Allow Me To Rant

by Marinka on March 13, 2012

Or don’t.

But I’m going to anyway.

Because things have been on my mind, and my mind can only handle so much before releasing its contents into the wild.

1. Don’t plagiarize. So to sum up, one blogger, and I use the word loosely, stole Amalah’s content and then when she got caught offered an apology that Rush Limbaugh would have been ashamed to utter. She was young, she didn’t know, but she’s taking responsibility now!

What a load of bullshit.

If someone doesn’t know what plagiarism is, they have no business having internet access. Seriously, Young Ladrinka is 10 and he knows how to cite sources (even when those sources are Wikipedia. OMFG.)

And honestly, as a blogger, I feel that when this woman that two weeks ago I’d never heard of before plagiarizes, it hurts us all and demeans us as writers and business people and as human beings.

2. Sponsored posts.

I do them. This means that I write a post and I’m compensated for it and there’s a disclosure about that fact. Not everyone who reads this blog likes that I do sponsored posts.

Got it.

But I’m going to keep doing. Partly because I like getting paid but mostly because I really like the fact that it bothers some people. That to me is so fantastic that I may soon start waiving fees for doing sponsored posts.

If someone doesn’t like sponsored posts, they are free not read them. If they feel like this blog has become “nothing but sponsored posts” then don’t read this blog. (Or ask for your money back! I’ll write you a check!)

3. My name is Marinka

I get it, PR people are busy. They don’t have time to address emails individually. And that’s ok. I’ll settle for “hello!” But no fucking way will I ever accept Hey Pretty Young Thing. Because I can hear the sarcasm font.

And yes, I really did get a pitch that started with those words yesterday. Some people on Twitter thought I was kidding until I forwarded it to them.

Knock it off.

Love, Good Looking Enough With Proper Lighting and Make Up Woman of a Certain Age

One year ago ...

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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }

Suebob
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 2:04 pm

Now I have this stuck in my head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-3JYuv9w4U

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Anne March 13, 2012 at 2:05 pm

If I ever had any doubt about showing 360 degrees of my ‘authentic self’ in a blog (and I have) this has cleared the fog. Truth is fascinating.

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Megan March 13, 2012 at 2:13 pm

Thank you for clearing all that up. And? You’re totally hot.

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meekasmommy March 13, 2012 at 2:14 pm

but… but… but… you ARE a pretty young thing! don’t let that mirror tell you anything different!

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magpie March 13, 2012 at 2:40 pm

really? pretty young thing? holy cow.

(i love a good rant.)

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elizabeth-flourish in progress
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 3:51 pm

Amen to everything. Except for the “My name is Marinka” part.

Because, um, you know, My name is Elizabeth. Which has been excruciating difficult for some PR to get right. Because apparently, there are about 47 different ways to spell the name.

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Phoenix Rising
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 3:55 pm

I take issue with the fact you called this a Rant and there are only three items listed. I thought rants had to have a minimum of 47 different annoyances. I think you have more writing to do, Pretty Young Thing.

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Tonya March 13, 2012 at 4:03 pm

Are you sure it wasn’t Michael Jackson reaching out to you from beyond the grave?

Also, stealing writers’ content is despicable! As I always say: If someone doesn’t know what plagiarism is, they have no business having internet access. Seriously, Young Ladrinka is 10 and he knows how to cite sources (even when those sources are Wikipedia. OMFG.)

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wendi
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 4:11 pm

I’m totally copying this on my blog & taking full credit. Thas what we pretty young things do, baby.

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b a seagull
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 6:57 pm

Why does someone have a problem with endorsements? You were, still are and will remain clever, poignant and thought provoking.

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Deborah J March 13, 2012 at 8:27 pm

Rant away! Always funny and insightful. The truth usually is.
…and I really, really need the sarcasm font.

BTW, I also like it that we are “…the wild.”
I was feeling very wild thing when I got up this morning.

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Kara
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 8:41 pm

You’re my type of person. I love that you write sponsored posts just to piss certain people off! I bet you cackle a little bit while writing them.

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Heather March 13, 2012 at 9:13 pm

Wow, just hearing about this blog drama. And it makes me so damn glad I no longer blog. I copy shit into my journal instead.

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marymac
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 9:25 pm

all of this?
is why i love you.
xoxo

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Deborah J March 13, 2012 at 9:25 pm

Came back to say that I have lost an hour of my life following the plagiarism links…all the way down dark alleyways, to neighborhoods in denial and on to condemned reputations.

I don’t blog so had no idea. I never thought I was naive, but holy batcaves it was shocking, and obviously a big problem out in the blog universe.

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Corporate Wife
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 9:34 pm

Well, just because you look so pretty when you are angry, I am going to get all clicky with it.

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the mama bird diaries
Twitter:
March 13, 2012 at 9:44 pm

Now I feel bad that I plagiarized one of your sponsored posts.

