I try not to post when I am drinking. I cuss like a sailor when I drink, and overreact and get emotional. But I am too pissed off not to post and I have wanted to talk about some of this for awhile so here is my tipsy venting about the blog world. Maybe tomorrow I will edit for logic but here goes.
I started this website in November and had barely posted thrice went a friend who was helping with the technical stuff pointed out that another website had copied my post in its entirety with pictures and posted it as her own. He called the female blogger out and she decided that she would link to me at “tamaraturtles”. I confronted her and her reaction was “everything comes from somewhere.” Well, yes, and I have a brain which is where it comes from and write my own blog. She is illiterate and copies others. I understand that we all blog about the same thing, but where are YOU in YOUR blog? All you do is copy others and add your name. Why do you have a blog if you have nothing to say?
Shortly after that, a blogger with a big following of people. who use the site as a chat board discussing what they are having for lunch in comments along with their physical ailments. befriended me. She was nice until she began stealing my photos. I was deeply offended that she could do that. Why did a board with huge ratings need my stuff to propel her board. I didn’t really get the cut throat nature until my interactions with her.
I was BRAND NEW and I still got that if you wanted to incorporate someone else’s work, you quote PART and link. HOW HARD IS THAT?
I was then taken in by someone who put my blog in her blogroll. She has a very popular blog! I was so happy! Then I disagreed with her stance on a reality TV personality. I was berated with questions like, ARE YOU SAYING I AM LYING?!?!? When I tried to politely say I was just disagreeing I was removed from the blogroll. Then added back, then removed. Based on my blogs. SIGH.
Around that time the owner of Straight From The A reached out to give me a helping hand. She offered to help me with monetizing my blog and suggested we meet for a drink or sandwich or something. I was REALLY gun shy and I don’t actually DO stuff outside of home well so I sort of was wishy washy.Despite my cool response to her kind offer, she has been incredibly supportive and mentored me as much as I would allow.
My point, and I do have one, is that there is a silly bitch in Malibu,California (allegedly) who writes about the Real Housewives of Atlanta. She steals my stories, but mostly she steal stories from Straight from the A. In the middle of that she makes shit up. That is the entirety of her really, really illiterate blog. She has the IQ of a turnip. MAYBE. And she posts about RHOA like she has a fucking clue. If she doesn’t get her info from an Atlanta blogger she knows NOTHING. But that’s okay, there are a lot of “bloggers” out there that are in school all day and come home and “reblog” the big girls posts. But this one, she took things to a whole new level. She is now blogging shit about the ATLien. This has crossed my line. I will now have her ISP shut her down if she ever reblogs me again. I will talk shit about her to anyone who wants to DM me, but I will not give her the benefit of any PR. And ATLien doesn’t even know I am doing this. I will tell you that you do not mess with Atlanta bloggers. You do not steal their shit. You do not post negative shit about the people you steal from and go unnoticed.
And while I have all the bloggers attention, it is NOT okay to go off to school all day while we work on blogs and come home and STEAL our blog and leave a link. WE did all the reseach while you were at your job or learning how to conjugate a verb. You are free to post EXCERPTS, that means small portions, and then make your own comments on them and THEN link. Posting someone’s entire blog and then linking is STILL STEALING. Saying that you “just thought it was interesting” is not a reason to steal the efforts of someone who spent hours FINDING what you just came home from school and posted over a muffin and some OJ. Take a fucking journalism class. The fact that anyone would say after stealing my work “I hope that didn’t make you made” is also infuriating.
In short. STOP STEALING SHIT, from anywhere. Give small quotes, include your own opinion, then link.
Um, Thanks and have a nice day.
