Most of us get upset when someone steals our words and passes them off as their own. Some folks get their panties (or undies – probably unwashed with holes in them) in a bunch if someone uses a picture they took, even if they get a link. If you don’t want your ideas or content to be stolen, the only preventative is to not publish it. In my opinion, once it’s on the web, it becomes less yours anyway. Even if it is yours, it’s not that important. However, I avoid using other people’s ideas as often as possible. Really, the only way to write originally is to write fiction, poetry, about your cat, your opinion—everything else comes from someone else; otherwise, you wouldn’t know about it in the first place.
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Archive for category blogging ethics
Is it possible to steal blog content ethically? The answer is yes, but if you follow these guidelines, you will be forced into actually thinking, thus creating your own original content. Don’t get the wrong idea from this article’s evil title! This is more about being influenced by other content and learning, not stealing. There are many different types of bloggers, and blogging means different things to different people. This is basically my personal blog and is not niche related, but I do apply some seo tactics to gain search engine traffic.
The thing is, unless you are just writing original poetry, fiction, creating your own art and so forth; your blog is not original (not 100% original). It is impossible to be 100% original because everything we do is influenced by things others have already done.
Let’s take a look at some particular blog models:
The News Reporting Blogger
Many bloggers re-report the news. Some are into politics, entertainment, trends and so on. If you are not the person who actually broke the story, you are stealing (according to the AP). A recent hot topic is media giant The Associated Press and their republishing guidelines. Take a look at it:
AP republishing guidelines
I do find the AP’s republishing guidelines to be ridiculous – those prices are a bit high. Every major news source (like CNN, Fox and others) has permission from the AP to use their stories, but they pay for it and give them credit. If I announce that comedian George Carlin died on my blog (like many did yesterday), I obviously heard it from somewhere – does that make me a thief? I don’t think so, but if it were up to the media corporations, you would be fined and charged with a crime.
In my opinion, the AP should be thanking and paying us to get their info out there! (as long as we give them credit)
If you put a picture of Britney Spears on your blog, but didn’t actually take the picture yourself, are you a content thief? In some people’s eyes, yes you are. Here are some basic ethical guidelines for using other people’s content.
- If you use a picture from someone else, make sure you at least link and give credit to the originator. In blogging or Internet terms, links are good and you want lots of them – especially one way links to you. How many uncredited pictures do you have on your site? I have 12.
- If you quote another blogger, give them a link and full credit.
- Never copy and paste entire paragraphs from another blogger or site owner – it’s rude and wrong. Hell, I’ll drive across the country and burn your house down for doing that (ok, maybe I won’t…haha)
- If another site owner has pictures which are clearly marked as their property, do not steal them and put them on your site. If you like it that much, ask them for permission. Some authors are really touchy about it.
- Most bloggers like links and like to be quoted. If someone lets you know they didn’t like you using their information, remove it and apologize. You can quote me for free as long as I get a link.
- Just give links and credit every time. I have been thanked for using other people’s quotes and pictures, but I give links and credit. I have never been asked to remove a link or picture.
- Feel free to link to this post. I’d like it if you linked to all of my posts:)
The Money or Affiliate Marketing Blogger
This is where the most stealing happens of all blog types. I personally may or may not have other blogs in this niche that are not associated with this blog. I don’t want Google or anybody else knowing what I do or what I own. While some consider that in itself to be unethical, I think of it as being smart.
Here’s how I would go about creating content for this niche: Don’t steal outright. If you went to school, you should know how to write a book report. If you read ten articles about using adsense from other sites, you probably learned something from them. You can create your own unique blog post from those ten very easily. Read them, learn and add some of your own ideas – don’t just cut and paste. Don’t just change a few words, change it completely and make it your own. Check out my post on article marketing for a more in depth look into doing this.
It’s much like writing a song. There are thousands of hit songs that have the same exact musical chord progression on all of them. The songs are all different, but the general backbone is exactly the same. If someone had copywritten the D-C-G chord progression, thousands of number one singles never would have happened. Originality is your job. It is impossible to write a 100% original make money blogging post, but you can give it your personality and spin – that’s what gives you credibility and originality.
