However, I keep seeing this recurring problem online lately that's starting to really grate on my nerves. Maybe it's just my inner English/Lit geek in me coming out?
By now, just about everyone and their grandma has heard about Pinterest. I absolutely adore Pinterest. For years, I've done my own version... clipping pictures, saving images/links/tutorials to my computer for later. Heck, my entire "wedding book" was filled with pictures I loved. It helped my florist, hairstylist, makeup artist, etc be able to see exactly what I was envisioning. With Pinterest, there's no more clipping. Just pin it. It's a lot less messy, at least in the I-hot-glued-my-finger-again way.
There are all kinds of debates going on right now about Pinterest. Lots of etsy people are upset, because people are pinning their products as "DIY". Others are wondering if it's even legal to just take images from anywhere and keep them for yourself. I understand their concern, but that's not really what I'm getting on my soapbox about.
My issue? Sourcing.
Ideally, people are pinning images from their original websites. For example, if you pin a recipe image, it's not going to do anyone any good if it doesn't lead directly back to the original place you found it. I mean, you can't make it if you don't have the recipe. If there's not an accurate source? It's plagiarism, in my book. Think about it like this.
You post a picture of your family on your blog. One that you took.
Someone sees it and likes that particular pose or backdrop or whatever. So they pin it. It will lead back to your blog if someone else pins it, and so on.
But what if they didn't get it from your blog? What if they searched "family photos" on Google and pinned it straight from there? The source link is now Google. So your family photo that you took is floating around on the internet, and nobody knows it belongs to you.
If someone did that with a quote from a book or, even worse, included a phrase that wasn't theirs in a term paper? They'd be in some big trouble.
So here's my point. If you post an image on your blog that you got from Pinterest? Source it. Link to its original owner. What if it's a free printable? Give your readers the opportunity to print it for themselves! Not just think you're super clever for designing something that you didn't design and wish they had something like it.
Example A.
(no source)
"Look at these great Christmas planning printables!"
See? Annoying.
You can't print them yourself. And even worse?
The original creator doesn't get any credit.
Example B.
(with source)
"Look at these great printables I found on Pinterest!
See? It's not difficult, and it's just good etiquette.
If you were writing a book, you would source your quotes or any ideas that weren't originally yours.
Do the same with your blog.
Be respectful of other people's work.
If you don't know the original source, then say so. Ask if anyone does know, and if they respond, correct it. But don't let someone else's image/creation/photography/quote/etc keep floating around without giving them proper credit.
And this concludes our Monday morning sermon.
Amen.
For more on this:
ps. I know I'm guilty of doing this, way back before I knew better; I wish someone had pointed it out to me. And this isn't to say I'll always be perfect about my sourcing. But I think being aware and doing your best to do the right thing by crediting others with their work is definitely a good goal to have. Also... and BIG also... this is certainly not directed at anyone in particular. It's just something I've noticed on a lot of blogs lately. Carry on. :)
3 comments:
I love you Hailey. I do. As you know, this happened to me recently, and people misconstrued what I said into acting as if I was "mad" that my printable was being pinned. Err..no, the POINT was for people to have access to the printable, right? But it wasn't sourced properly (a gazillion times) hence defeating the purpose, and not leading back to the the free printable! You know? And you wouldn't believe how many people ripped me to shreds saying that I "cared" or was "upset" that my bucket list got pinned. I did not care it was pinned, I cared that it was sourced improperly thus defeating the purpose. Thank you for this.
Get 'em, girl! I agree, though. I hate clicking on things that don't take me back to the original image, especially recipes.
I totally agree with you on this. I hope if you pin something it automatically goes back to the source.
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