Normal Service has been interrupted
No A Story Every Day in 2024 until further notice
It's a good job, I'm vain.
Because today, I Googled myself, just for the heck of it. There's not a lot of me on Google (read that how you will) despite the amount I publish but I'm okay with that.
However, what I am not okay with is plagiarism. I have a Medium account set up ages ago but I've never used it because of the usual thing - time, time, time. However, I have been publishing there regardless and independent of my awareness. A pretty skill, I hear you say. But how?
I was confused at first but then, I thought, "Have Vocal and Medium set up a reciprocal agreement where things I post here automatically get posted there?" And then I thought "Why would they do that? They must be rivals. Makes no sense." And then I realised that what had happened is someone had pilfered my work and was pretending to be me.
I was shocked. What a cheek! I was in bed at the time, scrolling as you do before facing the day and I can tell you, I hotfooted it out of there to look at exactly what was going on.
They've taken my face, my profile background, my name and my work and are even chatting to people who've commented, as me.
I've reported them on Medium but I felt like the best way to staunch the bleeding was not to provide them with any fodder, unless they want to publish this. In which case, they are welcome to share this as it will expose them as the charlatan they are.
I don't think they will. Either way, there will be some changes afoot. I will continue the "Write A Story A day Challenge" but I won't be publishing until I know that my work is being published by me on my profile and without someone else gaining from my words.
I am gratified, bizarrely - a lot of people have been reading my stuff on Medium but unfortunately, I will not be reaping the rewards.
Anyway, this is a temporary hitch. The challenge is still alive for me but I'm not going to compromise my works for someone else's gain. I am aggrieved and hurt really that someone can sink so low as to do this but then, in some ways, I'm not surprised at all.
Anyone else had any experience of this and offer any advice so I can get normal service resumed?
Thanks, Vocal friends!
This is them: https://medium.com/@racheldeeming
I am set up on there as https://medium.com/@scuffedgranny in line with my website and my separate email address.
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Comments (19)
So sorry this has happened to you, Rachel! I see some people copyright. I don't know how to do that or even if it might prevent this kind of theft?
Shit!!! Did you get a resolution for this?! 😮
Rachel I am so sorry this is happening. I had someone steal a bunch of my photos from my tumblr to make a Facebook account before, and it was the worst feeling. I can’t imagine someone stealing my words too. I don’t think there’s anything you can do, aside from reporting it. This has been going on everywhere since the internet became so widely available. I don’t post any stories on Vocal or elsewhere that aren’t for challenges, but that’s because I choose to publish my work traditionally. It pays better, and people can’t copy + paste it. I also know that if one publication doesn’t buy something I write, I have hundreds of other places that might. Once it’s online, most places aren’t interested. Have you thought about using this self-challenge to write a novel? Or a short story collection? Writing a little bit each day could change your life. It doesn’t have to go online.
This made me nauseous. How disgusting and disheartening! It sucks that creators can’t just write and share their pieces without having to be vigilant in policing plagiarism of their content. I look forward to your return!! I hope it is soon!!
My post on MEDIUM: I find several Medium accounts under various versions of my name, and content I’ve posted on other sites, legitimately, being illegitimately posted on the Medium accounts. Worse, I’m seeing others’ work posted on (so-called “my”) Medium accounts, plagiarized (copy-and-pasted) and attributed to me as the author. MEDIUM has a big problem here. If I have all my work from other sites backed up, is there a downside to deleting ALL of these Medium sites? I can just, then, remake another Medium site for me once they’ve cleaned out the scammers, plagiarizers, etc. Also, is there someone getting $$ for all these reads? On of “my” sites has 1,000 followers?
Dear Rachel - Awful feeling; I can't imagine the % in people doing something like this? - Get a Life - VM Brass suggested I put a current pic of me under one of my stories as sort of a human Copyright; to no avail. I've just Googled me; can't imagine who writes all of that 'Goop'...! The VillageBucket knows you and admires you, as you...! J-Bud in.l.a.
Unfortunately, you're not the first I've heard complain about plagiarism on these sites. I don't understand the reasoning for it since none of us make a ton of money from it. I hope they get it straightened out for you.
I am afraid to learn about this and the violator deserves a ban from all the blogging platforms.
I JUST CHECKED OUT "Gerard DiLeo" on Medium. Not only are all of my posted stories-of-the-day there, but I even have a category on "my" site called "Poets From My Heart❤" which shows others' poems, as written by me! See https://medium.com/zen-poetry/surge-486fabf08bac. I'll keep you posted as what I'll do--still thinking about it. Grrr.... (https://medium.com/zen-poetry/surge-486fabf08bac)
Just one of the little nightmares invading our creativity. As long as there are Nigerian princes about, who need to unload their fortunes for safekeeping (and we've already discussed that!), there will be this type of bullshit. So sorry to hear about this. I never signed up for Medium, but I guess I better check, right? Keep us posted on what Medium "does" about this. I would think it'd be a REALLY BIG concern for them, as it undermines the very fabric of their raison d'être!
reported! i hate that this happened to you :(
Oh wow. That is NOT ok. What a thieving bastard. I hope medium sorts this out quickly for you. Your work is excellent but that doesn’t mean someone has the right to pinch it. 🤬
I feel really bad that this has happened to you, Rachel. It really is awful. But I feel bad for those of us who read you daily, too. We are being punished as well. 😢
What a grotesque violation! I do hope this will be sorted out swiftly. Why are so many behaving so badly? Have they no scruples?!?
When someone steals your online identity you can only let the hosts and your friends know, but you can't stop being you, though I'm not sure what their purpose is apart from to annoy you. One of my friends got a Facebook friend request from Price William.It all the roayal pictures but the scammer couldn't spell
Sorry to hear this, Rachel. On the other hand, it's a testament to how good your work is that someone would go so far as to pose as you to reap a benefit from it. I wonder if it might be the same cur you caught stealing our stories here? Shame on them!
That's rough. I hope Medium is able to act promptly to resolve this.
Oh my word! This is something I think we all fear, I certainly do, but it seems unlikely I would stumble across it. I'm sorry this has happened. I have no medium account, but I doubt that's the deciding factor.
The audacity that they have! I'm so glad you decided to Google yourself. Else you would have never found this out! I've reported that account! I too have a Medium account but have not posted anything there. Now I gotta check if anyone is going the same to me what they did to you.