Exciting Update (8/18): The first Fish Creek House blog I found, the one at https:// – fishcreekhouse – .blogspot – .com went to “invited users” only but now if you go there, this message appears: “Sorry, the blog at fishcreekhouse.blogspot.com has been removed.” PERFECT! The blog at the homesteadblogger site is also deleted! She has at least two other blogs that we know about–one at https:// – etchedbystone – .wordpress – .com and at https:// fvclassic – .wordpress – .com and these two blogs appear to still exist but they are both marked as “protected” and can’t be read by the public. I’ll continue to monitor the status of these two blogs and search for any new blogs this plagiarist may attempt to start up. Thank YOU for all of your help!!!!
8/17 Updates:
And this! Unbelievable! The plagiarized post that was stolen from me and Farmgirl Fare now appears here on Blogowogo for people to vote on what a great post it is!!
Was just notified of this: Fish Creek Watch.
Next day update: At least two of her blogs are more or less shut down in that they are now invite-only, which means she’s still passing off other people’s work as her own to her invited users and may at any time open the blogs up again (when she thinks the heat’s off) and she can go back to stealing-as-usual. She’s still posting openly at her homestead blogger site (one of her 5000 plagiarized blogs). It’s https:// – homesteadblogger – .com/ – fishcreekhouse. Note that I’m taking out all the direct links to her sites in this post so that I don’t help her Google ranking–just take out the spaces and dashes to get there. You can totally call up the Fish Creek House owners if you want. Owners’ names: Cindy and Dan Busarow. Here’s all the contact info, which she has posted on her bed & breakfast website: Fish Creek House B&B, 5913 State Hwy. 41, Whitehall, MT 59759, 406.287.2181, 406.287.3209 fax. Or email her at info (at) fishcreekhouse.com. Also, she goes by “horsewoman” (thank you, Kim W!) when she comments on homesteadblogger blogs. If you are a member of homesteadblogger, please consider asking them to remove her? I’ve written them, but I’m not a member. Notes from members might carry more weight. She steals every single day from people all over the internet. (Almost hard to wrap your mind around, huh?) You can tell them that the current post (August 15) on her homesteadblogger site is shamelessly copied from Green Living Online and the true author is Shelagh McNally. (Thanks for finding that one, Lori!)
Oh, and in the post that contained parts of two posts stolen from me? The part of her post that wasn’t stolen from me, I have discovered, was stolen from Farmgirl Fare.
The Original 8/16 Post:
I was stunned to be notified of this blog– https:// – fishcreekhouse – .blogspot – .com/ and the plagiarism of my posts. People plagiarize blog posts?! It’s unbelievable, but worse, to me, is that part of the plagiarism comes from a deeply personal and emotional post on my blog, A Small Treatise on Happiness. Part of their plagiarism also comes from this post, Not Over It Yet.
The plagiarism appears here– https:// – fishcreekhouse. – blogspot – .com/ –in the third section down, titled The Joys of the Animal Kingdom, and was posted yesterday. The text of the plagiarized post is as follows (I copied this directly from their blog, typos included):
“When I was a kid we watched “Wild Kingdom” every week on TV .. I want to say that it was on on Sunday nights, maybe at six o’clock, right before the Walt Disney hour. At least that’s how I remember it. Mutual of Omaha sponsored the show. I had no iclue what Mutual of Omaha was, but to this day I can still remember their 800 number.
We don’t get the local channels though we do get cable and RFD… Either way, I look out a window and realize we live in Wild Kingdom.
feel like I’m five years old when I see a deer. There’s something so romantic about deer. Maybe it’s all that poetic imagery that goes with them–knights and kings and woodsmen. Or maybe it’s that they’re just plain gorgeous, and that they know how to play hard to get.
It’s certainly not that they’re scarce. Whether it’s the dry weather or increasing population or some combination of factors, they’re everywhere , and not just at dusk when they normally come out to feed, but all day. Leaping across the road in front of my car, grazing in the meadow bottoms, frolicking along the the creek–sometimes dozens at a time.
his is my life, not anyone else’s idea of what my life should be. I delight in happening upon sheep, fording rivers in a 4WD I never would have imagined I’d need, watching snow fall over the hills, and I love, absolutely love, finding chickens in the road. I get excited about things like buying muck boots as they’re a saving grace. I love most things about my life, these days, a statement which I could ‘nt have honestly made in the past. And that, I believe, is what life should be like and why I wouldn’t take back one step it took to get here since I know it’s part of G-d’s journey . It is true that nothing worth having comes easy, and possibly more true of happiness than anything else.
But it’s also true that it’s worth having.
But now it’s time to get back to innkeeping chores. Yes, life here is the way of the unexpected I looked up the word unexpected in my thesaurus earlier, and this is what it said: surprising, unforeseen, sudden, stunning, eye-opening, astonishing, astounding, amazing, breathtaking. Yes, that was today. And pretty much every day here. We are all constantly surrounded by the unexpected–if we just slow down long enough to notice.
And for me, happiness is cows in the road, horses in the barn and everything that means. What about you? What does happiness mean to you?”
If you look at my original posts, A Small Treatise on Happiness and Not Over It Yet, it’s outrageous. And, I have to admit, because the plagiarism comes from such a personal and emotional post, it’s hurtful. (If they want to steal my words, maybe they could also steal the pain I went through in order to come to a place in my life where I wrote that post.) But what do you do?
