Bringing the Drama

I was just on a site where a woman posts her ideas and by the way the site is set up she probably makes some money from her blog. There was a post on there about how to make a certain craft that she had made up out of her head. So then it must have been a totally original idea that no one else could have ever possibly thought of...ever. At the end was a disclaimer that went something like this *Please don't copy or post as your original idea, give the creator some credit, link to this blog*


I read in the comments that one of her faithful and devoted readers stated that another blogger, also a woman, had RIPPED OFF this oh so unique craft idea and there way a link to the offending bloggers page where she had posted the same...but not so much the same craft. I mean the basic parts were there but other than that it was her spin on it. She also claimed it as her own and was quite proud of it in a modest kind of way. The linked blog was not as flashy as the first so of course they had to have ripped the idea off of the flashy money making blog because who could not possibly know of this semi popular first blog...right? 


There was an onslaught of reader support. HOW DARE this insignificant blog take this idea that was just so awesome and claim it for her own. comments like "She will be stopped" and "This is unthinkable" where in the queue all for the support of the first blog. Didn't she know she would be found out and HOUNDED? 80 or so posts later the Blogger was victorious and had said she know knew that this 'copy cat' would be banned or blocked or something for the big meany copy catty thing that she did. Funny words coming from a blog that states things like inner harmony, personal growth, spirituality and kindness towards all humans and furry creatures on earth and on the moon.


I couldn't believe it. I kept reading each comment with wide eyes. I understand that if you make money based on the ideas on your blog it's a nice feeling. You have a persona, you are marketing your personal brand of ideas, you think you have original ideas and so on. But sometimes other people do have the same ideas with little spins of their own on them and this could be without ever seeing or knowing if there was ever an 'original' post somewhere out there. 


I think it is quite possible that the second blog didn't know about the first blog's post. I find it can be a bit greedy of the first blog to attack the second blog so viciously over an idea like this. Even tho an idea can make or break your wallet I think a little understanding is in order and to believe in the concept that more than one person can have the same or similar ideas. 


Thinking that she is innocent, I wonder how heartbroken this 'offending' blogster feels with an influx of nasty comments under her craft post. How would you feel if it were you? unassuming and thinking you genuinely have a great idea and want to post it on your personal blog only to have a big 'corporate blog' come and strip you down and humiliate you? The thought is terrible. 


Its all interesting to me and I have the view I do because when my Mom was younger she had a treasure trove of amazing ideas. Organizational and DIY and Craft ideas by the hundreds. She wasn't in a position to start a blog because there was no such thing as internet when she was a young mother but as these blogs started coming up over the last few years I would look over a few and be happy and think "Oh, I knew that, my Mom did that!" I realised here are women making thousands of dollars over ideas that I grew up with because my Mom did them in her home and here these blogger women are claiming them as their own original ideas. So...does my Mom have the right to sue for copyright?...do you get where I am coming from? I'm sure that women my Mom's age and women older and women growing up now have had and will continue to have similar ideas. What is an original idea any more? 


Where is the love people? Where is the understanding? Are you only out to make a buck?