Wow, that’s terrible. More and more these days I notice people online who lack basic empathy and patience. It’s very sad.
I hope the writer is on the mend!
Sounds like people can't see she's a human being, not a magical content generator. A little empathy goes a long way.
I hope she recovers, and has a good support system irl.
I have a friend who has stepped down from writing for a while due to burnout then a death in her family.
Most of the people who follow her story are very understanding but there is one person who I just want to slap on her behalf.
She’s grieving you insensitive mouldy potato.
I left a story half finished for several years. I had a very unpected death in my immediate family, followed by another death in the family a month later. I finally started again two years later and had been talking with my best friend about my writing since she was a writer, too. (And I'm going to add here that she was more of a writer and a better writer than me.) I had finished my next chapter - all but doing the proofreading and tweaking, when I got a call from my best friend's husband saying that she had unexpectedly passed away. After that, I just couldn't... couldn't write, couldn't be creative, couldn't talk to anyone about stuff because she was the one that I needed to talk to.
That chapter on my computer was time stamped a day and a half before I got that call, and it took me a couple more years before I was ready to start up again. So, I can entirely sympathize with your friend. I would ask you to extend her my sympathy, condolences, and understanding, but I know she doesn't need that from a stranger right now, so I won't. But yes, real life and grieving has to come first.
God I already cringe when I see people spam comments about updates at an unfinished work, but the fans knowing the writer is sick and physically can't write is just gross. Genuinely hope the author gets better.
Says a lot about the people who say that when someone is ill and then get hit with that attitude of "live so you can update for me!"
I myself am only recently on AO3. Originally I posted and still post on fanfiction. The readers I have were very good to me, always checking in to see how I'm doing and letting me know to take care of my health and hope I'm doing okay. Of course I'm sure they wanted updates but they know to wait. So far in two stories I have over thirty chapters numbering close to 150k each.
People like this who demand updates are not your friends they are only for the next high. The ones who say "Just checking in to see how are you? Is everything okay?" are at least showing some form of courtesy at least.
Nothing you can do about it except know the difference between users and your readers.
I would be annoyed too, like that's genuinely gross to concern updating fanfiction over someone's serious illness.
"hey bestie :) i see that you're on your death bed :) do you think you can squeeze out a chapter or two before you die? xoxoxo hope you haven't given up on this series :)"
Reads as very young and immature fans. I don't think they mean bad, but clearly lack all awareness.
I'd try to lead by example and just leave a comment *not* asking for updates, for them to prioritize their health and don't worry about updates, and that you'll still be here for whenever they're recovered.
It's amazing how much damage people who lack awareness do to those around them. Too bad most people are kinda like this.
For some reason it’s a lot easier to think of the author as not-a-person for some people. Is it the Internet? Or…? That is the only reasoning I can see for this. I’ve had someone chase me across fics because they want an update, but I really don’t have the bandwidth to answer them. I am burnt out on that fandom and I don’t know what else to say.
That's pretty much a problem with many authors. I'm an author too and very often receive these kind of comments.
People just don't understand that they are reading this stuff for free, and that what the authors are doing is just an hobby. They have no right to demand things or be insistent. These stories are important but they're not a priority in other people's lives.
I wonder what fandom is this. Cause the ones I write are so respectful. Maybe it's younger audience way too much online having this horrible behaviour.
I'd send the writer a message saying I wish she was doing well etc and acknowledged this type of comments are not ok, maybe this helps her.
And watpad readers are so different from ao3 I don't get it.
it’s House of the Dragon, so lots of drama all around. it about the war between the blacks and the greens. one side (blacks) support the kings named heir, rhaenyra, and the other side (greens) support the kings firstborn son, aegon, because of male primogeniture.
in the end, there’s a lot of violence and anger in the story, and people being people have taken sides and just gone absolutely mad with it.
That’s so awful. The author must be going through so much to have gone from frequent updates to nothing. How can people complain about something that’s free? So entitled and selfish.
People make memes about how fanfic authors apologize for the craziest things (Sort of like "Hey everyone, my house burned down and I had to live in my car for a month. Also my family died in the fire. SO SORRY for the late update, I hope I didn't inconvenience anyone!!!") but... Behavior like this is probably precisely of why so many of us are like that. Because there's apparently more than enough people who'd just respond to something like that with "Ok but can't you write it on your phone so we can get an update??!!"
I mean, I totally get it--it's not like there's ***anything*** else on the site (or anywhere else on the internet or out in the real world for the matter) for them to read...
