The back button exists for a reason

[hils]

You know the ridiculous sense of entitlement in fandom both baffles and annoys me. The way some people react when they read a fic they didn't enjoy or see some art they didn't like, you'd think someone had crapped on their dinner plate. Newsflash: Just because you don't like something, doesn't mean everyone feels the same way. You are not the centre of the fandom universe. We don't set out thinking 'Oh, I hope X likes my fic or my world is over'.

I think people forget that writers of fanfic are not professionals. We don't get paid to create things for your entertainment. It's a hobby. Most of us do it because we enjoy it and by posting it we're just sharing something we've created for those who choose to enjoy it. It's supposed to be fun, and really if you're not in fandom to have fun then why are you here?

So by all means offer concrit. Most of us want to get better at our hobby. But snarking and bitching and ranting in hater-fest comms is just counter-productive. The author isn't going to know how to improve, and all it does is make fandom a less fun place to be.

So leave constructive criticism, leave praise or hit the back button. It's not that hard, is it?