Dear You (and you should know who I’m talking to once you read this whole thing),
I wanted to email you this letter privately, but decided not to since past bloggers have tried to give you constructive criticism on your blog via email, but you didn’t react kindly to it.
So now I’m forced to do it this way.
Today, I’m here to teach you a simple lesson.
A lesson called plagiarizing, what it is, and the consequences of doing it.
The definition of “plagiarizing” isn’t that simple. How I define plagiarism is that it’s not as simple as just copying someone else’s writing word from word like other cases of plagiarism I’ve heard about when I first started blogging; plagiarizing is also when you copy someone else’s ideas and don’t credit them for it.
Dictionary.com, of course, puts it way better than I can. According to them, plagiarism is “an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author without authorization and the representation of that author’s work as one’s own, as by not crediting the original author” and “a piece of writing or other work reflecting such unauthorized use or imitation” (taken from Dictionary.com).
I get it. Sometimes you see a post you’re interested in, maybe even a post that you love, but you feel like you can add more information to it and create/write your own things onwards from there. Here’s where it gets tricky: even though you aren’t copying the other person’s words exactly, you’re still copying their ideas, which is still plagiarizing, no matter what you do.
To avoid plagiarizing, there’s two things I’ll personally suggest you doing:
1. Give the person who you “borrowed” the idea from credit in your post or even better;
2. Ask the person who you “borrowed” the idea from if they can use their idea in your post AND credit them in your post
Now let me get straight to the point – why am I writing this letter about plagiarism to you? What does this all have to do with you? What happened?
I think you know.
Two or three months ago, I was warned about you – how you were stealing ideas from someone and not giving them any credit for it and using it as yours. It went so far as it wasn’t just the person’s words you were stealing, but other things (like thoughts) too. There wasn’t anything the person, also one of my close friends, could do about it; he/she didn’t have enough proof.
It also happens that you were following me on my blog and on twitter.
I was told to watch out for you, so I did. I was now aware of what you were doing: I stopped by your blog once a week and looked at your twitter feed to ensure that you weren’t plagiarizing and on the off-change that you were, I could help my friend gather enough evidence to prove that you were indeed plagiarizing them.
And then it came.
I was alerted to this one particular book review you wrote by coincidence. That’s when I saw this paragraph you “wrote,” sounding mighty similar to a paragraph in one of my past reviews that I wrote. When I saw your review, I blinked, blinked again, and slowly brushed it off, thinking hey, this must be a coincidence right? I’ve read five other reviews for this book before from other people after I wrote and published my own review (I always like to see if I’m the black sheep for particular books or if I’m in the majority for that book). What rose my suspicions was that out of all the other five people’s reviews I’ve read, I’m the only one who mentioned that topic as obvious as it is in my review, but someone could have also wrote about that same idea and expended on it right? RIGHT?
I should have known better, but at that time, I was hoping you didn’t do that, even though a tiny voice in my head practically screamed BEWARE! I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, hoping I could trust you.
Flash-forward one month later. I continued hearing more plagiarizing stuff you were doing. And then today, I finally saw something that cemented all my and my friend’s suspicions. One of “your” posts echoed one of mine that I wrote more than a week ago to an extremely scary degree.
And there was no more denying it.
To make sure I’m not completely paranoid, to make sure that I’m not seeing things wrong, I asked multiple people, hey, is it just me or have I been…plagiarized? I provided links, received feedback, and you, dear person, should know the answer to what they said.
To make things even more undeniable, you unfollowed me from twitter right after you plagiarized from me, the exact same thing you did to my friend. Too bad you forgot to unfollow me via email (although by the time you read this, you might as well have unfollowed me that way too).
To be honest, I should have known better right from the start. Like this particular book that I’ve read a longg time ago (and consequently forgot what book it is) says, there is a no such thing as a coincidence, never mind if it happens more than once, twice, even three times. Now, that’s just pushing it.
