Unfortunately, that isn't always the case when others experience "writer's block" or life in a rut.
A few months ago, I read a post by Theta Mom where she wrote about having one of her posts copied and published on another blog. Of course she was outraged. She is one author who puts a heck of a lot of research and effort into her blog and to have someone just copy/cut and paste it and pass it off as original material is frustrating.
Then I read Arizona Mamma's post on Wednesday and my jaw hit the table. It's too late now but I give you my word, I saw all four posts before the "other" blogger put up an "Invitation Only" sign on their blog door. No kidding, the material was copied practically word for word on two separate occasions directly from Arizona Mamma's blog. If you want to know who, just check out her blog.
This same blogger published a photo of Erin's (The Mother Load) twin girls and when she was confronted about that picture, her explanation was that she had just googled "twins photo" and Erin's girls came up. Might work once but to have this same blogger copy/cut/paste Arizona Mamma's two posts? I'm just not buying it.
So what can we do when we learn that someone has stolen our material? Leave a comment in the hopes that someone will read it and be just as outraged as we are? Not much chance of that considering that your comment will probably just be deleted by them.
Here is what we can do though.
Get the word out.
Warn your readers and maybe this will stop or at least happen less often. Our own blogs is somewhere we can out a dishonest blogger and that information is safe from being deleted.
You can read Ian's thoughts on it Here.
Erin's post is Here.
Anyone else who does a post, let us know and we'll gladly link up with you.
Bottom Line: PLAGIARISM is not cool and if we find out, we're gonna yell about it!! If you don't believe me, check out your blog roll and I'll bet others are already shouting!
64 comments:
Deb,
Wonderful post, and thank you for doing this (and staying up late in order to do so!). I really appreciate it. I must've missed the post Theta Mom did about it, must go check.
I linked to you in my post as well. BLOGGERS UNITE!
You can also go to this FREE site:
http://myfreecopyright.com
It's great- I signed up for it and I love it! (Not that anyone would want to steal my posts....)
How scary. I'm checking out copyrighting right now.
She follows me and occassionally read her stuff (not that often as of late).
I've only heard of 2 other bloggers that had their posts entirely lifted.
One was Jennyslvania (I know I spelled it wrong) and the other is Life According to Candice.
Every time I read that another blogger has stolen from someone else I'm always shocked because I can't believe someone would do that. Why?
Personally, I know I'm safe. No one wants to steal my stuff. But I feel badly for the ones who had their work stolen.
This truly makes me outraged!
And as I said to Erin, stealing content is bad enough - but photos of our children? That's plain insanity!!!
Amen. I actually am beginning to feel kinda sad for this girl. She must be pretty confused and sick to think she can get away with stealing content and photos of other people's children. I hope she gets the help she needs. Meanwhile, if I saw photos of my own kids on someone else's site, I would FREAK. It might make more go over the edge, cuz there are just so many crazy folks out there and you never know what people are up to. I'm glad that people are rallying together to say how VERY wrong this is, though. So hopefully, it will never happen again.
Thank you, Deb! I honestly appreciate you doing this. I seriously was baffled when I learned about it. All I was doing was going over to check out the crazy girl that posted Erin's girls, and then I saw those posts. Just insane!
why would someone put other people's kids on their own blog? Maybe she mixed up her meds? Where do I sign up for the pep rally..."BLOGGERS UNITE!"
tootles,
bunny
I just read about this on Erin's blog and it makes me heartsick to think someone's out there stealing people's blog posts and pictures!
Ugh, I just lost my train of thought because one of my kids, who's supposed to be in bed, just came downstairs claiming he woke up because he farted. Oh good Lord. Can't imagine anyone wants to plaguarize that...LOL
That's a shame! When I read it at Arizonamama's blog, I also saw for myself the "stolen" posts.
Instead of going private, she may just want to stop blogging...obviously, she has no material to blog about.
