ramble ramble ramble

A final few words in summary on the subject of copyright infringement, plagiarism, and all out theft... When deciding whether you may be infringing copyright or commiting plagiarism, ask yourself this question:

"If I was the creator or photgrapher, how would I feel about someone 'copying my hard-work' whether it be photos, or a well written piece that has been published online?" (Sometimes "word-for-word)

I think "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"! Still don't steal my work, please!


Avoid libel suits. Never defame anyone in your writing. Never assume anything. Don't write anything on a blog that you would not want published on the front page of the Advance Monticellonian with your photo and a byline.

As bloggers we are very privileged people who can directly influence public opinion. Most people don't have the opportunity to defend themselves through the avenue of publicly written words on an easily accessed website. So it's a heavy responsibility we bloggers have to convey the truth (is that subjective or absolute? - that's an entire blog entry all by itself). Well our opinion of the truth, anyway.

If you haven't got a kind word to say about someones blog entry, don't say it at all. You can disagree without attacking the person. Constructive criticism, when used correctly, is a great tool.


Most of the above information is based on pure common-sense and using your own discernment. However, many bloggers and commentors don't have an abundance of the aforementioned qualities in making judgments, as we have been seeing quite frequently.

Just because YOU read a blog and took it "one way" that's no reason to push off YOUR impression of it onto someone else. If you want to share the link, fine, but don't go off telling people how they should think, because sadly enough, a lot of people can't, or won't, think for themselves and form their own opinion.


When in doubt about what course to take on whether or not a comment is ok, or right clicking and saving a photo is not theft, just ask yourself this: If you were the author or creator of the site, would you like someone else copying your work, or saying 'those things' about you?


Even if you have been badly hurt by someone in the past, don't be tempted to retaliate and take vengeance for "the sordid past" through your words. Everyone has made mistakes they may regret in life, so TRY to think the best of people. At least try! And if you can't.... AVOID THEM till you can!


"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." isn't that compicated.

And as for my last post on photograph theft, via lifting them online, or scanning a hardcopy, it's never ok.
And I know people question the cost of portraits, and equate that to thinking photographers get rich "off them."
Well, when my lenses cost over a thousand dollars each, it takes a LOT of pictures to pay for that, and the other thousands I have in my cameras, flashes, and other equipment, not to mention the costs of websites, insurance, advertising, and etc.
Also, I think it's a little known fact to a lot of people that cameras DO wear out. They have what's known as a shutter life. I only get so many "clicks" and it's kaput. So no, I never get to a point that it is all paid off. I am steadily replacing. I have been in the photo business (on a very small scale) for 6 years or so. I am on a 4th Canon Camera at the moment. I shoot nowhere NEAR as much as a true pro photog that relies on their camera to feed their family. Their costs of replacing equipment would be much higher than mine, as would be paying expenses to own/operate a studio. (And then there's always taxes.....)

But anyway, the real point is, I am not a mean, vindictive person. I AM tired of the rude comments (that always seem to fall on my religous type posts and no others). If you truly question something I have written, by all means, comment, but there's more than one way to go about that.