(Please see today’s regular post below with Princess’s pics!)
8/16 Updates: Someone notified me that they googled some phrases from the Fish Creek House site and discovered plagiarism of other blogs on the site, too. For example, googling this: “do an I dream of Jeanie folded arm wink” shows that it is in a post stolen from this site. I suspected as I looked through the site that some posts about cows were at least partially ripped off from Pioneer Woman, but I’m not positive. Hey, at least I’m in good company.
Another example, she has also ripped off this site. Wow…..
And more!!!
There’s a post here– https:// – fishcreekhouse – .blogspot – .com/2008_07_01_archive.html –that appears to be stolen from this blog.
More Updates:
Well, thanks for letting me know that the blog has now been closed and made invitation-only! To hide all the plagiarism? The plagiarized blog is part of the Fish Creek House Bed & Breakfast website, by the way– https:// – www.fishcreekhouse – .com. So she’s using all of these plagiarized posts on a blog that is a promotional tool for her business. Making money off of other people’s stolen work. I’ve reported her to 5 Minutes for Mom, a network her blog is associated with, and to Blogger.
Another example just sent to me: “whenever I see two lonely black bananas on the counter, I just know. It’s banana bread time” This come from a post the Fish Creek House blogger stole from this blogger.
The Fish Creek House website shows they have another blog here– https:// – etchedbystone – .wordpress – .com. I haven’t had a chance to search through this one yet to see if it contains stolen material, too, but how much you wanna bet?
Jackie Hawkins says:
I left a comment at the end of the plagarized post but doubt it will ever be published. I find it apalling (sp) that anyone would copy your post almost in it’s entirety and then take credit for it. I love reading your blog. I don’t remember how I came across it but it’s now one of the places I visit daily. I’m semi computer illiterate and don’t know the first thing about starting a blog of my own.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:20 am
jaq says:
I’m sorry this has happened to you, Suzanne. ((hugs)) I hope you’ve sent her a cease and desist email. Believe it or not, I’ve seen worse–where whole blogs (posts and design) were ripped off, with only the slightest changes. Some folks have no moral compass. :talktothehand: but still I hope the thief is deeply (deeply) shamed by this public uncovering, as well they should be.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:26 am
Jyl says:
That is sad. You need to put up a copyright banner…you can get one from here:
http://www.copyscape.com
Here is what it says:
Defend your site with a plagiarism warning banner!
It is sad but some people have no integry.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:28 am
Jyl says:
I am not sure how much protection that allows, but at least it will be a start. There may be other sites like the above suggested one, but that is the one I know of and had readily available to suggest to you. Other readers may know of some different solutions as well. I am sure you will get a lot of feedback about it.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:31 am
Lora says:
Hi Suzanne,
I’m so sorry this happened to you.
Many years ago, I had a gallery showing of mirrors I had hand-painted with my own designs and a technique I had developed over time. There was a woman who came to my show who waxed enthusiastic over my work and asked me lots of questions. I shared with her what I learned (I believe in passing things on) and how I did things. She looked me in the eye and said, “Why should I buy your stuff when I can go and do it myself since you’ve told me everything?” I reply something like, “sharing with other artists is a way to promote creativity, it can be a stepping stone to a breakthrough in your own work”…..Many months later I went to a juried showing of art, (That I had not been able to participate in as it’s by invitation) I turned the corner and there were my mirrors! Not just my technique, by my designs. She had taken pictures of my pieces and copied them exactly. I was gobsmacked and then hurt. Betrayed.
I’m all about sharing how you got to a place…discoveries and ways to do things. But not about stealing what was in someone else’s head, their heart.
I though about making a fuss about it, but never said anything. I sometimes think I should have spoke out, made a fuss. Complained to someone, but at the time I dreaded the thought of confrontation. I think now I would be braver, would speak out.
I do continue to share and teach. What happened is on that other person…
But it sure doesn’t make it any easier to take when it happens to you.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:52 am
Lora says:
Sorry about spelling errors. I should spell check before I post!
On August 16, 2008 at 8:55 am
ColeR says:
Oh Suzanne…reading the blogs you wrote…they’re wonderful. As always they touch my heart. I know that it only takes one person’s disrespect to sour a mood, a moment, an action…but please don’t let it get you down. Obviously they saw something in there that they loved too. To bad they couldn’t have wrote it in a manner which gave you that due credit.
Cole
On August 16, 2008 at 9:10 am
Annie says:
File a claim with Blogger/Google. https://www.google.com/blogger_dmca.html. You can also flag the blog.
Some people are just plain idiots. Sorry you have to deal with one.
On August 16, 2008 at 9:16 am
lola falana says:
Sue?
https://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/copyright-internet.htm
On August 16, 2008 at 9:23 am
Gail L. says:
It’s a shame that some people have no integrity at all! Just remember, you have a huge following that will come here
everyday for the original, authentic posts! I hope you can do something about a copyright for your blog and site.
On August 16, 2008 at 9:30 am
Suzette says:
In a way, it’s kind of sad. This person apparently has no life and feels she has to “borrow” one from others.
But, when I come to my senses, I am outraged at the audacity! She didn’t just copy the concept…she cut and pasted it.
Amazing.
I hope you let us know how this comes out.
