Recently I had an issue come up where a fantastic blogger thought I had stolen an idea of hers. She emailed me about the problem and I hopped over to her blog for the very first time and saw that we did have very similar ideas.
She had worked really hard for few years to create such a cute idea – and the same idea had been in my family for a while – the problem was – she created her blog and posted about it first.
Then I came along and unknowingly posted the same idea.
Her feelings were hurt at the thought that I would cheat her out of her idea.
My feelings were hurt because I would never steal from someone and love to promote crafty bloggers and their ideas.
I feel awful about the whole situation and I hope she doesn’t hate me.
However, I can see her side. I have been on her side. I have come up with cute ideas, invited someone into my home and then saw my idea at their home claiming it was “their” idea.
It hurts – badly.
Everyone should be give recognition for their hard work and creative idea and no one should feel cheated out of it.
I have now sat on both sides of the fence and neither side feels very good.
I dislike being copy-catted without recognition that it was my idea. I complain about it to my husband often.
But I really hate (and hate is a strong word) someone feeling like I cheated them.
I would rather have people copy me all day long then have one second where someone felt cheated because of me. I have been thinking about this nonstop since she contacted me. Worried as to what I should do and feeling sick to my stomach.
I have had a million and one thoughts about this.
How do I fix it?
What if I post another idea – and someone else feels like I stole it from them?
How can I be sure this never happens again?
Can I never post another idea out of fear that someone else posted it first?
Am I paranoid because of this one situation?
Sadly, I can’t.
What is done is done and I can only hope that I made the problem a little better.
I can’t be sure it will never happen again because I can’t physically check every single blog and post to make sure no one has the same idea.
This problem has opened my eyes to a whole new world of crafts.
There are so many talented ladies out there who share some amazing ideas.
Ideas that may be posted one time and forgotten and other ideas that circle the blog world like bees in a hive.
I know that a lot of people love vinyl and sewing and stitching and wood crafts and building things and painting and cooking and refinishing and scrapbooking and card making and I could go on and on – but how can you be sure and I mean really sure you don’t step on any toes?
If I am out blog hopping and find a cute idea that I love –and make it – I always give credit to where I found the idea. I try to promote cute ideas and blogs with my Feature Fridays and hope that people would give me credit as well. It if is an idea that I have seen everywhere (like ruffles) I try to say something generic like “I have seen this idea everywhere” to ensure that I didn’t come up with the ruffle but the idea may still be something I thought up in the shower!
I want to open this up to discussion- So followers, lurkers, people passing by –
Has this ever happened to you?
Do you have strong opinions regarding it?
Do you worry about the same thing?
I am just overly paranoid now?
Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Please know that I am reading each comment so please be tasteful – it is my blog and I will delete it if I feel it is unnecessary. I just mean I don’t want comments like “Well “so and so” stole my idea so I told her where to stick it” you know –stuff like that.
And if the blogger who inspired this post happens to stop by, please know that I am really, truly sorry and can see your point of view and I hope you don’t hate me. You really are very crafty and if I ever take something from your darling blog – I promise to link back!
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