Now, blatant stealing happens every second on the Internet, but if you are at least honest, give credit and a link, you are doing better than 99% of everyone else. If you bitch too much about stealing and protecting every word you write, you are asking for congress to meter the Internet – we sure as hell don’t want that.
When you publish anything on line, it’s like putting a brand new Sony Playstation out on the street corner and not expecting anyone to steal it. They will steal it…period. Welcome to the Internet.
Having said that, I still don’t want new protection laws and Internet rules. If big corporations had their way, there would be two separate Internet’s: The fast lane for paid businesses, and the slow lane for everyone else. What big corporation wouldn’t want to actually own the Internet? Let’s hope that never happens and we retain net neutrality (click the link to see how you can help preserve our rights). Basically, you have to take care of your own backyard. If some scraper site republishes an entire post from you, take a look at the ads on their site. I recently had it happen to me. I reported an adsense violation to Google, and the site was removed in less than a week. So take care of your own content, give credit for every picture or quote you use and just be a good blogger…it’s not that much to ask for.
I am not very fond of using social bookmarking to promote my blog. I think people often forget that blogging is social networking, but get overly caught up in different sites to build traffic, like Digg and many others. My favorite is Stumbleupon. What most people don’t realize is how much traffic a single stumble can bring. Because of how the Stumbleupon algorithm works, it is fairly common to receive massive quantities of traffic from only one person stumbling you at the right time. Every now and then you get that lottery stumble, which can generate thousands of visitors in just a few hours.
On May 19th, my great blogging buddy Marzie – the Genie Princess stumbled my homepage (thanks Marzie!). I had reached around 80 visitors that day, until that magical stumble! A few hours later, I noticed I was up to 674 readers and 969 page views in under an hour – that was quite an explosion of traffic. I ended up with almost a thousand visitors before I went to sleep. Many of those visitors left comments and viewed more than one article, which was fantastic. You don’t always get such an explosion of traffic, but every now and then, you do. It’s freaking great when it happens.
I wrote an article about how to use Stumble correctly: Stumble Upon: A Cool Ethical Approach with a few solid tips and a few great links you should check out. Here are a few more:
- Don’t stumble your own articles – a TOS violation
- Don’t trade stumbles with people – a TOS violation
- Don’t ask to be stumbled – a TOS violation
- Try to review what you stumble – many people don’t bother. I explain how in my link above.
- Use it often, and it will increase your chances of being stumbled
- Let people know you’ve stumbled them in a post comment
- Make sure you review every time you stumble
All these tips are basic, but if you violate Stumbleupon’s terms of service, they will drop your account. I know many people this has happened to. It’s a great way to support your fellow bloggers. Many people use social networks only to gain things for themselves, they rarely do things only for others. This is what is wrong with society as well as in blogging. I use Stumbleupon everyday because I know how powerful it is. I stumble people’s homepages, and also when I see a really good post. Just keep the Stumbleupon toolbar open, and use it liberally. If you use the stumble tool bar, take a look at who stumbled your site. You do that by clicking the little white balloon while looking at a particular page. The ethical and honest way to use it, is to stumble lots of people and hopefully you’ll get stumbled too – not because you’ve asked (hey I’ve asked before but I won’t anymore), but because someone chose to on their own.
Sometimes I wish I had a different approach to blogging, but I am happy with my methodology. I have written many Bobby’s Batch posts where I link to my fellow blogger’s fine posts. In my opinion, it is the best way to help people out. If blogging worked by such ethical and kind giving, the blogosphere would be a better place. My blog is rarely found in Google searches landing on my homepage. With Google searches, my individual blog posts are found, which is what I want. It is the content that matters, not the homepage. However, I am trying to change my views on many things in blogging, be much more positive and less critical of what other people do.
Hello folks, I know I’ve been taking quite a long blogging break, but it’s not because I haven’t been writing. I actually wrote 17 new articles, but after reading them, I’ve decided to wait for the right moment to publish as most of them were created out of emotion and cynical anger. It got me thinking about what really makes a great blog article – not to you, but what makes a great article to me; after all, anything any of us write is just a matter pf personal taste and opinion.