The thing is, plagiarizing hurts. I spend quite a long time thinking of ideas, writing them, drafting them, and proofreading them. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned this on twitter before – every time I write a review, I need to make at least 20 revisions. (For those of you guys who don’t know, WordPress.org tells us how many post revisions we’ve made.) This letter itself took 33 revisions to write, I kid you not. That’s the equivalent to three, maybe even four hours. I do not deserve, no, nobody deserves to have their hard work taken from them. Nobody.
The sad thing is, it’s not only me you’re plagiarizing from, but from one of my close friends too, the very same friend who warned me about you. You do not know how angry I was when my friend told me that she suspected someone of plagiarizing her. You do not know how angry I was when we figured out that there’s basically nothing we can do before; that we didn’t have enough “solid” concrete proof to accuse you of doing anything. You weren’t there when my friend was mad and even depressed, thinking about quitting blogging even because of what you did.
But I told my friend that you know what? Don’t quit. If you quit, you’ll only let you win.
But, now, I can finally do something now.
I finally have concrete proof and all our evidence put together is just damning.
It turns out we weren’t the only ones you were plagiarizing from too.
But here’s the thing: I’m here to give you the benefit of the doubt because hey, maybe you didn’t know that what you did was considered plagiarizing (although I HIGHLY doubt it). Maybe you didn’t give us credit because you didn’t think you were supposed to (again, I HIGHLY doubt it). Maybe, just maybe you’ll change your ways after reading this letter.
I’ll be nice – you don’t have to delete any of the posts you plagiarized from me (although I doubt you’ll keep them because they’re evidence; not that it matters since I have tons of screenshots of what you plagiarized anyways); the damage is already done. You don’t even have to edit your plagiarized posts and give me some credit. Nope, I’m over it.
But here’s my warning: If I see any of this happening again, because let’s face it, I’ll still be watching everything you do, I will be forced to call you out. No excuses, no second chances, nada. Take this as your first and final warning.
And I will make sure you read this letter. Don’t worry, I have my ways.
Most of all, like Wendy from The Midnight Garden says, plagiarism is not a victimless crime.
P.S. I’m sure many of you who are reading this post this very moment are wondering who I’m writing to, but I’m not going to call anyone out. Give the person a chance to fix their mistakes. However, to the person this post is addressed to, if this continues, I’ll just have to call you out on it.
I’m sorry someone stole your work and the work of your friends. That’s really rough and also anger-making and annoying and upsetting. You did a good and classy job calling it out in this open letter.
April Books & Wine recently posted…Blog Tour: George O’Connor on Wine And The Making Of Olympians
Aww, your comment made me tear up a bit. Thank you for your support April!
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
Oh My! Now I’m really curious who is it! If I’m following her blog I want to unfollow he/she! He or she is evil. Doesn’t he or she feeling bad?! I’m sorry that’s happen to you. *Sorry for my bad english
Ha ha, I’m sorry but I can’t tell anyone who he/she is unless they continue on plagiarizing even after reading this letter.
And I have no idea – I know for certain that he/she knows what they’re doing is definitely wrong though.
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
I applaud you for this blogpost, Kelly. I seriously do. I’ve been book blogging long enough that I’ve seen this happen more than a couple of times and it sucks. If I sit here and imagine someone plagiarizing me, I’ll be furious and I’ll call them out anyway I can. Blogging is hard and if someone is just taking others’ idea and using them as their own, it crosses a line. If you’re not cut out for it then don’t do it. I really cannot understand people sometimes.
The beautiful thing about book blogging is that we do it because we love it and we exist as a community because of this. But to take all that lightly is like a slap in the face and extremely disappointing.
I really hope that this person stops plagiarizing from other bloggers after reading your post because it’s just unacceptable.
Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile recently posted…The Musing Mind: Why Serial Distress is the Worst
You’re not the only one – multiple people are asking me why aren’t you calling them out already? because they doubt the person will change, but I want to give them a second chance, a chance I hope they’ll use wisely.
