#please if you are paying for an ao3 app you are being scammed

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

What really did my head in - most of the people on the OTW's post arguing for the existence of the app were saying that the app has features that AO3 doesn't have, and then naming features that AO3 already fucking has.

The two main ones: downloading fics for offline reading and having fics read to you like an audiobook.

I don't have personal experience with either of these features, these are not things I use - but I have known for years that you can download fics for offline reading. It's easy. If you have a long commute or a one time trip, or even if you're worried that AO3 is gonna go down in the middle of you reading a long fic - download it. (But please, make sure to go back to the online version and leave the author a comment telling them that their fic was enjoyable and worth downloading.)

As for the audiobook thing - many browsers have 'text to speech' screenreaders that are meant as a disability accessibility tool, and I can't imagine that the app is paying people to actually read out fics - they're just using one of these. Other than that - do the kids not know about Podfics???

People make 'audiobooks' of fics and post them on AO3. Actual, live readings of fics that they post on AO3. And sometimes it's just a fic they admire and wanna make a reading of, not even their own fic that they wrote. If you have a favourite pairing or a favourite tag, go onto that tag and search up 'podfic'. You will find the audiobook style that you are looking for.

You don't need any AO3 app. All it will bring is paywalling and censorship. If you want to give AO3 money, and you have extra money to give- donate to a real donation drive. (And you can actually get benefits from it). Authors don't post their fics on AO3 for them to be paywalled by a scamming 3rd party.

With the latest crap of someone making an unofficial ao3 app and actually charging people to use it… why do you want an ao3 app so badly? Why are you willing to pay for an otherwise free website that works fine in mobile browsers? I’m so confused. Like, y’all are willing to have that as a security risk? And pay for it? I don’t understand at all. I saw people on the OTW’s recent post about it arguing for the existence of this app instead of against it.

Also, the whole thing is just so shady. There’s someone out there making money off of tons of people’s free work. Not cool, guys. Not cool. Don’t support the app.

[charlietheepicwriter7]

All’s Fair in Love and Larceny

Summary: All Kaito wanted was to get Hakuba off his back about the Phantom Thievery... and mess with his favorite detectives’ love lives.  AO3 Link

@not-a-hope-in-hell    ‘tis I, your secret santa. It’s not exactly what you wanted, but I think it’s pretty good. Happy Holidays~!

Also, @dcmksecretsanta

Shinichi blinked, staring at the white form perched outside his bedroom window. He blinked again. No, KID was still there. Sighing, he unlatched the lock and pulled the glass up. “What do you want?” he asked the thief.

“My darling princess—”

“Not a princess—”

“My darling prince—” KID snatched one of Shinichi’s limp hands and kissed the air above it—“Would you please giving me the honor of escorting you this lovely evening?”

“…KID, it’s two am.”

“Very astute of you, detective! Unfortunately, I am very well aware of the hour.” There were dark bags under KID’s eyes, Shinichi noticed, previously mistaking them to be part of the shadow from his hat. “Alas, I have neither the time nor patience to visit you at a more respectable hour.” His voice dropped. “Please, Tantei-kun. I’m desperate.”

Alarm rose in Shinichi. KID wasn’t one to ask for help; even now, years after his return to the spotlight, there was only one suspected assistant to the criminal magician. Hakuba, Shinichi’s… friend and fellow Kaitou KID chaser, had even confided in him about a suspected dark organization trying to kill KID. A pit opened up in Shinichi’s stomach. If it was a branch of the Black Organization that he had failed to capture…

Shinichi opened the window more and stepped away. “Well? Get in.”

KID rushed inside, uncharacteristically tripping on his cape as he did. It seemed as thought whatever was bothering him was truly upsetting to the thief. He quickly straightened, brushing off his suit as if it had never happened. “Thank you kindly, Tantei-kun.”

Shinichi shut the window behind him and closed the blinds. “What’s wrong? Are you in danger?”

“The only thing in danger, Tantei-kun, is my dignity.” KID sighed. “A mutual acquaintance of ours, one Hakuba Saguru, has decided to make himself a menace. So, I’m calling in that favor you owe me.”

Shinichi’s heart skipped a beat. Hakuba… it was rare that Shinichi could work a case with the strict foreign detective, but he enjoyed their time together. Hakuba was brilliant, with an excellent taste in literature, and apparently, a big enough threat to KID that the thief would use the one favor he gained helping Shinichi with the Black Organization. He swallowed. He couldn’t exactly say no, not after KID had helped him so much. “And what, exactly do you want me to do?”

