So, I found one of my posts reprinted on another blog, and one kind of used and changed to fit her own post. I don't have a problem with people using my work. But I do mind when it is reprinted as if it was their own.
That being said, is there really anything that can be done about it besides asking the author to give credit or remove the post (which I did, we'll see...)? In which case it's entirely up to their discretion. And I rather think that if you are going to plagiarize in the first place, chances are you aren't going to observe the niceties when someone says please and thank you.
In the end, it's the internet and anyone can take what they want from anywhere. It's not really a big deal. But I put serious thought into some of these posts lol. Surprisingly easy to get attached to silly words on a page isn't it.
I have a bunch of comments to respond to, and I'll get there. I just find myself rather irritated at the moment lol.
When this happens to me and it has a couple of times I generally think two things, pride and sadness. Pride because my words meant enough to some one that they would make them their own. Sadness not at the state of the internet or the world in general but sadness that someone has need to express themselves and cannot find words of their own to do it.
ReplyDeleteSir J,
DeleteI'll admit that it is pretty far from my first reaction lol.
But I think that is an admirable, and probably quite healthy, approach.
This was actually the first time I have seen my writing referred to somewhere else felt disappointed rather than honored.
lil,
ReplyDeleteHow sad for you. It's one thing when you take someone's concept or overall vibe and write about that with your own thoughts and not link to the blog...but something else entirely to steal their words and claim them as your own.
Really?
Totally agree with Sir J on this one..
Hugs,
mouse
mouse,
DeleteI know right? I have been inspired many times, and quoted other bloggers more times than I remember, but I never wanted to pretend their words were my own.
Totally agree with above comments. Me? I think it's a tad ignorant because how can it not be intentional? Oh.......... and very cheeky!
ReplyDeleteDee x
Dee, yes lol, just a tad cheeky.
DeleteCheck into copyrighting your posts. You are a gifted writer and because of that you are more likely to be plagiarized. I do agree with Sir J's comment.
ReplyDeletesunnygirl,
Deletethank you.
You can report the blog.
ReplyDeleteConina,
DeleteI thought about it. Blogging about it was my way though I think because you lose credibility by doing what she did. Especially when people realize it.
I find it bewildering to have a blog then steal someones words. Since I write for myself I do not care what others think of my blog. But I have talked to other poets and read "there work" just to find they have stolen other poets work.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad thing to claim the work of others. It must be frustrating. How did you come across the post?
My blog http://mysubmissivelife.blogspot.com
Kindred, right? doing something for self expression kind of loses its point...
DeleteI found out about it by clicking on a blog one of my followers follows.
She also happens to be one of my readers. Apparently lol.
I'm sorry that happened lil. That was a great post. Hopefully she will take it down. I was tempted to comment on it myself but thought better of it.
ReplyDeletedancingbarez,
Deleteat least I can say she has good taste? Lol.
Lil, I have this bookmarked, you can copyright your blog, and there is a symbol to include - here http://creativecommons.org/choose/results-one?license_code=by-nc-nd&jurisdiction=&version=3.0&lang=en. Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteI have seen mine reproduced, but always with credit, and we have the favorite posts page where I post a link to, and short description of my favorite posts form other blogs - ones that really spoke to me.
June,
Deletethank you for the information.
I have always been rather honored and surprised to see myself mentioned, or that my words inspired someone.
It was just a it of a shock seeing my thoughts displayed elsewhere as someone elses lol.
I'm sorry this happened to you!! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteIf it helps, you're not the only one the person has stolen work from. I simply googled a few other posts and almost all came up on other blogs. Such as...
This post here: http://butchskallista.blogspot.com/2012/05/real-life.html is from this blog: http://216dom.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-do-you-handle-real-life.html.
Then I googled this post: http://butchskallista.blogspot.com/2011/05/girl-i-used-to-be.html and found it on a dozen other blogs and websites.
simplyHis,
DeleteOh you are good!
My husband asked if she plagiarized the children in her pictures...Lol.
Its wrong and bloody cheeky, i can understand how posts maybe similar i think in this community of blogging its quite common i noticed to have lots of post that have similar themes. But this is because speaking for myself i may read something and it prompts me to have my own thoughts but to outright copy someone elses post is just wrong, to perhaps quote or reference someone fine but the original author should be acknowledged.
ReplyDeletehave you spoken to them about it?
tori xx
tori,
DeleteI agree--often there are common themes, and sometimes one post will inspire a whole spate of other posts, which is usually pretty cool to read.
I did leave comments on the posts she had of mine, asking her to remove them or give me credit.
Dunno if it will work, but I figured, why not?
In my public blog, I always quote and try to link back. However, in my private one for my Dom only, I often copy and paste things for him that spoke to me that other people said better than I could have.
ReplyDeleteAll she needs to do is give you credit!
I wrote a comment on her blog, sorry that happened.
Sexperts,
Deletecredit for my work and I'm delighted to see myself quoted. Makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
Thank you.
Well, since everyone else gave you good advice and consolation, I'm not going ot bother taking the high road...