Hopefully. There’s no guarantee they’ll stop doing it though.
Thanks for your support Sana! <3
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
This makes me so mad. I hate that you were put through something like this, but I am so so proud of you for standing your ground and calling this person out in a such a graceful way, rather than just ignoring it or letting it slide as others might. Hopefully this person gets the hint and rethinks their actions.
Angie recently posted…Review: Roomies
There is absolutely NO WAY I will this slide, especially after what this person did to my friend. Thinking about it still makes me furious; I’m personally more angry over how the person hurt my friend than how the person plagiarized from me too.
Hopefully.
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
Wow! Extremely well written! I’m sorry you and your friend had to go through this. Although I don’t blog I’m so angry that there is people out there that will steal what you worked so hard on. And like Natasha’s comment above I’m so curious as to who it is! But I understand why you went the route of a open letter. That shows you have a grace and dignity said person obviously doesn’t. Let’s hope this brings it to an end.
It’s sad, especially since after I published this post, I discovered that this person isn’t the only one plagiarizing and that there isn’t enough proof to condemn other people who do it too like how it happened before in my situation with me and my friend. :l
Hopefully this will all end.
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
I want to unfollow this person once I find out who he/she is. I think this is so wrong. Plagrism is wrong no matter what. I think people don’t understand how much time and effort is put into writing a review. When I go to a blog, I want to read their thoughts. Not someone else. It is not a victimless crime.
Grace
Grace Fonseca recently posted…Sunday Love Affair #48: (Urban Fantasy) Night Owls by Lauren M. Roy
Sadly, I refuse to tell you who this person is unless they continue on plagiarizing other people.
The even worse thing is, this person is also a book blogger.
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
How would the rest of us know to check and see if we were plagiarized without seeing this blog’s name?? I have tried to use software out there that checks for this but it picks up the book summaries on all my reviews so it’s hard to tell there. :(
Angie @Angela’s Anxious Life recently posted…Sunday Post
That’s so awful! I’m so sorry! There have been so many problems with plagiarism and bloggers coming out over the past couple of years, and it makes me so sad because then all of us bloggers who put in the time and the effort are looked down upon. I’m so happy you wrote this post, so that those who do plagiarize realize how wrong it really is. Keep up the amazing work on your blog!
Jessica recently posted…Book Review: Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
Yes, it’s always those few bloggers that makes the rest of us look bad. ):
To be honest, I wanted to add WAY more onto this post about plagiarizing, but it was long enough already. Maybe I’ll do a follow up, I dunno.
Thanks for your support Jessica! <3
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
That’s absolutely horrible, Kelly! I’m sorry that this happened to you and your friends. It’s awesome how you’re handling this, and as a fellow book blogger I too second what you say on how much effort goes into writing a book review. I hope this person comes to his/her senses soon.
Stay strong <3
Sherlyn @ Mermaid with a Book recently posted…[Review] Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
It’s really sad that some people choose to do this, isn’t it? :l
Thanks for your support Sherlyn! <3
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
Here’s hoping this person decides to take the high road. Props to you for being able to stay so calm and for approaching this in such a classy way. I can’t say I would be so gracious.
Kelly recently posted…Pretty Little Discussion: Book Riot’s Four Bookish Phrases
Hopefully.
Ha ha, my friends didn’t want me to be so gracious either, but I insisted. I want to give this person a chance to change his/her ways at least.
Kelly recently posted…To The One Who Plagiarizes: Please Stop.
Wow. I’m so sorry you and your friends had to go through this. It’s a horrible feeling and one no one should have to feel. I hope everything gets straightened out.
Ashley recently posted…Review : Legal Affairs: Violation (Legal Affairs, #3) by Sawyer Bennett
I give you props for not publicly calling out the blogger in question. Though what this blogger is doing is obviously wrong, publicly shaming an individual often makes the one doing the shaming bad too. Verbal public flogging, even for a “good” reason, is nothing to aspire to.
