My Story Is No Longer Listed?

[sr71plt]

Stop replying to me, then. I hadn't replied to you at all in days until you wanted to answer a question I specifically addressed to someone else. Put me on your ignore list - please.

In the game of pulling up old posts, here's the one you posted, Cloudy, in response to my pointing out that you just follow me around and attack me out of the blue--as you have done here. Just can't help yourself, can you?

Yep, gangbangers, it's all about me. It isn't about passing judgment on an author here and deleting their story and username without even contacting them to give them a chance to tell their side of the issue. Nope, not about that at all. It's about turning it all back on sr71plt.

 

[cloudy]

In the game of pulling up old posts, here's the one you posted, Cloudy, in response to my pointing out that you just follow me around and attack me out of the blue--as you have done here. Just can't help yourself, can you?

Yep, gangbangers, it's all about me. It isn't about passing judgment on an author here and deleting their story and username without even contacting them to give them a chance to tell their side of the issue. Nope, not about that at all. It's about turning it all back on sr71plt.

here bunny, ball ball.

 

[sr71plt]

here bunny, ball ball.

Yep, just can't control your urge for unprovoked attack at all.

 

[cloudy]

Yep, just can't control your urge for unprovoked attack at all.

Whatever you say, sure. Whatever makes you happy.

 

[starrkers]

A little quick draw and uncommunicative just to pull the story without explanation wasn't it, though? Why the assumption that the author was guilty of something? I wouldn't be quick to toss gold stars on this.

But in this case (if the originator of the thread is telling the truth, which can be checked out) responded incorrectly and unfairly, yes? It shows that too. Let's not be dumb about this or fail to be able to think in the place of a genuine author of a questioned piece. There is no excuse for assessing punishment based on unresearch presumed guilt arrived at from hearsay allegation. What society do you live in if you think otherwise? This is one of those "if it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing carefully and right" issues.

If you don't see that, I question your motives.

AttaGirl now has to go through the whole recovery of her reputation and resubmission process (if she bothers) with the loss of any ratings and comments the piece originally had--all because the Web site took a knee-jerk reaction before a proper assessment.

Nope, no gold stars for this--or for the way this was handled. Unless AttaGirl is keeping something back, not even a message asking for her side of it, let alone a message explaining action taken--either of which could have headed off the problem.

Agreed.
A PM wouldn't have gone astray.
If what Attagirl says is correct (and we have no reason to doubt her) this could happen to anyone with stories under different names. My first few were under a different name on an obscure little site. I don't particularly want my username from that site linked to this one in the greater net community, so won't be putting it in my bio.
It should be courtesy if nothing else to at least notify someone that their material is being removed for "plagiarism", so they have a chance to defend themselves immediately, instead of whenever they happen to notice it's gone.

 

[cloudy]

Agreed.
A PM wouldn't have gone astray.
If what Attagirl says is correct (and we have no reason to doubt her) this could happen to anyone with stories under different names. My first few were under a different name on an obscure little site. I don't particularly want my username from that site linked to this one in the greater net community, so won't be putting it in my bio.
It should be courtesy if nothing else to at least notify someone that their material is being removed for "plagiarism", so they have a chance to defend themselves immediately, instead of whenever they happen to notice it's gone.

...and with a pm to Laurel, it's since been corrected, with the H and "new" status restored, so I fail to understand the problem.

 

[starrkers]

...and with a pm to Laurel, it's since been corrected, with the H and "new" status restored, so I fail to understand the problem.

The author had to notice her story was missing and ask for an explanation.
The author was automatically assumed to be a thief.
I'm not in the least surprised the author is seriously reconsidering putting anything else up here.
The assumption of guilt would leave a nasty taste in my mouth too.

 

[cloudy]

The author had to notice her story was missing and ask for an explanation.
The author was automatically assumed to be a thief.
I'm not in the least surprised the author is seriously reconsidering putting anything else up here.
The assumption of guilt would leave a nasty taste in my mouth too.

No one's perfect. They fixed it, what else could you possibly want?

The same zeal that we admire when one of our stories is stolen and posted elsewhere was used here, albeit, in error. They fixed the error, and restored things to the way they were. Please show me where anyone was called a thief.