I'm shocked! I had no idea this was happening! Thanks for the info!!
I just read about this on Chocolate Covered Daydreams... and my jaw dropped! How pathetic.
not only is it stealing...it's very odd behavior? A bit more than a little kooky.
btw, over from AZ momma's.
What's the point of blogging if you steal other people's posts?
Whats the point of having a blog if it is just copied from someone else? isn't the whole point of a blog to write from the heart, isn't it personal to you? ... I don't get it.
It's insane really. The crazy chick is right...it's quite possible that Erin's twins came up on a google search. But once you see that the pics belong to someone's personal blog, wouldn't you just leave them alone.
The copying of someone else's words, there's just no way to explain or excuse that.
That is all sorts of messed up. I'm glad I'm friends with the good bloggers!
When my students plagiarize, I get angry but I understand. The blogging plagiarism though is way beyond my understanding. It really does sound like illness, doesn't it?
Scary stuff.
Oh, that would piss me off; it DOES piss me off. We're all vulnerable to this. I can't begin to get why someone would do that; do they really think they won't be caught?
Thanks for posting this!
I saw AZ Mama's post yesterday, but when I clicked to read, the other blogger had that Invitation Only thing up already. That's ridiculous and sad! I would be outraged as well.
I pray for her heavy PMS, bed wetting, loose stools, and doubling over cramps.
OH SHIT, is this thing on? Testing testing testing.
whoops, oh well.
FUCK YOU BITCH do not steal our shit and this goes out to anyone who decides to steal mine or my friends or anyone I don't know's stuff.
Don't do it. Just don't.
That is all.
Oh yeah I am a new follower :)
This is just gross behavior. If you don't have enough original thoughts in your head, DON'T BLOG :) It's that simple! I've even gone as far to contact fellow bloggers and ask them if if was okay for me to do a post somewhat similar to what they have written in the past (even if it only shared a few similarities and I put a different spin and different direction on it!) It's just common courtesy.
Ha,blogging doesn't mean anything if you copy someone's writings or pictures. I don't get it.
Thanks Deb for the alert. I visited Erin's site and offered some words of support, like so many others and will do the same with the others too. The worst thing for me is that this lady used someone else's photos and passed them off as her own children. I would be horrified at that and very upset, whereas post idea copying would just make me mad.
I suggested to Erin that she start embedding the name of her blog into her photos, that way it makes it harder for someone to plagiarize them.
As I said to Erin, this lady is the exception not the rule, as generally speaking the Mom blogger community is one filled with wonderful, supportive people.
Some people are too lazy to put in the effort to be original. They are to be pitied & scorned; pitied because they probably shorthand life as well, and scorned because they surely know right from wrong and yet steal our words anyway.
Bravo MenoMom -- Out them when you see it, OUT THEM!
Seriously, people should get a grip. Why even blog, if you're just out stealing peoples stuff?!
I found you through AZ Mamma. Thanks for posting this. We do need to be united against such atrocities.
What Ian said!
That's outrageous! WTF is wrong with people?
See what happens when I don't keep up on my reader? I completely miss this stuff. I suffer so often from writers block or even know what I want to blog about, but then think maybe I should. I just don't post that day. I can't imagine using another persons words.
ps - could you email me the blog because simply if I am following them now I would like to cancel the subscription in my reader.
Thanks
I am glad that you are all calling these people out on it. I am too boring for anyone to ever steal a post from me, but good to know that there are people ready to back ya!!!!
Stealing of any kind is disgusting. Sorry to hear that bloggers are up to this no good. But they'll be discovered and sent out of the game by their own peers--not sure who they're fooling.
Stealers suck. Cuz stealers are liars too. :/
Creepy. I'm getting the instructions from Ian.
I have had this happen time and again with my old blog - another thing y'all can do for those of you that have the Nav Bar at the top of your blog is utilize that Report Abuse link up there. Blogger is not at all hip on people hijacking blogs and is usually quick to rectify the situation. I've seen stuff come down in a matter of hours when going through Blogger to get it taken care of. Just something to make note of.