As for the rest, I have no opinion, except plagiarizing is obviously wrong – as an English student I’m especially conscious of this fact – and that I hope the person stops, for their good & your own.
Sara @ The Hiding Spot recently posted…Returning to Blogger Appreciation GIVEAWAY!
That is so awful! If someone can’t have their own opinions and ideas, why the heck have a blog. I hope that this stops after your public post.
Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Missie recently posted…Week Recap – Vacation in Montana
Very nice job Kelly!! I’m sorry that someone did this to you and your friend!! Hopefully everything’s gets fixed ASAP! Keep up the good work! I love your blog :)
Michelle @ Unraveling Books recently posted…The Book of Broken Hearts – Sarah Ockler
Kelly! I am disgusted that someone would do this to you! You were really clever to keep an out for her, and to double check her posts. I am sorry for your friend too, and it is great that she warned you. My stomach is hurting just thinking this shit still happen in such a closely-knit community.
FUCK YOU PLAGIARIST. FUCK YOU!
Christine @ Oh, Chrys! recently posted…Book Review: What She Left Behind by Ellen Marie Wiseman
You know this kind of post ALWAYS freaks me out. Is it me? Did I do something wrong? I’ve never plagiarized in my life (the consequences of getting a degree in English and Writing include equating plagiarizing with, say, murder), but what if I posted a review that was similar enough to yours by coincidence to sound like plagiarizing, and I don’t even know it and now you hate me??!
That’s just my default (paranoia), but I hope you’ve directly asked this person to stop….because if you have, then I KNOW it wasn’t me and can breathe more easily. :)
Beth W recently posted…Fire and Ice Blog Hop + Giveaway
Being plagiarized, even in the smallest way, is a horrible feeling. I know that. I had someone try to take my Life of a Blogger meme and make it their own, and then made me feel like the bad guy for calling them out on it. It’s hurtful, that’s for sure. Blogging is more than just a hobby to many of us, and we spend a lot of time on it. We pour our heart and soul into the work we do, so to have someone so carelessly steal that hard work is insulting. I hope everything works out and this person sees the error of their ways…but sadly, probably not. I’m sure they knew EXACTLY what they were doing.
Jessi @ Novel Heartbeat recently posted…Heartbeat Weekly (15)
You know my thoughts on this.
*Hugs*
Jess recently posted…02/07: Final day for Sharon Biggs Waller’s A Mad Wicked Folly blog hop! (Review + giveaway!)
Aww, I’m SO sorry you had to go though this. Whoever did this is a disgrace and embarrassment to the blogosphere, and this post was necessary to maybe wake him/her up. I’ve experienced plagiarism before on one of my reviews, but after consulting her, thankfully it was only a one time occurrence. Still, I can’t believe plagiarism is an increasing problem, and shame on whoever does it.
Summer recently posted…ARC Review & Giveaway [US]: The Winner’s Curse, by Marie Rutkoski
That pisses me off so much. Plagiarism isn’t something new in the book blogging world and I assumed after the big fiasco over a year ago, people would stop doing it but sigh, they hVe not. We all have brains, why do we need to steal other people’s ideas. Stay strong and only thing I can say is that your writing and ideas are good enough for someone to want to claim as their own. I hope the person fixes their stupid mistake and you can move on from this
Aw I’m so sorry about what happening to both you and your friend! :( Plagiarising sucks. Period.
I went through a similar experience where the person who stole my stuff didn’t even bother to acknowledge my mail politely asking them to remove it. Nor did the magazine she wrote for do anything. After consulting a few blogger friends, I ended up going directly to the author and working with him to make them take it down. The entire period I was going through this sucked big time (especially because that line went in the ‘Praise for…’ section :'( ) and I would never wish it on anyone.
While I hope this person realises that what they’re doing is wrong, if I’m being realistic, they probably wont. But what you’re doing, keeping an eye out, is great, and I cant wait for him/her to trip again, just so you can catch him/her at it (it’s weird to keep saying ‘him/her’).