On August 16, 2008 at 9:31 am
Naomi says:
Suzanne,
Your words drive people to your blog as well as to buy your books. Unfortunately, many people don’t have that talent, and decide to steal from others. You are right to feel as you do, but I would send a cease and desist e-mail, then go with all the other feelings you write here. You are in a wonderful place, and apparently somewhere that other “blogger” would like to be. Sit on your porch, or give the goat milking another try, then have a piece of buttermilk pie. :hungry:
As you know, you are very lucky, and are lucky enough to recognize it. As far as I’m concerned, that’s pretty good revenge! :rockon:
Naomi
On August 16, 2008 at 9:36 am
April says:
I’m so sorry this has happened to you.
A couple of years ago, I googled my name and found that another pastor had presented on the internet an entire sermon I had published in a book. He had mentioned my name as though I had written the opening anecdote and then proceeded to use the rest of the sermon, presenting it as though it were his own work. I emailed him and asked him to give me full credit. He didn’t. I probably should have called his church and talked to him directly. But I didn’t.
But at least God knows what he did 🙂
On August 16, 2008 at 9:38 am
Julie i says:
If I was you I’d sure be H – O – T. Don’ get all worked up about it. Or as we say in Arkansas, “don’t get your drawers in a wad”. Not worth wasting brain cells over. Only a ver small minded person would do something so stupid.
On August 16, 2008 at 9:43 am
Nancy says:
Everyone above has already said anything I could come up with, so I’ll say only that I’m so sorry it happened to you. And that you can feel confident that we who love your blog will always come here for the priceless original!
Hugs from my cat Emma and me. :purr:
Nancy
On August 16, 2008 at 9:52 am
Carolyn A. says:
I feel for you about this. Those of us who blog know it takes time and much thinking to be able to come up with something that we think people would be interested enough to read. No one could take your place, Suzanne, you’re living the life we would all like to live and we love reading about it. Hang in there, sweety. xxoo
On August 16, 2008 at 10:04 am
Karen B says:
:rambo: Unbelievable!!! I left a post telling her what I thought. Funny, but there are no responses – and I doubt that there will be. Maybe she’ll get her head out of her behind and give credit where credit is due but I doubt it.
Sending lots of :hug: :hug: :hug:
On August 16, 2008 at 10:09 am
Jennifer says:
Thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of your readers. I hope you feel better soon. 😥
On August 16, 2008 at 10:10 am
Bonny says:
Ok, I read many blogs, perhaps too many because it takes up so much time, but I have heard this happening on another blog that I read often and this person stole her most personal thoughts and feelings on the loss of one of her premature twins after six weeks. She has wrote about her grief and loss and coping. This person also stole photos of her family and claimed them as their own. It really turned out to be a creepy story. She also offline pags of this stolen blog as it was later deleted after she contacted them. She posted about the plagarism and the aftermath from the plagarism. I do hope that you will check it out.
https://www.sweetsalty.com/sweetsalty/2008/7/23/the-sincerest-form-of-flattery-in-coopernico-land.html
Also, I hope that you write to this person about taking your words and report them to Blogger! This is your blog and your personal thoughts. Don’t let them just do that to you. I love this blog.
On August 16, 2008 at 10:17 am
Joanna {sweet finds} says:
I am sorry that has happened to you… I hope the person will realize the effect this has on you and start writing their own posts. Or, at least ask permission to use bits & pieces of your writing… but they need to link it back to you. This happened to Chez Fifi also… and popular as she is. Can you believe someone was using pics of her house & her sisters & trying to pass it off as their own? xoxo, Joanna
On August 16, 2008 at 10:20 am
Bonny says:
OMG, further down there are up close photos of cows as if they were your goats and recipes and photos, just like your blog!
On August 16, 2008 at 10:28 am
DeeBee says:
Wow. People can be so weird. I can’t wrap my brain around the idea of doing something like that. It never makes sense to me. But your blog is great and I love reading it!
On August 16, 2008 at 10:43 am
Teresa H. says:
How sad that someone has no life of their own that they have to steal bits and pieces of others! I was going to go check out that site, but then decided I didn’t want to give them anymore hits on their page then necessary. I figured that they’d be happy with all the visitors to their site and I wasn’t going to give them my time.
On August 16, 2008 at 10:46 am
Cheryl S. says:
Suzanne, I am so sorry this happened to you. Makes me wonder if ANYTHING on that blog is true. Those of us who have been coming to your blog for a while know what a long, hard journey you’ve had. Yet you shared with all of us and let us see Suzanne, the person, You let us see how tough and strong you are while remaining caring and compassionate and always keeping your sense of humor. You do not deserve this. If your words touched that person as much as they touch us, the MORAL and RIGHT thing would have been for her to link to your blog and credit you with the words you share from your heart. :hug:
On August 16, 2008 at 10:48 am
Maureen says:
That is crazy. It’s like someone keeping a diary of things that actually happened to other people.
