See, I can see the point that, if someone is writing purely for fun and/or sees fanfic as a social activity rather than an artistic one, there's no point in giving them concrit. They don't want concrit, because they don't see what they're doing as an art or a craft - it's a gift exchange. I don't see it that way myself, because even if I'm gonna give someone a gift, I want it to be a well-made gift that they'll actually enjoy. But I know that many people do approach fanfic like that, and I know from long sad experience that trying to convert them to my POV is only going to end in tears.

BUT, and this is where I part ways with the be-nice-to-authors crowd, concrit and reviews are two different things. Reviews aren't for the author. And if any authors out there fondly imagine that because they've never seen anyone discussing their work in less than adoring tones in public, that their work never gets discussed in less than adoring tones, they're in for a sad surprise one of these days when the bubble pops. No one is so popular and brilliant that everyone likes their work. God knows I've stumbled across a "Man, that Barb C is sure over-rated," conversation a time or two, and bitten my tongue, sat on my hands, and quietly back-buttoned away.