Fahima @ I Read, Ergo I Write recently posted…On Recent Incidents of Reader Outrage (Part I)
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry this happened to you! I can’t even imagine what you must be feeling right now, the work you put into all your posts is conveyed from their quality and for someone to slap that together on their own blog is disgusting. I commend you though on not naming the person, even though I don’t know if my rage would have allowed me otherwise, its something to say of your character and you’re definitely a blogger many will aspire too. Stay strong, and thanks for sharing this with all of us so that we can be on the alert.
Lindsey recently posted…Friday Favorites: Favorite Children’s Novels
So sorry to hear that this happened to you
Roro recently posted…Review: Out Of The Pocket by Bill KONIGSBERG
It is so sad that people are STILL plagiarizing in the book blogging community, after how many “scandals” we have been through about it. Why would people want to copy others reviews? The whole point of blogging is supposed to be that you love reading and sharing your thoughts on books. Copying someone else’s work, just totally goes against what all of that is for. Why even make posts in the first place? Sorry for the rant, it just makes me mad.
Great post, and really good job keeping it all neutral as to who the person is. I respect that you are not calling them out, but I do hope that you are dealing with it privately, because what they are doing is NOT OK.
I’m so sorry that this happened to you.
Michelle @ Book Briefs recently posted…{Weekly Wrap Up+Giveaways} Feb 2-8th
I’m sorry someone is stealing your ideas and posts. I can’t imagine someone doing that on purpose and not being sorry (please have some self-respect).
And congrats to you for being a wonderful and mature person, because not all of us could write a post like this and not naming the guilty blogger.
Best,
Ruty@Reading…Dreaming
Ruty recently posted…Blog Tour: Sex in the Title (Review & Giveaway)
I’ve vaguely heard of this happening before, but not to such a degree as someone blatantly ripping off multiple other people for their ideas and words. I can’t even imagine how infuriating it must be, particularly when they’re sneaky about it. And while I applaud your grace and faith in people’s ability to change, and I get why you’re not calling them out, I find myself hoping they plagiarize just one more time so you will. Not because I’m vindictive, but because I view book bloggers as a community. What I love about it is that we all support, encourage and engage with one another. I take it as a personal affront that someone is not only cheating, but that they’re ruining the safe and inclusive space that I have felt as I’ve slowly gotten to know other book bloggers. For this reason, I want to make sure I’m not the unwitting audience for this person’s rip-offs, and that I’m not following or supporting them. Because this isn’t a victimless offense, and I don’t want to be an unknowing participant in it. But either way you have my support – and I hope this incident won’t taint your enjoyment of blogging, nor make you consider quitting. It would be a loss to us all.
I know EXACTLY how you feel. In fact, it’s happened to me this last month for NUMEROUS POSTS AND REVIEWS. It pretty clear that this particular blogger was copying all my thoughts, opinions, and even my photos and gifs I posted! It was definitely NOT a coincidence, but you know what the absolute worst part is? This ‘blogger’ is one of my so-called ‘friends’ and this blogger has even gone on to copy my entire blog LAYOUT and descriptions in the sidebar, only to change the name of the blogger and blog from my original design! I’m fed up with this plagiarism, I’m sick of this nonsense, and I’m so glad you made this post because we as bloggers need to address this issue more seriously. We’re wasting our own valuable time while they profit from our work and this is absolutely disgusting! I sincerely hope that ANY person who plagiarizes others’ material will stop and reconsider their actions next time before they copy and paste text from someone else’s work! Good riddance to them!
Oh my god, I am so sorry this happened to you! It’s basically my worst nightmare to be plagiarized. D: I hope this person stops and doesn’t plagiarize anybody else, but you’re right. Plagiarizing is NOT a victimless crime. Again, I’m so sorry this happened to you. <3 Your blog is wonderful, and you don't deserve that. Nobody does.
Tori @ YA Book Queens recently posted…Tori’s Review: The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
Sorry this has happened to you :( it’s like the blogger’s equivalent of pirating. I hope it doesn’t happen again!!