On August 16, 2008 at 10:49 am
J says:
What an empty shell of a human being to have to steal someone elses life experience, so that they can then be able to appear to have:
a brain
the ability to use that brain
the ability to even know how to see ‘poetic imagery’
knowledge of Mother Nature’s creatures
the ability to see the beauty of our world
a relationship with God/Jehovah/Budda or whomever you choose to call Spirit
a life, only because she stole the actual words to be able to have an idea what the word ‘life’ means
something in life because in reality she knows she is so empty of humanity and unworthy of life’s gifts because she evidently doesn’t have a concept of working hard and has stolen to take the easy way
to have happiness because she cannot truely have happiness because she knows she is unworthy
to know how to use a thesaurus
This woman has shown all of us that she has no soul, life, or happiness by stealing another persons life experiences and posting that soul, life, and happiness and posting them as her own.
Suzanne :hug:
On August 16, 2008 at 10:50 am
IowaCowgirl says:
You realize of course that since you are the original and the “real deal”, everyone will continue to flock to your site. Don’t waste any time/energy with the faker since none of us would either!
On August 16, 2008 at 11:06 am
Kathy R says:
“And that, I believe, is what life should be like and why I wouldn’t take back one step it took to get here since I know it’s part of G-d’s journey” — This idiot should definitely take one LONG step back, and be sure not to stand next to me, because I don’t want to be struck by lightning when G_d strikes her!
At this point in my paranoia I would be worried about stalkers coming down the road to my perfect place in the country. If they steal your soul, would they stop there?
What would your publisher do if they found your latest novel issued under another name and another author with only the barest of changes? Sue them, for starters I would guess. Can you tell how mad I am??
On August 16, 2008 at 11:10 am
Traci in GA says:
Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery!
But still, I am Soo angry for you. Let us know how this comes out. :hissyfit:
For punishment Plagiarizing Thief should have to come face the wrath of Spartacus! And clean the chicken coop and milk Clover (without cookies), scoop up goat poo, give Coco a bath, weed the garden, etc…
On August 16, 2008 at 11:13 am
Enraged Bunny says:
Suze, darlin’ I just sent you an e-mail with some info; I hope it helps, and let us know what else we can do to help you!
On August 16, 2008 at 11:17 am
Kacey says:
Hard to believe that someone who runs a BUSINESS–the Inn– would do this on a blog connected to this business, isn’t it? Why would you risk your business’s reputation like that?
On August 16, 2008 at 11:19 am
jennie says:
i left a comment about it. she probably won’t approve it, though. i’m sorry this happened to you. 😥
i read your blog every day and i enjoy it. keep it up. 🙂
On August 16, 2008 at 11:39 am
Lori says:
Outraged on your behalf! I went to the plagiarist’s site, read the post you reference above in your big paragraph block, and decided to leave a comment about how the plagiarism here and other posts is NOT going unnoticed, and the post was deleted sometime between my reading it and trying to post the comment! So, she knows others know, and is deleting. Hope that’s not enough to save her account.
On August 16, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Rebekah says:
Being an attorney and a bloggist, I can’t tell you how P.O.’d I am for you! I imagine more of this goes on than we’ll ever know. I do hope it doesn’t negatively impact your desire to share your life with all of us. I sooo enjoy your blog!!
Get those pointy-toed-cowboy boots in kicking position… and kick you some…you know.
On August 16, 2008 at 12:27 pm
David says:
This is so pathetic! I mean what kind of satisfaction do you get when you steal someone else’s pain? You have to be kinda sick to do that. I really enjoy your blog and it makes me SO MAD that someone would do this to you! If there’s anything we can do please let us know!
On August 16, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Shelley says:
Unbelievable – never heard of this happening! She is obviously living a “lie.” I am dying to know if you sent her a msg and if there was any response. I would hope that she would be remorseful.
On August 16, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Kool Aid says:
How did you find out someone copied you? This is the second time a blog I visit has talked about people copying other blogs. I just can’t believe it.
On August 16, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Amy says:
I have this big mental heading called “WTH is WRONG with people?” and this falls smack in the middle of that.
This totally stinks. Sooo sorry this happened to you.
On August 16, 2008 at 12:39 pm
rebecca says:
Lovely.
I swear, people will plagiarize anything. It’s happened to so many bloggers I know — many of them not as well-known as you are. And the type of things that were stolen were really personal, too. Creepy!
On August 16, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Pam says:
Looks like she took down the copied post. It’s a shame because it looks like it might be a nice blog if she would only write it herself!
On August 16, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Lisa L. says:
That’s awful – it’s like she’s making up a life that isn’t hers – so unauthentic! Creepy for sure! Lisa
On August 16, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Lori says:
Well, after finding stolen posts from Pioneer Woman, Diary of the Food Whore, and TwoMaids Blog on the site, the plagiarist has gone to “invited readers only.”
On August 16, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Katharina says:
People who don’t have lives, steal from those that do. If they put as much effort into living as they do into plagiarism, they would have something of their own to write about.
Leave a comment and a link to your blog in their comments. Let others know where all this creativity really came from.
On August 16, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Kacey says:
She just made all her blogs invite only…
On August 16, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Karen says:
:fryingpan: I just discovered it’s invite only too!
On August 16, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Karen says:
:fan: Think maybe the heat’s getting too hot for her?!?!?!
On August 16, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Kathleen in MI says:
This person apparently has no life of her own if she needs to steal other peoples. I would imagine that nothing on that blog is truly hers/his?.
So sorry this happened to you.
On August 16, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Katharina says:
Fish Creek House won’t let us read her blog anymore? Good, it really limits her reading audience. We’ll check back in a while.