Why did you feel the need to publicize something that could have been taken care of between the three people it involved? It has went from ONE pic to several, many, etc. Missy has received many disturbing emails, much more disturbing that one pic and similiar posts. She has been threatened. This has been posted about, tweeted, etc. Does anyone not see that this has turned into a witch hunt?
Gretchen
gretchenwolff@gmail.com
Wow Thanks..I had no Idea..and just read Erins..I will be on the lookout and all i can say is WTF...Im speechless..!
Why do a anonymous comment and leave your name and email..haha! Sorry Deb, just had to comment on that. I found out about it this morning over at Ian's blog. I was truly outraged at this.
That is such a shame! I do recall reading Theta Mom's post about her plagiarizer. At least the recent one got caught.
Hi there! Found you via Erin. I am still shaking my head and blinking...I can NOT believe this person! WTF?! This is unacceptable and outrageous. I guess we all need to check out that copyright site Erin recommends, and do some google Recon to see if any of our stuff is out there!
Btw- So good to see another 1st time mom in similar shoes to mine! I became a mom via adoption at age 42 and dealing with perimenopause, endometreosis and some post-adoption-blues. We've been home a year now, and for the most part I'm settling in...but being a LIL (Late in life) mom has it's challenges. Good to 'meet' ya!
I read Arizona Mamma's post yesterday about this and I was floored that someone would do this! It's outrageous and totally unneccesary! I'm glad that we have "outed" her and let it be a lesson to anyone else who tries to do this!
Wholly crap! I worry about this all the time...the writing part..and then there is the issue of the photos. It is sick and disturbed and simply wrong. Of course we can say we are copyrighted, but that can keep someone from stealing our stuff. I am going to find it but somewhere I read about trying to protect your photos...a watermark...unless you put it across the entire photo won't protect them alone.
You have got to be kidding me! The people who's blogs I follow feel like part of my family ( I'm not stalking you, I swear :) ) My blog helps keep me sane, why would you take my sanity away? I too will watch for evil blog robbers and spread the word.
I loved what Ian said....ha!
And really, did this woman not think she would eventually be caught?
I left a similar opinion in Erin's comments that you stated in your post. Had it been an isolated incident with just one photo...well that would be believable and we could write it off as a bad choice. I'm guilty of grabbing an image and forgetting to link to the source. However having full posts from another's blog copy and pasted....show us this is her pattern.
Great of you to post about this to help spread awareness!
Do what I do, write garbage.. it's not worth reading.. but it's safe..
I can not believe someone would be so worthless as to do this. What a piece of shit..
fucktard cuntwad about covers it.
Holy crap! That is crazy! What is the point of blogging if you steal others peoples stories. I honestly can't believe that happened. Plus, stole someones kids! Wonders never cease.
I heard about this from Erin yesterday. This chick Missy is horrible...she is effed up big time Great post!!
That is just insane! What's the point of having a blog, if you can't come up with your own stuff.
I hate theives!!
How dare you not have a Friday post up for me to comment on.
That's ok. I'll comment on this one again.
If I can only figure out what to say....
Thanks for this post! I think it is also important to mention simple internet safety. While this blogger in question stole articles and pictures for her personal blogging use, there are (illegal) child porn sites that steal blog pictures of kids too. I have no pictures on my blog (of people) and blur out anything identifying...I think I might keep it that way for awhile.
I was having coffee with a friend yesterday and she mentioned this. She said it made her paranoid to post pictures of her kids now. I wouldn't go to that extent for me but it is wrong. I would be mad, upset etc. It is amazing that they can be caught too with as many blogs that are out there. I am sure there are many more that we don't know of. Thanks for sharing Deb and now we all can be on the lookout for these copycatters!