KID grinned, but to Shinichi, it was nearly a leer. “I need you to come with me. Once we arrive at our destination, I’ll tell you.” He clearly could see Shinichi’s discomfort, so he added. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing illegal. But your pride… might not survive.”

Shinichi gulped.

***

Saguru glared. Kuroba, two rows to his left and a seat ahead, didn’t notice. Or he pretended not to notice in order to get Saguru off guard. Saguru in the perfect position to watch his prey, yet frustration rose in him. Despite over a year of surveillance, he was no closer to definitively proving that Kuroba Kaito was the Kaitou KID, a fact that irked him most severely. It had even gotten to the point where Saguru had managed to arrange for a police officer to dodge Kuroba’s every move to no avail. Though if Saguru’s suspicions were correct, the likely thief certainly had other methods of leaving his house, but he didn’t have a warrant to search the residency yet.

It didn’t help his mood that morning that Kudo Shinichi was once again reported missing.

Saguru thumbed through the missing person’s report on his phone in between classes. Kudo was reported missing by his neighbor’s ward, Haibara Ai, a child he distantly remembered being a friend of young Edogawa Conan before he moved to America. There was no sign of forced entry, usually indicating that Kudo had left his residence himself, but none of his clothes were missing, his phone and keys on his bedside table.

A conundrum. A very worrisome one at that. Saguru still remembered what happened last time Kudo mysteriously disappeared.

He hoped it wasn’t his fault. Saguru enjoyed Kudo’s company, to a degree that would likely be thought as inappropriate if voiced aloud, and he didn’t want his fellow detective hurt. Especially if it was his fault. Kudo had already been forced to track down one villainous organization, and Saguru had been the one to inform him of the people trying to kill Kaitou KID. Kudo could very well be trying to apprehend them at that very moment, and there was no telling how injured he might become.

His phone vibrated once. An unknown number had sent him a message. A scam? No, it was a picture, though his particular texting app required he download each image before they appeared. Impatiently, he clicked it. Did another fangirl get ahold of his number…!

Saguru nearly broke his phone. There, on the screen, was a photo of Kudo, still in his night clothes, tied to a chair and gagged. A white arm was wrapped around his neck, connected to a white thief, holding his head up for the camera. There was early signs of bruising on Kudo’s cheekbone, and a dazed look in his eye that screamed concussion.

His eyes flicked to Kuroba. He didn’t have his phone out; timed messages from a burner then? Before he could confront his classmate, another message came, just text this time.

Did you wake up to something missing, Tantei-san?

Nearly shaking with anger, Saguru typed his response.

This is a new low, even for you Kuroba.

The reply was instant.

Kuroba? Do you still think I’m your classmate? Besides, I wouldn’t call this a “new low”. More like… a different branch of my current low.

Saguru paled, barely paying attention to the teacher entering the room. That was no stock reply, it couldn’t have been a timed message. And Kuroba’s hands were visible.

He couldn’t be wrong, could he?

To make sure, he sent another message.

You’re not going to get away with this. Return Kudo now.

Or what? You’ll take “drastic” measures? I’m terrified, Tantei-san.

Another photo. This time, Kudo was clearly in KID’s arms, restrained with an arm across his chest. One of KID’s hands was secure around Kudo’s throat, while the other was dipping into his shirt.

His phone cracked under the sudden pressure of his grip. His eyes flickered to Kuroba who still was, maddeningly, not doing anything.

Why are you doing this?

Why? Tantei-san, you didn’t think that you were the only one interested in our favorite detective, were you?

Is this merely an attempt to incite me? You figured out my feelings and decided to mock me for them?

The confession made Saguru feel nauseous. Because he did like Kudo, romantically although he would never speak aloud about it. There was no evidence that the other detective thought of him as more than a friend and Saguru was… well, he wasn’t happy about it, but he could be content.

But how did Kuroba—KID—realize the extent of his feelings?

Mock? Tell me, Tantei-san, is there anything to mock?

I don’t know how you discovered the extent of my feelings for Kudo-kun, but I promise you, you will regret this, Kaitou KID. Kudo means more to me than you’ll ever know, and if there’s one bruise on his body, you’ve stolen your last jewel.

