, only certain people could read. And if you heard that
somebody was trying to learn, it would be a great surprise. Everyone would
say, “Hey look, Sally is trying to Church.”, or “Bobby wants to Clergy.” The
act of reading was associated with special activity, like being a priest.

That’s what blogging is now. Or podcasting. Or being a writer, or a public
intellectual. They’re special words for things that shouldn’t be special.

As it turns out, everybody should read. And that’s why it was an evolution
to have the printing press and the widespread distribution of reading. Well,
now it’s time for that to happen for thinking, writing, and sharing those
thoughts with others.

Brimming with creativity and confidence

So try not to think of blogging, podcasting, or making videos as special
activities for special people. Using those names is self-gatekeeping for
behaviors that we should consider normal.

We as humans should all think. We should all feel. We should all imagine.
And we should all be encouraged to share.

Not certain people. Not special people. Everyone.