That's just nuts to me. Why steal someone's blog when you yourself have not had that experience or thought. If you nothing to say just don't blog on that day or if you never have anything to say , why blog at all?
Thanks Deb for the heads up!
Wow! This is crazy and a bit scary! Thanks for bringing it to light.
I worry about this sometimes too especially when I post original photography. There is a code that you can install that will prevent (not entirely) others from copying your blog's content. This code will disable the right click thus making it impossible to "copy" and "paste". The only bad thing is it does not work on all browsers and when browsers like Firefox updates every so often, the code doesn't work. Nonetheless, it will make copying difficult.
Here's a link to the many sites that help you with the code installation:
http://www.brownielocks.com/stopcopying.html
I read this from Erin.....it is unbelieveable that someone would do this!! I bet the other blogger comes back because she will not like being private.......we will have to watch for her. Great idea doing this to get the word out!!
I just found out about this from the other blogs... OMG!!!!
Shameful beyond words.
Kudo's to you, and all the other blogs for calling her out on this.
Now that she's gone private, makes me wonder how much more she will be stealing from all of us!!!!
Well that left my mouth wide open.
People are really desperate.
Thanks for the warning.
I don't get it at all. It makes no sense to do this stuff.
And once they go to "invitation only", how do you know they aren't still taking your stuff?
Wow, I had NO idea! I'm going to read the links you listed and learn more.
Occasionally I may use another bloggers words as a PART of a story of my own - BUT I ALWAYS quote them in quotations citing their name with a direct link back to their blog.
The sharing of ideas is a wonderful part of blogging. Getting inspired by someone and seeing where it leads you. Or directly relating to someone elses experiences.
And it is the sharing of that with someone, the acknowledgment of that someone that is a part of the wonderful community that blogging has.
I'm new to blogging so this is the first time I've hear d of this happening. Outrageous. It's good that everyone is banding together to spread the word and hopefully reduce the frequency of it occurring.
Following from Friday Follow. Please stop by when you can.
http://tsue-thatswhatshesaid.blogspot.com
Wow. That is absolutely reprehensible! People who do this sort of thing have absolutely no scruples whatsoever! That's also why so many of us have to copyright our material...I don't know how much good it does, but obviously the concern is there. I'm off to see what this f*%#-ing copycat did!
Plagiarism in blogging is really strange because it's not like we're getting graded on our work! I can't imagine what the motivation is, especially to post a photo of someone else's children.
OMG Thats awful. I'm so far behind in posting. Now I need to know who that is.
Honestly I made the mistake once. I apologized throuoghly. I hit the publish button meaning to save it as a draft and give credit. But it didn't happen. I was in a rush and hit the wrong button. Run from here to there. I'm human. I felt so incredibly bad about it and apologized immediately. I still actually feel bad about it.
It happens we are all human but when its over and over again..thats another story.
Great post.
Just joined your wonderful blog here Deb. Wonderful to see so many followers. You say you're not an author: don't kid yourself. You are indeed.
Anyway, regarding this post, had to add my two cents. Someone who will not respond takes my entire VINTAGE JEWELRY BLOGGER blog at http://cruiseroo.blogspot.com and copies each post under their own name and blog. Now how's that for plagiarism, cheeky, theft, you name it. But when I actually found a link to follow up with formal complaints re such things, they make it so hard to prove it's yours that this old gal just doesn't have the time and energy for that. The only good thing about what this "thief" did and does to me is that he/she retains the links to my Ruby Lane Shop just as posted in my blog pieces. So I suppose that's a means of extra traffic for me. Incredibly then, there's a positive to this story!
Keep up the good work. Wonderful to see what you're doing is so successful and well received. Need to do the same for my LITTLE BLOGGER Blog at http://samgram.blogspot.com. It's written by a post-menopausal grandma who's become a full-time mom to her grand-daughter at 64 years of age. Believe me, it's traumatic!
Viga
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