If a post gets tons of comments, does that mean it’s good? Absolutely not. If a blog has 35,000+ subscribers, it must be really good…right? Hell no. Some of the best articles I’ve ever read have few if any comments at all. Some of the best posts written often go unread. If a person becomes president, they must be really smart as well as a truly great reader…right? Haha…of course not, just look at George W. Bush (I couldn’t resist a jab at George). I’d go as far to say many famous people are undeserving of fame, but that’s another story. Am I saying the highest rated blogs aren’t really that good? In many cases…yes. And here’s my favorite: If a blogger makes a million dollars per month blogging, does that mean they’re good or can help you do the same? Don’t be silly…the answer is almost always no. Then again, I don’t read money blogs very often – they are boring and unoriginal for the most part.
If there is one thing I can say in all honesty, is that my blog is very original and I write from a very opinionated stance; however, it is usually to incite good commentary and to make people think. Many bloggers do what I call re-reporting the news, where they report general stories most of us have already read. If you are doing that, I recommend adding your own personal opinion, particularly if you are emotionally invested. Using news sources like the Associated press, Reuters or many others to get stories is a good idea, but only if you have something to add to it. I approach blogging like this sometimes.
Here are some general points to add zest, fire and passion to your articles:
- Get mad about something. It’s ok to to passionately express anger, but don’t do it to personally hurt someone.
- Take a position on an issue and defend it. I’ve often taken a position I disagreed with and argued for it. Why would I do that? To learn. I often find myself changing my entire outlook on a given subject.
- Don’t be afraid of insulting or offending others (or even yourself)…be brave. I love it even more if someone proves me wrong – that’s when I truly learn something.
- If a subject seems taboo, tackle it head on. I have a love/hate relationship with religion and politics, so they are my hot button topics. Don’t be afraid to learn about any opposing viewpoints, especially if they really offend you!
- Reevaluate yourself everyday. Reevaluate your most proudly held opinions…you may learn something new. I do this every day. Change and adaptation are the cornerstones of this technological society.
- Don’t be afraid to learn and succeed even if it means you change as a person. Take yourself out of your own comfort zone. A meaningful and great article is more likely to happen this way.
- Above all, try to do something beneficial for humanity and society, not for yourself. This defines true greatness in all areas of life.
The Democratizing Effect of Blogging
Those of you who know me well, know I’ve written much on the effect blogging has on humanity. It is the most powerful form of communication…period. The reason why, is because it is written, rather than seen or heard. It’s amazing how well you get to know people through blogging. When you meet people in everyday life, you usually don’t get to understand a person as well as when you read what they have written. Blogging is a pure expression of freedom. If you are blogging, you are free to write – so take advantage of it. One day, every human being on Earth will be represented on line by a blog or website.
Try Something New
This has to be my number one good idea. Write about something you’ve never tried before. When I started blogging, I really didn’t have any solid political opinions. I wrote about it anyway, and in the process have learned much as well as developed new opinions that seem to change like the wind. I’ve read over fifty political books from differing sides because of my new found interest! I believe if you have an opinion about something and stagnantly stick to it, you don’t learn anything. Right now…go write a post about something you have never attempted or tackle something serious. It will be great…I promise.
I want to thank everyone who has been visiting during my break, it’s amazing how great people can be. I must return the energy to you. Now…excuse me while I go read a ton of blogs and leave a ton of comments.
This article isn’t about how to make your blog good, it’s about how to be a good blogger. I don’t mean a skilled author; I mean a beneficial member of social networking society. Doing the right thing seems to be missing in many of our sites.
There are tons of ways to do good things, but this is about promoting and giving needed validity to your fellow community member’s articles. Being a “good person” is far more important than being popular or making money.
What is important in a blog? Obviously, the content is supposed to be. How do you make your content count? Making other people’s content count is my favourite method. Much of it depends on what yours is about and who your audience is. I could cure cancer in an article and put a picture of a cute puppy in another; the puppy will get all the attention and nobody will care if I save the world…haha (I’m ok with that and I love being sarcastic).