 

[starrkers]

No one's perfect. They fixed it, what else could you possibly want?

That the same error is not made in the future. That's all.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Strange question, DarkSide, as you can read the thread as well as I can. AttaGirl opened up with "both my story and my username have been deleted and I wonder why." If she knew why at that point, why would she ask? So, it's reasonable to have taken the issue as deletion having been taken before/rather than contacting her. I didn't even assume this much, though, I specificially and repeatedly posted that my postings were predicated on the story being as she described it. So, golly gee whiz, as far as I can see I was the only responder not running on assumptions.

Bottom line. If action such as this is taken without checking it out first, the action isn't worthy of gold stars, it's bad management practice (it was the handing out of gold stars that was the "applause" issue).

Getting rid of plagiarizers in a proper manner isn't the issue here and never was.

Obviously her username was not deleted as she managed to post here in the forums.

We don't know what attempts, if any, the site operators made to contact her. I have no idea what the protocol is at this site is when it comes to plagarized material.

What would a reasonable time frame be to wait before pulling down a piece of plagarized work if there is no response from the writer in question? One day? One week? One month? A year?

As a writer who has been plagarized before, I want my work down now.

Again, I have to commend the site for both their quick action in pulling down something that may have been plagarized, and getting it back up when it turns out that it wasn't.

Although I've over been here a short time, 33 months, this is the first time I've heard of something like this happening.

 

[sr71plt]

Obviously her username was not deleted as she managed to post here in the forums.

We don't know what attempts, if any, the site operators made to contact her. I have no idea what the protocol is at this site is when it comes to plagarized material.

What would a reasonable time frame be to wait before pulling down a piece of plagarized work if there is no response from the writer in question? One day? One week? One month? A year?

As a writer who has been plagarized before, I want my work down now.

Again, I have to commend the site for both their quick action in pulling down something that may have been plagarized, and getting it back up when it turns out that it wasn't.

Although I've over been here a short time, 33 months, this is the first time I've heard of something like this happening.

My immediate thought was that she was just back in under a new registration name. She hadn't said what name the story was registered under. So, your assumption wasn't mine. It seems quite logical that she would just create another registration to ask the question if she'd been left in the dark.

I think a communication to the effect that the story was being pulled until/unless an explanation of why it was posted on another site under a different name--and that the user's account would also be canceled in x number of days if a response wasn't received would be appropriate enough--although giving the "author" the benefit of the doubt of a little time to respond before pulling it would show respect to the Web site's authors.

And, no, we don't know that such a communication wasn't sent--only that AttaGirl indicates she didn't receive one before the deletion and before she started asking why.

In Internet erotica writing, there have to be a gagillion stories out there under different pen names even though all the postings are by the genuine author. I had already identified a situation (my own) of why I posted stories here under a different name than elsewhere. That seems to make the need to pin what's what down through communication all the more important.

 

[sr71plt]

That the same error is not made in the future. That's all.

Bingo, Starrkers. And all that would have been required if AttaGirl is representing the situation adequately would be communication up front. Again, this is isn't just a case of spilled popcorn; if it's worth doing at all (which it is, I think), it's worth doing carefully and fairly.

And, thanks for weighing in, Starrkers.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Again, this isn't just a case of spilled popcorn ...

Indeed. I pay for my popcorn. Stories submitted here, on the other hand, are given for free to a free website that accepts pretty much any story of any quality so long as it's vaguely readable and doesn't depict one of a few distasteful sexual acts. And, of course, so long as it's not apparently plagiarized.

If they spilled my popcorn, I'd be upset. This, on the other hand, is a perfectly silly thing to get incensed about. Heavens, man, the actual author stopped complaining at post #5.

 

[BlackShanglan]

That the same error is not made in the future. That's all.

Agreed - if there was one. But I think that DarkSide is right in saying that we don't really know if a mistake was made, or if one was, what the mistake might have been. We don't know what steps Laurel and Manu might have taken to try to contact the author, or what evidence they were looking at when they made their call, or even whether the real mistake might have been something as simple as a typoed email address.

