Rip Off Merchants
Posted by anthonynorth at 17:29, 17 Oct 2007I've just posted this on Beyond the Blog. I think it is important to all bloggers.
...
It isn’t often that I get angry but some things go beyond the grain. My good blogger friend Writer Chick has recently been informed that one of her posts has been placed on another blog as if written by this blogger.
An investigation by others in her community led to the discovery that other bloggers’ posts have been repeatedly ripped off. Read the subsequent thread here:
http://writerchick.wordpress.com/2007/10...
It is beyond belief. It looks like blogger power has now closed this blog down.
But there will be others, and no doubt there have been others in the past. However, I think it is up to bloggers to unite to say we will not let this happen. This is all about a writers’ integrity. It is wrong.
Now, I’m not talking, here, about linking to other blogs and posts. I encourage people to link to me, especially my research on mysteries. Ideas are there to be shared. But not ripped off.
This is a different thing altogether.
We’ve all heard a lot of the power of the internet. But that means nothing without integrity. It means nothing if we cannot speak up – shout out – about our indignation when this sort of thing happens.
So let’s use the power of the internet in this instance. We bloggers need to put out a clear message to the low lifes who think they can capitalize on other people’s efforts. Blog about this, and let your community know that we will not take it.
Anthony North
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Comments
7 February 2005
1 year 3 weeks
their heads!
good grief the nerve of some people
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Hi Marissa,
Absolutely. It seems to happen a lot. Some time a stance must be taken. Even though ...
...
... I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
2 May 2004
5 days 8 hours
This happened to TDG a few years ago, the news briefs were being copied and pasted -- jokes and all! I think they apologised and stopped doing it.
When I eventually get my author website up and running, it's going to have a big phat (C) COPYRIGHT RICK MICHAEL GNED in neon letters. As a writer, I couldn't think of anything worse than being plagiarised -- well, not getting published (self or paid) is another!
1 May 2004
5 hours 21 min
no matter the technology or system and no matter what it is, some people will always abuse.
I wouldn't be surprised if there is not one honest person out there who has not been effected by some fool who can't get their act together and be a good human.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Good morning Guys,
Very true, Floppy. Any system that is devised by man will be abused by man. I think it's wired into everything we do. It's this thing about having 'choice'.
On the other hand, without those choices we'd all be amoral, and I wouldn't want that. So we're stuck with the bad, which is why we must shout out against it.
I look forward to seeing this site, Rick, and good luck. I don't know whether my own publishing experience will encourage or deflate you.
I first sent something to a publisher back in 1984. Since then I've had over a thousand rejections.
It wasn't all bad. In the early 90s I had over 200 pieces published on the UK small press, and in 1996 the first of two books was published. I also had a dozen or so articles in The X Factor part-work.
Then my publisher was bought out and the MBS list closed. I quickly got another publisher, and my third book was about to come out in 2000 ... then they went bust.
Nothing since.
...
The secret of life is optimism and broad shoulders
Anthony North
1 May 2004
5 hours 21 min
you know that choice, free will, is what makes us free within ourselves. True freedom is to do what one wishes when one wishes with no consequence. This can only be achieved when any form of malice or harm to others is not entertained in any way.
The conscience of the world population now is a soup of differing opinion and confusion. This is what has caused "free radicals" to abuse and use systems and technology for personal gain or disruption to get a moment of thrill.
Any system or business without a plan will collasp or implode when the size reaches critical mass.
This planet is not far from critical mass in this respect. I'm not preaching doom here, we will go on but whether we go back a few spaces or forward is up to the greater awakening of the populace. Sort of like a game of snakes and ladders. Except the majority can controll the dice.
I can't see the past, but I can see the future, or rather many futures. The pendulum is slowly swinging to a favorable outcome but still only 40%.
There are a few who understand this, they have much to loose if we, as a race, achieve a more understanding and happy, free lifestyle. Which is our right.
But it is the isolation and confusion of induviduals who have been deprived of further understanding that creates the problems you speak of.
More to it....until true understanding of what we really are is known, then this is all we have. But this is many years away....maybe decades..depends!
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Hi Floppy,
I think you're right in some essentials here, but ...
... I always have a 'but', me :-)
Whether right or wrong, we are within the process of history. We can guess what life was like prior to history - a kind of cyclic existence. But we're in history and we advance.
Accepting this, I think we advance, essentially, because we feel frustrations and want to change things. This works on both the historic and personal level. Such frustrations are usually caused by the 'bad' things in life.
