u/Advanced_Hornet_8666

I know, I'm preaching to the choir now, I'm being Captain Obvious, et cetera. However, I was reading a positive comment to my fanfic these days and then I had a breaking point.

I've been writing and reading fanfiction since the golden age of Mary Sue of the 2000's. And then I started a more serious activity in 2023 when I finally found the right fandom that encouraged me to actually finish my fanfics and write without insecurities. I remember how nice and uplifting it felt to receive nice comments. I know what an enriching experience it was to read well-written fanfictions to kind of mirror your own writing and find ways to improve.

And then, GenAI happened. I remember the uproar, and I remember how I actually read this one fanfiction I truly appreciated the writing of, I praised the author to the skies and back, *and* even learned some new words and techniques from (I'm an ESL); only to put 2 and 2 together after I got educated on AI and discover all the textbook signs of a machine word vomit. I had no words for how cheated I felt, but also felt like a fool for not noticing before. This set a precedent for staying on the lookout for any signs of machine intervention in both fanarts and fanfiction, and we had to adapt fast - and what a shit shit world to have to doubt the veracity of what used to be a *human* dominated field, but also to create yet another ground for division and hostility between people.

And then, bots happened. For the past year I've seen countless posts of all sorts, forms and shapes of bot comments, always adapting, always tricking the system, always finding ways to infiltrate the space of man-made hobbies practised freely and purely out of love for the craft. And they're persistent and just like a pesky kitchen bug, they never die. And what they managed to create is a general state of paranoia and frustration.

Did you receive an AO3 comment notification? Well, if a few years prior you could jump up'n'down at the thought of a fellow fan leaving feedback, well, buckle up and don't keep your hopes up, lest you'll be sorely disappointed. Especially if you've written a story without much engagement, and the only comment turns out to be a stupid nasty bot.

Even so, let's leave aside the obvious signs - standard machine language and invitations to external websites. Nice positive comment written in a much-too academic format and barely relevant to your plot? Well, if it's signed under a guest account then chances are it's a bot.

Alright, but what if they create an account (yep, happened to me last week)? Then learn quickly that nowadays they create accounts and *doubt*.

Alright, but what if despite the language, it's got both an AO3 account *and* relevancy to your story? Well, let's learn that they might have adapted further *and* be sure it's gobbled up your work too for lmm.

Okay, but what if they have an AO3 account, stick to the point *and* their language is not too formal either? Well, it might be an actual human being, *ooor*, could be that bots are adapting further.

I hate it. Years ago, you didn't have to doubt the engagement you received. Nowadays, you *have to* doubt everything and look for signs it's actually worth your trust. You have to doubt the reality. Heck, I see more ads in television with AI made "humans" than actual people. Tomorrow I'll even have to doubt the ground I'm walking on. What kind of creepy simulation is this, anyways?

I just fucking hate it, man.