Emily Mead recently posted…My Top Ten Pet Peeves in YA Fiction
Thanks Kelly for writing this post. I had no idea there was someone out there plagiarizing other blogger’s works. I’m a part-time blogger, but I had no idea there was someone out there taking ideas from everyone else. I’m glad I know that there’s someone out there who would do that and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out. We definitely don’t need this person stealing ideas from the blogosphere. And what you said was brave. I understand how you would feel. Heck, I’d be mad too. Thanks for sticking up for those who had no idea what was happening out there.
You know my feelings on this. It’s an incredibly shitty thing for any one to do.
Rephrasing an idea (or thoughts) is still plagiarizing. People who plagiarize may think it isn’t, but it is. They may think it hurts no one, but they are completely wrong. It does. It hurts both the person who is being plagiarized and who is doing the plagiarizing.
In school, they teach you that, or more like, they drill it into your head that plagiarism is wrong and you shouldn’t do it. If you do, there will be consequences. And you will get caught if you’re copying something from the Internet. And guess what’s on the Internet? Blogs. Your words are on display for everybody to see.
Nobody wants to be plagiarized. I would ask that person: would you like it if somebody took an idea or words from you (that you put a lot of effort into) and made it their “own” without crediting you? No, you wouldn’t. If you wrote an essay for school, would you go on to Sparknotes and copy the ideas there? I would think not since you will get caught. Are you really incapable of creating a post that is entirely you and not somebody else’s?
Cee recently posted…JUDG(ING) A BOOK BY ITS COVER | The case of Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
I love this letter! It’s so professional and cordial, good job, Kelly! I don’t know who this is, but I definitely know why you would be upset. Three times is three times too many, so I’m really hard that you’ve had to go through this. Plagiarizing is never acceptable, and I hate people who try to pass it off as just taking someone’s ideas and expanding on it. With your example of the review, on how they mentioned something that only you have ever mentioned, that’s a little shady, but adding in the fact that it sounded similar to your review is so unacceptable. Anywho, I hope this blogger finally realizes what he or she did wrong and fixes it so they don’t hurt other people again :( I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this, Kelly! *huggles* <33
Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain recently posted…The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High by Laurie Boyle Crompton Blog Tour
Good for you. I hope this will stop him/her.
sarit recently posted…The liger is a hybrid cross between a male lion and a tigress. Males reach a total length of 3 to 3.5 m.
I’m relatively new to blogging. Barely 5-6 months in. So, I was not aware any plagiarizing going on in the blogging community. But I am glad that because of your post, it has been brought to my attention. I commend you for not calling out on the person yet and giving them another chance, though I wouldn’t have done the same. I might have let it slide once or twice if it had been done to me. But you hurt my friends I’ll come with swords wielding, so I can understand how you feel about your friend. I really do hope for his/her sake that she stops doing this, because I’ve a feeling, if this goes on things are going to get ugly for her. There is only so much a person can take. I hope you and your friend are both alright. *warm and tight hugs* to both of you! :) xxx
Aarati recently posted…Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
I think it’s just terrible someone would plagiarize your work, but it’s great to see you making this a public cause so it doesn’t happen to others. I hope you keep up with blogging and don’t let this person get you or your friend down!
Aw, being plagiarised is scary and sucks. I can’t understand why people would do it. It’d freak me out HUGELY. *sigh* I hope this comes right for you. :/
Cait @ Notebook Sisters recently posted…Notebook Sisters Approved: SISTERS RED
WOW. I’m so sorry that this has happened to you Kelly. Maybe I’m being a bit naive here, but I thought that people in the book blogosphere would be above plagiarising. I mean, come on. THIS IS THE EFFING INTERNET. Someone is going to notice if you steal someone’s work. Especially in such a (relatively) small blogging community. That is not okay.
