So a few days ago, I received an ask that definitely triggered some emotions. I debated answering it or not, but overall, I decided to delete it and call it a day. However, I do wanna speak just a bit on anon culture and how people address and talk to authors on this app.
Before I start, this is in no way, shape, or form intended as hate toward that anon. They could simply be a blunt kind of person and meant no harm. Either way, I've noticed this pattern on other blogs, with some anons giving backhanded critiques and passive aggressive reviews.
First of all, I'd like to gently remind everyone that the authors on this app are doing this entirely for FREE. No one is getting paid for the amount of hours and the emotions they pour into a fic that you get read in just a few minutes. I understand that everyone wants to see themselves represented in x reader fics, but if you're not finding any fics that suit your personality from a specific author, there are plenty of options to get those fics aside from telling the author that the writing they work hard on is "cringe" or that you don't like their stuff by giving them a rating they didn't ask for. You can always send in a request with that type of character as the description! Authors would be more than happy to receive it. You can also just scroll through the tag you're looking for until you find an author who does deliver what you want. There are ways to get what you're looking for without being rude (unintentionally or otherwise) to authors who get nothing but occasional nice comments in return for their work. That's actually a great way to drive the author away from writing at all, depending on their personality type.
Secondly, I'm by no means saying that no one can give me constructive criticism! I adore getting any kind of feedback on my writing. That's why I made my feedback form! What I don't love, though, are backhanded "compliments" that are really just a way to tear apart my writing without making the sender feel bad about themselves. It's so incredibly easy to be kind, guys. Just word things more gently, or take a moment and think about how what you're saying might sound to someone else.
Lastly, to assume anything based on how or what an author writes is truly wild to me. Please, do not go into an author's inbox telling them that they need to work on their self-esteem just because they write a shy reader. You're free to think what you think, but don't make assumptions about someone and throw it at them in their inbox. It's very off-putting, and it's not something someone would do in real life.
Just keep in mind that authors are real humans with real emotions, and just because we choose to spend what little free time we have writing silly little fics and posting them for others to read, doesn't mean that you can treat us any differently than you'd treat someone you know in real life.
Once again, this is not meant as hate in any way! I'm just saying to please be mindful about how you speak to others! We're all living life for the first time, alright? Nothing is ever that deep, especially not made-up stories about fictional characters and some entity that will never truly exist in any world, real or fake (Y/N as an entity).
