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This is not my content… Did you check this off when you posted?

Real Estate Sales Representative with for real estate results in the Tri-Cities.

November 27, 2009 12:17 PM

Have you ever checked out these ActiveRain guidelines?

I've just had to go back through my blog posts after reading for the first time some of the ActiveRain Community Guidelines. While some of my posts were identified as not being my content, there were some others that should have been that weren't.

...is this your content?

There is really no excuse, and I must confess I had not really given serious thought to the content I had posted until reading these sections in the past 24 hours:

•Respect copyrights. Only upload content/images that you have the right to use (what you have paid for or own), and whose copyright rules allow for commercial use.

•Do not plagiarize (copy and paste) content from another source, and publish it as your own. You must obtain expressed permission from the original source to republish, and give reference to such within the body of your post. Permission to re-print is NOT the same as permission to re-publish. This also applies to publishing other real estate listings that are not your own.

•The point system is intended to encourage and reward genuine effort. Points for blogging will only be awarded for your own majority original content. Examples of what doesn't qualify for points: jokes, recipes, inspirational quotes, poems, re-published marketing materials like newsletters, press releases and news articles, information from government websites, bible verses, large copied sections of the MLS, or posts that only contain links and keywords, but offer no value for consumers.

In talking about respect, the guidelines state: "Being a part of any community requires a certain level of trust. Don't abuse the site or your fellow members. By joining the ActiveRain community you are given a platform to present your ideas and opinions to a large number of people. We trust you to be responsible with that platform; thousands of other ActiveRain members are also counting on your trustworthiness."

I'd like to apologize to AR and its members, and while I realize this doesn't necessarily make things right, I will not violate this in the future now that I have taken the time to be better informed.

Hopefully others with the slightest doubt might also take the time to re-check there own posts.

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Groups:: Local Expert; Addicted to Active Rain; Blogging & SEO; ETHICS and the REALTOR; Realtors®

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Ambassador
4,427,307

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

John = this is a good reminder for many folks who may not realize that what they are doing is inappropriate. Those who do so intentionally will not care. THe guidelines are pretty specific, and it's helpful for all of us to see these again, and again.

Jeff

Nov 28, 2009 02:27 AM

#18

Rainer
155,544

Ted Tyndall

Davidson Realty Inc. - Saint Augustine, FL

I will help You find the Home YOU want to Buy

John

Great reminder to all of us. Thanks for sharing.

Nov 28, 2009 02:46 AM

#19

Rainmaker
1,077,912

Sharon Parisi

United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX

Dallas Homes

John, you post is a good reminderabout posting original content. This is something everyone needs to know about writing that is done for any purpose.

Nov 28, 2009 03:39 AM

#20

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

I've just come to check my email and of course found all of these responses.

The fact that many of you have referred to the post as a reminder is a good indicator that most are fully aware of the guidelines; unfortunately I hadn't taken the time.

While I really appreciate the 18 comments, so far, there have also been 108 total clicks which means perhaps a few more might become familiar with the guidelines for the first time.

Anna - Yes Re-blooging earns points.

Nestor and Katerina - While I can agree that giving a Blogger (of majority original material) credit is a good thing, being rewarded Re-blogging points seems to me to cheapen the compliment. Rather than Re-blogging why not do a new post explaining what you like about it, and why with a link back?

Thank you all for the dialogue.

Nov 28, 2009 04:29 AM

#21

Rainmaker
140,418

David Krushinsky

Dk Home Loans, LLC - Peoria, AZ

AZ MB-0949619 MLO NMLS #202115

Great point John. During my entire career, I have always plagiarized other material that wasn't mine -- whether it be flyers, PowerPoint presentations, scripts etc. Recently, when I started blogging I actually started writing my own material. I realized how much I actually enjoyed it too. The funny thing is, someone had cut and paste one of my blogs into an email and sent it out to their entire database. I happen to be one of the contacts in their database, but maybe they were unaware. They didn't give me any credit for writing the article and in that moment I realized what karma is.

Nov 28, 2009 05:15 AM

#22

Rainmaker
513,021

Robert L. Brown

www.mrbrownsellsgr.com - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids Real Estate Bellabay Realty, West Mic

Just a good reminder for us t follow. More people should take the time to read this.

Nov 28, 2009 05:29 AM

#23

Rainmaker
1,563,749

Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Fifteen Years Experience in Brevard County

We all need to be reminded of this sometimes. This would have been good to post in the Newbies group as well.

