Is saying that HTML and CSS are not Programming Languages Gatekeeping?

The distinction is important in the job market because if you only use HTML and CSS you can only create static web pages. That may be good enough for a small subset of web development but it’s not enough for a web application with user interaction beyond clicking links and buttons, or with any persistent state (like a database). Whether we call HTML/CSS “programming languages” or not makes no difference. The “gatekeeping” comes from lack of sufficient utility.

The real issue is that there are more people who want programming jobs, who know only HTML and CSS, than there are jobs which require only HTML and CSS. But, you know, when you're locked out of a job market by something that is not quickly fixable, it's difficult to be dispassionate about it. Sometimes, if people are "touchy", there isn't anything you can say to calm things down, and the best idea is to leave the conversation. Rarely, after it gets to that point, is there anything you're going to miss by leaving.