Frustration?!…. Please let me know.
Please do me a favor, read this post and give me your opinion:
I need to do a little venting… Please bear in mind that I am due to have a baby within the week and so hormones may not be at completely stable levels and please be understanding- but I really need to make some things clear.
Let me give you the background to this little vent.
I was contacted yesterday, by what seems to me to be a gossip blog aimed at mom blogs. The person contacting me stated that she had received the assignment to write a post about my blogs because that they had received a single anonymous tip (with no proof) that I was copying other bloggers without permission and that they are upset about my featuring other blogger’s posts in full. (she- the lady who contacted me, is btw the author of a crafting blog that features other people’s posts too) Just so you know (including the anonymous tip) is only the third complaint I have ever received in the last 2 years out of 1,300 published posts. BUT I have received a LOT of thank you email for features.
So, I would like to address that accusation of blog copying openly- right now, right here, for all to discuss.
I have never featured a story without express or implied permission! EVER!
First:
Let me explain how I feature other bloggers so we can be perfectly clear:
- Email Submissions projects
- Party Highlights
- Requested permission to share great stories that I find.
If I feature an entire blog post in full on my blog it is with the author blogger’s consent either implied or express as stated about everywhere I can put it on my blog, from the be featured post, the contact post, every party link… and it should be sorta obvious from the posts we feature. But here is what I mean by implied or express:
- Express consent from emails asking me to feature their projects.
- Implied consent from bloggers linking to parties with rules clearly stating that by linking to the party they give me FULL permission to post the feature in full. (which I have not been doing lately BTW, since no one reads rules before participating, and somehow that is my fault?????)
Second:
The rules to be featured are listed in my “Be Featured” post, linked in my contact post and on every party I have. I have also started re-emphasizing the full feature policy in my reply emails to be sure people understand that is what they are agreeing to. Is it wrong that I expect people to:
- Please read the rules before participating in my blog, by party or email submissions.
- Contact me directly, if they have a problem with a feature of their work.
Third:
If you are frustrated by the “full” features, I would really appreciate you contacting me directly. Ask yourself these questions first:
- Did I read the rules completely, before submitting a project or joining the party?
- Is it my story that they featured? (if not- you can bet that I did not feature it without permission granted in which case you have no right to say anything- the blog author has granted their consent- it has nothing to do with you!)
Fourth:
You may be surprised to find out that I have had my share of frustration over other blogger’s featuring my projects without my consent, as it was not listed in any rules for participating in their linkys, etc . Or readers being inspired to try one of my projects (yea- isn’t that the point?), directly coping my projects, taking their own pictures along the way of the steps I showed them and then passing it off as their own idea- ugh, very frustrating!
BUT and this is a big BUT (no I’m not talking about the one I am sitting on!) I cannot take back the traffic they gave me from features or links. I cannot take credit for my blogs growing on my own. It is all about the blogging community. Once a new reader finds a blog from a link or whatnot and they join my blog, I cannot take that traffic back, I owe it to the blog who featured a project and gave a link and I am thankful they are helping me to build my blog. I may wish they didn’t feature it in 3 months, but guess what they did, I gained new readers from it and that is that.
I should mention that I am not talking about it being okay to copy a full post without permission and posting it on a blog, that is wrong, Let me make it clear that I have never done that. I won’t ever do that, and I would be thankful if people didn’t wrongfully accuse me of doing that. Thanks!
Venting session over.
Am I being melodramatic?
Am I being unreasonable?
Please let me know what you think.
AND if you have been featured and it was a positive experience, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU- I could use some support! Please leave a comment!
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
>Well, I'm a really new follower to remodelaholic, and even I understood based on the rules you clearly outlined that I was giving you permission to post my stuff if you saw fit when I linked up. So, anyone who pays any kind of attention at all should have known. I don't think anyone has any right to be wining, personally. I mean, you clearly state implied and express permission details. AND you're a big deal. If you post someone's stuff, you always credit them, and I'm sure they haven't had people STOP following them because you've done this… I mean, duh. They should be thanking you, even if they didn't realize they'd given you permission to do so. Exposure is exposure right? It's not like you've ever stolen anything. Geez. Some people. 😉
You rock. Don't let it get to you.
>I've been featured a couple of times here and once at Polly Want A Crafter. Both were EXCELLENT experiences for me and my blog. All features were the result of linking up to the link parties. Isn't the point of those parties to get featured?? I can absolutely tell you to keep on featuring me! I love it! 🙂
>It's not your hormones, anyone would be upset. You have featured me and I was thrilled! Here's the deal, people get jealous of big blogs, no one bugs us little blogs. Just understand it is plain old sour grapes (As my mother would say) You get upset, they win, you have bigger fish to fry, in the scheme of life you're just going to have to let this one roll off your back, as hard as that is. We want this baby born to a nice calm Mommy good luck! We will be waiting to hear that baby announcement!
Carol
>You're not doing anything wrong, that person is green with envy. Don't worry about it, just get some rest and take care of you and the babe!
