Gatecrashers, _si_. Gatekeepers, _no_.

What Scalzi Said, but this particular section bears repeating:

Gatekeeping runs entirely counter to my intent as a writer. I’ve always been very clear that I write science fiction that’s meant to be readable to people who aren’t science fiction fans — or as I prefer to think of them, people who don’t know yet that they might like science fiction. Old Man’s War, Redshirts, Fuzzy Nation — all of these books were written with the intent of being readable to outsiders to the genre. To people who are willing to take a chance on trying something other than what they already know they like. I write gateway science fiction — science fiction designed to make the reader want to read more science fiction.

So, when I take the time and effort to create a gateway, to invite people into the genre, and then some dude shows up at that gateway, unasked, telling people they can’t come through unless they can name every Heinlein book in reverse chronological order (or whatever), I am, shall we say, less than pleased. One, demanding that people new to something be versed in all its trivia is stupid (it’s also stupid when they have liked it for some time). Two, assuming that one’s own interests are the only interests that define real geekdom is also stupid.

Three, get the fuck out of my gateway, asshole, I’m working here. Working to expand not only my audience, but the audience for written science fiction and science fiction in general. You are not helping. Go find someone one who really wants to you to gatekeep their work.

In my opinion, it's high time that self-proclaimed (or even de facto) "gatekeepers" came to the realization that the world of SF/Fantasy/Horror fandom is not the equivalent of some cloistered English department at an exclusive university where the head of the department has the legal authority to beat you with a Louisville Slugger if you don't fit their qualifications. This is a subculture of choice and recreational inclination, not some mickey-mouse version of either the Elks or the Freemasons. Quit acting like it is.

But hey, why not engage in some topical levity while I'm at it?

Pressing Issues of International Importance

As you may know, an exceedingly important issue of British origin (but which is important to all people of all walks of life) has been decided recently and it stands central to all we hold near and dear.

...or not.

Depends on how much you like Doctor Who, I suppose.

Point is, a veteran actor named Peter Capaldi has been named as the Twelfth Doctor, and he appears to be quite ready for it, except for one thing - people are claiming he's too old for the role.

This is, in UK parlance, a load of tosh.

Consider the following ages of the actors who were previously put in that role by the throbbing production brains at The Beeb; one thing you'll notice about most of them is that they weren't exactly Bieberesque in terms of how young they were when they got picked:

William Hartnell - 55
Patrick Troughtton - 49
Jon Pertwee - 50
Tom Baker - 40
Peter Davison - 31
Colin Baker - 41
Sylvester McCoy - 43 or 44
Christopher Eccleston - 40
David Tennant - 34
Matt Smith - 26
Peter Capaldi - 55

Even if you throw in the movie-only appearances by Peter Cushing (52) and Paul McGann (36 or 37), the only actor who's as young as Matt Smith would seem to be Matt Smith. On the other hand, the oldest actor to play the Doctor was Richard Hurndall in the 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors (standing in for Hartnell, of course) at 72 or so. Therefore, the vast majority were hired several ticks past the age of 35, and although Capaldi is as old as Hartnell was back in 1963, there's one plus: he's not suffering from a debilitating coronary disease like arteriosclerosis that can affect his memory or physical capacity to be on set for extended periods of time.

So what was that point about being "too old" again, exactly...?

But, hey if this doesn't pan out he can always relive the memories of films he was previously in, especially at the 42 second mark of the following clip. Ah, good times...