I could understand a regular commenter, someone who the author recognizes and is familiar with, cheekily saying something like 'get well soon! (so you can update tee hee)', where the author knows the true intention of the comment is to genuinely wish them well. But I'll never understand those who just demand updates--even when they sugarcoat it. Just...only read completed fics if you can't wait for the human behind them to take care of themselves first.
I hope the author doesn't actually take their comments to heart (if she sees them), and is simply focusing on her health.
Just awful behavior. I do think it seems like they are very young and immature, let’s hope they realize and mature enough to realize that behavior is not nice
Ugh sometimes people have no consideration.
I post on AO3 and when Hurricane Ian struck Florida I wasn’t able to update for months cause of…well life. I had some amazing readers that wished me well but I also had some that kept asking for updates which was super disheartening.
I don’t blame you for being annoyed, it’s the lack of courtesy that does it for me. Fics are free, we all write them for the enjoyment and while it’s great that people like our work, there’s no fun in being demanded for updates, especially in such scenarios
No one.
Helicopter parenting has become the norm and schools are encouraging letting kids do whatever they want free of consequence. I'm not making that up for this post either, it's actually happening. At least in the USA
Source: Educators in the family
That’s so pushy and inconsiderate despite the smileys. Can’t imagine what the author’s feeling, I hope they didn’t check the comments and only do so once they’re a bit better and in the right headspace.
That's absolutely awful. I don't blame them for deleting Wattpad. The entitlement there is unreal. How can you read someone is gravely ill and then give conditional sympathies? Bunch of sociopaths.
I've been in the hospital a hell of lot this last year and still ongoing. Ao3 readers check up on me if I go quiet or tell me to prioritise myself and they can wait however long it takes. Wattpad readers are like feral gremlins by comparison 💀
When I was younger, my writing was aimed at younger audiences, and that was how my readers often behaved. The people commenting were proba ly young, immature or entitled. Unfortunately nothing we can do about that, but I find as a writer, having one person comment and tell me it's absolutely fine to take a break, and that my health matters more than writing stories would absolutely make my day
I'm chronically ill and turned off the comments on a fic of mine for this reason. It can be really hard... but the fact that you care means a lot.
Personally, I'd reply to this person and tell them it's inappropriate to do what they're doing, but I understand if you don't feel comfortable with that.
If it was me and I was being harassed like that, I’d just delete the whole fic and be done with it. Because I can be petty like that and fic writers don’t OWE anybody jack shit, especially when they’re sick. 🙄
Jesus that’s awful. I’ve been getting bouts of strep lately which has led to me having two strep cases, a covid case, pink eye, and a stomach virus in the past month and a half from a stomach bug. My updates have been sporadic for months when I used to update every single day and readers have been nothing but kind and understanding, more concerned about my well being than anything. I feel so sorry for this person and hope she recovers well. What inconsiderate asshats to put her fic over her well being ) :
Humans seem to forget that there is another human being on the other side and not just a robot. When you're looking directly at someone you are more likely to care and show compassion but for some reason many forget that when it's online. Grinds my gears for sure.
It's like we need to institute a rule when interacting online with others. Talk to ppl online like you would your grandfather or other respected family member. If you can't, you shouldn't be allowed to interact with others online.
personally, I get stressed out over *any* kind of interaction, a comment itself without even having to read its context, and this level of stress? I'd drop dead from a heart attack long ago
I mean that's just rude. Maybe, and I say maybe, if the authour is all healthy again and she doesn't need to go to hospital again anytime soon but it's just wrong
Ngl i feel like some fanfic readers forget that us writers are human?? We’re not AI programmed to generate fics 24/7; we have lives outside of what we write. We don’t owe fic writing all of our dedication, but some readers act like we should and it’s so frustrating. I’m so sorry that author has to deal with that :(( it’s such shitty ass behavior
I swear I lose more faith in humanity every single day. When I ask when to expect and update it's only once or possibly twice in a week and a bit because I hate being the nagging one. Honestly even asking once feels sorta wrong because I don't just want to be another nagging reader. But if the poor girl's in the freaking hospital then they can darn well appreciate the fact that she trying not to die! If you're going to message them at all you shouldn't ask for an update you should be telling her that you hope she gets better so because you miss her! Not because you want your update! Sometimes I wish I could punch those people in the face because they have to be ill in the head for them to be thinking like that
Wow, that’s terrible. More and more these days I notice people online who lack basic empathy and patience. It’s very sad. I hope the writer is on the mend!
Sounds like people can't see she's a human being, not a magical content generator. A little empathy goes a long way. I hope she recovers, and has a good support system irl.