I’m sure she’ll keep reading your blog. So: FISHCREEKHOUSE blogger, get your own life!
On August 16, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Melissa's Cozy Teacup says:
Now she’s gone and made her blog, ‘private’ better perhaps to hide her sins?
On August 16, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Donna says:
I HATE when people are devious, low life’s like that – stealing credit, copying material, claiming it is theirs. Obviously, it shows they LACK what it takes to be creative and think for themselves and develop their own material. I am not sure what blog this is, as I am only on this one..and pretty computer illiterate, myself, but I would imagine, well, no, I would KNOW, I would be furious too, if someone stole my material and took credit for what I wrote. “Wannabe’s”. I am glad you called them out on it, so at least people know!
On August 16, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Donna says:
Oh, and I am really sorry that happened to you Suzanne! Typical of this world we live in…I hope it doesn’t happen again, but if it should, I hope someone tells you again, so you can call them out on it EACH TIME.
On August 16, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Donna says:
Oh, I just saw where you reported her. GREAT!
On August 16, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Connie says:
:purr: Hey Suzanne,
This page tells you how to deal with people who are ripping your content – how to get them to stop doing it legally.
https://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2007/08/17/content-theft-is-a-personal-violation/
On August 16, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Stephanie says:
Oh Suzanne, the www is a cruel cruel place sometimes… I’m sorry to hear that she’s doing this to so many people, and that you are one of them. I love visiting your blog, and part of the reason why is because you are so open. I also tried to visit the “bad blogger” and noticed that it’s invite only. I’ll help keep an eye out. I’m sure that Ree @ PW would love to know about this too, as well as the others. Have you reached out to them???
On August 16, 2008 at 2:15 pm
laney says:
Are you freakin’ kidding me?? That takes some balls doesn’t it??
I have emailed her using her email address from her Reservation link on the Fish Creek House B & B site linked above asking why she thought this was a good idea. Bet I don’t hear back…
Best thing I can figure is karma will come back and bite her in the ass. In fact, maybe it already has…
On August 16, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Debbie in Memphis says:
Suzanne,
I’m really sorry to hear about this.
Its a shame what people are willing to do and what they do without a second thought of the people they are hurting. As previous posters have eloquently stated, WE come here because we LOVE your writing and that you are willing to put your life and yourself out there to share with us. So many of us struggle through events in our daily lives and having your blog to escape to if only for 15 minutes is a blessing every day. Thank you for all that you do and for continuing to share with us – your life, your photos, your words and yourself.
I know you’re stronger than the thief – emotionally and mentally, but know that we’re all hurt and angry with you. And that we all join with you today, in your internet kitchen with love and hugs and great bottles of wine. :friday:
Of course, we may leave you with all the dishes to wash later :thumbsup:
On August 16, 2008 at 2:36 pm
laney says:
Suzanne,
I have emailed you using your “Contact Me” link.
I sent you information on how to search for pages with your stolen words and still be able to view the blog pages she has up.
Let me know if you didn’t receive it and I will send it again. Or I can post the info here.
On August 16, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Enraged Bunny says:
Dear FishCreekHouse,
Screen Shots are a wonderful thing. 😀
Also ANYONE who has a gmail account can sign into Blogger and report them.
On August 16, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Estella says:
Some people are so petty. Anything for the almighty dollar.
She should be banned from blogging.
On August 16, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Lori says:
Good grief, she is turning out to have a fairly big presence on the web, many different blogs with the same posts, all linked to her Fishcreek inn. Even the simplest little thing is plagiarized! Her https://etchedbystone.wordpress.com/2008/08/16/things-only-a-tourist-would-ask/#respond
plagiarizes from https://www.roadandtravel.com/roadhumor/funnyquestions.htm, who attributes it to a poll from Travel Industry Association of America.
I could think of myself as an incredible sleuth, but the truth is that you just google a bit and there it all is!
On August 16, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Jo says:
Suzanne,
I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy reading your blog
daily. I wasn’t sure what the word “plagiarism” meant and had to look it up on Wiki. Dang shame for both of us. Me because I didn’t know what the word meant and you because it happened to. :fryingpan: Anyway keep up the good work! We all love YOUR blog.
On August 16, 2008 at 3:49 pm
linda says:
After 60 comments, I am not sure you will see mine but I wanted to share with you anyway…I was plagiarized last week and it shocked me, just like you were shocked. This was a website sponsored by WordPress and I wrote them asking what to do. She had plagiarized many people to make her website about info for Fibromyalgia/CFS seem legit. They wrote me and said DON’T link back to the site because it only gives them more traffic, which they want(or their advertisers want!) Don’t provide full feeds of your posts, shorten them to summaries. Don’t provide linkbacks or email links of your posts, which also makes it easier to copy them. Tell/complain to the site, asking the posts be removed and inform others you know who have been plagiarized. There was more in an email I received from them, which I can share with you, if you are interested.
I agree it is hurtful, especially when you are posting of very personal experiences, as I was about my journey with my illness. After I complained, my blog was crawled with a bot intending to plant a virus but it didn’t work as far as I know. And I had some weird traffic for a day or two from them. But no comments. I don’t know if they are still up and running because, as WordPress says, it is a website and it is very difficult to stop it when it is. On Blogger, you have more control if they are also on Blogger. But they can delete one and start another. Using Copyscape helps you to see if your posts are “out there”, but I don’t want to know right now, it upset me so much! There are other programs, not free, which help you keep a rein on all this, if you don’t mind paying for them….I am not sure it isn’t better to move on, however!
