Not really. I can hit the subscribe button and if the story turns me off, I can always hit the unsubscribe button again. People might have different reasons. It's up to them about what they want to do with their story and it's also up to us as a reader (or probably seeker) if we want to invest the time and feelings for the story or not.

It totally turns me away tbh. It's just an added hassle, and the fact the author does it leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. When I search stories with a tag, I automatically avoid the subscriber-only ones. The only reason I would subscribe to one of those fics if it has a very specific plotline that I'm craving at the moment, or if one of my friends wrote it and I want to give support.

Unless it was rated story that need to put on Tiggered Warning, I usually hated subscibers only story that didn't have a good storyline.

I don't really mind them, I only read stories that are completed (mostly)

I never use that option on my stories and I usually refrain from subscribing to stories where I can't read a bit at first.

I don't use this for my stories. Don't want to force people to subscribe. Besides, that way, I know for sure the people who have subscribed really wanted to not because they had to in order to read my fic. However, certain content would require that feature though I don't have one posted that requires that yet.

As a reader, I tend to read a story that does not require me to subscribe unless the forward looks really interesting or it's a writer I trust. I just feel bad if I have to unsubscribe if the story is not to my liking later.

@rainfalling haha, aw, it's not really that important uwu

@FullmetalTitan aw, that's sad that some people may do it to avoid bullying :/ as well as to avoid plagiarisms :( that's just so unfortunate and crappy to do

@Topu-Da yeah, same here! i think the only case i'd be interested is if i knew some of the author's other work, and if they had like, a collection of oneshots or something i think i would sub in that case : ) otherwise, it puts me off.

@kyudos2you yeah, i feel the same about it, truthfully. as a reader, it actually does turn me away from stories if they are sub only lol! i understand why, as an author, it might be done, though.

@MissMinew ooh, i don't even know about contests and restrictions @_@ i only just joined here, so i guess i have lots to learn about hah!

I don't have limits of who can read my story. If someone ended up being rude and inconsiderate about my story...I'd probably just report it or block them and let it go.

Everyone's entitled to whatever privacy option they want to use. Some may have been bullied by others, so they may not feel comfortable sharing to the public but rather only a select few they trust. I've seen cases like this before on here sadly that and many plagiarisms.

Or people are simply private on here.

The Friends-only fics are... Dude, wtf?

I read the synopsis of the fic and if I like it, I subscribe. I doubt I have unsubscribed whether that said fic got disturbing or not to my liking. I simply leave it at that.

it turns me away honestly.

Btw way as an author, I would feel like I failed seeing someone unsubscribing. That's something you'll daily experience if you set your story on sub only

As a reader, it does bother me because I always feel guilty to unsub a story (since I'm an author as well). There for I'll only read a sub-only story if the description are really good. So good that I know I'll lo e the story. Such a description is rare though.

ALL my stories are subs only. There are too many people out there looking for fics to make fun of and expose authors as weird people, so I'd rather have them this way. As a reader it doesn't bother me at all. I just click it and unclick it if I didn't like it xD I'm happy with the amount of subs and comments I get so if spme people are soooo annoyed by it I don't mind if they don't read. There are plenty who don't mind, so do whatever you want :D

As an reader, I'm not completely bothered by it but sometimes it does tend to get a little bit annoying. As an author, I do want to give my readers the ability to choose themselves but often times, that is simply not possible because of AFF rules with regards to material that should be rated M and has a trigger warning. I cannot undo the subscribers-only button, for as far as I know that is. Also, for some authors is a somewhat defence line because there are people out there that want to copyright their work, plagarise or just straight out hate. With subscribers only it's easier to see who joins the club and who doesn't.

I agree with Unni_OnTaeHolic's comment, it is very discouraging to most people. It needs to be avoided especially if you're a new author. Putting a fic as subscriber only won't expose you to readers because many will not read it in the first place since they get turned off. They most probably won't bother giving you chance. Am I making sense? lol. On the other hand, if for example say I have a favourite author and I've read many of their works so I know that they're good. if one day they make their new fic as subs only, I wouldn't hesitate because I /know/ I won't be missing out.

unless there is some very valid reason behind it (controversial / taboo topic or for some reason you want to keep it more "private" --cuz people are too lazy to sub to read it lol), that option should be avoided. it's discouraging to most people.

Well, from a author point of view, we do it to make sure that if they do read it, they will subscribe and it is a bit forcing them but. As a reader, I dislike it because it feels they are forcing you to subscribe. As someone who understands both point of view, I try to be understanding as both.

i usually mark mine as sub only bc i feel like its more private. (i know im silly) but don't worry, if you have a good story, people will subs. sometimes, the story that i put lots of my work on flop and the story i wrote for fun has 3000 views lol.

I don't mind them. I mark some of my stories and others I don't for a specific reason that has nothing to do with subscribers, lmao. I generally believe they should be free to read but I don't really mind it when it's subs-only.
I don't read on AFF enough to be bothered by it, lol.

The only thing that I do think is kinda annoying is contests and shops that don't list their rules or restrictions on the foreword like - now I'm forced to sub to something only to realise I don't want to conform to your restrictions (mainly contests that only allow het!pairings). That's really annoying like - put your rules and restrictions on the foreword. T_T

i only set my /chaptered stories to subscribers only because reasons ;)

I personally hate marking my stories as 'subscribers only'. I don't like forcing others to do something while they can get it for free.
I used to be bothered about it, because I like to read a few chapters then decide whether to subscribe or not, but now I really don't care xD
I subscribe, read, and if I don't like it, I just leave the story and go searching for another one xD