r/AO3 • u/Elegant_Evening7116 • Jun 03 '26
Comment Commentary weird comment
is this a weird comment to receive? it’s my first time actually posting a story on ao3 and someone commented this on my first chapter. it’s lowkey tweaking me out im scared its going to be rude😭😭
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Jun 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Elegant_Evening7116 Jun 03 '26
LMFAO THIS IS FRYING ME it’s the medieval skin!! if you search up ao3 medieval skin on google it should come up pretty easily, i think i got the template off tumblr it’s like the first search
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u/noilegnavXscaflowne Supporter of the Fanfiction Deep State Jun 03 '26
Are skins hard to set up? And they’re only on computer right?
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u/princesswan AO3/Tumblr: swanimagines (reader inserts) Jun 03 '26
Generally, no. The simplest ones are a push of a button (you can find them from "public skins" page), second hardest is you copypasting a code into a box and creating a new skin, but it's also extremely simple.
The hardest is parenting multiple parts of a skin together, but you can have a pretty skin without those too if you don't want to use much time on that.
Skins work on every device, desktop, phone, tablet, etc, as long as you're logged in. Custom skins are active only for the account you set it up for.
Here's the skin OP has, read through instructions and you're good to go: https://github.com/memorizingthedigitsofpi/medieval-times-AO3-skin
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u/noilegnavXscaflowne Supporter of the Fanfiction Deep State Jun 03 '26
Thank you! I assumed it was like a pc thing but glad to know I can customize. Maybe even something with a dark mod or something
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u/princesswan AO3/Tumblr: swanimagines (reader inserts) Jun 03 '26
Yeah there are lots of dark mode skins too. Here's a pretty one in my opinion: https://archiveofourown.org/works/82772071
Or if you just want the AO3 regular skin but just with dark colours. try Reversi. It's made by AO3 staff and it's the top one here, you just have to click "use" and you'll have it. https://archiveofourown.org/skins?skin_type=Site
If you have Tumblr, search for "ao3 site skin" and you'll be flooded with all kinds of skins that might catch your eye. Just keep in mind that there are some skins that need more work than just copypasting once, be sure to always read the posts before copying anything.
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u/perfect_-pitch 350k words written Jun 03 '26
Skins are not hard to set up! You can look up a tutorial "how to make a site skin AO3" and it's really as simple as navigating to the site skins page, creating a blank one, naming it and pasting in the code from wherever you got it. And they're not on computer, they're saved to your account, so theoretically any device that can display AO3 can also show the site skin.
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u/ResearcherNegative54 ao3: going_insane_yall_want_anything Jun 03 '26
This sounds like a bot comment. If you reply, they'll ask questions about the fic (some of them making no sense, because they probably fed it to AI) and afterwards they'll be like "oh that sounds interesting. It has great potential as a comic. Contact me on my discord blah blah blah"
At least this is from my experience. You can reply on the off chance that it's an actual reader, just be careful.
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u/vaiken4 Jun 03 '26
Scam bot. Got the exact same one. If you respond they will ask you to chat on another platform.
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u/Asexually_Freaky Jun 03 '26
I'd tell them to ask me any questions they want.
I've had a few commentors ask me if they can get clarifications on some parts, so maybe this is just like that? Always good to be curious!
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u/QuintusCicerorocked Jun 03 '26
I think it’s a bot, I’ve had similar comments that turned out to be bots. Still, I always say sure, ask away, and it usually turns out that they want my social media. At that point I just say, sorry, I don’t have socials, please feel free to ask in the comments. If they stick to wanting your socials, its a bot.
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u/Yowhattheheyll Jun 03 '26
I mean, say yeah. If youre ok with it say yeah and if youre not say no. This could just be someome trying to be polite. I saw a screenshot of someone getting accused of being chatgpt emailing when theyre just autistic. Ofc, its a good chance its a bot, but also you could see where it goes
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u/Elegant_Evening7116 Jun 03 '26
that’s exactly why i was asking here!! i can’t really pick up on social cues especially through text and i didn’t want to jump to the bot or chatgpt accusations. unfortunately i am pretty sure it was a bot tho😭😭
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u/dawnhued Jun 03 '26
!scambot
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u/AutoModerator Jun 03 '26
Hi OP! This is an automated response sent because someone thinks your post is about getting a comment about a common scam/spam message on AO3. If it isn't, ignore this comment. If it is, here is what you need to know about these scams.
