Could it be that I've stumbled onto a connection?  That is, public C&C 

is 

becoming less prominant partially because of the public 'abuse' 

received for 

posting it.

This is a good thing. People respond and get emotional precisely because 
they feel strongly about what someone has to say. They are forced to 
articulate their ideas and views, and defend them. This is an exercise 
people enjoy, and it leads to a heightened flow of ideas, which, in 
turn, leads to more and better fanfics. You will recall that, despite 
how many people claim to dislike the Guy Under The Bridge, he was 
directly responsible for Lawson finishing a fanfic he would otherwise 
have let languish, and for inspiring another writer to start a new fic. 

When a charged debate occurs in the list, it's participants, far from 
ignoring it and pleaing for it's end, throw themselves into the fray 
with zeal. Debates occur when someone posts a decisive commentary about 
something which people feel strongly about it. It makes no difference if 
such commentary comes from GuTB or someone else; if it's strong, and if 
it's public, they will come.



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