Good luck in dealing with the situation. Chances are you won’t be bothered by these people again with so many responses! I was told by WordPress to not make a post about it but I had already done it. I am not sure if I completely agree with that because this way, you especially, as your website is so popular, can really make a difference in telling people what is going on out there. I don’t think I had one comment to my post before I pulled it. Oh well, let’s hope this scum just crawls off and leaves bloggers alone! It is, indeed, very hurtful and feels like someone punched you in the stomach.
On August 16, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Gail L. says:
Food for thought… if this person runs a bed & breakfast and thinks nothing of stealing from other blogs, what might she be stealing from guests at the Inn? Personal items, credit card info? What a sleeze. This really makes me angry
that she thinks she can just do this and not even care about other people and what her actions are causing! She should not be permitted to have any other blogs!
On August 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Linda, I read EVERY comment! Thanks for telling us your story!
On August 16, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
If anyone has time today and can help me contact the other bloggers who’ve had their work stolen by the Fish Creek House blogger on one of her apparently numerous blogs, please help? Email other bloggers when you find plagiarism on the Fish Creek House blogs from their blogs? Also, I’m trying to track down all her numerous blogs, so if you find one I haven’t listed yet, please post it here! Thank you all!!!! You are amazing!!!! This blogger is stealing from SO many people.
On August 16, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Lori says:
https://etchedbystone.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/whats-not-cooking-in-the-garden/ copies directly from this:
https://www.rakishwit.com/recipes.html
the author of rakishwit.com has a copyright notice directly on the bottom of his page. I’ve emailed him already, and left a comment on gpstone’s etchedbystone blog that another example of her plagiarism was easily found.
etchedbystone is still linked to from her business website as her inn blog. how weird that she’d leave it there and not delete it like the others, or make it invite only.
On August 16, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Lori says:
Here is another blog she writes
https://www.homesteadblogger.com/fishcreekhouse/
the latest (Aug 15) post is directly stolen, words and commas and cute turns of phrase and all, from
https://www.greenlivingonline.com/HomeGarden/why-wildflowers/
written by Shelagh McNally.
On August 16, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Thank you!! Thank you, everyone! This isn’t just about me anymore, it’s about dozens and dozens and who knows how many bloggers. I could never have imagined such a widespread case of plagiarism involving so many bloggers when I first found this site. Thank you for helping!
On August 16, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Kathleen says:
Yes there is more and more of this going on, espcially in the past year. I really don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to post their own words. So many people today have no training in what is proper.
On August 16, 2008 at 5:15 pm
lola falana says:
Sorry to post twice, but if I were you, I’d make sure this was known far and wide on the internet. Get all your online buddies to post it on their sites, put it in Myspace, Facebook, etc. Make it so that anyone who Googles or Yahoos the offender’s site gets the plagiarism story as the number one hit. Send them a cease and desist, complain to blogger, sue, whatever it takes.
I hate to say it, but women too easily roll over and just let sh*t like this go, and you need to defend your property. Think of it as you might if a trespasser came onto your farm and stole from you, maybe killed your goats, chickens, etc. Maybe like a varmint you have to get medieval on with a shotgun. Same thing. Find your inner warrior. And copyright your site.
Love and Bullets,
Lola.
On August 16, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Martha F. says:
So many ‘wanna be’ something originals. You are the real deal. It is evident that you blog from the heart and as long as it is beating you will have an endless supply of so many special somethings to share. You have made many of my day! Blog on farm boot wearing country girl…Blog on!!!
On August 16, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Kim A. says:
Gosh, I’ve missed a lot, being off-line all day!
I’m sorry this has happened to you and to so many others, Suzanne. I know I’m repeating everyone else’s sentiments, but my goodness! It’s absurd, this kind of theft and deceit. Is this person so lacking in intelligence and creativity that she (she?) must steal other bloggers’ work? Apparently so! It *IS* sleazy and I’ll ditto Gail’s thoughts on response #64 — if this person is running a B&B, who knows what else she is stealing?
Time for some criminal prosecution! Copyright theft is copyright theft, be it in print or on-line. Though I don’t know what the laws are like in regard to this….
Gees, I’m so glad my life is boring and small — at least I don’t have this issue!
(((Hugs)))
-Kim A.
On August 16, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Lucy says:
Just when I think that I could not possibly be surprised anymore by something a human could be capable of doing, I get surprised again. I would never have even thought of this in all my imaginations. The question I can’t answer is…What and why would be the need to copy a blog. I can’t even imagine. I so enjoy your writings every day.
R.E.V.E.N.G.E. But I can’t think of anything proper to do.
On August 16, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Kim W says:
This is so sad. I’m especially sad for you … AND … to find out that they have a sight on homesteadblooger.com. That’s how I found you and I am one of the charter members (as I writer for the parent company The Old Schoolhouse homeschool magazine). Bummer. I’ll report them to HSB, too.
Plese let us know how this all turns out.
Blessings from Ohio…
On August 16, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks&Me says:
At first I was thinking how sad that someone has to borrow other people’s lives!
Then one comes to realize it is all about $$$$$… profit.
