Victorian Homes... Coincidence?
Calling all fellow Victorians!
Last evening, I had some time to curl up, relax, and begin relishing the latest issue of Victorian Homes magazine (February 2011). I hadn't gotten very far, when I read an article on page 8 about Spring Cleaning.
Now, if you recall, I did a post last March about Spring Cleaning a Victorian house. You may want to read my post first.
Now, read the Victorian homes article.
Notice the similarities?
Do you think magazine writers are reading our Victorian blogs for ideas? If so, I think that's really cool! My Spring Cleaning post went into more detail, but I think the similarities are uncanny. I asked the opinion of my husband, who is a professional writer, and he agreed the magazine writer must have read my blog post!
It could be just a coincidence. After all, anyone cleaning a Victorian house would probably need to do all these things to tidy up the place. But most spring cleaning tips don't include polishing the silver and regluing furniture joints!
Last evening, I had some time to curl up, relax, and begin relishing the latest issue of Victorian Homes magazine (February 2011). I hadn't gotten very far, when I read an article on page 8 about Spring Cleaning.
Now, if you recall, I did a post last March about Spring Cleaning a Victorian house. You may want to read my post first.
Now, read the Victorian homes article.
Notice the similarities?
Do you think magazine writers are reading our Victorian blogs for ideas? If so, I think that's really cool! My Spring Cleaning post went into more detail, but I think the similarities are uncanny. I asked the opinion of my husband, who is a professional writer, and he agreed the magazine writer must have read my blog post!
It could be just a coincidence. After all, anyone cleaning a Victorian house would probably need to do all these things to tidy up the place. But most spring cleaning tips don't include polishing the silver and regluing furniture joints!
Have any of you had a similar experience? If so, please let me know about it!
Labels: Cleaning
posted by Pam of Eastlake Victorian at
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
31 Comments:
Yes Yes. The blog nation is a wealth of information and I do believe writers are "skimming" bits and pieces here and there. Your blog is so informative and eye candy to the Eastlake period that I'm not surprised if they did. Sea Witch
Hi Sea Witch,
You're probably right. And the writers are probably bloggers themselves. It just made me chuckle to think that somebody would pull the idea and structure from one of my posts and use it in an article!
-Pam
The same thing happened to me -
I posted blogs about Doc Howard's Office, Fall Harvest Weekend, and of the Daggett farmhouse.
Low and behold, shortly after each posting were postings eerily similar (but not nearly as extensive) to mine on the Henry Ford Museum blog.
I'm with you on this!
Hi Ken-
Wow! Well, you are an expert historian (sans degree, as you've mentioned on your blog) so I guess they're going to the best source material! I'll have to go back and reread your posts, then compare.
Thanks!
-Pam
I guess you could take it as a compliment, but I am also a little peaved that the person didn't give you any credit. And there is no way that the silver polishing would be a coincidence. When I read that in your blog post I thought it was a unique thing to think about with Spring cleaning. Way too coincidental.
Personally, I see it all over blogland. People using other people's thoughts and ideas without giving credit where it's due. But this is a published author. Published in a fairly large magazine. I would expect better.
But I do have to say that I thought your post was better written and more interesting! Plus I learned of a new way to clean silver.
Hi Pam-
Oh, you're so sweet! Thank you! I guess it's not exactly plagiarism if somebody takes your ideas, structures their story the same way, but puts it in their own words. In a weird way, it's kind of flattering that a professional writer would find something I wrote and "borrow" it. :-)
-Pam
Guess this happens with everything! I know with my ornaments I have my usual ornaments that I regularly make and then I get an idea for something different, and sometimes shortly after I find almost exact duplicates made by others. One person even uses the same wording in the title just switches the words around.
Ornaments By Pink-
Now that's very wrong! You're getting great ideas, creating something unique to sell, and somebody is stealing your ideas AND stealing your business! Cease and desist, theives! Shame on you. That is downright theft! I don't know if there are copyright laws for crafts, but there should be.
-Pam
You just blew the whistle, I am getting off my duff and start de- cluttering.. I am sure you give a lot of bloggers ideas, it's an honor.
Thanks yvonne
Pam you know my old hiatoric house is going to be feathured in Victorian Homes magazine. I did a pot about it the other day. They came in oct. and took the pictures, I woud guess sometime this summer. i just did a post today on French Old Paris porcelain, you might like to drop by. Thanks, Richard at www.myoldhistorichouse.blogspot.com
Hi Yvonne-
I do take it as an honor. I hope people enjoy my posts! I wish I had the time to think of more interesting topics that tie into the Victorian lifestyle!
