A conclusion

[citrinesunset]

I've seen some speculation about the kudos feature on AO3, and whether it encourages people to give kudos in lieu of comments, or encourages people who might not want to comment regardless to leave kudos instead.

Now that the feature's been around for a while, I honestly think it's the latter. At least for me. I get more kudos than I ever did comments.

I also get them sometimes on older fics, which is kind of neat. I hadn't thought about it, but I think AO3 is probably a much more convenient way for people to find and read fics that are more than a few months old.

Comments

[xtricks.livejournal.com]

I agree that it's a great way to keep older stuff available. I'm trying to move all my stuff there -- I've got about a decade's worth of work, through three or so fandoms. I feel though, that the kudos are replacing comments. I don't care all that much but I'd rather have comments, even if they're just 'loved it!' or whatever.

[citrinesunset.livejournal.com]

I think I have most stuff over there that I want to have over there. I'm not sure I want to put everything I've written on there. I'm in the habit of uploading stuff to AO3 immediately after I post to LJ and DW, so I'm pretty much up to date with new stuff.

I prefer getting comments, but I haven't seen any evidence that the kudos are replacing them. I've only ever gotten a few comments over on A03, and I think most of them have been for my Yuletide stuff (where comments were more expected), so I think most of the kudos I get are from people who, if the only option was to comment, probably wouldn't comment.

[smirnoffmule.livejournal.com]

I suspect it's some and some, with the kudos replacing comments. As a reader, there've been times when I left someone a kudos (and kude?) when I probably wouldn't have commented, and times when I've thought about commenting, then thought fuck it and left kudos instead. It is nice to get kudos on older fics and know people are still reading them - a bit like the function to favourite a story on ff.net, except I think I prefer that because it serves the reader as well as the writer - and people often favourite and comment on ff.net. But AO3 in general just doesn't seem to have a great commenting culture.