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How would you feel... by Steve Gladstone

By Stephen Gladstone

Home Inspector with Stonehollow Fine Home Inspections & Testing

May 29, 2007 01:07 PM

For most of my life I've been writing. It started with short stories and poems and has grown to little articles, larger inspection pieces, presentations on home safety and preventative maintainance , podcasts, website info and lots of chapters (some made it into the books and some didn't). As an instructor with Kaplan Professional Schools and as part owner of a home inspection school my bulk of written material takes up lots of file space in the office and on discs.

Now not all of it is great literature, but I am proud of most of it...and frankly some of it has ended up on my blogs here on activerain. Your comments have been very nice about some of them, and I appreciate your feedback.

You can imagine my surprise today when I found some of my content used without permission on another active rain site. I was amazed as it was almost verbatim and obviously mine.

Now this person is an inspector in another state, and I do not feel he and I have any competition issues but how would you feel if you saw your work on another's site? And it was a very personal piece about my company that I have had on my website since it's inception. Before that, (pre the worldwide web) we printed it and simply handed it to realtors and clients. So when I saw my stuff I said to my wife... "look at this!" she looked and shook her head.

Now I'm not vindictive, nor am I out to change the world. People who steal stuff will ultimately be stolen from and I do believe what goes around comes around...

But I figured I'd whisper in his ear and send him a private e-mail asking him to remove my stuff from his web and his activerain landing page. I wasn't mad and yet I wasn't flattered.

He then did something I didn't expect...he placed it in in a public blog and after disparaging me, acted like stealing my stuff was just fine, and I was a bad guy for calling him on it.

The turn the table technique really confused me for a minute... what did I do, I thought...

Then it occured to me it doesn't matter whether you sign your name to something, have it copyrighted or there is some form of documentation proving your work...cause there will always be a person who thinks your words can be taken if they change it around, or substitute a vowel.

So the moral of this story... is Please be careful with your blogs... know that once it comes out of your mouth, or your pen there are pirates out there that will loot your goodies without concience ,and when you complain they'll just say "Quit your whining" .

Aaaarrrrghhh... anyone got a plank !

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Renae Fulton

First National Realty - Southaven, MS

GRI

I would be upset as well and it is not right, but on the other side of the coin...... if it doesn't compete against you, could choose to accept the compliment and be selective in your battles. An attorney is expensive and is it worth more stress in your life??

May 29, 2007 01:37 PM

Vicki Watzlawick

CORE Realty (The Watz Team) - Algonquin, IL

Illinois Foreclosure Expert, The Watz Team

I guess in a way I'd be honored that someone else found my stuff interesting enough to copy and share! Aren't cat fights for us women?

May 29, 2007 03:24 PM

Bob Elliott

Elliott Home Inspection - Chicago, IL

Chicago Property Inspection

Hi Steve..After reading the captains thread and now yours and as a dis-interested third party I just ask you to consider this.

I have gone over every home inspection web site in the universe(at least it feels that way)

What I have found is that the same buzz words and phrases are used over and over again.

Sorry but there is nothing unique in your language or Captains that hundreds of others do not also have on there web sites.

Yes the order in which they are put together is strikingly similar but you still may find the exact same type of statements on the others.

This is why I started a blog style website when I realised they all look so much the same.

What Renae and Viki said is 100% correct.Best thing is to let it go.

I could care less when people copy me,as by the time they do I'm already on to something else.

So why bother with picking on the Captain,as I have learned from his previous threads you are just going to rattle his cage and make you both look bad.

Best thing you can do right now is ask the forum moderator to wipe both of your threads along with this reply.

May 29, 2007 04:43 PM

Mary Warren

Las Vegas, NV

Steve...he stole your writings...that's copyright infringement, as others have said. I say: tell him to remove it immediately or you will pursue it. Then do whatever has to be done! This can't be allowed, one person does it...then another and then it's all over the place

May 29, 2007 04:50 PM

Bob Elliott

Elliott Home Inspection - Chicago, IL

Chicago Property Inspection

Mary you have one heck of an unique site.I feel like I just stepped in Vegas

Now if that was my site and somebody copied it that would be obvious without a doubt.

Is it copyrighted? That sign on the upper left,is it original or could someone in Vegas sue you for that image?

My only point is that very little in the world is 100% original.

May 29, 2007 05:13 PM

Stephen Gladstone

Stonehollow Fine Home Inspections & Testing - Stamford, CT

Vicki- how would you feel if you saw the following on my web site

We worked with 3 other Inspectors before finding Steve Gladstone. He really heard and undersgtood what we were lookng for in a new home and looked at homes that fit our needs, unlike the other Inspectors that provided us with poor service that didn't fit our criteria. You can put your trust in Steve when looking for a home. Sam Collins, Stamford, CT.

Even though this is right off your web site... but I changed a few words... is that ethically right? Is it flattering. Now how flattering would it be if five others copied that...

I think not so flattering.

I'm talking about ethics and your comment reduced it to cat fighting. I don't know the guy...but I seem to be contributing to his business .

But Bob is correct... I have contacted the moderator about it .

Sometimes when mud wrestling with someone you realize its not about right and wrong. The pirate knows I caught him, and he knows that I wrote what's on his web site...but he just likes to wrestle in the mud.

I'll at least be able to rinse off and be clean...

May 30, 2007 12:36 AM

John Summers

Keller Williams - Beaumont, CA

Stephen - just remember it's always better to be the engine than the caboose.

May 30, 2007 03:31 AM

Jim Watzlawick

Watz Home Inspections - Algonquin, IL

Watz Home Inspections

I agree with Bob, Just contact the moderator. There is an old saying"Don't sweat the small stuff Because it's all small stuff".