I'm not saying that they might not have fumbled this one, but their goodwill comes through clearly in the swift response to the author, and they haven't been able to offer their own perspective on what happened in the initial decision. At the least, I see good motives and attempts to take swift and appropriate action both before and after. On the general scale of services you get for free, it still ranks pretty well for me.

 

[sr71plt]

Indeed. I pay for my popcorn. Stories submitted here, on the other hand, are given for free to a free website that accepts pretty much any story of any quality so long as it's vaguely readable and doesn't depict one of a few distasteful sexual acts. And, of course, so long as it's not apparently plagiarized.

If they spilled my popcorn, I'd be upset. This, on the other hand, is a perfectly silly thing to get incensed about. Heavens, man, the actual author stopped complaining at post #5.

Ah, then the problem is that you don't recognize that a story is product--that as much (more perhaps) time and effort is put into devising, writing, reviewing, and submitting a story than earning the money to pay for a box of popcorn. What is the product of this Web site then--and who provides the product? Or is it just an excuse to backdrop just another chat forum?

I think you understand the issue here and what is right and wrong just as much as I do.

I also would have stopped at post #5 if some other posters hadn't kept being so muddleheaded and closedminded about the issue--eventually just so they could snipe at me.

And sure, AttaGirl stopped posting--but her issue was resolved only because she came here to discuss it. Not, as Starrkers points out, because the Web site did anything at that point other then strip her story and username (assuming her presentation of the issue was accurate).

And as Starrkers says, what's important is what's going to happen the next time some stranger claims something here has been plagiarized. Is the Web site going to give at least as much respect and "innocent before proven guilty" regard to someone who has provided product here as to the claimant? If they've read this thread, I think they probably will. All to the good.

 

[sr71plt]

Agreed - if there was one. But I think that DarkSide is right in saying that we don't really know if a mistake was made, or if one was, what the mistake might have been.

Yep, I continually posted that as well. Isn't it wonderful how you can pick and choose who said what to serve your agenda?

 

[Laurel]

Hi all,

Thanks to those who brought this thread to my attention.

In case you all were wondering, here's how things work: when a story is reported as potentially plagiarized (and evidence is given), we first check the evidence provided. If things do seem amiss, we push the story off the public site into the author's account with a note explaining the situation. The author can then resubmit the story with a note clarifying the authorship question and we will re-post the story. This is the standard procedure, and this is what was done here.

In this particular case, the name and email address was entirely different from the name and email address under which the story was posted on another site. A reader sent us a report with links to the story on the other site under the other name. We sent the story back to the author's account with a note explaining the situation. AttaGirl45, being a newbie, maybe didn't check her author account - which is understandable. However, she did send me a PM about the story, to which I responded with the information I was provided.

Things were cleared up quickly, and her story was back on the site within hours - even returned to the NEW page to make up for the time lost in limbo. AttaGirl45 was happy, we were happy, everyone was happy. So when a member sent me a link to this thread, I was a little surprised to see this thread - and to see that an issue already settled in private was still being discussed publicly.

I hope this explanation eases everyone's minds. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me as I can't guarantee I'll get back to this thread. Thanks again, and have a great week!

 

[sr71plt]

Thanks, Laurel. That's reassuring. What AttaGirl posted (or followed up with) did not include the bit about notification as action was taken.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Ah, then the problem is that you don't recognize that a story is product--that as much (more perhaps) time and effort is put into devising, writing, reviewing, and submitting a story than earning the money to pay for a box of popcorn. What is the product of this Web site then--and who provides the product? Or is it just an excuse to backdrop just another chat forum?

I think you understand the issue here and what is right and wrong just as much as I do.

Yes, and what's more, I understand economics. Any free exchange of a product indicates, by the nature of the exchange itself, the value of the product to the producer and the market. Whatever effort has gone into a story is irrelevent; if it's being posted for free, or for the perceived value of the additional audience and exposure alone, then that is its value. Otherwise, it wouldn't be here.

And as Starrkers says, what's important is what's going to happen the next time some stranger claims something here has been plagiarized. Is the Web site going to give at least as much respect and "innocent before proven guilty" regard to someone who has provided product here as to the claimant? If they've read this thread, I think they probably will.

