Well...

I have received a ton of email on this topic, and while a few people seemed
to want to support more public C&C, the majority of people who responded
believe that the use of pre-readers makes more sense because the list is 1)
too large and spam may increase, 2) they don't want  their comments to be
seen by the rest of the list, 3) they do not think that they will get any
feedback or 4) the FFML is not for rough drafts, it is for "refined"
versions of fanfics.

#1 > - more spam.
#2 > - concerned about their comments being read by others.
#3 > - won't get any feedback.
#4 > - The ML is for posting "refined" versions of fics, not rough drafts.

That's what people told me.

There were many well-presented arguments, and everybody who responded
seemed genuinely concerned about the future of C&C to the list. In
conclusion, after reading 3 of the 4 statements above, over and over, I
know *I* am concerned about the future of public C&C.

Well...

I would disagree with #4 right here and now.  The reason?  RAAC is for 
refined fanfics.  Pre-readers can help to polish off some of the rougher 
edges, yes, but not everyone has the privilege of having pre-readers.  
We were all new here once, people.

Why should #2 be a concern?  I thought we were supposed to learn 
from mistakes, whether they're our own, or someone else's.  Doesn't 
public C&C help us all, in that way?

If people are really concerned about #3, CC a copy to both the FFML 
and the author.

#1 is perhaps the only legitimate concern.  But remember, guys...we 
can't all be perfect.  Excellent comments on a story, replied to over and 
over again, have a good possibility of turning into spam.  But what's the 
other option?  Private C&C, sparing the list some possibly useful tidbits 
on writing?  Myself, when I see positive C&C on a story, that's more of 
an incentive for me to read it, if I haven't done so already.  Granted, a lot 
of "I liked it!" posts aren't going to help much, but even a paragraph or 
so of thoughtful C&C might help some other author or several.

In any case, pre-readers are not a bad thing, IMO.  But public C&C isn't, 
either.  The list may be on the large side, and some people might be a 
bit daunted by the volume, but would you rather turn the FFML into 
another RAAC?

Think about it, guys...  :)


Damon Casale, damoo@jps.net
Spam, spam!  WONDERFUL Spam!!  ^_^