AO3 question

[justalurkr]

So, a favorite writer of mine from tumblr who usually posts her fiction in fits and starts, bits and pieces on tumblr, then aggregates them onto Archive of Our Own either when they're finished or at logical resting points if they're really long, chose to post a story exclusively to AO3, locked to registered users only.

Of course her motives are none of my business. Of course I'm dead curious about what, if anything, she just accomplished.

Is there anyone in the friendlist sufficiently familiar with the AO3 set up to comment on whether she (A) just fended off crazy people; (B) limited the crazy to registered AO3 users or (C) didn't accomplish much of anything because AO3 kind of lets registered users post and criticize at will?

On the other hand, if AO3 has a set up that lets her block specific posters, never mind. That explains everything. ;)

Comments

[nialla]

The aggregating from Tumblr thing confuses me sometimes. Depending on how it's labeled in AO3, I can't tell if what's posted is a chapter in a story, part of a AU-verse, or just simply collected random snippets.

I'm not thoroughly immersed in all the AO3 administrative options for authors, since I haven't posted much (need to get back into the archiving), but I can tell you that when posting a new work, there's a lot of options, and one section is called "Privacy". One option is "Only show your work to registered users" and the other is "Anonymous commenting disabled".

If they were trying to dodge critique from a non-registered person, then the latter option would have done the trick. Though that person would have been able to read it, as well as a lot of other people who are just readers and don't see the need for an account.

I don't see anything about blocking specific users, and I'm not quite sure what limiting viewing to registered users would accomplish. I know in LJ many fic comms would lock posts with adult content so they were only viewable by members, but AO3 has an adult content warning for those who aren't logged in (or those who are but haven't checked the "Show me adult content without checking" ticky).

Besides, it's not all that difficult to get an account. I've asked for invites for others, and known some who've requested their own, and they were accepted in a matter of days.

I'm sure there's some reason, since they put the option in the code, but I'm just not seeing it.

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, she posts periodically to AO3 because some of her followers bi-griped about reading on tumblr, and she is just that accommodating. Scifigirl47, if I recall her handle correctly, and the story (now complete) is Working Both Sides of the Sheets.

[nialla]

Hmmm... I might have found a potential reason for locking to members. That's an author I read and a pairing I follow, but I don't subscribe via AO3. I have set up an RSS feed for pairings I like. Since this was locked, it doesn't show up in RSS feeds.

Still not sure what that accomplishes in the long run. You have an account? If not, I can send you a copy. I always just save everything as mobi files and email to my Kindle, but I can do another format if you need it.

[justalurkr.livejournal.com]

I got an account pretty much to read that story, my favorite part of which is the "who am I killing?" bit.

[nialla]

An account does include some perks, even if you're "just" a reader. Customized skins being one, so I could change the colors. Not as much of an issue since I mostly use the Kindle to read, but it's also nice to mark unfinished works that sound interesting so you can read it when (if) it's done.

I haven't read it yet, because I had a new library eBook checked out. I've got tons of them (ok, fifty) bookmarked to check out later, but I'm easily distracted by fic. Just finished the eBook, so now it's on to fic.

I used to flip flop between print/eBooks and fic, but I've been more into fic the last couple of years. I think it's because I've moved beyond being mono or duo fannish, so I can be selective yet still have a lot to read. AO3 is kind of one stop shopping. ;)

[nialla]

I'm rather fond of "I think this makes me your pimp." (paraphrased)