Unfortunately, mine will not be a “keyword targeting” success story. I’ve seen authors who incessantly game the system with a dedication to creating landing pages while they say viral marketing only brings useless, unrelated links.
They think they are better than someone who goes the viral route. I have news for you, it’s of the same ethical value; it’s gaming the system. One is more complex and difficult to employ than the other, but are both essentially “cheating the system”.
I don’t care which method of self promotion you use, it’s all cheating. Is it wrong? I say absolutely not. I am trying to get over my aversion to self-promotion because I do have something to say, and I want as many people as possible to hear my message.
I write about what I think humanity needs. I call people out on doing the wrong thing, and write about world peace and how each of us need to take responsibility for living. Without any effort on promotion, I am limiting myself.
Many of us, after writing for a while, say things like, “I don’t care about links, I don’t care about popularity. People that do are greedy idiots!”
What if your favourite music artists felt like that, saying, “I don’t care about recording an album or having listeners.”
I suppose all your favourite artists, musicians, writers and actors wouldn’t exist. What kind of world would that be? I have done nothing to promote my blog in a very long time. My page rank is still an unjustified zero. I’m not complaining though, because I do have a great base of readers and do well in natural search engine queries.
Some Solid Ideas For Your Blog
One thing many of us don’t do is write a weekly link post. Why don’t you? Like many people who put a lot of heartfelt work into valuable posts, I feel disappointed when no one notices or links to my good work. It’s not a “me thing”, it’s a “we thing”! I’m always on the lookout for good articles on lesser known blogs; you should too if you aren’t already.
I believe that if I have any popularity, it is because I give to others. It’s a byproduct of giving and helping others, not a goal. Here are my recommendations for some good things you should try:
- You really should do a weekly link post; start one now (mine’s every Sunday)!
- Find great articles written by your community members and link to their posts. Try to actually find and link to good work even if it’s unrelated to your content.
- Look through their archives and find past posts that need a link.
- Create a list of your most valuable posts and put it in your side bar (I’m working on that). You may have already written your best posts. Let people know what they are and you’ll increase your chances of being read or linked to.
- If a niche blog is good enough, it could be a big hit with only a dozen posts – hardly ever adding a new one. It can become a well known reference for a plenitude of any type of content.
- Remember, blogging is a social communication technology. It’s alright to want attention in moderation. Just don’t develop “Britney Spears Syndrome” or what I call BSS (it’s BS with an extra S). You may need to check into a blogaholics clinic to get clean if that happens…haha!
- Memes and awards are great, but a link to deserved post is the greatest of all awards!
- Be sure to check your incoming links regularly on Technorati. Go thank people for linking to you. It’s also a great way to see who maybe scraping your content.
- Stick by your friends and don’t let money affect your judgment. Never forget where you came from.
- We all start equally our first time here.
- Don’t go around asking for links. Give, give and give some more. Participate in this digital society and it will come back to you.
- Nothing is better than good Karma!
Nonchalant Eruption
Feb 1
I wrote a post which caused me to feel like I shouldn’t have written it. In the post, I viciously attacked Kenneth Copeland (a super rich televangelist who uses the word of God to make money and live a lavish lifestyle). The guy is selling happiness (a hundred fold return of happiness for your “donation”).
I sincerely apologize to two of my beloved readers, Square1 and Nimrodjo for deleting the post. Unfortunately, their comments were deleted along with it. I felt like I verbally assaulted Copeland and it bothered me.
Is it wrong to attack someone for doing something so abhorrent? Often, I am brutally honest in my writing. I pull no punches and my intent is absolute. I allowed “political correctness” to influence what I believe and how I express my opinion (that bothers me even more).
Does it make me an uncouth ruffian to say things in such an aggressive way? Does it make me less civilized, less intelligent or does it make me something worse? These are inner struggles which reflect my tormented spirit.
When I see the horrible things going on in this modern time, it weighs me down. I had someone tell me, “You need to chill out. You need to be nonchalant.”
Sometimes I want to slap the nonchalant attitude across it’s conceited, pretentious face – while looking down it’s powdered, regal nose of nobility.
