Watch out, folks.....I think the top of my head may just blow off at any moment. Something I just encountered in Blogsville has made me realllllllly angry.
I rarely look at "Blogs of Note" because I haven't got enough time to keep up with my own chosen 'blogs of note', but, for some reason I just clicked on it and took a look at the anointed few. Whoops. Holy Crap. Who is responsible for this abomination?
I suspect it may be very bad form and maybe even blog-suicide to criticize, but I am baffled and incensed by one of the selections........something called Amazing Facts. This particular post consists entirely of 26 exquisite drawings by the sainted artist, Edward Gorey....in fact a complete reproduction of his epic alphabet entitled "THE GASHLYCRUMB TINIES". There are several things that are driving me to the point of detonating, the first being that the artist and author is NOT even give a line of credit. I consider that to be a crime against genius and should be punishable by something much worse than death....(I don't know right now, but don't worry, I am working on it).
The second point that is agitating me to a dangerous point on the gauge is......since when is simple outright plagarism to be rewarded rather than condemned. Aaarrggh. Grrrrrr. And other letter combinations of the same ilk.
What makes it all even worse, is that there is no identification as to who is responsible for the blog and therefore no way an indignant person such as myself can make her feelings known to the perpetrator. Urk and Faugh!
..No, seriously, my darlings.......how can this happen? And do any of you know of any way of making this right? How does one communicate one's annoyance with the purveyors of "Blogs of Note"? And how does one identify a dastardly, no-good, dirty, stinkin' cowardly thief who not only gets away with his crimes but gets a medal for them.
All I can say on the positive side is.....if you have to steal from someone, there is no one better to steal from than the blessed Edward Gorey.
Sob. I have just discovered that Blogsville is NOT perfect after all and this really burns my fanny..
The New Yorker covers: June 14, 1976
7 hours ago
Leave the Blogger of Note a thoughtful comment. There are so many of us out there blogging from beginners to experts. They may appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeletethere are simply sites that are created to suck in visitors...trying to scrounge centimes of ad revenu by ripping off other peoples content...or there are just people with blogs that just plagiarize...loads of people on the net dont think twice about ownership and copyright and credit...they honestly think if its out there its free to take...sad...sometimes people have their blog posts copied onto these sites uncredited...
ReplyDeleteOh now, well, that makes me bonkers. Edward Gorey rules.
ReplyDeleteAt the top of the blog there is often a "report abuse" link.
ReplyDeleteIf there isn't one on that blog of note - you can report a terms of service violation
http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/request.py?hl=en&contact_type=main_tos
I'm with IntenseGuy and those folks move pretty fast, too!
ReplyDelete"Urk and Faugh!" is going too far, Missy; don't you think? There are people in the 60s reading this, you know. (Or, maybe this is just sour grapes because I wasn't on your list... no, no, it's okay... I'm just sayin'...)
You might want to do what I do, every once in a while, and Google your own writings. It's amazing what you'll find out about yourself on someone else's site -- especially, if it's good information. No, the information highway has many users who are a different breed with no sense of integrity and think nothing of grabbing good copy and using it as their own. (Even had one dude tell me I should be flaterd (sic) that he had used it!) Grrrr...
There, there, now. Here's a nice cuppa hot chocolate and a fresh Krispy Kreme... that should make you feel better. Come visit when you can...
Thief!!! (not you; the B of N) Keep us posted!!
ReplyDeleteGoogle Gorey; see if you can find who his stuff is copyrighted with...
I ran into that once, where a story was presented as the blog owners' own...and worse yet, the guy had written books in the past and was an *actual* author, and here he was - presenting someone else's story as his own, no credits. I wrote him a note right on his blog and politely (with my email of course) told him I did not appreciate this oversight and I will no longer be following his blog and will NEVER buy another book of his (never mind that I am friends with another popular author with a #1 bestseller in the US that he WORSHIPS) He sent me an email with an apology and then later when I looked back to his blog....he had posted a credit. Really, if he could have done this in the first place, he could have avoided embarassment and trouble. What got me was all the comments (until mine) complimenting him on the story.......
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Intense Guy's suggested course of action. It is a real shame this has happened but I hope it does not ruin you view of blogland. It's mostly a lovely place to be.
ReplyDeleteThank you for letting me know the facts on this one...I have never checked out Blogs of Note before...I was kind of suspicious when I was the first to comment...most reputable blogs are followed and have several comments already left for them...I have feeling that Blog of Note need to redefine their own credibility and maybe should be avoided if they particpate in this type of under minded social media....thank you for letting me know...
ReplyDeleteI left a message on that "Blog of Note", pointing out the copyright violation. I doubt if it will appear, since the blogger moderates comments. But at least he's been put on notice that someone, well, noticed.
ReplyDeleteMy dears.....just want to tell you that I have taken a few feeble steps regarding the above abomination. First I wrote comments to many of the people who commented on the bastard's blog telling them of the real Amazing Facts.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a comment to the perpetrator himself letting him know he has been found out in his plagarism.
I also wrote to a name I found while searching for the source of Blogs of Note........someone who has something like 27540 followers and told him the whole story and asked him to pass it on.
I hope to contact Gorey's copyright holders and let them know as soon as I catch my breath and stop being so riled up.
Thank you all for your support!
OK, fine. I admit it. Sometimes I recycle old essays: mine. I plagiarize myself quite often. It's usually the best material out there. LOL.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though ... you go girl! It makes me wonder if people ever rip off my blog. Since it's ... ummm ... such good stuff ya know.
"First I wrote comments to many of the people who commented on the bastard's blog telling them of the real Amazing Facts." Well, that was a very good idea. I suspect quite a few readers were aware of what he had done, and he only lets through the comments that are praising him. (Notice how they all sound very much alike?) All we can do is shine a little light.
ReplyDeleteOk Lois - as an English woman the most fascinating thing about your blog (apart from the obvious content and your anger - go girl!!) is the following..... 'really burns my fanny'??? What on earth does that mean?? Does it mean it gives you cystitis? You get Thrush?? Or what??? :) :) Smiling as I type as I can almost hear you say the words - but no clue as to what they really mean!!!
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs
Liz x
Just checkjed the "Blogs of note" to find said offender and see if there was a link to report, or at least comment. I found the"Amzing Facts" blog and the post from March 6th 2011. There is now a blurb at the top of the post, before the pictures, crediting Mr Gorey and detailing where the pictures are from. Hopefully the blogger read your post and realized the wrath they were about to incur and decided it was best to give credit where credit is due.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what "Boogs of Note" are Lo, but it looks like you have plenty of support in your attempt to stop the offender, and I'm glad. I pray that one of these creeps doesn't cause you to stop your blogging,,,When you have a new one on it is the bright spot in my day,,Your blogs are wonderful,,and I now all of your followers would agree with me!!
ReplyDeleteHi LO..You go girl! Tell it like it is..hopefully the situation has been corrected. My Forgotten Old Photographs Blog was featured as the Blog of Note in November..:)
ReplyDeleteIt appears that *every* post and photo is plagiarized on that site. It looks like they are scraping interesting images with no credit. Sites like this drive me nuts!
ReplyDelete