-Pam
Hi Richard-
Yes, I read the post about Victorian Homes coming to your house! That would be a dream of mine. Of course, I would have to get everything done on my to-do list, which is a mike long. I look forward to the issue featuring your lovely home!
-Pam
I am sorry you have had this total theft...it's too obvious. Is there no integrity? I guess one only has to look at our politicians and leader to see a lack of integrity. It seems power / money is the root of all evil. If you have something good, someone will take it from you. It has happened to me more times than I care to remember. Only once by a magazine. Copyright law dosen't protect, the lawyers win there. So only thing is know that the thief will also be stolen from, as everything that goes around comes around. Then, one forgives and moves on. They will have to answer for it at the pearly gates, that is how I handel it. Your post was much, much better Pam, and I will be less likely to buy this mag in the future. Seems you are handeling it with maturity. You are not alone.
Integrity is a hard thing to learn...wonder if they teach it in school these days...
Think I will try your cleaning ideas soon. Spring is approaching, I think. It has been a winter that dosen't want to give up the snow.
Think good thoughts, thanks for listening.
♥
Marcie
maybe you have the same mother? ha ha!
Hello Pam,
I'm not surprised at all that a publication would use your material. Your blog is above and beyond a lot I've seen published. What I would do is write a pleasant letter to the editor of this magazine saying that you are very flattered that your post was the obvious inspiration for their article and that you would be very happy to be a contributor for future articles.
Nothing may come of it, but It could also lead to a nice little gig that brings in a little money for something you love doing. You are, after all, Queen Victoria, they would be so foolish to pass up on this opportunity. They are obviously in need of real talent.
Anyès
XX
Hi Marcie-
I'm sorry this has happened to you as well. One's ideas are their own, if not by law, then at least by a code of ethics. I really harbor no ill feelings, and I certainly will continue to buy the magazine. Thank you very much or saying my post was better than the article... that's what I love about blogging: good people sharing ideas about things they know and love. As I am an ad-free blog, I'm not in it to make a buck. But if I were selling my original crafts, etc., on Etsy, I would be really mad if somebody ripped off my ideas!
-Pam
Dana & Daisy-
Are you kidding? You sort of know my mother. Her decorating tastes are very different than mine. She has no silver to polish or any Victorian things in her home! She's very casual. :-)
-Pam
Hi Anyes-
What a great idea! I might just give that a try! Although, my weakness is in coming up with unique and interesting things to write (which is why my blog sometimes sits with no activity for awhile!). I'll keep that in the back of my head. Thank you for the lovely compliments, Anyes! I really appreciate it! :-)
-Pam
I would not be surprised if they do read Victorian home blogs. I am a magazine writer/editor and I love reading them. Of course, I might be partial to them as I live in an old Victorian myself! I'm so glad to have stumbled upon your blog.
Hi Heirlooms-
I'm glad you stumbled, too, because now I have found your lovely blog! As a magazine writer, I'd like to know your take on someone who writes an article very similar to one that's already been written elsewhere. Just curious!
-Pam
That's very cool. Have you thought of email the "author" of that magazine article and just ask. It might be interesting to hear what they have to say.
Hi Jeff-
I hadn't thought of that. It might be a good idea. It turns out, now that I've gone back to see who the author was, she is also the editor-at-large of the magazine!
-Pam
Too cool! I believe they could have gotten the idea from your blog. I've heard that blogs are a great source of info for writers these days:).
Blessings,
Kim
Hey Pam, stop over I did a post on the Haunted Hotel I sold..
That would be a great topic Victorian Hauntings,, LOL yvonne
Hi Kim,
We'll all have to keep an eye out for each other. When we see something that looks a little too familiar, we'll sound the alarm!
-Pam
Yvonne-
Great idea, but maybe a bit closer to Halloween!
-Pam
I think they did -- maybe not copied but it stuck after they read it!!!!
We Spring (and Fall) clean here at Linderhof . . . as well as a good clean in January. I love a clean smelling house!
Hi Martha-
I agree,"it stuck" is a good way to put it! And as for Linderhof, I can almost smell the "clean" whenever I read your wonderful posts! :-)
-Pam
Sounds like Plagiarism to me!
See this link......
http://www.plagiarism.org/
That is too bad if so...they should have contacted you and asked to have permission to use your post and given you credit.
Rose
Hi Rose-
Boy, that site on the meaning of plagiarism was great to read! The term is much broader than I thought! That would have been nice of her to contact me first, but maybe it truly was just "absorbed" by the writer, who internalized it and thought she was creating her own story. I see how that can happen!
-Pam
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