Just wanted to weigh in on this issue, as I have been thinking about it (read: wishing for it) a lot lately! I really do hope you can add this feature at some point and I appreciate that you want to cover all your bases before releasing it, instead of adding something quickly that might cause various problems.
Over the last six years (!!) that I've been a registered user here, the best part has been finding fellow fanfic authors and readers who share the same really specific interests (and headcanon) that I do, especially when I haven't been able to locate very many like-minded fans on other sites. When I read something I really love, I have no qualms about leaving comments and letting the authors know! Recently, a few authors' work has left me wanting to discuss the shows and characters with them beyond responding to their specific fanfiction. I'm hesitant to "clog up" their comments section on a work and would love an alternative way to continue the conversation with users when things start to diverge from just leaving feedback.
Also, when users don't have any other contact information listed in their profile, it feels a little bit strange to ask them for their aliases on other sites in a public place like the comments section of their work. For users who are just readers and don't have any works of their own, it would be impossible to contact them unless they have left a comment on something to reply to.
To summarize, I love this site so much, and the addition of a PM system is something I would absolutely use. It might be the only way I could love AO3 more. ;)
Thank you for your time, hard work and consideration!
Comment on AO3 Mail Bag: PM Feature
beerbad Fri 07 Feb 2014 04:38AM UTC
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