This Is NOT an Apology



Yesterday I did a blog post on how an idea of mine was stolen. Later on, I saw a group of bloggers talking about "someone who claimed their discussion post was stolen" and how it was "bullshit." I was appalled, upset and speechless. I felt bad for MY feelings and thoughts. In a knee jerk reaction, I deleted my post. I suddenly didn't want anyone else seeing it. When I confronted this person, they told me they weren't talking about ME but someone else who did a similar post.... 

Okay. First off, whether it was me or not. This group was wrong. If this person follows them, then they would see it. People that book blog have eyes, they know how to read, and have the ability to comprehend written words. If you are going to talk about someone, then do it privately where your followers can't see it. Better yet, don't do it! What are you getting by putting someone else down? You look like the shitty person. 

This other post didn't talk about stealing a discussion post at all. That was my post. Can I tell you how shitty it felt reading these tweets? I had people comment on my post, and voice their thoughts in a decent matter. Even if they didn't agree with me, they were POLITE about it. I won't lie when I say I started crying. I regretted almost immediately after deleting my post, doing so. I looked guilty. I looked like a chicken.

I WILL NOT be made to feel bad about what I post on MY blog Or what I feel about something.

I don't go on someone else's blog, look a post I don't agree with and tell them it is stupid bullshit, or to get off their high horse, do I? I treat people how I want to be treated. If I give you respect, you should give it back. Here is a rule, that is now written. If you don't like, what I say, what I do, how I act, what I write on this blog, and if you don't like me in general no one is forcing you to. 

This is by not way an apology post. I have nothing to apologize for. But I will not let people treat me like a door mat. I am a person. I have feelings. Learn how to respect that. I want to thank the people who have supported me, and offered their support. You all are awesome and I love you all. 


13 comments

  1. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience! We really should always remember to treat others with the respect we'd want to be treated!

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  2. DO NOT DELETE THIS POST! Keep it up forever, so others can read your words. Book blogging is supposed to be fun, an outlet to band with people who enjoy the same things as you. There will be conflicts of opinions, but my God there shouldn't be any of this bullshit. "Treat others as you want to be treated" is a lesson all of us could learn.

    You are the nicest bloggers I have ever encountered, and I'm sorry you've had to experience this :( YOU are awesome, and we all love you.

    Long live the Book Bratz!

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  3. Don't feel bad for posting what you posted, or this post :) Like you said, you have nothing to apologize for. You didn't do anything worth apologizing for - and people saying things like that is wrong (regardless of if it were about your post or not). Chances are, it was, which is so cruel, and so sad. I hate that they indirectly (or directly?) made you feel bad or guilty or unhappy. You both are amazing individuals, and don't deserve that. Chin up! Forget about them, mute them on Twitter, unfollow, don't look back. *huggles*

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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  4. YOU GO GIRL!

    I'm new to your blog, so I don't really know you, but you sound like an incredibly nice person, and you're absolutely right: you will NOT feel bad about what you believe, what you post, what you think. It is your right, and people who think they have the right to put you down about it needs a reality check.

    I'm sorry you had to experience this! Please, never delete your posts in the future! The world deserves to hear what yo think, ^.^

    Claudia Victoria @ PenMarkings

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  5. I'm so sorry that this happened. We are supposed to support each other and share a basic love of books and reading. I'm glad that you have such an amazing and determined attitude! You are definitely original :)

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  6. So well said Amber! I hate how other book bloggers talk about other people sometimes in such a rude fashion. I am proud of you for standing up for yourself like this. It is YOUR blog, so you have the right to say whatever you want on it regardless of what anyone else thinks.
    ~Chioma @ Blue Books and Butterflies

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  7. What post was this about? I've seen people tackle similar topics inspired by something I wrote discussions about but no one ever flat out stole my content. From what you're writing here I guess it was just the topic that was stolen, not the content? I'm really curious as to what exactly happened here, because I think there's nothing wrong with writing your own discussion to the same topic as someone else (if you credit them of course).

    - Jen from The Bookavid

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  8. I'm so sorry about what happened, Amber!! I was able to read your other post (the one you deleted) and just the combination of both of those events is absolutely horrible! First, I am deeply sorry (and troubled) by the events you mentioned in the other post. I know that I don't know all the details, but based on what you said (or what I remember you saying), I think it's just harsh :( Plagiarism is never cool. I just recently read a blog post on how our perception of originality can be majorly skewed sometimes, but based on your story, it could not be any mere coincidence. And that's pretty awful.

    And in terms of the recent troubles, I understand that people have the right to their own opinions, but they should know better than to hurt others by putting down opinions that are not their own… Something similar happened earlier this summer with a twitter feud that went too far and it's just horrible hearing about all these things happening! We all need to learn to not only treat people the way we want to be treated, but also to respect each others' differences. Keep being awesome, Amber, and hang in there! :)

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  9. No one should feel bad for being right. If your idea was actually stolen, you had a right to say so and to stand up for yourself. Also, I can't even begin to grasp my mind around the thought that some bloggers can CONDONE plagiarism, or turn the victims into the abusers only because they reacted. Keep your head high, over that muddy stream that Twitter can become sometimes!

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  10. I didn't see any of this happening on Twitter, and I'm glad I didn't because it's terrible! Ignoring the fact that you would never steal anyone's ideas, discussion posts often overlap - it's not like one person writing about a certain topic means that no one else can write about it. People have different perspectives. Either way, it wasn't right what those other people did. I'm sorry you had to go through that experience, but yes girl, fight back! <3

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  11. Oh no. D: I'm so sorry this happened to you Amber! People should really remember the golden rule of treating others the way they would want to be treated. *hugs* Good on you for standing up for yourself. <3 <3 <3

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  12. Well said, Amber. The whole thing started with someone acting shady and continued with people being hateful and bitchy. And yet YOU end up feeling bad about it? WTH, right? Good for you for speaking up. No way should you have to defend yourself or explain yourself on your blog. And if others had something to say about it, it never should have been done on Twitter. Shame on them. Whatever happened to: if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all? :(

    Tanya at Girl Plus Books

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