So I finally jumped on the blogging bandwagon and started my own little blog-posting space, which can be found here: http://water-roots.blogspot.com At first I was very reluctant to activate the site because I’m a blog-commitment-phobe and the very thought of having to keep up with such a thing in addition to my Water Roots website, caused me anxiety.

But I learned that there’s nothing to worry about.

For one thing, I discovered that you can schedule your posts for a later date (who knew?), which is cool. Furthermore, you can schedule as many posts as you want for a later date, which is even cooler. So that’s what I do. I write up a whole bunch of things whenever I have some free time and just schedule them as I see fit. So there’s no need to commit time to the blog daily and rack my brain trying to think of something to add. That type of pressure is just too much for a blog-commitment-phobe.

So the pressure’s off.

Anyhow, so far it’s also proven to be relatively painless. I’ve received some nice welcome messages from other members that I’ve replied to, and the traffic to my blog has increased. In addition, I’ve discovered new blogs that are really cool.

Well, one blog led to another and suddenly I find myself on one that has some information about hydroculture. Needless to say that I was very excited when I discovered this because it’s difficult to find websites or blogs with information on this alternative growing style. I immediately felt a kind of kinship with this woman whose site included information on an indoor gardening method that I’m very passionate about.

Until I discovered that she was using some of my photos on her website without my permission. And without referencing where she took them from. Took? Let’s call a spade a spade. Stole.

Can you believe this? I mean, the nerve.

You know, I’m a pretty friendly (and reasonable) individual and I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to give my permission to someone who wanted to use one of my photos on their non-commercial website. But I expect to be asked. It’s really not cool to just take (steal) someone’s photos, or anything else for that matter, without their consent and add them to your site as if they’re your own. Especially when the website that you have stolen photos from has a copyright page that specifically states in very simple to understand language:

“... It is strictly prohibited to use any part of this website without authorization… Written consent from the publisher must be obtained before the user can copy, publish or reproduce any part of this website or the information on it.”

What part of the above statement is someone not able to understand?

Yes, I’m annoyed. This type of act demonstrates a complete lack of respect for someone else’s private web space and its contents, as if these types of ‘individuals’ that go around ‘taking’ whatever they please are somehow entitled to other people’s content on their website. Like photos. Or text. Or whatever they damn well feel they’re entitled to.

Is that too difficult to understand?

Is expecting this smidgen of courtesy too much to ask?

Is respecting copyright rules too hard to do?

And for crying out loud, there are websites out there that provide you with free images. You don’t need to steal photos from someone else’s site. You can get some for free. No questions asked. No permission needed. Odds are you’ll find one that suits whatever topic you’re writing about.

Here are a couple of links to help you shed the ‘taking-something-that-doesn’t-belong-to-you-without-asking’ disorder:

http://www.morguefile.com/
http://www.sxc.hu/

Anyhow.

I believe that there are really only two things to explain why this woman used my photos without my consent:

1) She really has no clue that this type of action is not acceptable and is innocent because of ignorance. In addition, she did not see my copyright page.

Or

2) She knows that this type of action is not acceptable but doesn’t care. In addition, she did see my copyright page but dismissed its message. After all, she’s entitled to her entitlements. She doesn’t need anyone’s permission.

I’d like to believe that number 1 explains how this all came to be. That is the reason why I have not included the name or link to this woman’s website. And because I’ve decided to give her the benefit of the doubt in hopes that it’s all a misunderstanding, I informed her of my discovery and requested that she a) remove my photos from her site because they don’t belong to her and she didn’t ask for my permission to use them or b) reference Water Roots if she wants to continue to use them.

I’m waiting to see what happens. An apology would be nice but I’m not holding my breath.

Instead.

If she removes my photos from her website because she doesn’t want to reference me, or if she wants to continue to display my photos on her website and references me as I’ve asked, we’ll move along and put this incident behind us. I’ll keep her site’s name confidential for all eternity and no one will be the wiser.

But.

If she blows me off, I will publish the name and location of her website on this website and on my blog. Because it’s not cool.

Sigh.

Everything else aside, it’s just good manners to ask. Most gardeners (indoors and out) are more than willing to give their consent for usage of their photos or text on someone else’s site, which is in fact very flattering. But you still have to ask. And you still need to credit the author/creator/publisher/artist/writer. Capiche?

End of rant.

We now return you to the plant-related Hydro Logs...



Ahem.

Sorry to have wasted whatever little precious time I have to spare these days for Hydro Logs on a rant. I promise to put up an article relating to plants as soon as possible. There’s a bromeliad profile on the horizon...

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