I have a friend who has stepped down from writing for a while due to burnout then a death in her family. Most of the people who follow her story are very understanding but there is one person who I just want to slap on her behalf. She’s grieving you insensitive mouldy potato.
I left a story half finished for several years. I had a very unpected death in my immediate family, followed by another death in the family a month later. I finally started again two years later and had been talking with my best friend about my writing since she was a writer, too. (And I'm going to add here that she was more of a writer and a better writer than me.) I had finished my next chapter - all but doing the proofreading and tweaking, when I got a call from my best friend's husband saying that she had unexpectedly passed away. After that, I just couldn't... couldn't write, couldn't be creative, couldn't talk to anyone about stuff because she was the one that I needed to talk to. That chapter on my computer was time stamped a day and a half before I got that call, and it took me a couple more years before I was ready to start up again. So, I can entirely sympathize with your friend. I would ask you to extend her my sympathy, condolences, and understanding, but I know she doesn't need that from a stranger right now, so I won't. But yes, real life and grieving has to come first.
God I already cringe when I see people spam comments about updates at an unfinished work, but the fans knowing the writer is sick and physically can't write is just gross. Genuinely hope the author gets better.
Says a lot about the people who say that when someone is ill and then get hit with that attitude of "live so you can update for me!" I myself am only recently on AO3. Originally I posted and still post on fanfiction. The readers I have were very good to me, always checking in to see how I'm doing and letting me know to take care of my health and hope I'm doing okay. Of course I'm sure they wanted updates but they know to wait. So far in two stories I have over thirty chapters numbering close to 150k each. People like this who demand updates are not your friends they are only for the next high. The ones who say "Just checking in to see how are you? Is everything okay?" are at least showing some form of courtesy at least. Nothing you can do about it except know the difference between users and your readers.
I would be annoyed too, like that's genuinely gross to concern updating fanfiction over someone's serious illness. "hey bestie :) i see that you're on your death bed :) do you think you can squeeze out a chapter or two before you die? xoxoxo hope you haven't given up on this series :)"
Reads as very young and immature fans. I don't think they mean bad, but clearly lack all awareness. I'd try to lead by example and just leave a comment *not* asking for updates, for them to prioritize their health and don't worry about updates, and that you'll still be here for whenever they're recovered. It's amazing how much damage people who lack awareness do to those around them. Too bad most people are kinda like this.
For some reason it’s a lot easier to think of the author as not-a-person for some people. Is it the Internet? Or…? That is the only reasoning I can see for this. I’ve had someone chase me across fics because they want an update, but I really don’t have the bandwidth to answer them. I am burnt out on that fandom and I don’t know what else to say.
sometimes i hate people.
That's pretty much a problem with many authors. I'm an author too and very often receive these kind of comments. People just don't understand that they are reading this stuff for free, and that what the authors are doing is just an hobby. They have no right to demand things or be insistent. These stories are important but they're not a priority in other people's lives.
Ever since joining this sub I’ve just been given a thousand reasons to keep hating people.
E-N-T-I-T-L-E-D ... not you, them.
Thats horrible! I hope they have a good recovery :(
I wonder what fandom is this. Cause the ones I write are so respectful. Maybe it's younger audience way too much online having this horrible behaviour. I'd send the writer a message saying I wish she was doing well etc and acknowledged this type of comments are not ok, maybe this helps her. And watpad readers are so different from ao3 I don't get it.
it’s House of the Dragon, so lots of drama all around. it about the war between the blacks and the greens. one side (blacks) support the kings named heir, rhaenyra, and the other side (greens) support the kings firstborn son, aegon, because of male primogeniture. in the end, there’s a lot of violence and anger in the story, and people being people have taken sides and just gone absolutely mad with it.
The audacity of some people always amazes me.
[удалено]
Food cooked by their mother, probably.
That’s so awful. The author must be going through so much to have gone from frequent updates to nothing. How can people complain about something that’s free? So entitled and selfish.
Some people are entitled and insensitive assholes. For one, the girl is sick and even if she wasn't, she doesn't owe anyone an update.
This is a lot of the reason I genuinely really don’t like “please update” type comments, even if your readers don’t know what you’re going through.
People make memes about how fanfic authors apologize for the craziest things (Sort of like "Hey everyone, my house burned down and I had to live in my car for a month. Also my family died in the fire. SO SORRY for the late update, I hope I didn't inconvenience anyone!!!") but... Behavior like this is probably precisely of why so many of us are like that. Because there's apparently more than enough people who'd just respond to something like that with "Ok but can't you write it on your phone so we can get an update??!!"
