some of these dingbats, every damn year: WOW ao3 is asking for donations.
everyone, every damn year: yeah they need money to operate and it's free to use, so
dingbats: oh REALLY. well what are they using the money for, it could be going anywhere
everyone: no uh they have a whole ass section on their site that lists exactly where the money is going
dingbats: well it's suspicious that it really costs that much
everyone: well it does cost that much
dingbats: they take all this money and yet they can't micromoderate the site to my own personal specifications constantly??
everyone: they're volunteers who also have other jobs and we don't want them to godmod
dingbats: they don't pay the authors though
everyone: what? why would they pay their customers?
dingbats: i can't afford to give them money
everyone: then don't. it's optional
dingbats: i don't want to pay them
everyone: then... don't. it's still optional
dingbats: ohhh i get it. the people running ao3 are volunteers and solicit donations from users so that they can afford to operate the company without having to place ads on the site?
dingbats: and non-profit companies asking for donations and managing their money based on how the company operates is completely normal and reasonable behavior?
dingbats: and the fact that the site fills a unique niche should make me grateful that it exists and not entitled and bitter that it's not exactly what i want it to be?
dingbats: and the ad-free site is free to use, so if i'm not happy with the way it's run or i'm uncomfortable with being asked for donations i can always just not use the site?
dingbats: goooootchaaaa. ok. thanks!
dingbats: see you next year for the same exact conversation?