How do you guys feel about gatekeeping your hobbies vs encouraging new people to enjoy what you love?

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I grew up with godzilla (and other Japanese toku in general), my first VHS were Godzilla vs Megalon and the original Godzilla vs Kong which I had seen in the mid 90’s as a boy.

Since then I’ve found his star on Hollywood’s walk of fame, gone to Toho studios and even saw some of the original (some now deteriorated) monster suits, the oxygen destroyer and miniatures during an anniversary event outside of Tokyo. I visited the set of the 2014 film in Vancouver, I’ve got tattoos, a little collection of movies and figures, and visited a gallery exhibit dedicated to Noriyoshi Ohrai upon his passing. I even have a signed photo of Haruo Nakajima which is the first thing I see when entering my painting studio. There’s honestly so much more. I’m even so lucky that the American films have been releasing generally around my birthday. I love Godzilla and I love giant monsters.

I don’t really talk about a lot of this anywhere else because to me it’s something deeply personal and it also feels like bragging… However these days because of the success of the 2014 film and shin Godzilla, there are so many more films and fans with so many more other things (comics, games, anime, collectibles) for me to get absorbed into and to look forward to, which is particularly special because there was a huge drought of Godzilla stuff not long ago. Toho gave the character a break and there was nothing for eleven years. A small dedicated fandom really held it all together for everyone online as a community. I will always really look back at that fondly!

It’s the one franchise I hope to contribute to before I pass away. Definitely a bucket list goal.

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On another note, At one point a few years ago I remember meeting someone who had a new biollante (plant kaiju) t-shirt, and after striking up a conversation about it I had tried to gas him up by applauding his choice by saying “i really love the two heisei movies from the 80’s too, those in particular are great!”, he replied, and I quote, “those movies are not from the 80’s you moron.”

I didnt really continue talking to him since he was rude and I didn’t want to exhaust myself by correcting someone (ie: embarrassing them) who was so confident in being wrong to begin with, but man I am really beginning to understand why it can be a curse when the things you enjoy start to have broad appeal. Especially because in my case these kinds of films were something that were frequently the butt of jokes or mocked previously… (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Has anyone else dealt with personal interactions like this to do with your own hobbies? Do you feel like an outsider because of broad appeal? Do you still try to encourage others? Are you a gatekeeper? Do you keep it to yourself like me?

Let me know your thoughts and experiences.