I really hope that everything’s been sorted out by now, but if not, definitely keep in mind that there are lots and lots of people who support you and your work and you’re fabulous, so don’t let this person get you down! <3
Nara recently posted…Review: White Space by Ilsa J Bick
I can *sort of* brush aside the, ahem, “borrowing” of ideas. Maybe the person just doesn’t get it. Maybe she (I’ll just use she for ease) thinks she’s paying you and your friend a compliment by “borrowing” your ideas. I’m sure that’s true in some cases, but with the unfollowing, and the fact that she’s done it to two people (I think we can assume it’s more than two), it gets harder to justify. But there is NO way to justify the stealing of words.
Stephanie @ Inspiring Insomnia recently posted…Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
We’ve already discussed this but I still wanted to infuse this post with all my love for you! :D You are such a talented blogger and I hate that this has happened to you! I am beyond excited for us to meet for reals in May and we can discuss all things bookish and fun! Keep your head up girl- you know how awesome you are!
Jessica@Lovin’ Los Libros recently posted…Blog Tour: The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons {Review, Character Interview, +Giveaway}
Hi! I’d just like to remind you that you can never be 100% sure who the blogger is. She could be a he. He could be way younger than you and just trying to make it in the blogger world. Your actions could hurt this person very badly and after going through the passage, the fact that this person who might be plagiarizing you is very low. You just might be very similar to you mentally. You’re a very smart girl and I’m sure that there are many people out there like you. Remember that you are reading the same book…a very limited amount of ideas could come out of just one book! Please be careful of what you do and don’t make any rash decisions. (I had a problem like this and I’m just trying to pass on wisdom)
Good point to think about
sarit recently posted…Resistance by Jena Leigh Book Blitz – Excerpt, Interview, Guest post + Giveaway
I have to agree. Great point.
Erika @ The Red Bookmark recently posted…Monthly Recap: February
Oh alf;kjal;fkja this is happening AGAIN? Kelly, I am so sorry. I know just what it’s like to be in your shoes and I understand the frustrations and anger all too well. I’m glad you are handling it this way, though–I don’t think mob mentality is ever a good thing, and by speaking about this publicly maybe it will help this person to realize she needs to stop.
I also completely respect and agree with your decision not to publicly name her. BUT. BUT. If you are able to email me privately to let me know who this is so I can keep an eye out, I would really appreciate it, as I would never want to support anything that person does. I understand if you decide not to, but please be assured I would not post the information publicly. Up to you, though.
Again, so sorry you had to deal with this. This kind of behavior is so disgusting, and it needs to STOP.
Wendy Darling recently posted…Literary Swoon: YA Authors Dish on their Fictional Crushes!
If I were you… I would just email their server to report the plagiarizing and get it taken care of that way. It’s hard for me to decide if it’s good or bad that you didn’t name the blog. Yes you are protecting them.. but then it’s like how can the rest of us watch out. It’s really just a hard decision. I know though that making a person’s name public can really make things go crazy against them. Sounds though like this is the second time you have dealt with it.. once personally, and now publicly. That is why I would just go ahead and report them to their server. Here is a great post on how to deal with it that route: http://www.nosegraze.com/how-to-deal-with-plagiarism-dmca/
Angie @Angela’s Anxious Life recently posted…Sunday Post
I’m so sorry this happened to you and your friend. I’ve heard this happen a few times (maybe same people? IDK) and it always amazes me that someone would feel the need to plagarize. No one is forcing them to keep a blog or review books. If they don’t take pleasure in producing their own content/reviews, why do it? I’m glad you told your friend not to quit, because if s/he enjoys blogging s/he shouldn’t let someone else take away the joy. It sounds like you have a plan for how to handle this – and I’d be super interested in what any of us should do if someone plagarizes us. Perhaps you’d be willing to share your findings in a post sometime? I don’t know if that would weaken your position though, so just a thought. Good luck and I hope whoever this is just takes a note from your open letter here (which was very classily handled, BTW) and shapes up.
Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun recently posted…Sunday Post |31st Edition