Or indeed they already have, and had before you even began your bizarre crusade of assumption and indignation. How fortunate that we now know that.

Yep, I continually posted that as well. Isn't it wonderful how you can pick and choose who said what to serve your agenda?

If you might just look at the post in question, you'll see that I was neither quoting you nor replying to you. I know how anxious you are to hear more from me and how you hang upon my every word for its golden beauty, but I do sincerely promise that I will let you know the very moment I happen to address you in any way.

Shanglan

 

[sr71plt]

then that is its value. Otherwise, it wouldn't be here.

No. It has intrinsic value as it is part of the value of the Web site--and a part credited to the author. It also has intrinsic value to the author (which is borne out by the sheer existence of this thread). And it has opportunity value to the author--in a myriad of benefits it brings the author in contacts and rewards. To some of us it has even greater opportunity value. I've sold over 150 of my stories posted here just by virtue of them being seen here. (I took economics too).

Or indeed they already have, and had before you even began your bizarre crusade of assumption and indignation. How fortunate that we now know that.

This was something I allowed for in all my posts (which you studiously ignore). You were quite willing for an author's story/reputation here to be discarded on allegations alone. But then, as you believe the stories here have no value, it's easy to see how you would take such a callow attitude.

If you might just look at the post in question, you'll see that I was neither quoting you nor replying to you. I know how anxious you are to hear more from me and how you hang upon my every word for its golden beauty, but I do sincerely promise that I will let you know the very moment I happen to address you in any way.

Again negative. You only phrased it that way to be snide to me and to signal that you are going to ignore that I posted this position as well--repeatedly. That's the technique here.

This issue has been taken care of. If you persist in arguing over it, it's obvious your motives have nothing to do with the subject of the thread.

 

[BlackShanglan]

This issue has been taken care of. If you persist in arguing over it, it's obvious your motives have nothing to do with the subject of the thread.

I'm sorry. I thought I'd been clear earlier. The actual issues of the thread itself were resolved back around post #5. The only reason it's run longer is your comically unpleasant attitude, and that's what I've been addressing ever since.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

This was something I allowed for in all my posts (which you studiously ignore). You were quite willing for an author's story/reputation here to be discarded on allegations alone. But then, as you believe the stories here have no value, it's easy to see how you would take such a callow attitude.

Exactly where did the author's story/reputation get discarded? You were the one doing most of the pontifcating on only half the story.

If there was was a mistake made here, it was on the part of the author. She didn't check her email associated with her account at Lit.

As Laurel pointed out, the matter was taken care of privately, and expdetiously. There is really no need for any further discussion on the subject.

 

[sr71plt]

Exactly where did the author's story/reputation get discarded? You were the one doing most of the pontifcating on only half the story.

If there was was a mistake made here, it was on the part of the author. She didn't check her email associated with her account at Lit.

As Laurel pointed out, the matter was taken care of privately, and expdetiously. There is really no need for any further discussion on the subject.

Yep, that's what I said. And yet you and the horse still want to argue over it.

That's an interesting point on the "email associated with her account at Lit.," however. As far as I can determine, you only know about PMs if you open up the Forum. Many authors on Lit. are here to post stories, not jabber on the chat board--and could go a year or more without even know they have a PM.

But, again. Further argument here is only because ya'all want to fight--without needing anything in particuar to fight over.

 

[cloudy]

But, again. Further argument here is only because ya'all want to fight--without needing anything in particuar to fight over.

BAHAHAHAHAHA!

oh, god...classic.

Please, carry on. Comedy gold.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Yep, that's what I said. And yet you and the horse still want to argue over it.

That's an interesting point on the "email associated with her account at Lit.," however. As far as I can determine, you only know about PMs if you open up the Forum. Many authors on Lit. are here to post stories, not jabber on the chat board--and could go a year or more without even know they have a PM.

But, again. Further argument here is only because ya'all want to fight--without needing anything in particuar to fight over.

Exactly what did I argue? I made several points, that was it.

I think email notification of PM's is a default setting, as well as the popup window.