No, why should anyone do that? Being a gold member doesn't mean you can write well. It simply means that you pay to support the site, and get a few perks.
There are plenty that don't even write and some that should think about giving up.
If you are refering to the mods, I still don't. They tend not to write in the categories that I like. However, I've yet to read a poor story by a mod. They might not be my sexual cup of tea, but they are well written.
Not at all. I tend to read stories that fall into my favourite genres that are well written. Their membership status has no bearing on this.
I don't. I tend to go by genres I really enjoy.
~ I think people just read whatever they are interested in, or think they might like. I think people might read a friend's work, (GOLD Mem or not - and I need to be because I am out of storage space for pictures!), but mainly fav genres.
It has zero impact on what I read.
To be honest (for once), I seldom ever look at the profile or even the avatar of the person who posted a story. To me it's the genre and the first few lines that will capture my ever-shortening attention span to warrant a read beyond the introduction.
All that taken into account, I very rarely even read most of the works that are published by authors that I am currently following. Again, it depends greatly on the title, genre, and the must have - a great opening line or two to entice me enough to open the story.
So.... No!!! Gold member or not, I will read the stories that draw me in by their penmanship rather than the color of their assorted badges!!!