If the dislike was known to both parties, you might preface the feedback by saying "I know we've had our disagreements, but I had to tell how much I enjoyed X". Assuming you did enjoy X, that is. Personally, I'd be thrilled to receive good feedback from someone I'd had issues with, because I'd believe it more from them.

You know, I am thinking, I know more than one person from Days Of Old who would respond to Connie's perfectly nice "we've had our differences, but..." overture with snottiness. Isn't that sad?

My advice would probably be to say nothing directly to the author and instead do things like recommend the story to other people, who might themselves send feedback. I'm all about the avoidance.

The mad snickers from this corner is the result of my name and "perfectly nice" being joined in the same thought. Miss Manners is my guru, and I've learned how to hide the knives behind blameless courtesy. Apparently people would rather I swear at them rather than use exquisite politeness.

Yes, I've seen the "You spoke to me! I am mortaly offended!" reaction. I generally sigh, mutter a "feh", and move on.

I dunno. I get feedback all the time from people I...I won't say "dislike". Perhaps I will say, "find to be an idiot." I might not want to kick back and have a martini with them but I appreciate that they liked something I wrote enough to comment on it.

Also, unless you prefaced your feedback with, "You might know me from f_w," it's entirely possible the author would never even make the connection.

Snacky, I would leave the feedback without mentioning f_w. If she gets snotty about it, ignore her, cos you have done the right thing.

As writers, would you want feedback from someone you don't like? As readers, would you send feedback to someone you don't think likes you?

I meant to take your survey on livejournal, but then Rasputin struck, and I ran out of time.

As a writer, I welcome feedback, and it doesn't matter if it's from someone I don't like. (Unless, of course, I don't like said person because our fandom regularly convenes to discuss the DEFCON status of said person's crazy.)

As a reader, I've most certainly sent feedback to a) people I don't particularly like, and b) people I think probably don't like me.

(I mean, aren't there great works of literature by execrable human beings? And does that make the literature any less important blah-blah-self-important-cakes?)

Basically, I guess I'm just willing to encourage the production of things I like, no matter who's producing it.

I will not get involved in the fight on BBF. I will not get involved in the fight on BBF. I will not get involved in the fight on BBF. I will not get involved in the fight on BBF.

What are they fighting about now?

Don't get involved in the fight on BBF, Dana. Point and laugh at the fucktards you want to scream at. Much more relaxing that way.

Whether or not the use of the word "fetish" to describe slash is offensive.

Well, actually, most people have stopped arguing at this point, but the person who made the initial post is apparently on a crusade to exonerate herself. Or just piss off everyone in listening distance.