On August 16, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Kim W says:
Suzanne, I just reported this to the homesteadblogger.com moderator. What a shame. I’m going to have to look a little closer … I may even be on their friends list!! :fryingpan:
Blessings from Ohio…
On August 16, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Belinda says:
Whoa–I immediately recognized that banana bread post when you quoted it! I’m sorry this happened to you–I’ve dealt with it, too, and it’s no fun. I finally gave up trying to fight the “scrapers.” As soon as you defeat one, three more seem to pop up in its place. :wall:
On August 16, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Linda Lilly says:
Suzanne,
I want to say how much I’ve enjoyed reading your site after finding it just last week. I added it to my Favorites and come often to read.
I was born and raised in WV and so proud of my state and it’s people. I’m not a writer by any means and have always had trouble putting my heart into words. I read in your words exactly what I try to convey to people about our beautiful state and what it means to be part of it.
It’s hard to imagine people would go so low to steal another’s writings from a blog. Just last week, a lady from a cooking forum I read at, found her picture of a beautiful tart she made posted at another site. The person claimed it as their own, along with a recipe. Sad, isn’t it?
I’m so sorry this has happened to you.
Hugs,
Linda
On August 16, 2008 at 7:42 pm
catslady says:
I’m totally shocked and had no clue as to how low some people would stoop to!!
On August 16, 2008 at 7:59 pm
sunnid755 says:
Thank you for sharing. Good luck.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:26 pm
mary beth says:
WHY in the world would someone even try to do this? I’ve followed your blog from the very beginning, Suzanne, and it’s been deeply personal and 100% YOU. How someone thought they could steal your words and pass them off as their own is just unbelievable. UGH. HUGS!
On August 16, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Kathryn says:
I have been gone all day. I am so sorry this happened to you. I wish I could make it better. What a cheap tart.
On August 16, 2008 at 8:47 pm
peggy says:
They have taken their other blog private also. I hope they are shut down completely!
On August 16, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Christine says:
Seriously? How stupid would someone need to be to copy someone else’s work off the internet and post it on their own site on the internet where all the world could easily see both? In a way you almost have to feel sorry for them. I mean good grief they must have brain damage or something.
Sorry you had to go through that. Good for you for calling them out on it! :clap:
On August 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Shelley says:
Her phone# is posted – maybe she deserves a call…..
On August 16, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife says:
It’s very disappointing and shocking when you realize it has happened. Unfortunately this type of behavior has been around for years. I’ve been publishing a photoblog for almost 4 years and the stealing and publishing of photos represented as their own got to be a big problem. They’re easily shut down once the plagiarism is uncovered.
I’m very sorry you and others have been affected by this.
– Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
On August 16, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Molly D. says:
I love reading your fantastic writing and seeing your pictures. I love your recipes too! And your blog is the only blog my technology challenged mom reads! Suzanne, I am so appalled at this person’s complete lack of integrity. It’s like someone stealing part of who you are. I hope you find some resolution and can work through the hurt and anger. Hugs to you!
Molly
On August 16, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Brandy says:
How despicable! I’m so sorry Suzanne!
On August 16, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Kim W says:
OK…here’s something that just made me get goose-bumps! I just went to my homesteadblog and GUESS WHO LEFT A COMMENT?!?! :shocked: She goes by ‘horsewoman’!!! I am SO shocked I nearly came out of me chair! Here’s the irony…she commented on my entry about why bad things happen to good people!! :wall:
Do you hear Twilight Zone music somewhere? SHEESH!!
Blessings from Ohio…
On August 16, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Jerry says:
I also just wrote to [email protected] and gave them a piece of my mind. I asked them if they picked their guests pockets like common thieves… just like they stole from others on the internet. ( I don’t expect a reply ) :no:
On August 17, 2008 at 12:03 am
SuzieQ says:
Refused to check out any of these other sites because didn’t want to give them any traffic. Glad to see they are being shut down. This person should lose plenty of business when the word spreads…AND IT WILL!! Keep on trucking, Suzanne, we all love you..
On August 17, 2008 at 12:51 am
Debbie says:
It just takes all kinds, doesn’t it? I thought the point of having a blog was to share your thoughts! Apparently this person has none!
Suzanne, you are an original….no one can be you. Thank you for your blog-I think it’s just terrific and a highlight of my day.
Now, I got to see what the goats are up to …missed few days….
On August 17, 2008 at 2:52 am
Cheryl says:
Fifty lashes for her I say :whip: !
I hopped over and checked out her sites that can still be accessed. What I found most appalling was how she closes out lots of her posts with a bible verse. Perhaps she ought to head on over the Exodus where God said something about “Thou shall not steal.” Just a thought. I also truyl believe that what goes around comes around!
I have such admiration for how you make the words just flow onto the page…it truly is a gift and I appreciate it. I have trouble even creating a shopping list!
Just know all your readers love you ( and your menagerie of animals, kids and relatives….Oh and 52!)
On August 17, 2008 at 6:42 am
April says:
Suzanne…
I’m not sure if this is too vindictive, but have you thought of contacting her local paper with this info? It’s the sort of thing our local paper would LOVE to publish and is the sort of thing that would also really affect a business.
Again — maybe too vindictive, but the extent of her plagiarism is pretty spectacular.