And the church said "Amen!" Your followers support you 100%. Some things are too important to be left unsaid and unfortunately the truth hurts. I know you must get tired of putting your big girl panties on and keeping your feelings under wraps when things like this happen. But Tamara, inform the world that the elastic on those panties are thin and you are about to show your ass!
i love your blog tams and i had problems posting before but now i can, YAY 😀
Tamera, I read your site and ATLIEN's StraightFromTheA and you both have unique qualities, ATLien goes above and beyond and finds facts and talks to the people in Atlanta. I have followed her for about 2 years now and I WITNESSED her growth so to hear that someone is trying to discredit her makes me want to fight too!Here's what i gather from the past few weeks. Harper was stalking Michelle on twitter and just like you said she stole RHOA stories. Michelle blocked Harper so she (harper) created a new account to follow Michelle so she could steal more stories. Michelle blocked that one too and I think she tweeted about it earlier. Now Harper is going all ballistic on twitter. I guess she didn't take her meds. If you go to Harper's timeline you can see who the real stalker is. Harper changed her name then blamed Michelle for stealing her twitter name. Crazy but fun to watch!OAN that dumb housewives blog has some nerve stealing from you hard working bloggers who take their work seriously and I hope you all get together and have it shut down or better yet SUED!I read the post Harper is tweeting about ATLien and besides being grammatically incorrect it is SLANDEROUS. If I were Michelle I would have crushed the other blog but what I respect most about her (ATL) is that she tweeted that she won't beef with someone she has never met before in real life. You bloggers need a union or something and that illiterate blog needs a dictionary.
I haven't made that many personal posts here. I made the post a LOT about me at first for that reason. People steal my shit all the time and sometimes they even tell me they stole shit "but they linked" A good blogger never copies an ENTIRE POST and then "links" what is the point of going to the link if you robbed the whole post?I would not have started a post for that but when I saw it going EVEN BEYOND THAT, where SFTA is copied and then the bitch tries to go in on @ATLien from fucking Malibu and make shit up about her personal life?This does not sit well with me. AT FUCKING ALL. I am furious. And her comments are moderated. I tried to go in on her AT HER SITE. OH HAIL TO THE NO on this bitch.
You're ignorant and unprofessional as fuck for writing this and posting it on your blog. Are you on medication or just childish and naive? How old are you? When you first started this blog, I supported you, directed people to your site, followed you on twitter, etc. That has all stopped. I note you said you don't do things well outside the home. Maybe you should work on that instead of going crazy and acting like a fucking fool on the internet. Professional bloggers are EMBARRASSED by you and laughing at you behind your back (even one you think is your friend). I know you don't take criticism well, but you really need to simmer down, focus, and act like a sane adult!
One thing I have noticed about reality blogs and the people that comment on them is that they are certifiable! Include the fact that everybody has an opinion. Some bloggers write about people but take issue when they are called out about something.this is some truly juvenile mess. To each his own.
When people steal my content, I don't email them. I don't say a word. I just report the copyright violation to the hosting company. They remove it almost every time, usually within a couple of hours. With repeat offenders, I've seen them just take the whole site down. There is no point in arguing on the Internet. You can't win. Just have your content removed by the (usually more far more rational) hosting company and move on. Don't get down in the mud with people. It's not worth it, and you will lose the very thing that differentiates your blog.
Jesus take the wheel! This is too much. Thank you Tamara for exposing the frauds and fakers.I agree a little bit with KerryScott about it being useless to argue over the internet. You are fighting a "faceless" opponent so it is an unfair battle.Keep blogging and leave the drama offline. You and Straight From The A are both great sites and the people who steal will get theirs. Focus your energy on blogging and let the naysayers do their jobs.Have a good day!
Let me start by saying, I don't have a blog but obviously I love reading them.Tamara, I did tell you about a website using your story and linking your site (Taylor Armstrong story) but it wasn't until I read your response that I learned the "proper" way a story should be linked and the author given appropriate credit for the blog post.So, thanks for informing me of that.When you know better you do better *smile*No one has the right to use someone story and not give them proper credit that is wrong on so many levels.But I have seen your work in other places too, with no credit given what so ever, ie MTO, black planet.I can imagine how irritating this is for you but keep doing what you are doing you're obviously doing something right.Also how many popular blogs are in ATL, other than you, Michelle and Sandra?
