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> is supporting an author on Patreon ever a "DONATION"?

It depends. Is the author giving away content for free or is it paywalled? There are both types of authors using patreon.

> then it is a purchase regardless of what someone calls it.

I'm comfortable saying that the authors who give it away for free and ask for donations are, in fact, receiving donations.

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when you donate, you are not the one who personally receives the benefit, right? if you donate a car, you are not also using that car every once in a while.

to me that is the main distinction, who is benefiting from making that monetary contribution

otherwise, it is just an issue of timing, did I pay up front or later after a tried and liked the product

> when you donate, you are not the one who personally receives the benefit, right? if you donate a car, you are not also using that car every once in a while.

If you donate to a church, you often also enjoy the perks that that church offers, paid for by donations.

If you donate to a public radio station, you probably also enjoy listening to that radio station.

I absolutely personally benefit when I donate to a web comic artist and they are able to continue making comics that I enjoy reading via my RSS feed. I don't consider this a purchase.

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