Glass ceiling

From Rationalwikiwki

The glass ceiling of RationalWiki is the barrier between RW1.0ians and RW2.0ians. While the original members may move freely up and down the RationalWiki social ladder without limit, non-cabalists are unable to surpass a certain level of respect and influence.

This has practical implications. For example, the odds of a site-changing proposal being accepted is closely tied to the proposer's social status. The probability of a non-establishment member ever being promoted to bureaucrat—regardless how big the wiki grows—is practically zero.