Kerry Scott's comment was the most adult, and rational post of all. While I am not a blogger, I do write and publish small pieces from time to time. When they've been stolen, plagiarized, etc. I report them and let the legal authorities deal with it. It's the only way to stay sane. If you cave into their game and become angry, you loose as well as those who read your blog. Not saying you haven't a right to express yourself – but – you are more mature and wiser than they are, don't allow them to get you to the place where you let anger dictate your blog's standards.
SH is the worst blog ever, that chick is certifiable. I feel really sorry for her, she takes it way too serious. ANyone who has a different opinion is SLAUGHTERED in her comments…apparently any blogger too
I bet I know the blogger who keeps putting up and taking down your blog on the blog roll…In fact, I remember when you wrote that very moving piece about how the level of vitriol being thrown at Taylor Armstrong is inconceivable especially given her clearly declining mental health. I think the words you said was- those that keep spewing so much hate "will have blood on their hands"…or something like that. I remember thinking, "this might start a blog war", as it's so in fashion to really bash the crap out of that woman. There's one blogger, I won't mention the name, that seems to have a personal vendetta against her and will bully ANYONE who does not fall in line. Now whether you believe Taylor or not, hating her as an obsession is not healthy.My point is, IMO there are two types of bloggers. The first, blogs to develop their writing and web publishing skill (with a subject they like) with an eye on a career. The second is usually more controversial and blogs to spark conversation, draw attention and to basically provide emotional feedback/fulfillment. These two type of bloggers will probably never get along and at the very least will never understand each other. If a blogger doesn't become balanced in their approach, learning to use both styles, they become too extreme in one direction and there's trouble. The "picture stealer" is the first type of blogger, gone to the extreme. Cut throat blogging, as if she's the star of a day time soap and every understudy represents the threat of replacement. The "waffling blog roll supporter" is the extreme second type, with too much emotional investment.The blog stealers can be either type, but they are too lazy or stupid to cultivate a distinct voice and therefor will always exist as the amateur radio-bootlegged mix tape of blogs. They look, sound and feel as cheap and as juvenile as they are. Stay balanced, keep developing your voice and report the bootleggers and you'll keep rising no matter what they say in or out of Haterville, GA.
Hello,Wow,i think this was a bit much. Most of these blogs are written by women…and i find the cattiness off putting. Instead of writing this unprofessional rant…why not reach out to the bloggers and have a dialogue with them? I am almost certain i know two of the bloggers you mentioned. One from chicago and one from Michigan. The one from Chicago has burned a number of bridges…so she is somewhat a lost cause. The one from Michigan is a new blogger and may have innocently made a big mistake. Instead of berating her…why not just email or DM her? I am sure she would have been receptive and apologized etc. I am so disgusted with all of these blog wars….it is plain ridiculus. I don't see radaronline and TMZ having these bitch fits. UGh grow up!!!
Omg grow up. I refuse to read your blog anymore. MOST successful sites take stories but are kind enough to cite them while ppl like Perez Hilton doesn't cite anyone so get over it and be happy you were cited
oh yes, because MOST successful sites TAKE stories but are KIND ENOUGH to cite them….but others do not…you should totally just smile and consider yourself lucky.what a load of [email protected] is wrong. one day if you are lucky enough to create something that is meaningful to you, someone may just come along and borrow your work and display it as their own without asking you…I bet your feelings would be different.
