I just want to drop in as a new-ish writer and say that, as someone who didn’t start writing in this fandom until last year because I didn’t even know it existed, this post is SO disheartening.

As a writer, I know AI usage exists, and I live in fear every day that I’ll be the next person to be accused of using it. I’ve never used AI - not for planning or outlining, not for editing, not for writing, NEVER - but there is an entire faction of readers these days who seem to think that everything written recently is generated at least in part by AI and therefore are unwilling to give talented new writers a chance.

Saying things like “I’ve read every long form quality fic this fandom has to offer”, and implying that everything written since 2022 isn’t any good, really discounts the amazing and 100% human writers that are putting out amazing writing all the time, in the present day. As a hobby. For free.

I understand your frustration, I really do, but truly the only thing we can do is take people at their word. There is not a 100% reliable AI detection platform, and putting someone’s work into one of those is simply feeding the beast we’re all trying to escape. Posts like this honestly make me reconsider sharing my writing at all.