On Sun, 7 Mar 1999, The Eternal Lost Lurker wrote:

There was a golden age, when authors wrote stories, and discussed in-depth
with their readers ways to make the stories better. Then the readers would
become writers, the writers would become readers, and the discussions would
ensue once again. Sometimes the authors weren't very good, and sometimes
they were great. Some stories received acclaim, others received shame. But
everyone, even the bad authors, were trying, and everyone was enriched by
the process.

No there wasn't.  I've been writing Anime fanfics since 1993, and this
"Golden Age" never existed.  There's always been flames, always been
people who created endless spammy threads, always been people who
ruthlessly destroyed other human beings.  

Maybe in the few months this list was around before I joined it, there was
some sort of Golden Age, but what I remember was endless cascades of
people's .sig characters talking to each other, 'best babe arguments' and
large numbers of authors not getting very much C&C unless they did it
themselves.

Yes, this list does sometimes have people eaten alive, and a larger # of
people slowly starving because no one reads their stories, or more
precisely, no one bothers to tell them.  

But I think this perception of the list degenerating is a false one; it's
never been a place where you were guaranteed of getting positive C&C or
even of getting any C&C at all.  And as long as most of the people
subscribed to it never do any C&C, it's likely going to stay that way.
There's a thousand people subscribed, and I couldn't identify more than a
hundred if the retention of my very soul depended on it.

Then others came along whose only purpose was to read. This was fine,
except that these readers often didn't understand that the writers usually
tend to write for their own enjoyment and betterment...for the joy it
brings them...and share their stories with others not out of any mandate,
but because they wish to share their creative efforts with others. They
would harshly criticize the authors whose views did not necessarily agree
with their own. They would defame the authors whose stories did not set

So they shouldn't have any opinions?  What is the point of C&C if we don't
express our disagreement with authors?  Are you calling for a legion of
Yes-Men?  

Now, sometimes those criticisms may be harsh.  Sometimes stories are so
bad you have to be harsh or be silent.  I don't support namecalling and
telling people they're 'Wombat Worshipping Slimesuckers', but some stories
seem to be written solely to outrage people and others can be really,
really wretched.  

Others came along, who didn't seem to understand the rules of the road at
all. They refused to abide by the guidelines set out by those who had come
before, and made a general nuisance of themselves. As more came along,
those who had come before began losing patience, and hostility became more
commonplace than respect.

Now that, I have to agree with you.  People need to read the FAQ.

Folks, things have degenerated around here to an intolerable point. There's
less proliferation and discussion of fanfiction these days than there is
wanton spam, pointless argument, and open hostility. And many of us who are

This list has always been marked by wanton spam and pointless argument.
Part of this is that one person's relevant debate is often
another person's mindless spam.  Hostility, however, I agree is bad.  

authors, know what I speak of when I say that readers are becoming far too
pushy and demanding.

"Write more of this. Write more of that. You need to update your website.
When's the next part of ... coming out? When? When? Huh? When? You don't
know? Well FUCK YOU!"

I've never had this experience ever.  People asking when the next whatever
is coming out, yes.  Getting hostile when I say I don't know...no.

Frankly, I LIKE knowing people want to see more of a story.

John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu       
rhea@tass.org              http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html
rhea@maison-otaku.net      http://www.maison-otaku.net/~rhea/

Bailesu:  But the plot had so many holes, I could fly the Yamato through
it.