Fangirl Breeding Grounds... aka... Tell me how much you love me...

A couple of weeks ago there was a column on RTB about author message boards and forums and how great they are, they allow authors and readers to interact. But the whole concept left me thinking "OMG, they're fangirl breeding grounds." And I almost commented this at the time, but held back as I didn't want to rain on anyone's parade.

Maybe I should have posted something, it might have opened up an interesting dialogue as to why they exist and whether or not they're really just ego stroking for authors. The cynical, mean girl in me says that's exactly what these type of sites are for, and honestly, how appropriate would it be to say "Gee, I hated this book, it had plot holes you could drive a Mack truck through" or "The heroine was whiney and TSTL"?

These sites aren't meant for critical review or commentary, they're all about the love. I've always felt author message boards and forums are for cheerleaders. Places where readers can gush and rave and thank their bestest, favorite author for writing the bestest book ever.

Unfortunately I was never a cheerleader, and always feel a bit uncomfortable on these types of sites. That's not to say I don't visit author websites, but for me these on a whole are for reference, places to find backlist and future publishing dates. And, yet you'll find several authors on my Blog Hopping Stops, all of them have interesting blogs that comment on writing and life and never feel like "Rah Rah" sites.

Maybe it's the message board/forum thing. It's like saying "I'm out here, now tell me how much you love me." I guess it depends on perspective... reader, fangirl or author. I'm sure authors love the positive feedback and fans love to talk about favorites and I've been known to have fangirl tendencies when it comes to certain authors. But, there's an invisible line between fangirl and fanatic and that's the one some readers are really uncomfortable with.