I Don't Know Anymore, But...

(Sorry if the Topic Title is misleading, I couldn't think of anything XD)

I haven't read the new chapter, I haven't even read any new topics (except maybe one), but it still somehow came back around to me through direct messages, because of how heated it's getting. It honestly makes me wonder, about a few things actually.

I am an avid reader of Ao3 content (a fandom site where you can freely read and write fanfiction), and have been for years now. I consistently and constantly come across some of the most darkest themes and the unhealthiest of relationship dynamics you could possibly read, but the comments are never really negative. Surprised, shocked maybe, or perhaps even passive aggressive, but never being so forth right about preconceived notions or personal negative biases about a particular topic of the literature, or of the creator themselves, as people can be here. And I think I know why.

One, the comments feed directly to the writer, rather than being set up as a group discussion type commenting, where readers talk to each other about the work. I feel this to be a rather big deterrent when it comes to boldly and loudly criticizing and hating the characterization, writing, or events that happen in the story. At least not without also praising the writing in some way.

Second, which I believe is probably the most important, with how Ao3's tagging system works, it's easy to make it clear your stance on the realities of the thing you're writing about in a fictional sense. Tags like, "Dead Dove: Do Not Eat" "This is Messed Up" "Do Not Read" "Unhealthy Relationships" and just being able to be very explicit and clear with tagging. Even if you don't read fanfiction, I suggest checking out the tagging system, because I believe it to be the most efficient way of implementing a tagging system, and most effective in purpose (you can also find some really fun and funny tags that can be hilariously meta about the writer themselves).

These tags being applied and established by the author/writer themselves, I think, is the final nail in the coffin that makes it hard for people to even want to criticize, critique, or even just hate on a piece of work. Granted, fanwork is completely different from original work in general (as well as manga just being wholely different from Fanfiction in many ways, but they're similar enough in some ways for me to make the distinction and comparison), so levels of critique vary due to that reasoning as well.

It just depends, but I do feel like people would be a lot more reassured and less... Urged to make the comments and topics they do if the Mangaka (Mingwa) would have made these kind of warnings and personal disclaimers themselves. Not everyone, most certainly not. And these topics don't go directly to Mingwa, so there would be no real deterrent. But it's something somewhat fascinating to compare and think about, and I was simply dying to make such a comparison, because I find it interesting. Feel free to add onto this, give your own thoughts, opposal, or don't. Whatever it is, I don't mind.

[I don't really have the energy to debate anyone anymore (or at least right now, and for this chapter) about the ethicalness and morality of Jinx's premise and simple existence, so I won't be joining in or commenting on anyone else's topics. I'll reiterate, I simply thought it'd be nice to openly talk about and compare two sites I regularly, actively, use; where one has a much more healthier community, system, and setup all around.]