Sometimes, things need to be said in an offensive way. How do you treat a murderer or a child molester with polite, political correctness? Let us discuss this disgusting human being like educated, ostentatious representatives of slimy egotism. I’m fed up with how society treats things in this half-hearted manner.
I present this “reprint” of the article I wrote. If I hide how I feel, I cannot be honest. Instead of being nonchalant, I will be brutally honest. I will not hide behind a mask, pretending to be something I’m not.
The truth is, Kenneth Copeland is a scumbag. There’s no other way to say it. This world is filled with people like him, and it needs to be said – in a plain, unadorned fashion. It is what it is. Here’s the post:
Kenneth Copeland: Human Scum
Every religion has many permutations, some good and some disgusting. Where I live, there are so many variations of Christianity, it’s unbelievable (no pun intended). People make up their own variations all the time. Some take the Bible literally, some have their own interpretations.
Of course, this all depends on which version of the bible a person follows…the old testament, the new testament…the King James version and so on. I get stopped several times each year by someone (usually in a grocery store) who asks me, “Have you been saved?”I usually answer, “Yes…I saved myself.” and walk away (simply to get away from them, I can’t get into a two hour discussion with every stranger). Some of them nearly resort to violence – with a crazed look of fear in their eyes.
They scream, “You will burn in the fires of hell for all of eternity!!!!”
That crazed look reminds me of some of the Islamic extremists I’ve seen. I think most religions are good and the people who believe are also good. I know many Muslims, Christians and Jews -they are good people who don’t promote violence. However, each of these has a dark side of hardcore fundamentalists who are dangerous and fearful.
I don’t mind people passionately believing in what they do. It gets out of hand when a person is attacked or ridiculed for not believing. The point isn’t whether I’ve been saved or not, it’s that I haven’t been saved at their particular church! One religious madman told me, “A person saved in the Catholic church, is doomed to hell.”
Nowadays, you can make up your own religion such as Scientology (a manipulative religion made up by a science fiction author). In America, you are rewarded for this; you are tax exempt.
I believe that corruption is so prevalent among religious profiteers, something must be done. It is our responsibility as citizens to change things. If we depend on the politicians to do it for us, it will never happen.
Kenneth Copeland, the “godfather of prosperity gospel” deserves to be imprisoned and stripped of all wealth. How obvious does it have to be? The guy is living like a king…tax free, using God to line his wallet. How can people be so ignorant? And some people still believe there is no such thing as mass mind control.
Islamic fundamentalists spread fear as a tool to further their quest. Fundamentalist Christians also spread fear; the fear that you’ll burn in hell if you don’t donate! The right wing republicans spread fear to keep themselves in charge.
Fear is the most powerful of all psychological tools. It comes in many forms and is easily disguised. It only takes one person who passionately believes something to gather a following.
I have friends from many religions and will continue to have them. I have faith in humanity and know that there will always be lost sheep looking for a leader. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Never be afraid to question your own beliefs.
I wasn’t trying to be polite with the title, it’s accuracy I’m striving for. Please think for yourself and don’t donate your hard earned money to Kenneth Copeland.
I have to give credit to Senator Charles Grassley for launching investigations into six money hording televangelists. This is one crime that must be punished. Please watch this video and see what you think.
I’m a Mad Cat
Jan 27
What is wrong with the world? What is wrong in the blogosphere? The purest explanation is the imperious impudicity and inanity most of us express and exhibit through our actions. If someone writes something of actual value, with true meaning and depth; it will remain ignored.
With so many greed driven bloggers hell bent on keyword targeting and such, bloggers with important ideas are buried in the rubble. This is the same reason American Idol is more important than people dying in wars. This is why humankind is at it most disappointing stage in history. Do you think I’m being negative or overreacting?
Loki “Mr. Mad Cat” says he’s with me on this!
People want compliments and pats on the back. You’re wonderful…NO…you’re twice as wonderful as I am….NO, NO, NO….you’re three times as wonderful as me…isn’t it wonderful? Hahahahaha 
I don’t need someone patting me on the back, there are much more important issues at hand in this world. What could be more important than Britney Spears and who has the hottest, red carpet body? Most people think, “But I don’t like politics…and I cannot miss what Simon Cowell says next! The news is so depressing…I must have fun all day!”