Now, I'm not saying bad things are acceptable, but to a point, if they weren't here, frustrations would ease and chances are we'd fall out of history and back into the cyclic. I'm not sure whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing. But I think it better to try to form more of a balance WITHIN the process of history.
Which brings me to the 'critical mass' you speak of. Yes, all systems fall, or at least adapt. And the planet may well be facing such a possibility, but is it because we are marking time?
We've descended into a kind of trivial existence, and I think this is because we have temporarily forgotten who we are - homo curious.
We discover things, we do things, if there's a mystery or a barrier, we conquer it. We're explorers in every sense, but the next stage - space - is scaring the hell out of us.
Some time we have to go - discover, again, who we are in history. And I think it is something that will be beyond government, and a planetary undertaking. If we do this, your pendulum will swing well in favour of a good future.
...
Reality, like time, is relative to the observer.
Anthony North
2 May 2004
5 days 8 hours
I look forward to seeing this site, Rick, and good luck. I don't know whether my own publishing experience will encourage or deflate you.
Strangely enough, it encourages me, Anthony. I'm actually looking forward to my first rejection letter. I'll stick it above my computer to spur me on. If I have to wallpaper the entire house with rejection letters, so be it. JK Rowling was rejected by every publisher under the sun for almost a decade before her little manuscript about a boy wizard was picked up. Stephen King lived in abject poverty, even after his first novels were published, until he started to find success. It'd be nice to be King or Rowling, but all I ask from my writing is to pay the bills and maybe take a nice overseas holiday once in a while. I write not to be rich and famous, but because I love it.
Sorry to hear about the bad luck with publishers. Small press are notorious for closing down, it's a cutthroat industry. Have you considered self-publishing via a Print On Demand? It can lead to a publishing deal, as Greg has proven with his Dan Brown guide. Greg's 'Publish Yourself' subsite is excellent, by the way, I feel guilty for not being involved in it. Plus you have TDG to plug your book!
I'm pretty realistic that even if I do get published, I'll still need to hold a day-job. Hence going back to university to finish a degree, possibly teach english overseas for a year then consider a Dip Ed for teaching properly. At age 34, I've had enough of dead-end jobs, and a step backward is necessary to take two steps forward.
My writing's suffered because of this, even though my major is Professional/Creative Writing. But I'm sure once I get to the business end of the degree, the inspiration to write will come roaring back. Until then, it's a little bit each day. I'll get there eventually, just like Aesop's tortoise (I'm an Ox in Chinese astrology, which might have something to do with it).
I remember The X-Factor magazine too. Wow, that's given me a few flashbacks of Sunday afternoon Dungeons & Dragons games. Those were the days. ;-)
PS Have you read Am Writing Blindly by Roger Rosenblatt? I'm not sure if, metaphorically, I'm stuck in the Kursk, but what do you think?
Keep writing, mate. Never give up.
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Hi Rick,
For many years I've considered my writing to be above everything except my family. I will write regardless, I will write - DID write - even if people aren't there to read it, I will no doubt be writing on the day I die. It is what I do; it's as simple as that. And the article is right on this point.
Yes, more success would be appreciated, and since coming on the internet I've found a good audience. I can live with never making it big as a writer, but if we don't dream ...
I've thought of print on demand on several occasions and may eventually do it. But I'm giving the traditional method one last chance after not bothering for a year while I got into this computer thing.
And one thing I've found. The frustrations of rejection DO spur you on to get better ...
..
I'm certain of only one thing. Nothing is certain
Anthony North
14 June 2006
1 year 42 weeks
hello Anthony,
"I will write regardless, I will write - DID write - even if people aren't there to read it, I will no doubt be writing on the day I die. It is what I do; it's as simple as that."
So there you have it, so whats the big point when someone else puts his/her name to it afterwards. I fail to see reason here, besides from it being an ego thing. If you have something to share is it to be exclusive or not, if not, then the more people read your words, the better. I would think. Is this because someone might make some money out of it ? How about a hundred blogcopies of your blog is it worse or better then ? And why not do it yourself ? I have a blog and ive seen copies of it, but really i dont mind, the bigger the reach the better.
I really don't understand this outrage.
A matter of choice;
Intimidation, corruption and lies, or serenity, sharing and sincerity.