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deb March 13, 2012 at 10:23 pm

wow – just read the whole Amalah thing. I have to say, this play-dumb attitude about plagiarism is coming right out of the universities. i used to teach freshman writing, and one thing that really disgusted me was how the universities don’t hold students accountable for understanding plagiarism anymore. I was required to teach plagiarism twice during each semester and also had to document attendance on those days so that i could prove which students had an opportunity to “learn” about copying the work of others. If you dared to “prosecute” a student for plagiarism, you often went on trial yourself, having to prove how well you taught the concept. I couldn’t understand why I had to teach it at all seeing as I had thoroughly mastered this concept when i wrote my first term paper in 6th grade. I would tell this to my students when they claimed that they didn’t understand. Really? I got it when I was 11 and you couldn’t get it by your 20’s? Personally, I would rather admit that I plagiarized than claim to be too ignorant to understand it! OK – sorry. who knew that ranting was catching!

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Loukia March 13, 2012 at 10:41 pm

I can’t believe the excuse… “I’m only 27…” I mean COME THE F ON. I’m only six, that might *might* work, but I teach my kids right from wrong every single day. Sigh. I don’t get some people, and I don’t like any drama at all, and just, yuck.

Sponsored posts – I do them, too. I don’t care if people don’t like them. It does not make me a lesser blogger because I accept to do this. If I did not accept to do this – to write about things I support, or like, or want to review or whatever -then I probably wouldn’t be able to afford Mom 2.0! 😉

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Lady Jennie March 14, 2012 at 6:38 am

I am above sponsored posts.

Plus I don’t know any company in France that does them. La Maison du Chocolat? Petit Bateau? Ladurée? Galleries Lafayette? Anyone? Anyone?

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Mom101
Twitter:
March 14, 2012 at 7:55 am

I for one would like my money back. You can make it out to “Pretty Young Thing,” Brooklyn, NY.

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alimartell
Twitter:
March 14, 2012 at 8:30 am

I’m confused as to why you need to defend YOUR choice to do sponsored posts on YOUR site. Sure, they aren’t for everyone, but this is your space…and assuming that, you know, you aren’t stealing content and blaming it on your young age, you are free to do what you feel in YOUR space.
Also…money is nice 🙂

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Tinne from Tantrums and Tomatoes March 14, 2012 at 8:50 am

You do sponsored posts : eh alors.
Some steals content : Pas d’accord.

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dusty earth mother March 14, 2012 at 10:14 am

I just cut and pasted this and I stole your sponsored posts check. But I’m only 48 and I don’t know any better.

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Stasha
Twitter:
March 14, 2012 at 11:08 am

I am all set with writing on the blog, it’s comments I need to start plagiarising. At least the spelling would be correct.
But seriously, thanks for the rant. I read both the writer and the copycat and wow…as for sponsored posts, I don’t see the problem. Will people stop checking their emails because the landing page on yahoo has ads?

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Marta
Twitter:
March 14, 2012 at 12:46 pm

Wait. What? I’m not supposed to copy and paste your work and say its mine?? I didn’t know. I am after all just a pretty young thing.

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Mary March 14, 2012 at 1:12 pm

Yah, plagiarism does suck. As a former dancer/choreographer I had the great joy of being invited to a colleague’s dance thesis where not only did she steal my choreography, costumes, set design and lighting but she managed to convince some of the same dancers I used that I said it was okay. When I confronted her she said it was “the sincerest form of flattery.” I take satisfaction now (years later) knowing she no longer does anything remotely creative and I have the great privilege to be able to continue to do that. By the way, your blog is fantastic. I always look forward to reading it.

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The Flying Chalupa
Twitter:
March 14, 2012 at 2:37 pm

I do love a good rant – especially when it’s well deserved. That being said, should I not be citing Wikipedia?

xo

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anymommy March 14, 2012 at 8:28 pm

“Releasing its contents into the wild.” How do you come up with these gems? I’m adding that to my “list of Marinka’s gems to steal when she’s gone.” Because you can’t plagiarize the departed, right? Besides, by then I’ll be 90 and I can’t be expected to know better at that age.

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Erin I'm Gonna Kill Him
Twitter:
March 15, 2012 at 11:52 am

I always miss the good plagiarism scandals. I must dig something up on this.

Your blog is not all sponsored posts. You pretty young thing, you.

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Renee March 15, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Funny as always…I have to be brave and admit that I’m one of those people that doesn’t really enjoy your sponsored posts much. But, you know what, who cares? It’s your blog, and you can do whatever you want. And I don’t have to read it – and, in fact, I have significantly decreased how often I look at your blog for that very reason. But, hey, that’s the great thing about free choice. You are free to read what you want, and I am free to not read it. If I can make one small request, though, I would think it would be more “fair” to identify the fact that the post is sponsored in the title, rather than at the very end. That way, I don’t have to read the whole post to realize you are a sellout!! (Kidding!!!!)

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kristen howerton
Twitter:
March 16, 2012 at 12:18 am

I’ve always allowed my blog readers to read for free, but I’ve decided to send invoices to the ones who bitch about it when I write an occasional sponsored post.

If someone doesn’t like sponsored posts, they are free not read them. If they feel like this blog has become “nothing but sponsored posts” then don’t read this blog. (Or ask for your money back! I’ll write you a check!)

(see what I did there?)

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