There was a pause in the writing, and Saguru took the moment to try to calm down, when—

Then I advise you announce your feelings soon, Tantei-san. Otherwise, I might decide to keep him.

The third photo, Kudo being forced to sit on KID’s lap, his sleep-shirt unbuttoned, lecherous grin on KID’s face, one of the thief’s hands reaching for—

He slammed his phone down on the table, the screen cracking.

“KUROBA!!”

“Hakuba-san, sit down!”

***

Kaito hummed merrily as he unlocked the entrance to his KID-cave, the threat to his secret identity now safely defeated. Sure, he nearly got choked out by Hakuba, but the teacher had put a stop to that, giving the detective detention too. And with that detention, Kaito was sure the Brit’s father would no longer allow Hakuba access to his manpower, since it was only because he thought Hakuba “mature” that he had the officers to stalk him everywhere.

Finally, he could relax—

“Are you going to unchain me?”

“Tantei-kun!” Kaito smiled brightly at the detective he had chained in his basement. Kudo was easily able to get up from his armchair and move around—the chain connecting his leg to the chair long enough so he could get to the bathroom and minifridge—but unable to escape. Kaito was a considerate kidnapper after all, especially since he had to sneak Kudo in through the sewer entrance to avoid the police outside.

At Kudo’s side was the cell phone used to aggravate Hakuba. Kaito had gotten a glance at Kudo’s work after pickpocketing Hakuba and it was good. At least, it sounded close enough to KID and worked Hakuba up into pseudo-confessing, so score.

Kaito bowed. “Thank you very much for your assistance in today’s trick. You made a beautiful assistant!”

“So long as you delete those photos, I don’t care what kind of assistant I was.” He tossed the phone at Kaito. He caught it with one hand. “When you asked for my help, I thought it would be for something more serious.”

“This was serious!” Meddling in the love lives of his favorite detectives was extremely serious! With how emotionally repressed the two were, they’d never end up confessing. Speaking of which, Kaito leered at Kudo. “So, did you realize why you were so effective in enraging Tantei-san?”

Kudo looked away, face stoic but there was a light flush on his cheeks. “…I did.”

Kaito smiled, satisfied. “Then my task is complete. Just make sure to name one of the adopted babies after me~!”

The comment was totally worth the soccer ball to the face.

[waywardnerd67]

The Great Purge of 2018

I’ve been pretty silent since the news came out of Tumblr’s new guidelines. Where, I believe my blog will be fairly safe since I don’t post any NSFW gifs or pictures leaving my NSFW in words of my fics. That does not mean that I’m not greatly affected by this cleansing of adult content. 

I follow so many amazing writers and content creators on here who provide an amazing outlet for those of us who do not wish to go on porn sites but want high quality erotica to read or look at. For those people, who are genuinely creating amazing works of art I’m truly grateful for all you do and I will go whatever you go in order to support your works. 

I’m sad for those who are deeply affect by this because the porn bots have ruined something that is special for us all. Something that has been a refuge, a safe place and somewhere we have made lifelong connections with people all over the world. I feel frustrated, upset, sad, angry and to one simple question. Where do I go from here?

I am opened to suggestions from fellow writers as to where they may be posting their fics at. I think AO3 waiting list is obnoxious but if it’s worth the wait then I will definitely consider going there. I have also considered wordpress and paying for my own URL which is not completely out of the question. 

So, what will happen to my Tumblr blog? As of right now, nothing. I am holding off on announcing my new series until I figure out where I will be. I have ever single one of my fics and aesthetic boards saved on my computer so I can always repost them somewhere else. I will keep my blog up and running but to be honest, with Apple taking it off the app store I have noticed my Tumblr app running slower and having more glitches. That is obviously where I do more of my Tumblr surfing on. So, we will just have to see what will happen there. 

For now, the search begins for somewhere I can feel safe to post my writings without the fear of them being deleted. If any of you are leaving Tumblr and would love to keep in contact please feel free to add me on any of the social media listed below. Once I figure out where I will be posting my writing I will be announcing it on there. 

Twitter: waywardnerd67 Instagram: waywardnerd67 (this is SPN specific)                   nikkibecker86 (personal Instagram) Snapchat: waywardnerd67 (hardly use it but maybe if I had more friends I would)

This is not goodbye. I’ll still be around and my inbox is always opened. I just maybe a little silent with all the changes. I love you all. 

