I like the idea of crowd funding because it gives readers a chance to show appreciation for the work authors do. However I feel like its a good system only as long as no one abuses it. To my knowledge crowdfunding is a platform where people can choose to voluntarily donate to help the authors they like. I would love to if I had the resources, and I do have a few in mind who I would pick, but then I see authors who hold their stories "hostage" and tbh it is quite off putting. They make it so that you would have to pay in order to read a story and it gives a feeling of obligation on the readers part, and not many can afford to pay (me being such a case). While I can understand that authors put in a lot of time and effort into their stories (its great to see that AFF is doing their best to help them), I believe that for many readers, this platform is a way to destress from their everyday lives. So while I can understand from the authors perspective, I feel that using crowdfunding can easily become unfair for readers if its not used in the right way.

Its a very good thing coz we are giving a lot to write a story...

There are only these options for the crowdfund:

- Stories can be downloaded as PDFs
- Stories can be viewed in a single page
- Sponsors of this tier can read author-designated chapters a week in advance
- Sponsors of this tier get special mention in sponsors list
✓ Sponsors-only access to crowdfund-only feed posts

There is nothing in there about not being able to read stories... If it's just about being able to read a chapter a week early, I'm willing to wait (although I already crowdfund the authors I like). I think a lot of authors already don't get enough support as it is and I think this is just another way to show it especially since I've already been a silent reader for years.

Hmmm these are good questions. I don't read a whole lot anymore on here tbh, but the stories/authors I read have NOT set their account up for Crowdfunding. I would actually donate but at the moment, none of the authors or stories I read (that I am aware of), have Crowdfunding. As for supporting, I do support the notion of Crowdfunding because some authors on here may be freelancers who really need the money. It could also be great for the younger ones on here who need this money to support their journey to college/university. I would love to be Crowdfunded myself LOL, but I think I'll pass for now until I improve enough to even warrant charging people to read my stories. I most likely won't be using the money I get by Crowdfunding but donate it all to a charity. I live comfortably enough that Crowdfunding would just be a way for me to get extra money that I can live without.

I don't really know the full details on Crowdfunding, but I think I did see somewhere when I was clicking around that there's different tiers and certain members have to wait until they can read chapters while those who donate can read the chapters earlier? For a certain story, anyway. Not sure if that's universal for all stories, based on how you worded question 3.. but I don't know if unfair is the right word for this? I think it's very similar to watching dramas on Viki (?) if you're a member that pays you get early access, if you're not you get the access later. Does a delay in reading an update for a few days really equate to the world ending????

But, if Crowdfunding means that certain stories cannot be read on my end depending on the tiers that authors put out, I don't really care. All of the authors I read at the moment don't use it, and I also think that it's a loss on the part of the author if they really decide to restrict people from reading unless they donate. I would never ever donate to an author I have not previously read and can vouch for the quality of their work. All I'm saying is that there probably should be x amount of chapters posted for free if the author decides to make it so that only people who donate can read the story. I may be living on a decent standing ground for a university student, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to donate to every single author that has Crowdfunding (and locks it so only donating readers can read any chapter).

At the same time, I'm really conflicted because I know so many people out there would rely on reading online to sort of get through their everyday life? And not everyone is well-off to support their favourite authors. I would very much prefer the Crowdfunding scheme where maybe your donating readers get early access to chapters while those who don't, get delayed access (3 days?). It's an incentive and it doesn't exclude people who really don't have the means to pay for their entertainment. I think this sort of conflicting view I have with Crowdfunding is mainly because of my inability to choose sides. I think it's great for the authors, but it could be bad for the authors and the readers.

i like it!!! it does seems slightly unfair to me though because like... idk, people dont all have the same chances, i guess? like just because someone (cough me) doesnt have money to support their favorite authors doesnt mean they dont genuinely enjoy the stories ;;;

also side story i joined but for now i only have a paypal.me? which apparently doesnt work as well as a legit business paypal account lol. also theres the question of whether or not i have to pay taxes, and i dont want to get sued or anything for not doing taxes r i p

but like once i legit get into college and might actually need the money, ill probably find some way to upgrade to a business account and start... idk, writing for real. after all this terrible high school stuff is over ;-;