Lord, this is too much drama for a Monday: now there is such a thing as "Blog Wars"? SMH at the madness.That being said, I will admit that I am sort of a guilty party having posted one of your articles on a discussion thread from an iconic entertainer's (non-official) fan community site. It's not a blog, but we like and post info from topics we like to discuss there all the time, and frankly in all my TT.com excitement I posted an entire article to show our other posters how you really deliver, and to encourage them to follow you. Quite frankly, it's because of the work that you put into it I think I got too excited about showing people what you do. Even though I did link back to you, thanks for the tutorial for the proper way to do it, because honey, you are right that 1. I had no idea, and 2. In those discussion forums I am what you would call lazy. I'm definitely more careful about how I share my excitement about you with others online now. I consider you to be an authority when it comes to getting inside scoops on our favorite shows and I want to see you credited as such.That being said, I am a member of a private Housewives-centered site on WordPress that re-blogs daily from Reality Tea. Frankly the latter seems to be quite fond of lifting your information and passing it off as it's own, which I have no problem pointing out to the other members and the site owner in the comment's section. I link TO YOU whenever possible to give them the REAL source of information stemming from ACTUAL RESEARCH. However, still not exactly sure that the members and the site owner understand they are being duped by RealityTea, though. Big sigh THERE, SMH.In any event, as passionate as I know you are on this topic, maybe at a later time (after you've fanned yourself and cooled down, lol) you can come back to this and re-read KERRY SCOTT's reply. I think she might be right on the money. I won't say that I'm an advocate of "revenge" as it were, but always remember Darlin', it, among other defense tactics, is a dish best served cold. Keep your cool, keep the faith, and keep your head up. Best from Europe.ps. to anonymous 6:18—not citing someone else's work while using it as your own is plagiarism PURE AND SIMPLE, a legal matter of Intellectual Property Rights, and quite often a criminal offense. Once upon a time, this was something that they actually taught us in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL so that we would learn to properly compose reports, and speeches and develop our writing and analytical skills..AS FOURTH GRADERS. I don't know if it says more about your personal POV, or the ethics of society as a whole that we're somehow supposed to be okay with this just because someone popular does it, but I respectfully disagree.
Thanks, NUY and others. I started this post because I was angry about a blogger's personal attack on another blogger. That happens from time to time but when blogger A is using Blogger B's work all the time and then writes a blog filled with lies because the first blogger pointed it out…It was just one of those days where that was too much for me. That said, so many bloggers have thanked me privately. I believe in the majority of the cases that the blogger who uses the entire post with a link does not intend to cause harm or ill-feelings. In fact, lots of times people tell me they have linked and I go to leave a thank you comment only to find my entire blog there. It's awkward ESPECIALLY when you like the blog and the blogger linking you. Also Anon Feb 11 2:37 is correct in suggesting approaching the blogger. I have tried that and it doesn't generally end well. Since then I try to bite my tongue on blogs I like and approach those that are simply rebloggers. I understand other bloggers frustrations when they create lenghty timelines that are so much work and that work is taken. It's very frustrating. It evokes a strikeback response that I know well and acted on in ths post. I don't regret this post. It was not the BEST way of handling it, but it is the way I chose. Despite my methods lots of people have learned how to properly link another blogger and others feel like someone spoke for them. I'm pleased with the outcome if not the method.Finally, thanks so much to those of you who link to me from blogs and especially messageboards. Traffic is important for any blogger whether or not they have ads. I appreciate the kind words in other places. I appreciate the links. And I appreciate those of you who read here because you find something here that you enjoy. And as always, if you don't enjoy it here, I wish you the best on your journey.
Hey TamaraTattles! I totally appreciate you for going "hard in the paint" for me. Having blogged going on 5 years now, I have seen just about everything, which is why I chose not to even deal with that situation.I've always been told to pick your battles and that one clearly wasn't worth my effort considering the amount of work I have to put into my site everyday.Like I've told you before, your work will speak for itself. And while there are always those who will TRY to steal the things you've worked so hard for, just know that KARMA wins every time.I have faith that as long as I do right, those that do wrong will get theirs eventually so I never sweat it.You site is awesome and I wish you nothing but the best! You are and shall forever be known as my "Ride or Die" chick! LOL ((hugs))