@gaditb people publish stories on the internet because they want strangers to read them. (if you do not want strangers to read your story, do not publish it on the internet.) the purpose of a fan archive (which is not a real archive, but that is what they are called) is to connect strangers with stories that they want to read. the goodness/success of a fan archive is thus measured (among other things) by how well it manages to connect (the right) strangers with the stories in its holdings.
it is not hard to do a bad job of this. just post some links online. but it is hard to do a good job of this. and the latter case is what i am talking about
@Lady
"""
people publish stories on the internet because they want strangers to read them. (if you do not want strangers to read your story, do not publish it on the internet.) the purpose of a fan archive (which is not a real archive, but that is what they are called) is to connect strangers with stories that they want to read. the goodness/success of a fan archive is thus measured (among other things) by how well it manages to connect (the right) strangers with the stories in its holdings.
"""
I agree with the first parenthetical, but don't agree that the first sentence (or the last two) follows from it.
I think "strangers can read and enjoy your story" can and often is a side-effect of other, more direct, reasons why people might publish stories on the internet (for themself or for friends), even if "strangers, too" are a perfectly acceptable outcome.
And I think if they have different primary reasons, then those should be a fanarchive's primary measurement of goodness/success.