Don’t you understand that this is why the world is at risk for total destruction? Does the thought of billions of people burning to death in a nuclear inferno bother you? What are YOU going to do about it? Many of you are thinking, “Shut up! I’m trying to giggle and squirm in a frenzy of fun!”
People seem to only care about superficial ideals. Am I alone in feeling this way? When I look at the most popular blogs on the web, hardly any of them have substance. They are all about how to make money and how to teach others to do the same.
I’m sorry, but making money is the least important subject on Earth. What is important is stopping all these wars, and educating children…giving medical care to people who cannot afford it and feeding children who are starving to death…but we watch American Idol instead, living in apathetic decadence.
What am I doing about it? I study every political figure in local, state and national governments and am DOING MY PART BY VOTING FOR THE PEOPLE I BELIEVE WILL HELP PROLIFERATE REAL CHANGES IN THIS WORLD. All the problems in America are caused by lazy, carefree citizens. Most people who do vote know nothing about why or who they are voting for…how scary.
I am neither democrat or republican; I vote for who I agree with. Socialized health care and anti war policies are at the core of my beliefs. Instead of killing people all over the world, America should be giving us health care. Big corporations are killing the American dream along with the dreams of people all over the world.
I am not writing my weekly “Bobby’s Batch” post until tomorrow. Right this moment, I am embarrassed to be an American. I am ashamed of what this country has done and the shallow ideals we spread across this world.
The beautiful and majestic “Mr. Mad Cat” was photographed by Ian Benninghaus from the web site In Focus Imagery (the site is currently under construction but be sure to check out his incredible photography by clicking his name above). The cat’s name is Loki. The photographer says this about his cat, “The toughest beast in all the Nor’ east.
Mr. Personality, the most photogenic cat in all the land.”Loki captured my mood perfectly for this post.
Why I’m Not a Money Blogger
Jan 19
Blogging has evolved just as societies have throughout history. What makes blogging unique, is that it encompasses the entire world, all of us together under one technology; worldwide communication with everyone using the written word.
I’ve been blogging for almost one year and I have explored intensely, learning all I can. Blogging is the only “society” where we are all together and still, we separate ourselves into cliques, groups and hierarchy. Already, bloggers are divided which is such a shame.
After looking at all of my options in what I choose to express…my chosen identity, who I am as a blogger and what is truly important; I choose to be a personal blogger who tries hard to initiate and cultivate worldwide friendships.
I’ve met just about every type of blogger and have tried to become friends with them all. One thing that stands out is that it’s very difficult to become friends with a “money blogger”. This is why I am not one. If someone makes $15,000.00 per month and has a highly ranked blog…they don’t read my blog.
Why don’t they read my blog or maybe your blog? Because we have nothing to offer them in the way of making more money. We are insignificant and the ones they prey on to earn a buck. I have yet to successfully become friends with a money blogger, yet I have tried!
“If it’s impossible to become your friend, I will probably not read your blog.”
The one thing I feel great about is that I have kept most of the friends I met when I first started. To me, a true money blogger isn’t a blogger…they are websites using the blog medium to disguise themselves as friends. Does this statement offend some of you?
We, the blogging masses have all the real power, which is universal friendship. Friendships free from the constraints of religious, political and geographical separation. This is the most incredible attribute inherent to this technology. When you throw money into the mix, it changes things.
Money doesn’t inspire me. It doesn’t excite me and it never will. People and life inspire me. Art, literature and good friendship inspires me. Blogging has inspired me to be a better person. The Internet has become a place of education to me, I use it to learn something new everyday.
Some of you may be thinking, “I’m a money blogger and I thought we were friends!”
Haha…we are friends, but you aren’t making $10,000 per month with your blog either. If you were, chances are, you wouldn’t be reading this blog! Making money with your blog doesn’t make you a money blogger. A money blogger is one who writes exclusively about how to make money on his or her blog…the most uninteresting subject I know of.
However, I could be friends with a money blogger…that’s up to them, not me. I’ll be friends with anyone willing!