On August 17, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Shimmy Mom says:
That is just disgusting. Why would you even start a blog(s) if you don’t have anything to say yourself. I agree with Jyl it looks like you need to start copyrighting everything.
So sorry!
On August 17, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Gloria Chadwick says:
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for sharing your story. It helps make everyone aware that plagiarism happens a lot, all the time. It isn’t just happening to blog posts. Content is stolen from websites, magazine articles, and books. It’s happened to me and to lots of other people I know.
I plan to blog about this at my Writer’s Workshop blog and to let everyone know at the professional writer’s organization I belong to (ASJA) so they can blog about it, too. I’ll include a link to your post so people can read your story, and will also include the really helpful links that some of your commentors gave.
I hate when people plagiarize. It’s stealing, and to me, it’s stealing of the worst kind. They’re stealing what came from your heart and soul.
On August 17, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Goat Roper says:
Suzanne,
Simple remedy, time to send Spartacus to Montana for a short visit.
Pete
On August 17, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Lori says:
Here she is, also. https://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=742886049
Her profile: inspirations–good people and god. “Liars” bug her. heh.
On August 17, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Remudamom says:
She calls herself “horsewoman”? If anyone sees pics of my horses over there, let me know. Since I don’t write she can only steal pictures from me!
I’m glad she was caught, I really enjoy your blog, you are my first blog reading every morning.
On August 18, 2008 at 9:38 am
Di says:
I noticed back in April of 2007 after Googling some phrases that Fishcreekhouse was plaigirizing big time! I am happt to see that you all you true bloggers are banding together to put a stop to this nonsense.!! Best of luck
On August 18, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Di says:
I noticed that she has passed some recipes off as her own. Copyright infringement anyone?
On August 18, 2008 at 6:39 pm
m&m says:
Sadly, she even plagiarizes from kids:
https://fishcreekhousewatch.blogspot.com/2007/09/keep-your-eye-on-prize.html
She didn’t have ads on any of her blogs, and considering how much time she dedicated to running a gazillion blogs and posting all over blogging communities, it’s hard to imagine she has much B&B clientele. So I doubt her plagiarism is about promoting her business or making money. Some people will do anything for attention, even if it’s negative attention…
On August 21, 2008 at 11:45 am
Di says:
She appears to still be blogging here… Just as a heads up….
Be well.
On August 27, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Di says:
https://fvclassic.wordpress.com/
On August 27, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Mimi says:
Greetings!
So this woman is a real con artist! I am on vacation in France and have been in a rural village without access to the Internet for several weeks. Now that I’ve changed my location, I checked my blog and found that a reader had warned me that this woman recently lifted a post from August 16, 2007. I e-mailed her about it and she immediately made her blog private again – within 2-3 hours! I’ve got her name, address, phone number and location. I’ve got an attorney. And I am ticked off. (I mean, I am in Paris and this is how I am spending my time.)
If any of you have information that will be helpful for me, please send it to me at [email protected]. Please include your phone number.
Let’s work together on this, if we can. Unless we file some sort of legal action, her local paper will not write about it, if it is a legitimate paper. I’m a former investigative reporter, and by the way, Cindy, if you are reading this: I have contacts in your part of the world.
By the way, if either of you are the reader who tipped me off, many many thanks.
Mimi
http://www.frenchkitcheninamerica.com
On October 3, 2008 at 1:53 pm
LatigoLiz says:
The etched by stone one is up and running…might be worth a look!
On October 11, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Another Victim says:
She is still at it, by the way. I have spent all week finding instances of one of her posts with plagiarized content from my blog and submitting DMCA complaints to the relevant companies.
By the way, the post with content from your blog also appears here: https://dandianaldn.blogspot.com/2008/08/christian-blogosphere_15.html
I don’t think she’s the author of this blog; it looks like some sort of Christian webring that posts content based on member RSS feeds.
You can still file a DMCA complaint with blogger to get at least the content stolen from your blog removed. I’m in the middle of that process with regards to my stolen content.
Annoying, but unfortunately with my content at least I am finding she didn’t just post it on her blog, she submitted it to other sites as well. So closing down the blog isn’t sufficient to remove the content (and its association with her) from the web.
On October 23, 2008 at 10:26 pm
NAK says:
:thumbsup: Dear Suzanne~
I am a neighbor of this person that is PLAGIARIZING
She continues to have her B&B and has in the past used
pictures of our property along with our horses grazing
Interesting read~ check out the travel rating site to see what B&B victims have reported about the Fish Creek House
Her blog is handled by her hubby~(he is a computer geek)
knows all about how to open and close the blog stuff
There is an amazing amount of info I could let you in on!
I am so happy I found your blog!
NAK
On December 3, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Leisa Nahmias says:
NAK:
I know this couple quite well too, and unfortunately you are quite right. It is good to know that you are keeping your eyes open to all of this!
LN
On October 26, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Jean says:
Hello
I’m curious about something I noticed in some of the comments:
“G-d.” I’m assuming that is “God” but I don’t know why the “o” is left out. Can someone tell me? (I’m no wiz on the Internet, so if that’s a dumb question, pardon me.)
On March 7, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Shelagh McNally says:
Thanks for going after this rip-off artist. I had no idea someone else was stealing my work. Writing is hard work and often underpaid. The last thing we need is some lazy person passing off our work as hers.
On August 31, 2009 at 9:53 pm