Stolen creativity
Leaving me
Enraged
Wounded
Exposed
Robbed of my words
Making me
Jaded
Upset
Shocked
An intellectual rape
Forcing me
To be hurt
To be angry
Stripping me bare
Squashing my ideas
Taking my joy
To write
To read
To comment
Embezzling my joy
At all the praise
Awarded Top Story
From fellow writers
From family and friends
Pilfered like a pirate
My will
To write
To create
To challenge
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Some feelings and thoughts about one of my Top Stories being plagiarized that I put into prose. Hope y’all enjoy it. Now, I’ve got to go make several DMCA reports. May be a while before I decide to write.
***Author’s note: Beware the Top Story. They are being cloned and reposted by scammers. Vocal has to do something about this.
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Comments (35)
Sadly, this has become all too common. I have noticed that even AI sites are uploading stories from Vocal, and putting out variations of the same, which some scammers are all too happy to present as their own work. I am sorry you have experienced this. :(
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I’m sorry this happened to you, is this really a thing here? I thought everyone here is a writer or an aspiring writer
I'm so sorry this happened to you. New accounts especially free ones need to have longer wait times to be published, so they can be curated for plagiarism, spam and AI content. It is pretty simple. It won't stop these scammers altogether but at least cut this down.
I didn't even realize this was a thing...I'm sorry this happened to you :( I hope you get it resolved soon.
I felt every word of this, Sharon! Well done on so eloquently and succinctly expressing the same sentiments that any of us that have had it happen to them feel! I'm sorry it happened, but glad you were able to channel the rage into this exquisite poem! Congrats on Top Story!
I never knew about the plagiarism. Sorry to hear that.
Back with congratulations 🤍 Great Top story :)
There really is little we can do. I try to personalize my stories so they cannot simply be copied and pasted.
The best thing we could do is expose the dirty thieves, especially to the original author but also to the thieves own people, as many as you can find, especially family and job and the law. I know how it feels.
Truly terrible, so sorry that’s happened to you and others. I feel like there is a special place in hell for people who do that
Ugh!!! Can't believe the nerve of some people and bots. Hope they all read this. Congrats, Mother.
I'm hearing this today! That really sucks!
I feel you on this one. I am so tired of this stuff. It just keeps happening. Well done and congrats on the Top Story
Wow!!! Powerful punch delivered.
I have seen soooo many Top Stories become plagiarized. I completely understand this. Congratulations... and thanks for warning me. I oughta keep an eye out for anyone in the Latest Stories section copying my work.
Wow 😮 Awesome 👍 way to deliver a meaningful Message!💯😉📝❤️ Congratulations on Your Top Story🎉
First of all, this needed no content warning. Truth is not disturbing. Secondly, you can't beat 'em. All you can do is date the publication to show you wrote it first. I had a novel stolen by a studio that owned a publishing house that rejected it. The studio made it into a TV show that ran 2 seasons on SciFi network. I sued. We settled. You can't sue successfully. They make out a witness list a mile long for the depositions, and you cannot afford to pay an attorney to go to these. Luckily, or at least sour grapesy, my settlement was more than I would have made had they published it. Oh well.
Well done!
That’s terrible ;-; One would think these scammers would eventually get the hint I’m glad this made top story and much like Judey, really happy the plagiarist’s profile is no more
I’m glad this made Top Story… but even more glad that the plagiarist’s profile has been deleted
Does it get anymore wrong than stealing someone’s creativity?
I have read this in Vocal + Assist Facebook Group. Your words capture the shock upon the revealing. Writing fo Vocal+ also brings me joy, though I’ve never experienced this. And it hurts when it no longer feels like a safe space for creatives. Anf the potential for betrayal. ‘An intellectual rape Forcing me To be hurt To be angry Stripping me bare Squashing my ideas Taking my joy To write To read To comment Embezzling my joy …’ Perfectly captured for you and I imagine the sentiments of others. Pauline 🌸
I saw that you provided the link under Jazzy's comment. I've reported it too. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I've had a few of mine plagiarised so I know how it feels. Sending you lots of love and hugs! ❤️
I can feel the anger and emotion! Well written and great story ! Well done!