The terms we use to describe things can be very revealing as to how we think about them. The English language contains many sets of terms that have similar meanings, though they differ greatly in their connotation. The terms bridge and gateway serve as one such example of this phenomenon. Outside of their literal definitions, they mean essentially the same thing, though how they’re commonly used color a sentence in two very different lights.
Both terms have a lot in common. Both imply that there is a threshold being crossed or travel to occur. Both words when used as nouns are pieces of infrastructure allows us to pass freely from one area to another. Used as adjectives, both words imply that there is a connection being made or a gradual journey that is happening. For all the similarities that the two terms have, they are not-at-all used equally. This is where it is important to develop what I like to call our Bias Bells-mental alarms that go off when something dubious is said.
The term bridge is used when describing something that connects someone or something to another entity. Much like a physical bridge in the real world, something is said to serve as a bridge when there is a gap that would otherwise be impassable, whether it be in ideology, cultural acceptance or understanding. One such example of this is the crypto company CoinBase. When interviewed on an episode of How I Built This (an absolutely terrific NPR podcast!), founder and CEO Brian Armstrong answered questions from the host saying that CoinBase was a bridge between regulation and the decentralized world of cryptocurrencies. Another bridge metaphor was used, saying the company served as a bridge for people to get into cryptocurrencies. Bridge has a clearly positive connotation; a bridge makes travel possible when it otherwise wouldn’t be.
The word gateway on the other hand, has a very different impact. The term gateway is used when something serves as an entry point into a new realm, or as something that enables passage. As we can all remember from our monotonous health classes from junior high, the teacher would frequently proclaim that Marijuana is a gateway drug! It’s a gateway to cocaine/ heroin/ [insert ridiculous scare tactic here]! The term gateway is used when the speaker wants to paint something in a negative light.
Essentially, when you hear either term being used, this should set off some warning bells inside your head. These terms are act as clue to indicate the bias of the speaker towards the topic at hand. When art and television critics bemoan anime for being a gateway, know that they are likely about to unload a long diatribe about the Japanese art form. Sadly, regressive politicians and world leaders in the past have claimed that allowing LGBT communities to thrive would serve as a gateway to social ills. When the term gateway is used to describe anything, nothing positive is going to follow. This is especially dangerous when the speaker is presenting to an audience of undecided people; the term gateway is being used to try to scare them, and not-so-subtly steer them. However, one cannot let their guard down with the term bridge, since it is a lot more subtle. Be especially cautious when the term bridge is being used in a pitch, such as This will be our bridge to the future! The amount of elevated hope being implied is done in hopes of getting the listener to suspend analytical judgment.
Ultimately, word choice is far more powerful than most people realize. There has been a lot of discussion in our society about the term dog whistle and what is-and isn’t- a dog whistle. While this is an important discussion to have-and certainly not an easy one-the point is moot if we also do not develop our inner Bias Bells. Dog whistles such as bridge and gateway lose much of their impact when our Bias Bells are finely attuned.
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