Literally gonna go on a small rant here, I’m so sorry.
Can we talk about the absolute PLAGUE of artist scams flooding the fanfic community? For the past year I’ve kinda been passively blocking and moving on, but it’s getting to the point where most engagement for a lot of writers are the scam comments. And now they’re making REAL accounts and emotionally fishing for a response. It’s so disgusting.
Like I remember a few years back writing fanfic was genuinely enjoyable and you forged genuine connections with people online. But these scams… man they’re discouraging. I feel it for people just starting out on fanfic sites because every site (yes even Ao3) has these cursed degenerates flooding comment sections. I wouldn’t even mind if it was blatant but they’re becoming so emotionally manipulative that I’m scared to even engage with people unless it’s via the commenting system on whatever site I’m on at the time. So imagine someone just starting out. Like, their only engagement is the scams. It must be extremely isolating.
Honestly, this situation is SO messed up. Now, I try to actively leave comments on whatever I read just to let other authors know that a REAL human being is engaging with and enjoying their work. I know it’s not a lot but I hope it makes a difference because it’s rough as hell dealing with a scam every time you post.
These scams are sucking the life out of fanfic writing. Hoping for their downfall is unrealistic, so instead I’m just gonna bet on people supporting each other. Nothing’s stronger than a community and I hope these scam artists wake up and realise that no-one wants to be pressured into buying art. Commissions and other sites (made specifically for selling and advertising your art) exist for a reason smh…
On a side note: I don’t support stealing art either. Both AI and outright plagiarism can die on the same hill as these scammers.