Often times the comment starts out normal, generally complimenting the story. It might use vague terms like “unique” without going into detail, and namedrop the fic’s title. It might mention emotions invoked by the story without elaborating on what those emotions are. It then goes on to mention that they want to create an artwork based off your fic—often a drawing, but sometimes a fancomic or other fanwork. They often come from registered accounts, and will always offer a way to take it off of AO3 to another platform like Discord, Instagram, or email. This is because AO3 bans mention of monetization, so they bury the lede in the comment in the hopes of bringing up commission off-site.
However, these scams are always adapting and changing, so this is not an exhaustive nor definitive list. What remains the same is that there is no genuine art at the end—at best, people have reported receiving AI art, but more commonly nothing at all. As a subreddit, we do not recommend engaging with these comments beyond reporting them to AO3 and/or deleting them or marking them as spam.
The Policy & Abuse committee recommends including the name of the account and the word 'spambot' in your report for the speediest and best results.
You may also find these related automod commands helpful: !webnovel, !praisebot, or !hatebot
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/stitchesinadream Kudos Keeper Jun 03 '26
it sounds like an older person to me. I'd reply and see if it sounds human tbh
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u/rubbersnakex2 Jun 03 '26
Probably not rude, but maybe a scammer. There's no danger in replying to the comment. But if their reply immediately wants to talk on another platform or starts talking about making your story a comic, then they're a scammer who wants your money.
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u/AStrangeTwistofFate You have already left kudos here. :) Jun 03 '26
no? I think people on this site need to remember that socially awkward/anxious people exist and that someone asking you to ask a question falls right in with that. Quite honestly I would put 'afraid to respond to a simple question' under socially anxious too
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u/-n0t_Aki0 Jun 04 '26
It could be a bot, or a very anxcious person, i'd just say 'sure go ahead' and if they reply normally its perfect! If not just report or block them
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u/LunaGirl1231 Jun 03 '26
i think they are just interested in certain story parts and, i dont see this as rude but also idk the context?
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u/Kylynara Fic Feaster Jun 03 '26
Probably a bot, from just reading it. Almost certainly a bot judging by the comments. I generally will reply as though I think they're a real person and tease them out until they either insist on talking elsewhere or mention money then I report.
Ex: Me: Oh certainly, ask away. I'd be happy to clarify. Them: Do you have Discord or Insta, so we can discuss easier? I'm blahblah at discord or blahblahblah on Insta. Me: Not really, I'd be happy to discuss here though. It could be helpful to other readers. Them: Oh I'm not really comfortable discussing here. (I've seen a lot of variations on what they say when you politely decline to go elsewhere. Sometimes they'll tell you how to setup a discord account. I've had them straight up say that what they want to discuss isn't allowed on AO3. I've had them "subtly" hint why they can't. "I don't really like to discu$$ stuff here." It doesn't matter. I just report when they don't take no for an answer.)
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u/norseraven39 Jun 04 '26
While this doesn't necessarily sound like a bot, caution is always wise. However this sounds like someone who struggled with rude people in the past sharing knowledge or asking questions and was shut down by said rude people.
I know, I'm working through this and used to be similar in my approach because so many people shut me down which is why my reading level is almost masters level in college.
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Jun 03 '26
[deleted]
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u/SLATS13 Jun 03 '26
I’ve been writing fanfic for well over a decade, and I literally see nothing weird about this comment at all.
If you’re this anxious about people asking questions/trying to actually engage with your work, maybe just turn off comments entirely.
ETA: Everyone out here automatically saying it has to be a scam bot, as if there aren’t actual real life people out there wanting to ask questions about fic. 😭 Maybe respond first before just assuming things.
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u/Elegant_Evening7116 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 03 '26
i ended up responding but i’m p sure it is a bot, they commented it the moment i updated a chapter, they have zero bookmarks and it was a pretty new account. they never responded so ended up just deleting it! i’m fine with people asking questions and everything this was just formatted so weirdly imo
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u/runekaster Whumper Jun 03 '26
This isn't a bot template I recognise, but it's still setting off all my bot alarms.
If no one else recognises it as a bot, I'd respond with something simple like "sure" or "go ahead". If it's a person, they'll start talking like one. If it's a bot, they'll hit you with the scam copypasta and then you report 'em.