26 February 2005
29 weeks 1 day
How do we stop people from plagiarizing and hoarding our identity? A person is posting my photographs, trying to write and mimic my style, my theories and slides are used in presentations, my personal thoughts are being written as if they were their own, my personal property is being hoarded by this person while thinking they will have my soul if they have my things, writing now in the area of research that is my field and I am receiving emails about that asking me what is going on and I can not say only to my close friends. Very personal thoughts and ideas have been taken from me and used as if they were this person's with no credit or mention of my name. Monies have been taken from me, you name it, I am going through it with this person who has even plagiarized books I own they have read and then written papers on the subject matter as if it were their own new and exciting insights.........now, that is bold .......... It is like they want to be me and they are stealing from me any way they can. Even my crystal balls and very - very personal collectibles thinking that my vibrations are on them and they will pick up my thoughts and feelings and be more like me because they want to have clairvoyant abilities like I do, they want to be like me.......it is very freaky........really scary and hurtful. Many lies too and well, what can I do? I have legal papers drawn out for a few months now, but, I really do not want to do that. How do you stop a person who does not understand ethics and the words please do not do that? This has created much trauma in my life and I am very depressed about it, very depressed. I think I am more angry than depressed actually....well, it is a F88cked up scene with no end in site. I have asked for help from 2 people who were to be close to this person and you would think they would want this person to stop doing what they are doing and get some guidance- but, no. They did not help. I have written abuse departments and have to do all of this other stuff too. But, I have written this person and they do not respond and if some one else tries to contact them, they over talk the other person and dominate the conversation with lies and weird shit and then hang up -- real professional huh? There is also larceny and criminal activity that I am dealing with and just waiting now...unreal...all this person has to do is stop all the unethical things he is doing.......It has hampered me in my writing for sure because I am not in the free frame of mind to write what I want to write that is important to me. I am drained from the tension of having to write legal papers, abuse department papers, notes, journals, lists of things, retrieve old emails and fax them, it is negative paperwork. I am on hold. So, how do we stop people like that? Any one have any suggestions? Wow I just see now what all I wrote, yeah, I am mad. If I hit submit, well, then I will have to live with this. Mirror , mirror on the wall......................please..............I need help.
I am a writer too, I will always write. I have never written for the intension of it being a high paying profession (that is why this other person is in trouble using my personal character as they want to support themselves off of writing alone , but, they have run out of personal material and are not creative), I have written because that is a part of me and always will be. All my life it has been so strange and unusual that people had told me I should write a book about my life. It is something I have not really had too much interest in, although I know that my life story would be a good read to some one who is into that sort of thing. I am in other's books, and other's publish me and I publish others and then myself too on the site, so that is good. Also, the Grail is a good place to write about things that are on my mind or share unusual interests too. I think all of us who post are writers......at least we are people who are trying to tap into our thoughts and express them, which, I do think that at least is good. Also, we share, that is good too. There are benefits to being a writer. It is difficult to keep up the success of writing once you have hit it. I see people beating themselves up and writing crap just to fulfill one more book with an editor because of contracts and agreements. It has nothing to do with personal art form or drive. That is where the system fails. I believe that writing should be driven from pure self motivation, not from pressure of quantity of books or fulfillment of some agreement. Most writers are only good for one big one and then after that, well, you do not hear from them again or if you do the quality of their books keep going down and they are writing other's ideas and concepts with a twist of their own placed in it. Well, that is what I have experienced, maybe others have experienced something different.
C
I just saw RHO post ---- and you say it is ego, you are correct. It is our ego that gets hurt when someone takes something of ours that is personal and places their name on it. If it had no value or worth of some kind why would a person do it? Somewhere their is value to it of some kind and what ever value that is, that is value of another person's energy. Maybe it is not the same value placed on it,but, it is energy just the same that is taken to create it. Would you care for your loved one to be taken from you and renamed and placed into another's care? Heterosexual or homosexual, it would not matter, I am talking about a loved one that is taken from you - could be a spouse, or relative, then they are placed into a different orientation and taken from you. How would you feel. I am using loved ones as writing is generally a loved art form if one is truly a writer, it is a passion - so I used a passionate character as a analogy. An entity we are tied to in a passionate way.