>Ok, here's the deal, the way that I see it. I was a morning radio personality for 15 years, which means everytime I turned on my microphone, my work became pubic. Blog posts are the same thing. Yes, it would have been nice to have every single listener give me credit, when they repeated my stories or the info that I provided. Its not a realistic expectation. If there were times when listeners did give me credit hopefully we got some new listeners out of the out of the deal. People who post original ideas in their blogs, deserve to be credited for their work but once its posted, its public domain. Im a little bit suspicious that someone would contact you because they got ONE anonymous tip, that you are copying blogs. REALLY? One tip. If the "reporter" is not willing to provide you with the person that made the accusation and the specific post that was "copied," you should totally disregard her call. The "gossip blog" pretty much loses ALL of their credibility if they can only come up with one unnamed source. Perhaps the blogger that contacted you should consider writing for a blog that doesn't give her such weak "assignments." Go enjoy the last few days of your pregnancy and keep on blogging like you do. Your blog is FABULOUS. Hugs from Texas, Tara
>I think you have a right to be upset BUT (and there is one) by airing it, you are adding fuel to the fire and giving whoever it is that is doing this, great pleasure.
I haven't read all of the comments so I don't know how the rest feel but I think you should end it with your silence. No one continues to fight with someone when they won't take the bait so don't keep trying to convince them of anything. Continue to do things your way, in the ethical way you have, and let everything else fall where it may.
When in doubt, do nothing. Just come from a side of strength and forget about it. They will realize eventually there's no story here.
>Ridiculousness! Let it go. Just because someone has an opinion doesn't mean it is valid. I used to tell my preschool kids "if someone calls you a giraffe does that make you one" no! Who cares what they think, you know the truth!
>This is probably getting repetitive, but: "I love your blog!" I love the way you put together lots of different ideas from different blogs so the entire focus is on remodelling… and not someone's granny, or their dog, or their apple preserves (not that there's anything wrong with apple preserves! I've subscribed to a few blogs from this one because of some cute off-topic comment). But I love that I can rely on your blog for REAL projects done by REAL people. You've given me so many ideas that I would have otherwise missed out on. Chin up, and good luck with bubs!
>Og!! Its gorgeus!!
Each day one sorprise!!!
What blog so creative!! Congratulations
I like so much. Very original. I´ll write about you in mine.
Kisses from Madrid
>Seriously! I am pretty new and I don't know all the etiquette regarding blogs – yet, (will I ever)? But some things are just common sense! You have done nothing wrong! Isn't the INTENT of sharing to INSPIRE others? It is on the internet for goodness sake! If you or whomever show something, especially step by step, that is saying "here is how YOU too can do it" PUUU-LEEEASE! Keep on blogging, featuring, and inspiring, my friend!! AND please feature me, feature me, say something, mention something about something I 'think' I have accomplished!!! anytime! LOL I would love it!
I am following and your newest fan!
looking forward to pics of new baby!!
~Donna
>Cassity, I am and always will be grateful to you for featuring my projects. As a new blogger, it was a complete thrill the first time, and just as big a thrill every time after that. I've found so many fun blogs through your blog, too. I think you're very generous to the blog community as a whole. And I have never thought you've done all that in an unethical manner.
Having said that~commenter #107 hit the nail on the head. That which you feed continues to grow. So I hope you stop feeding the rumors and by refusing to respond to them.
>Absolutely ridiculous. I have a hunch that you were contacted because of flat-out jealousy! The person who contacted you or the anonymous tip-if there even was one has blog-envy because yours is loved by so many. How dare this person do this to a blogger so many love and to a prego lady! I would not give this another thought, we all got your back. 🙂
>You featured a cke from my blog last year. Nothing but positve.
Who is this person, and really, she has nothing better to do than harrass you?? She must have a very small view of the world, and the bloggosphere. Really. I was amused by your rant. You go!
love your blog.
>Those stinkers! I would be absolutely thrilled to be featured on your blog. Sounds like she rides a high horse. And, if she'd had a problem, she should have come to you directly.
>I agree with everyone else. Seems ridiculous. And, btw, it is "Fourth", not "Forth". 🙂
>I think you have a right to be mad and this person! I mean hello if you hadn't featured these people they may not have gotten they traffic you KNOW they have gotten! So they shoudl just be grateful and the gossipping website should mind their own!
>wow, I'm so sorry that happened to you…I love your blog (although rarely comment, but figured you can't hear how great your blog is too many times :D) I've never thought that you did anything without giving proper credit where credit is due. I've gotten a lot of great ideas from your blog and the blogs you've brought to my attention here. I really appreciate the efforts you've put forth.
On a happier note, congrats on the upcoming baby, how wonderful!
>I posted my headboard project on your link party and assumed that you have the right to feature any project posted on that link party. I was featured and received a bunch of blog traffit due to that feature. Works for me.
>Oh, this is unreal! When I emailed you about my home renovation and you emailed me back that you were going to feature it, IT WAS AN HONOR! Anyone that reads your blog knows what posts are yours and which ones you are FEATURING. I also commented on my blog how incredibly kind and generous you were helping me learn to link back and grab buttons since I was such a new blogger. So sorry you are going through this! Pretty soon with your new little one you will laugh that you even remotely cared! Congratulations!
>I side with all of the above posts from your supporters. I find it curious this complaint and that the party involved fails to mention who the complaining blogger is and/or of the particular incident(s). By addressing this in the open head on, I hope it puts a stop to this (troll like) behavior. We're all adults. Anyone that has a beef with you should come to you direct. Write this one off and am glad you shared this with all of us so we can come to your support.
Best wishes for a magical delivery (well you know what I mean) & know you have many sending well wishes your way for all the best with your new baby to come (how exciting!!!!).