Jun 24, 2007 05:38 AM

Vicki Watzlawick

CORE Realty (The Watz Team) - Algonquin, IL

Illinois Foreclosure Expert, The Watz Team

I think you should just make him go give you credit on those posts! This way you will get some recognition.

Jun 24, 2007 07:00 AM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Steve,

I saw the post and I think the point everyone is missing is you tried to be discrete. Handle the problem privately between, you thought, two professionals. The other guy decided to make it a public mud slinging and as you said make you the bad guy. Absolutely no class.

I think as some of the others have said, move on, leave it behind. It just isn't worth geting sick over. You took the high road and he obviously likes the low. He is only trying to elevate himself by attempting to bring you down.

I have been to your school (ITA) and met you. I know many of the instructors, all great guys. You have nothing to prove to this guy. Forget him.

Jul 04, 2007 01:49 AM

Stephen Gladstone

Stonehollow Fine Home Inspections & Testing - Stamford, CT

Thanks Jim. I have always tried to take the higher road. And In this instance as well, I did privately contact this scoundrel. He denies the legitimacy of my authorship and calls it generic. After all it's just words. But any moron looking at the verbatim syntax would shake their head in disbelief of his argument. All he had to do was change it a bit and say, sorry...but no, he turned it into another opportunity to bash ASHI and myself as a past President of ASHI. And while this issue of his plagerizing had nothing to do with ASHI he embarassed me and my organization in an activerain wide blast. He is just another low class undereducated inspector who thinks he can raise himself up by standing on others shoulders and stealing their material. I just hope his clients are not hurt by his lack of ethics.

Jul 04, 2007 02:28 AM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Steve,

Well his bashing of ASHI just makes his organization and it's members look bad. ASHI has always taken the high road when other inspector organizations have sought to discredit or demean ASHI. ASHI is always a target for others and why. Because it is difficult to be a member and even more important stay a member. ASHI has real and enforced standards, the others??? I looked into other inspector groups and none of them appealed to me in the way ASHI did. Home inspection is a profession where education and knowledge are top requirements. Not to mention ethics.

You know it's funny how many non-ASHI inspectors say they inspect to ASHI standards. What does that tell you? Anyway maybe will run into each other some where. We are from the same state all though not the same chapter.

Jul 04, 2007 03:08 AM

Anonymous

Mitchell Captain

Stephan the x ashi president

You keep belittling me and I'm sure it makes you feel better. I have not said anything but you just keep diging and diging. But you have confirmed to me that you are the jerk I thought you are.

When you notified me and treatem me, you bet I went public and I would do it again. You acted like the total ass that you are. You think so highly of yourself and so little of somebody you don't know. I removed what you thought I stole. Not because of you. I see you don't mention that. You are so smart that you know that I stole your paragragh.

You threaten me you blackmailed me, that definately shows what type of person you are. Someone 1500 some mile away has the same paragraph and you blackmail them, either you remove or I report you.

If you did report it to the moderator, they must have been embarrassed because they never notified me of anything.

Stephan get a life.

Jul 04, 2007 03:06 PM

#16

Dale Baker

Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH

New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy Stephan

I think that by not nameing any ones name it makes you the biger man on this post Stephan.

Mitchell did not need to come here and start name calling. Mitchell is only showing all of us what type of person he is. Acting like that.

Are we not all Professional Home Inspectors ?

What if one of our Clients would come here and see how some of us act. They may start thinking we all act like that.

Will I do hope every one has a good day.

Jul 05, 2007 09:04 AM

Anonymous

Mitchell Captain

Dale I would suggest you read Stephan's posts. I think you are very much confused. Oh btw good post Dale my congrats.

Jul 05, 2007 02:24 PM

#18

Bob Elliott

Elliott Home Inspection - Chicago, IL

Chicago Property Inspection

Hey ,this is getting good again.Nobody start till I get back with my popcorn.

Jul 05, 2007 03:01 PM

Dale Baker

Baker Energy Audits and Commercial Properties Inspections - Claremont, NH

New Hampshire Relocation Real Estate Information

Howdy Mitchell

I did not see your name in the post by Stepen.

And also so you will know I made a comment and not a post.

I do think we all need to be Professional's on Active Rain. And not puting each other down.

Will every one have a good day and weekend.

Jul 06, 2007 09:31 AM

Renée Donohue~Home Photography

Savvy Home Pix - Allegan, MI

Western Michigan Real Estate Photographer

It is frustrating when you spend time on something and people just come around and swipe the work, whether it is as trivial as remarks in the MLS or pictures.

Have a good day!

Aug 08, 2007 10:37 AM

Michael Almeida

Pillar To Post - Professional Home Inspection - North Arlington, NJ

Licensed New Jersey Home Inspector

Some people have thee attitude - "why re-invent the wheel" if it works go with it....

It doesn't make it right, but it's done all the time.

Aug 10, 2007 10:15 PM

Anonymous

Bill Duncanj

Steve,

I'm new to AR and have been doing some catch up visiting as many sites as time allows. I too have been writing most of my life and have condensed many of my inspection experiences into quick stories. I've begun putting these in as blogs and as I go I'm learning things from people. I put a copyright mark after each one to remind people where the material came from. I don't know if this makes any difference but I haven't found any of my stuff anywhere else. I disagree with the person who said that the content is the same on all the web sites...Its not that we all talk about electrical problems...its how we say it that is unique. You should take actions to protect your original content. Afterall, if they take that away from you, who are you?

Sep 18, 2007 12:07 AM

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