You seem to be acting as if you are above this with plagiarism, I do not think that you are. You may just not be a good writer or it is not a deep passion within your heart and you have a hard time relating to us who are writers. It is like being a musician. There are a lot of crappy musicians that will want to sit on stage and play ( jam) with out any realization of how their shit music will affect the quality of the other players while they are doing a session. They will not get off stage and continue to play. Once they have had their fill or are finally escorted off stage, they will wonder what is up with the players on stage and why the players did not like them jamming with them on stage. Well, they are unaware that their music SUCKS.....and should only be heard in the shower or garage. Same as writers, some have it, some don't and the ones who don't have it will never relate to the ones who do. So, with that, you have freely expressed yourself and I think it would be interesting just how far we could take this and see what you were to write, if of any value, and then it was placed some where with some one's name on it and it was some thing that you had put your love and care into for a different reason than what was being projected by what was being portrayed by it being plagiarized. Well, I am having a hard time trying to say what I mean, but, I think some of you will understand. Yes, it is ego. Without ego we would not survive. You act like having an ego is bad. It is healthy to have an ego. It is unhealthy to not have an ego or one that is out of balance, as one would have if they are plagiarizing others. It is our ego that drives us to write. It was your ego that motivated you to write your post. This is just my opinion however. Yes, it is my ego that is deeply wounded from this person hoarding my character. It is my ego that keeps me aware and cognitive. It is my ego that makes me unique. Yes, I am defending writers and egos.
XC
Dr. Colette M. Dowell ND
Circular Times
www.circulartimes.org
www.robertschoch.net
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Well, Rho, I think Colette has nailed it. When I write, I place my mind for all to witness. It is my mind, containing my ego, containing who I am. Who I am is Anthony North, and no one else. And I will defend any writer's right to have their name next to a title, on a cover, containing their writing.
It is proved by just about every book you pick up.
...
Reality, like time, is relative to the observer
Anthony North
22 November 2004
9 min 57 sec
Repeating someone else's writing is ok, and is honest. As long as the repeater does not claim to have written the material himself/herself. By assuming the credit, the copier is being seriously dishonest.
I think it is even ok to quote someone and say just "someone said XYZ" if you don't have a good source. But presenting something as one's own thought, when it is not, is a lie. Also it is theft.
Not the same as copying music - if Bubba Jones gives away Rolling Stones songs, and the Stones don't get paid for it, nobody will believe that it is a Bubba Jones song.
Taking credit for what someone else writes is the same as deliberately misquoting them. How would Rho like it if I posted somewhere, pretending to be Rho, that George W Bush is the greatest US president in history? It would seriously distort Rho's reputation.
I just think that we need to be honest about what we say.
----
For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Well said, Earthling. I've missed your input the last few weeks. Welcome back.
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
14 June 2006
1 year 42 weeks
Hello Earthling
"Taking credit for what someone else writes is the same as deliberately misquoting them"
So the signed name changes everything Earthling ? I dont think so. Form (the name/author) and content ought to be different, alas its not. Suppose mr North is a well known writer who blogs under an alias is he demeaning his words, misquoting/misrepresenting them ? If John/Jane Doe puts their name under it does this debase what is written ?
If you wanted to control copying as in ctr/a there are ways available but then you need to take out your own website. Bloggerspaces are owned and controlled by others. The moment you deliver your thoughts in words to these places, you effectivly share them with the world. If people are taken in by that and decide to copy verbatim under their name that's irritating, if you find out, you can do something about it. But what if it happens and you never know, are you going to worry over the possibility, best not.
Earthling you mix up blogcopy theft with identity theft, latter is a serious problem these days and it will likely get worse as computers more and more get the last say. Your Canadian bordercontrol f.i accepts any madness US homeland security files, middleaged women have no chance entering Canada if they've been arrested at an anti-war rallye.
A lot of people in this world dont get the credit they deserve, but when you blog you first and foremost credit yourself and thats a good thing which nobody can take away..for the moment.
22 November 2004
9 min 57 sec
Ok, Rho, first let me say that this has nothing to do with the US or Canada or any other country.
Also, it is true that many people do not get credit for their original ideas.
That is why I think that we should strive to be more honest, in any form of publication. Blogs, traditional journalism, TV, Hollywood filmss, whatever.
I don't see how less honesty can be an advantage.
It is true that with faster media, such as blogs, we don't always know where a thought or a statement comes from. And such thoughts and statements can be worth repeating, if they have merit. That is fine.
What is not fine with me, is Bubba Jones claiming that he came up with the thought himself, when he perfectly well knows that he just copied and pasted it.
Blogcopy is ok, as long as they don't represent it as their own original work. And I repeat, it is even legitimate to say "I found this somewhere, don't know who said it, but here it is" and then copy. That is honest.
As long as people don't claim credit for what they have not done.
It is not about money, just honesty. We can copy, repeat, paraphrase, and re-interpret all we want. It is a good thing. But let us just stay honest, as best we can.
----
For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Good morning everyone,
Let's put it like this, Rho. Ideas cannot be copyrighted. This is correct, otherwise the free flow of ideas could not occur. But it is still common courtesy, if you know where the idea came from, to credit that source.