@staff From a blogger who hardly to nothing has anything flagged, I hope you come to your senses that there is a difference between quality art and faceless porn bots. Because, I do not appreciate you deleting people’s blogs who I consider family and love completely. Shame on you, for lumping all adult content in one mindless category. Time to learn the difference between consenting, beautiful works of art and blood sucking, scamming, virus ridden porn bots.

Nerdy Out!  

Tagging The Nerd Herd: @waywardbaby @carryonmywaywardcaptain @anotherwaywardsister @ladywinchester1967 @dwgrl1903 @akshi8278 @ericaprice2008 @mirandaaustin93 @spnbaby-67 @time-travel-bouqet @1967-essentialghoul @dean-winchesters-bacon @destielhoneybee @-lovepeacenhope- @destiel745 @carribear31 @srsllydunnodoncare @whimsicalrobots @thisismysecrethappyplace @starstruckzonkoperatorbat @adoptdontshoppets @mrswhozeewhatsis @bella-ca @drakelover78 @imascio08 @pisces-cutie @mannls @the-salty-asian @winchesterprincessbride @xostephanie @klanceiscannon14 @superromijn @witch-of-letters @screechingartisancashbailiff

[mrswhozeewhatsis]

I'm all for locking away your fics if you want. But I have questions.

I know that artists are upset by the AI app that's going around lately where you can make the AI make an image in a certain artist's style or whatever. I can understand being upset by Joe Shmoe using an AI to make something and then saying that it's the same as if he'd drawn it himself. I get that.

And if this AI were making actual novels that made sense beyond a couple hundred words, I'd probably feel more threatened by it. Further, if it were writing novels in a certain author's style and someone was making money off of it, then I'd be very upset.

But that's not what it's doing. It's reading a whole lot of stuff it finds on the internet and then writing stuff based on everything it's read.

What's the difference between an AI doing this and another person? I mean, all writers are basically doing what this AI does... Before I started writing, I read all kinds of writing, and then took what I liked to add into my style.

And, from what I understand, it doesn't even do it that well. It can't hold a storyline together to save its virtual life. It only stays cohesive for a few hundred words. And it doesn't write without a prompt.

I'm also looking at this from the same angle that I have to view my photography, though. Chris Schmelke (of Creation con fame) once said that he doesn't watermark his images because, "Once they're on the internet, they're already stolen." Writing is harder to "steal" than images, but we've seen enough cases of plagiarism in the fandom, whether it's a story stolen word for word or just retold using slightly different words, that we're not immune to it.

How is this AI scraping our writing any different than any other writer reading our works and then using the parts they like to write a new story?

And this isn't even that. This is an AI being given an equation and the AI spitting out the most likely solution based on all of the equations it's seen before. That's why any mention of Steve results in an answer with Tony or Bucky. It's also why it can't write for shit, because stories are more than equations.

The only sticking point I can see is that someone is making money off what this AI produces, by the word. It's always annoying when someone takes your work, which you know you can't make money off of, and then makes money off of it. Take it from someone who's watched scam accounts sell photos taken at Creation cons (where we do NOT have permission to sell the photos we take there). It's galling to see someone get away with something that's wrong. However, that's not really what's happening here, either. This AI isn't "writing" a story that's eerily similar to a fan fiction story someone wrote and selling it. It's selling the answer to the question, "I've written the beginning of a story. Based on this beginning, what would most of the writers in the world write next?" (Can't say I would pay money for that answer, myself.)

The bottom line for me, I think, is that when I post something on the internet, it's out there for people to steal, already. Do I maybe want to prevent Elon Musk specifically from stealing it? Maybe. He's a douche. Do I think there's anything I can really do to prevent him from stealing it, no matter what I do? Nope. If he REALLY wants my stuff, he'll make the AO3 account he needs to access my stuff and then scrape it, anyway. (Please don't come back with how this wouldn't work. He's a douche and douches always find a way to be a douche.)

I do want to hear serious arguments about this, though, because maybe I'm wrong? Maybe I don't have all the facts? Please tell me if you think I'm wrong in my feeling that once I publish my works, if someone really wants to steal them, they will find a way. If I'm wrong that this isn't just another case of whatever you put out there into the public domain isn't yours, anymore. I want to hear from you!

I love it when anons/guests find my works and kudo/leave reviews, but given the new revelation that Elon Musk is using bots to mine AO3 fanfiction for a writing AI without writer's permission, my works are now archive-locked and only available for people with an AO3 account.