Nov 28, 2009 05:54 AM

#25

Rainmaker
4,094,006

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

John,

Thanks for the post and the reminder to all of us! It's not just for the newbies!

Nov 28, 2009 06:13 AM

#26

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

After reviewing some more posts (with my new 20/20 vision) I'm seeing now that we have some blatant copying at AR.

You're right Dorie, "It's not just for the newbies", but Gary's point is also valid.

Perhaps AR needs a "peer review group" to check-in on newbies and randomly check others; what do you think?

Nov 28, 2009 06:44 AM

#27

Rainmaker
534,844

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Hmm you're not alone John - there are some who who copy jokes and political articles word for word -and pretend like they're their own....so it doesn't appear that the guidelines are strictly enforced....- re-blogging acknowledges the orginal poster - so NO you do not have to say it is not your material.......congrats of the feature! :-)

Nov 28, 2009 09:48 AM

#28

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

The re-blog clarification is much appreciated Liz.

I'm also grateful for you letting me know about the feature. The lights just went on; that's why I'm getting so many comments - Duh!

Thanks for stopping by to comment.

Nov 28, 2009 10:11 AM

#29

Rainmaker
481,820

Lana Robbins Realtor ® Licensed Real Estate Broker

Aloha Kai Real Estate - Clearwater, FL

Licensed in Florida, Washington, and Hawai'i

Hi John. I have seen a few who do that. This is a good reminder. ~ Lana

Nov 28, 2009 11:05 AM

#30

Rainmaker
335,988

Lori Churchill Cofer

Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA

Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA

John,

Congrats on the feature...and this is certainly something many seem to need to be reminded of. Many bloggers here work really hard....it isn't right to see people just copy and paste.

On reblogging...I have mixed ideas. I rarely reblog. I only do that if I feel they have said what needed to be said....and I like your idea of writing a blog on it with a link back. I have done that.

On reblogging...I have found that most don't seem to let the author know....I find that the least you can do is let the author know so they can check it out.

Nov 28, 2009 11:43 AM

#31

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

Well I'll be honest Lori, I'd like to have had a blog post featured under different circumstances. If this serves to get the message out then that's okay.

I discovered a few of my previous posts had been re-blogged from the little green dots under the RE-BLOG icon.

Thanks for sharing Lori.

Nov 28, 2009 11:55 AM

#32

Ambassador
2,011,643

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

These are good things to bring to everybody's attention and something that we should all consider.

Nov 28, 2009 03:20 PM

#34

Rainer
68,363

Steven Graham

epropertysites - Mountlake Terrace, WA

Coach, ePs, Director of Training

To answer your question Anna Banana when re-bloging an AR post it is not necessary to click the this is not my content button, and yes you do get points for re blogs 25 points apiece up to 10 in one week and the re blogs don't count against your ten original blogs per week that you can get points for as well.

Nov 30, 2009 05:11 AM

#35

Rainmaker
131,586

Shelley Rowton

Move To Realty - Austin, TX

ABR, RSPS - (512) 507-5779 MoveToRealty of Austin

Thanks for linking back to this in your current post. Great reminder - I'm going to be really careful in the future!

Jul 22, 2010 02:35 PM

#36

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

Thanks for visiting and commenting Shelley.

Jul 22, 2010 02:52 PM

#37

Rainer
35,804

Manuel Monserrate

Raleigh, NC

Hi John,

Wondering as I am rather new to AR.. If I post a link to RE related article that I just read and found interesting, is this considered as an offense? I often come across articles and I'll post a link to them with some comments of what I found interesting, which I've always thought blogging was about. Now I'm wondering if this is an offense in the way the rules are structured above.

Thanks for your post and your answer!

Jul 23, 2010 02:55 AM

#38

Rainmaker
179,718

John Grasty

for real estate results in the Tri-Cities. - Port Moody, BC

Your Tri-cities REALTOR, neighbour and volunteer.

Hi Manuel, Welcome to AR!

If you read the guidelines they will encourage you to use your own majority original content.If it isn't your own majority original content then when posting you must check: This is not my content but I have permission to repost it

It is my understanding that writing about points made from another source (in a link provided) or excerpts from that source, is okay providing it does not infringe on copyright. Check copyright carefully.

Lenn Harley has written more than 40 posts so far on this topic and I've read them all. I'd recommend you check them out yourself.

Thanks for taking the time to comment Manuel.

Jul 23, 2010 05:00 AM

#39

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