This is to do with good manners. Taking someone's very words and claiming them for your own is very different. The ideas those words represent cannot be copyrighted, but those words were a job of work, and for work, people get reward and recognition.
It applies to any form of work in any sphere. Take that away, and I think you'd find society would be very different.
...
I'm fanatical about moderation
Anthony North
1 May 2004
5 hours 21 min
...that you captured the essence of the right and wrong of this very well.
Rho's idea is, in essence correct but dosn't allow for emotional and or personal feelings behind the words of the author.
If your thoughts and opinion on any thing is strong enough for you to convey it in words to reach out to people, then this is personal and should be treated as such.
If someone is so lacking in self strenght to the point of "stealing" others personal property,ie.their thoughts in words, then this is nothing more then stealing.
Theu are not stealing to feed a family or to just survive, rather just trying to gain from others hard work.
How anyone could see this as something you just need to tolerate is beyond me.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
14 June 2006
1 year 42 weeks
Hello,
I think this is a growing pain, i asked Anthony before would he be satisfied if his words were copied a hundred fold but without his name ? Or are the ideas he conveys only valuable when his name has been put to it ? What is needed here is to make that jump, beyond the ego. Ideas are much more important then the person stating them.
The whole credit thing makes me cringe, the chinese woman making mattell dolls earns 2 dollars a day, the Mattell executive makes as much in 2 seconds. Anthony gets the credit at his blog, which he undoubtely values, but as he states is not responsible for his drive to write at all.
I keep my (advance)position here, i'd prefer to be read a million times without credits, then to be credited for a thousand. Thoughts count not man.
A matter of choice;
Intimidation, corruption and lies, or serenity, sharing and sincerity.
1 May 2004
5 hours 21 min
......to do with credit, it's to do with violation.
"Life can be whatever you want it to be, as long as you do what your told."
LRF.
22 November 2004
9 min 57 sec
Yes Rho I can see why we should advocate the free spread of ideas. That is a good thing, it will benefit humanity eventually.
What I do not see is how taking credit for someone else's ideas will help.
No credit given is one thing. Taking credit for what someone else has done is quite another.
With your example of the poor Chinese worker, I say to you that the people who take credit for other people's work are like the Mattell executive, not the poor Chinese worker.
And besides, how much effort does it take to copy-paste the source of what my fictional Bubba is copying, after Bubba copies the article?
I say it takes no more effort than to put Bubba's signature on it.
Except, in your observation, Bubba wants to enlarge his ego by taking credit for work that he has not done.
The original content that people like anthonynorth and many more supply is already free. Now the folks who dishonestly put their credit to it want to take economical advantage of things that are freely given to them.
----
For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.
10 August 2004
4 hours 57 min
Writing, in my opinion, is a very personal matter. My own writing firstly takes me months of thought and research, hours of typing and editing and when I think it is finally done I feel as if I've given birth to something. It contains my heart and soul and I feel a very justified pride in putting my name to it.
Were someone to take my words and present them as their own I would feel very angry. I would also feel I had lost something precious - a part of myself.
Rho - if you don't care if others put their name to your writing, I can only think that you don't really think much of your work and so wonder why you bother to write at all.
Stealing someone else's words is a bad, bad thing and should be countered when and wherever possible. I completely agree with Anthony.
Regards, Kathrinn
13 April 2007
1 year 33 weeks
Good morning everyone,
Some great comments here, guys. One further element of this is that it is often the case that the originator of an idea is often as important as the idea itself. This is evidenced by the success of autobiography.
Out of curiosity, and sometimes integrity, we need to know the thought processes behind an idea - where it came from, what social or cultural processses were involved in the idea formulating? These things can be important for furthering knowledge.
Similarly, ideas develop through time and various minds. We need to know the progression of all this. Hence, without knowing the people behind the idea, scholarly research simply could not be done, and we would have missed a great deal of important knowledge.
I think the poet would appreciate this the most. His words really are his mind, and are best understood with knowledge of that mind.
...
I'm certain of only one thing. Nothing is certain
Anthony North
22 November 2004
9 min 57 sec
I agree that, to understand the message, the author can be as important as the literal message. Consider this example:
"A single death is a tragedy" - by your pacifist grandmother
"A single death is a tragedy" - by Josef Stalin, when he followed this by "A million deaths is a statistic"
I just think that honesty in quoting is important. As is honesty in presenting one's work and ideas.
----
For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.