"Along the Way" to Plagiarism

I don't typically spend my Saturday night blogging, but something just happen that I want EVERYONE to know about.

I was robbed.

No, not "doors knocked down, tvs missing, glass smashed" kinda robbed.

I was stolen from, on here.  My blog.  My precious words were taken from me and used as someone's own. And I feel violated.

Here's what happened:  Y'all know I have another blog where I feature Friday Daydreams right??

ATTENTION BLOG STEALER: I am the writer behind R We There Yet Mom? (& the Friday Daydreams)

I like to visit all who link up.  So I had a late link today and went to see her "daydream" - it was a lovely one about her honeymoon - I really loved it - and typed up a great comment about it, thanking her.  As I hit to save my comment, Blogger must have known I needed to see a little more of her blog, because it didn't save my comment but instead re-routed me to a post on her blog titled "Ugh Facebook".

I started reading it and thought to myself - "that's weird, that sounds a lot like the one I wrote in July about The Facebook.  THAT'S CAUSE IT WAS Y'ALL.  my post.  mostly word for word.  Right down to the Jake Ryan & HEB reference.  At least she took the references to my kids out if it.

So what's the first thing I do??  IM all my IRL blogging buddies - they convince me to ask her to remove it.  Which I politely do:

And cause they all have nothing better to do on a Saturday night, they all left AWESOME comments telling her their opinions of stealing someone's hard written words too.

Oh how I love these girls!!!!!!!!!

Now I am not naive enough to think this never happens.  I am sure MANY unethical bloggers out there steal other's posts.  I just never thought anyone would want to take mine.  (ha ha).  Am I flattered? Not.At.All.

I worked hard on that post - put the time in to make it witty - and to top it off, it was a meaningful post - I have seen some relationships ruined by Facebook - as silly as it is, writing about The Facebook was rather cathartic for me. And to have someone take my words from me feels just as violating as if they broke into my house and took my tv.

And after a little googling and some advice from some friends, I learned that I have a copyright on anything I publish here on my blog.  In fact, did you know:

1. You DO NOT have to put notice that your material is "copyright protected" on your blog.  YOU AUTOMATICALLY have copyright protection.

2. Even if you credit the author (but have not asked permission to use their materials, photos, etc), you are still in danger of copyright infringement.

3. If you do feel like you have infringed on someone's copyright, just because you take it down off of your blog, you are not out of danger.  That person can still go after you in court.

(BTW, I found this information on Copyright Law: 12 Dos & Don'ts.  I did not plagiarize their material to post it on here.  If you would like to hear their version (which sounds much more technical), you can do so by clicking here. )

No, I'm not going to go after someone in court over my family blog.  It was a mistake that she got caught in and received a good flaming.

I know I put myself out there by posting my life on the web....that anyone can read..... I have done what I can to protect my family (I don't use their real names - come on, Sissy & Bubba? ).  I have started putting watermarks on my photos so they won't show up on bus advertisement in Europe (true story y'all).  But it's a gamble.

She didn't knock down my doors.  She didn't steal my tv.  It's just a blog.  I really do have it all in perspective.

Just don't do it again, ok lady?

BTW - My sweet friend, Vivienne, came up with this title.  I asked her permission to use it.

Facebook

I am addicted to the Facebook.

Shut it.

You know you are too.

But lately, some things that have been happening on it have made me a little jaded.

It was so cool 2-3 years ago when everyone started using Facebook.  I had so much fun reconnecting with old high school friends.  Seeing that the really hot Senior (think Jake from Breakfast Club) is balding & uhem...larger now.  Or that the girl who had it so perfect in college has been divorced 3 times and has 6 kids.  Or seeing that the guy you predicted was going to become a rocket scientist in your yearbook, actually did become a rocket scientist. Yeppers - fun.

And it was really cool to see that twice-removed cousin and his 2nd wife and 4 kids are at Disney World right now.  Or that former co-worker from 3 jobs ago (what was the name of that company?) ate sushi in NYC for dinner.  How about that your boss's wife is getting a facial in preparation for a trip to Spain? Or that your neighbor down the street just stubbed their big toe?

All VERY important things to know.

Even better....I love the amigious status updates like...

"I can't wait for tomorrow!!"

why....come on tell me...I am dying to find out!


"Some people just don't know when to keep their mouth shut!"


Spill it sister, what did they say??


or my favorite:

"UGH!"


cause that tells me a lot.


I guess it's better than the constant complainers, "It's so HOT!" "I hate my job!!" "I am sick of......"  I don't like to hear you complaining in person, why do I want to read about it.....

At first it was fun to see that so&so's kid's made the honor roll or scored a goal at a game or got commended on the TAKS test - we are all so very proud of our kids and just want to brag..... (I do this as well) but when they start looking like this, they are getting out of hand...

"Today, Daughter X, did a front flip while holding an egg on a spoon and reciting the Declaration of Independence in less than 30 seconds!!!!!"

It's as if we are trying to outdo one another - who has the BEST child out there???

But the worst lately are the check-ins.  I don't need to know that you went to the HEB (for lemons), then Starbucks (for a Chai latte), then the post office (for stamps..duh!), then to Marshall's (to return some shoes).....seriously. I. don't. care.

Many like to check in at places all together when they do stuff - I guess to show they have a social life, so the rest of us at home can feel like losers?   Cause they weren't out at the nightclub too?  I totally used to do this...until I saw the implications first hand (and that was some ugly drama).

Don't get me wrong. I don't hate The Facebook.  I look at Facebook multiple times a day.  I still post updates. Especially if my kids do something quirky or funny.  I still post pics of the Bubba bear all the time - someone out there likes them cause I get comments on them.   And if I am "checkin in" it's cause I'm at a unique place...with my family...

Facebook isn't bad - it's just stating to make me laugh.  It's like everyone tries to "out-do" everyone else in real life already, now we have a social medium to do it on too?  It just gets to be too much.

and I'm movin on....some really cool chicks from Oklahoma taught me all about the Twitter - there's no bragging going on over there.....