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Gaslighting involves withholding esoteric information and knowledge. This behavior is common in comics, sports cards, and certain professions. Instead of training newcomers, gatekeepers watch them struggle and gaslight them about not understanding a task after seeing it done once.

They fail to explain the task or provide opportunities for questions, creating a toxic environment of gatekeeping and occupational hazing. In such environments, information is hoarded to maintain a hierarchical structure, rather than shared to enhance the collective.

Examples include:

- “Can you tell if it’s a first edition based on the cover?” - “Gatekeepers: ….” - “I looked it up. It’s the Italian version, worth $100.”

- “You’re better at comedy than collecting. I needed a laugh. I don’t need your junk. $5 each. Take it or leave it.”

- “I put it all back together despite not seeing it disassembled. A novice couldn’t have done that.”

- “It fell apart when I tested it. I took care of it. We couldn’t afford you wasting half a day guessing. I’m the mechanic. You’re too inexperienced.”

This behavior stems from insecurity. By raising the barrier to entry, the “gatekeeper” protects their status. If they teach newcomers everything, they lose their position as the “only one” who can perform the job or identify rare misprints, making them feel replaceable.

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