ReplyDeletePeople are going to know it wasn't her original thought, the post is far deeper than the others. Kind of like walking along ankle deep in a shallow, sandy stream, Dah, de, dah, to suddenly, unexpectedly fall up to your neck in a hole filled with cool clear water.
Or... to take a hint from Sesame Street, "One of these things is not like the other, one of these things doesn't belong, can you tell which thing is not like the others, before I finish this song?"
Yeah, I'm a mean monkey today.
Monkey,
Deletelmao. I love that you didn't take the high road.
Did you read the post before it, on human nature? That was originally mine (inspired by one of your comments actually), but she tried to make it her own and it does fit in rather better with the other posts on her blog...Ruined I tell you! LOL.
Sorry this has happened, Lil.
ReplyDeleteSNP, somehow I doubt it will be the last time. I have a clearer perspective on it now though...
DeleteThat really is a disgrace and you may wish to think about sending a DMCA takedown notice. You should have no problem getting Blogger to remove the stolen post as it is clear by the post dates that these are your words.
ReplyDeleteshape shifter,
Deletethank you for your thoughts.
I think that, for me, blogging about it is the way to go. As odd as this sounds, it's bad for her credibility in the court of public opinion.
Readers know she isn't posting her own work.
Though I agree, it is rather disgraceful.
I would suggest you do a web search on "scraping content" and you will find a number of articles suggesting various steps you can take.
ReplyDeleteYou have an implied copyright to any of your materials but the enforcement of that is or can be difficult. The Creative Commons approach as suggested by other comments is a way of putting a stake in the ground.
Unfortunately there is really nothing you can do easily to undo what has been done and because of the public nature of the internet and blogging your content is just "out there".
My best wishes to you as well.
David, thank you. I will check that out.
DeleteAnd yes, once something is out there, it really just exists in the hands of anyone who wants to use it. And for the most part, that's pretty cool. Except when it's not lol.
Fuck 'em. They are not worth your timer energy. Maybe a quick comment on their post that says "I posted the same thing months ago, but you already knew that!"
ReplyDeleteTTFN
Mr. No Name
Mr. No Name,
DeleteI did come to the conclusion that, other than a short post, there's not much to be said for spending a whole lot of time and worry on the issue.
I've had this problem as well, lil. Based on my research, David's right in his comment above. You can post a copyright notice on your site, you can send a note to the blog owner asking them to stop (or at least give you credit), and you can contact blogger and ask them to take action, but there's really little beyond that you can do. Even if you do get this one site to stop, there are probably a dozen more you don't know about doing the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI just focus on creating my own content and figure that those who are interested will eventually find me.
Jake,
Deletegood point--I stumbled on it quite through accident. It is probably quite a bit more common than I realized.
Though why someone would rather use my words, still escapes me lol.
I stopped by her blog and gave my thoughts on it. You have every right to be upset over this. I love the way you put a lot of things because you capture how I feel so well at times but once again they aren't my words even though we may share the same feelings. It is not being honest for her to steal your work, honesty is after all at the heart of our lifestyle this thing we do, lol.
ReplyDeleteTiffany,
Deletethank you. Other bloggers often capture the things I feel with wonderful words that I just couldn't quite find. And sometimes I quote them, or go off on tangents of my own. But it's just that. I have no desire to pretend they are my own. So I never really thought about it in a blogging context(apparently with no small amount of naivety lol).
This is a growing trend. I'm in education and, while students have always plagiarized, I think the easy access to content on the web had made it worse. This plagiarizer is much like my students, too lazy to develop her own thoughts into words and too lazy to alter the stolen content in a way that might pass inspection. No excuses, but I'll bet the culprit is young and hasn't learned yet to respect the words of others as their intellectual property. All web content is seen as free and the property of all others on the web.
ReplyDeleteSublime Wifey,
Deletethis actually made me think about a group project I had in psych class--one other woman and I did almost the entire thing, and were responsible for putting together everyone's work. We had horrible issues with people not giving credit (some even quite unintentionally). We sent back draft after friggin draft...
The availability and access to amazing amounts of information and views on the internet is an awesome thing. But I can see how the unmotivated could really run in the wrong direction with it.
Oh my lots of comments which I'm afraid i haven't read. BUT I can't stand plagarism, maybe it's the academic in me. I have never plagarised and would not. Having said that i have used others pictures and cannot find their owners so have not been able to credit them, which is the right thing to do. The right thing to do also is not to use the pictures, so i have done the wrong thing there.
ReplyDeleteI should know better. I take pictures, it is one of the things I do and i have posted them on the internet. Two pictures I know of have been stolen and sucked into tumblr and pinterest... arrrgh... fine but no credit. Sooo I started watermarking and 'signing' pictures.
It is disappointing though when you find your work, your intellectual property taken for someone elses or just not credited when it can so easily be done.
littleone,
DeleteThe ironic thing is, I have always been happy to see myself quoted or referenced.
But it is a it disconcerting to see a page pop up with your words on it posted as someone elses.
In a place made for self expression, it's rather ironic.