In Blogging, Sometimes You Have to Handle Rude People
July 8, 2007
In every job, in everything you do, there will always be someone who is rude. That is the same for blogging. I’ve recently had an unpleasant experience with a person - I will not name any names. But when you come across a situation like this, you need to try your best to handle it properly. I hope I handled it properly.
Pretty much I discovered someone who had copied one of my articles and pasted it on their blog. This person wasn’t completely wrong though - at the end of their post, they had written “Original post by Tay” with a link to me. However, my problem was that they had reposted my whole article in its entirety. It’s not like they had stolen it completely.
I posted a comment on their post (my comment never would have gotten posted, because it had to be approved first). I said something along the lines of, “I know you linked to me and gave me credit at the very end of the post, but I would appreciate if you did not have the article up in its entirety.” This does, after all, create double content for the search engines which is a bad thing. I also said that in some ways it appears as if the owner of the blog wrote the article, when really I did. I asked nicely if they could remove it or change it to only show a portion of the article, with a link back to my post so the readers could continue here.
A few hours later I received a comment (which I did not accept to show on this blog). The person told me something like this: “If you had read the whole thing and got to the end, you would have seen I had linked to you. I did not say I wrote the article!! You’re an asshole and I unsubscribed from you on my RSS feed.” Along with a couple other things.
I told them that I did not say they had taken credit, but that was how it was perceived in some ways. I also had clearly stated to them that I had KNOWN they linked to me. I appreciated that they did. However, all I asked was the article not be posted in its entirety, and that only a segment be shown instead. This would have solved all problems, and if the person had said okay, everything would have been fine and dandy. I mean, what was so hard with just agreeing? Posting a portion and linking to the rest would not have hurt a thing. But instead this person had to call me an asshole and threaten me with unsubscribing (which was a pointless threat, really).
They did remove the post. But they did not have to handle this so immaturely. They made a big deal out of nothing, and had to resort to calling me names, over absolutely nothing. I really do feel flattered that they liked my article enough to put it up on their own blog. All I asked was one little thing - that it not be posted in its entirety. And I asked nicely too. Instead I received a comment with a fake email attached to it which included the words “fat chance”, was called a mean name, and treated pretty unfairly. It was my content that I had written, so what was so wrong here?
This is NOT an attack on the person. This is actually my first experience like this, and I am just saying I knew I would have to handle something like this eventually, and I was hoping I did it right. I am trying to understand why they felt like they had to be so defensive, and if I handled the matter properly. Should I have let it slip and not asked if the article not be posted in its full entirety? Should I have been fine with the link back to my blog? Or did I do the right thing, and did they just get a little upset over nothing? When I first commented this person I asked nicely, called no names. What I said was received completely wrong on the other end. But did I deal with it correctly? Was having the article put up in its entirety a big deal or not?
Once again, I’d like to say this is not an attack. I’m not naming names. And I really DO appreciate and feel very flattered when people like my content enough to put it on their blogs. All I ask for is a link back to me (which this person DID provide), and that the post not be just copied and pasted in its entirety from my blog. I please ask that just a portion be shown with a link to my original post saying, “click here to read more”. Maybe also at the beginning of the post saying that I wrote the article, so it is not mistaken? That is not asking too much, is it?
If I’m being way too uptight about this, let me know what you think please. And I want to know if I should have said anything about the article being put up in its entirety or not. Did that matter? Also, my readers, have you ever had to deal with someone being rude and much too defensive other nothing in your blogging experiences? Thank you for reading. :)
UPDATE: I am rather confused. He links to all kinds of Ebay related things and also lists his RSS as one that actually isn’t his. I’m trying to figure out what he’s trying to do.
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Comments
14 Responses to “In Blogging, Sometimes You Have to Handle Rude People”
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Heck I have gotten death threats before, people amaze me
Hah, that’s ridiculous. But of course I guess we’ll have to get used to it, because there are always going to be people this way.
You are not being uptight. That blogger should have given a brief summary of what you said and linked to your blog so readers could visit and read it in further detail. When you credit someone on a blog you link to them as a reward so others will visit their site. That person didn’t do that. They were being selfish and didn’t want anyone leaving their blog so instead they posted the whole article in it’s entirety.
I have to say that this is crazy. I hate when people get out of line. I know you feel bad, but you shouldn’t. He just seems a little sensitive. Could I get an email of who this person is so you don’t have to post it? I want to look at their site. I don’t want to deal with a person like this. Thanks.
Yes, that is what I had asked for but he became very defensive and argumentative. He linked to me at the very end but gave readers no reason to visit this site, as he had already put up the full article.
Sorry but I don’t feel it would be right to disclose who this person is. I do not wish to attack them in any way and it would be best to keep them anonymous, don’t you think? I don’t want to anger them further.
Thank You Soo Much For Having Visited My Blog And commenting on it. Yes, I know i have a serious problem with my typing skills . The Music content is from wikipedia i have already Added it there…. there are no such copyrights on the site for copying the content though i added a lot by my self…………
It was mainly the time factor which is wrecking my blog up . How do you manage to get so much time to illutarate soo much? not criticizing i think i am just not concentrating on my work . Yes I will be removing Bidvertizer adds shorly …..Well i tried to blend in the colour scheme i selected Orange instead i will do justice with it .
Hey i have this widget on my site i dont get paid or anything for advertising it i am just curious!!! Its a Small Map it Show Where do people come from to your site. I hope you add it to your please do context my site with it i mean write a blog on it and maybe the referers name namely me who told you about it that would seriously be appriciated…… i want to generate more tarffic to my site…….
Helping us New People will also help you Thank You
Ps:I cant belive it i am actually writing comments now that comment was my first because i was really impressed with your work ….
Adding to the Last Comment The Widget is called ClustrMaps Its on the right hand side Page elements …….
Well Oh yes i just read your comment again ……..,.,.,.,., As the Page Title Suggests MORPHED it means a Change Morphing is a special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes one image into another through a seamless transition. Most often it is used to depict one person turning into another through some magical or technological means or as part of a fantasy or surreal sequence. Traditionally such a depiction would be achieved through cross-fading techniques on film.
So to Support My Title I am Trying to Create a Randomness In my Blog So that People Would Really Search It Out and find Crazy Blogs Posted in it well actually its on about all my personal interests……..
And the Explanation On Evanesence Google the pictures are done solely by me
I’ve left another comment on your blog answering some of your questions and responses. If you have anything else you’d like to know just ask, I’d be happy to help with anything! :)
Tay - you don’t even worry about it girl. I have that happen at least once a week and I’ve learned to deal with it. You are always going to have people that are rude. I have people that disagree with my advice publicly, post my articles, get mad at me for leaving comments ???, and all kinds of other crazy stuff.
You are about as good natured as there is in the blogosphere, so don’t give anymore thought to the issue. I say that guy is a freaking loser.
Thank you, you are so sweet. :D
It just doesn’t make sense at some of the things people get mad at and want to argue over. Getting mad because you left a comment is just ridiculous! I suppose I will just need to get used to it.
Thanks again. :)
I constantly get negative comments from people who are upset that I post the names of friends of theirs that kill people.
It’s really weird, knowing that murderers have friends who will look for their names online and protest the murderer’s innocence.
That is is weird. I don’t see how people can, after knowing their friend has killed someone, can still remain their friend. And then spend their time looking for articles like the ones you write.
Anyway though, I love your blog. I read it everyday. Keep up the great work. :D