Got issues with Wattpad?

          Wattpad, really, has been stealing the spotlight for the past years. A lot of readers get hooked in stories until the publishers found it as their opportunity to revive the almost-unnoticed literature here in the Philippines. Now that Wattpad books have been in demand in bookstores, some critics start to raise their brows and ask, "What's the benefit out of that shit?" 

         The thing is, Wattpad's full of young members who aspire to write on their own without any rules. Not all of us are professional. It is a free writing site, as it says. Hence, a lot of young readers get attracted with the stories which have plot they can relate to. 

         Other people see Wattpad books as a shame for Philippine Literature. According to them, stories from the said site is full of flaws, grammatical errors, very informal, and a bunch of flirty characters. I'll speak as a Wattpad writer, and a reader, too. Yes, some stories have flaws. Have I said that Wattpad is a site where anybody can be a part of? Whatever your age is, whether you already got your first period or not, you may sign up. Grammatical errors, that's a sure thing. I have encountered stories containing wrong grammars, and typos, but again, this site has no rule. It just depends on you if you'll continue what you read or find another. Informal? I believe it is. Some Wattpad writers write by their own standards. A bunch of flirty characters? Exaggeration is an understatement. The characters in the stories particularly in romance genre have to do some things for the sake of love. Don't say it as if you only read these kind of stuff in Wattpad. 


         "Kasalanan ng Wattpad kung bakit maraming malalanding kabataan ngayon!"  (It's Wattpad's fault why there's a lot of flirty teenagers!) 

         I doubt it. In the first place, this site wasn't introduced to become a sex chat, dating site, or whatever. It is a place where aspiring writers can first share stories and enhance their skills. It's our stepping stone. Besides, there are lots of genres in Wattpad--not just Romance, for Pete's sake. I just want to quote my co-writer under a publishing company. He says, "Wala pa mang Wattpad, may malalandi na." (There are already flirts since then even without Wattpad.) 

          Why put the blame of a-long-time-ago-issue to this site? 

          What's bad is that people quickly generalize. Just because they saw a single error in a single book, they generalize; that all Wattpad books are not worth to read and a waste of money. You got it wrong, darling. There are millions of stories in this site and you have only seen not even a quarter of it. As I observe, those who criticize Wattpad are the persons who have not even tried reading one or two. Don't say Wattpad writers are killing the essence of Philippine Literature. I mean, time changes, so as the standards of readers change. Can't other people just be happy that books start to get noticed in bookshelves in stores? Well, it's better to see a teenager reading a book than smoking, isn't it? 

        Ambot sa imo! (Whatever.)