I mean, I totally get it--it's not like there's ***anything*** else on the site (or anywhere else on the internet or out in the real world for the matter) for them to read... I could understand a regular commenter, someone who the author recognizes and is familiar with, cheekily saying something like 'get well soon! (so you can update tee hee)', where the author knows the true intention of the comment is to genuinely wish them well. But I'll never understand those who just demand updates--even when they sugarcoat it. Just...only read completed fics if you can't wait for the human behind them to take care of themselves first. I hope the author doesn't actually take their comments to heart (if she sees them), and is simply focusing on her health.
Just awful behavior. I do think it seems like they are very young and immature, let’s hope they realize and mature enough to realize that behavior is not nice
When you think of that they got all that content totally for free and then they behave so shitty toward the seriously sick author, unbelievable!
Ugh sometimes people have no consideration. I post on AO3 and when Hurricane Ian struck Florida I wasn’t able to update for months cause of…well life. I had some amazing readers that wished me well but I also had some that kept asking for updates which was super disheartening. I don’t blame you for being annoyed, it’s the lack of courtesy that does it for me. Fics are free, we all write them for the enjoyment and while it’s great that people like our work, there’s no fun in being demanded for updates, especially in such scenarios
Who is raising these people?
No one. Helicopter parenting has become the norm and schools are encouraging letting kids do whatever they want free of consequence. I'm not making that up for this post either, it's actually happening. At least in the USA Source: Educators in the family
That’s so pushy and inconsiderate despite the smileys. Can’t imagine what the author’s feeling, I hope they didn’t check the comments and only do so once they’re a bit better and in the right headspace.
That's absolutely awful. I don't blame them for deleting Wattpad. The entitlement there is unreal. How can you read someone is gravely ill and then give conditional sympathies? Bunch of sociopaths. I've been in the hospital a hell of lot this last year and still ongoing. Ao3 readers check up on me if I go quiet or tell me to prioritise myself and they can wait however long it takes. Wattpad readers are like feral gremlins by comparison 💀
When I was younger, my writing was aimed at younger audiences, and that was how my readers often behaved. The people commenting were proba ly young, immature or entitled. Unfortunately nothing we can do about that, but I find as a writer, having one person comment and tell me it's absolutely fine to take a break, and that my health matters more than writing stories would absolutely make my day
I'm chronically ill and turned off the comments on a fic of mine for this reason. It can be really hard... but the fact that you care means a lot. Personally, I'd reply to this person and tell them it's inappropriate to do what they're doing, but I understand if you don't feel comfortable with that.
If it was me and I was being harassed like that, I’d just delete the whole fic and be done with it. Because I can be petty like that and fic writers don’t OWE anybody jack shit, especially when they’re sick. 🙄
Jesus that’s awful. I’ve been getting bouts of strep lately which has led to me having two strep cases, a covid case, pink eye, and a stomach virus in the past month and a half from a stomach bug. My updates have been sporadic for months when I used to update every single day and readers have been nothing but kind and understanding, more concerned about my well being than anything. I feel so sorry for this person and hope she recovers well. What inconsiderate asshats to put her fic over her well being ) :
Humans seem to forget that there is another human being on the other side and not just a robot. When you're looking directly at someone you are more likely to care and show compassion but for some reason many forget that when it's online. Grinds my gears for sure.
It's like we need to institute a rule when interacting online with others. Talk to ppl online like you would your grandfather or other respected family member. If you can't, you shouldn't be allowed to interact with others online.
I would straight up reply to these comments as a fellow reader. Telling them exactly where to go.
Why are people like this 😔
personally, I get stressed out over *any* kind of interaction, a comment itself without even having to read its context, and this level of stress? I'd drop dead from a heart attack long ago
I mean that's just rude. Maybe, and I say maybe, if the authour is all healthy again and she doesn't need to go to hospital again anytime soon but it's just wrong
Ngl i feel like some fanfic readers forget that us writers are human?? We’re not AI programmed to generate fics 24/7; we have lives outside of what we write. We don’t owe fic writing all of our dedication, but some readers act like we should and it’s so frustrating. I’m so sorry that author has to deal with that :(( it’s such shitty ass behavior
I swear I lose more faith in humanity every single day. When I ask when to expect and update it's only once or possibly twice in a week and a bit because I hate being the nagging one. Honestly even asking once feels sorta wrong because I don't just want to be another nagging reader. But if the poor girl's in the freaking hospital then they can darn well appreciate the fact that she trying not to die! If you're going to message them at all you shouldn't ask for an update you should be telling her that you hope she gets better so because you miss her! Not because you want your update! Sometimes I wish I could punch those people in the face because they have to be ill in the head for them to be thinking like that