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Okay, something happened tonight that I’m a bit annoyed at (I don’t want to say angry, because it’s too strong of a word, and I don’t want to give some random internet user that kind of power over my life), so I thought I’d write about it here.

I posted half of Part One of Some Scars Never Heal on an Orlando message board, because my Charlie Madison series was very well received there when I originally posted it. That site gets more traffic than this one, so I figured there might be some more feedback (don’t get me wrong, I totally love the feedback I get here, and I appreciate it, but I wanted to open my work to a wider audience).

The first post had been up not even an hour, and it got a response. However, it was not a kind one. Here is what was said:

“Are you sure you didn’t steal this fic?
I’ve read this story before somewhere… and Peyton meets Orlando…
Peyton tells Orlando she doesn’t like him and he begs her to give him a chance at the staring role…
I’ve read this one… and I’m sorry if you are the origional writer of this fic… but,
I just had to say it. ” (Hobbitlass84, so this quote is properly credited. I will not post this person’s real name, however, or what site it was posted on, to preserve her privacy.)

I had to read it a few times before it sunk in that this was, in essence, an accusation that I’d stolen my own work. What’s worse is that it was posted in a public forum, where anyone could read it, and even if it’s not true, that’s a nasty thing to even have in existence about one’s work. I couldn’t help it, I had to reply. Here’s what I said:

“ This fic is available on my website (this word was linked to this site, so she could see if that’s where she’d read it before), and has been for a month or so, so you could have read it there. This is absolutely an original piece written by me, and I’m kind of offended to even be accused of stealing someone else’s work. Please check your facts before you post something like that in a public thread, as it can be very damaging to my reputation to even be asked that question.“

I didn’t think there was anything rude in what I said, just that it was original, and that something like that shouldn’t be posted in public. I thought I was being quite diplomatic, actually, considering what I could have said, given that this person was essentially attacking my integrity as a writer. I put a lot of thought into what I wrote before I posted it, since it would be going on a public forum, and I didn’t want to say anything I couldn’t take back, or that would need to be taken back.

A few minutes later, this response was posted:

“I never accussed you of anything…
all I said was that I saw this fic somewhere else and I couldn’t remember where…
Just thank your lucky stars that I did in fact read your fic on your website…
I think you should be the one to check your attitude…
I believe having a snotty, rude attitude can really make someone like you go down.
So you know, I really find your accusation offending as you just assumed I didn’t read your fic on your website.
Just my oppinion… as a warning. ” (Hobbitlass84)

Okay, now I’ve encountered some rude and ill-thought-out responses before, but this takes the cake. Where do I even begin? I’m going to go through this one line by line, because there’s just too much to address all at once.

“I never accussed you of anything… ” (It would be petty to mention the fact that “accused” only has one “s,” but oh well, it’s true, and clearly she doesn’t know it.)

First of all, when someone uses the word “steal,” and they’re not referring to bases in baseball, that, to me, is an accusation. She could have said something like, “I think I’ve read this before, have you posted it elsewhere?” or even just PM’d me her question, but instead, she took the ignorant way and asked if I stole it. Then she has the audacity to say she wasn’t accusing me? I’d hate to know what her accusations actually sound like, then.

“ Just thank your lucky stars that I did in fact read your fic on your website…“

Um, why do I need to thank my lucky stars? And who is she to be telling me that? That, to me, is a threat of some sort, even though the “or else” part wasn’t actually stated. The only good part about this sentence is that she had to admit she’d read my work on my own site, which basically says she was wrong to say what she did in the first place. She’d never admit it, but that’s how I’m interpreting it. On to the next…

“ I think you should be the one to check your attitude… ”

Did I even say anything about her attitude? Did I say she was rude? No. Did I say she was being a bitch? No. Did I think these things? Yes, briefly, I’ll admit, but I would never, ever say them on a public forum like that, in the middle of the argument. (Yes, I realize I said it here, and this is a public forum, but this is my opinion, and only people who actually care what I think will read it. Plus, I’m being honest, and it’s in retrospect after the argument is over.) I don’t believe there was anything wrong with me defending myself, and as she’s a fiction writer as well, she should understand that when someone is insulted like that, that person is not about to be all sweet and cheerful in her response. I said what I had to say, I didn’t insult her or say nasty things, and yet I’m the one who has to check my attitude? I don’t think so.

“ I believe having a snotty, rude attitude can really make someone like you go down.”

I think this line is my favourite part of the whole post, mainly because I find it funny that she uses the phrase “someone like you,” when she doesn’t know me at all, has never met me, and has nothing to base this classification on. Who exactly is someone like me? I’d love to know, because as it stands, that’s really unclear. And again with the attitude. “Snotty” and “rude” was I? I’ve already covered that above, but this just shows how clueless this person is (either that or she has a really bad persecution complex, I don’t know). Oh, and I didn’t realize I was anywhere that I could “go down” from. I supposed I could go into my basement, but really, is that a bad thing?

“ So you know, I really find your accusation offending as you just assumed I didn’t read your fic on your website.”

Okay, I lied. This line is my favourite. Now I’ve offended her? I’m not really sure what accusation I made (correct me if I’m wrong), but apparently now she’s the innocent victim, and I’m just the bitch who likes to offend people for no reason. She accuses me of plagiarism, then has the nerve to say I offended her when I did nothing but defend myself? Also, considering I posted the link to my website when I originally responded, doesn’t that mean that I thought she might have read it there? I never assumed anything, but it seems to be easier for her to be offended if she lets on that I did. More power to her.

“ Just my oppinion… as a warning.” (For those who don’t know, like this girl, ‘opinion’ does not have two ‘p’s. Again with the pettiness, but I can’t help myself.)

What exactly is she warning me about? Is she going to show up at my door? Is she going to tell her parents on me? What the hell does that even mean? She’s warning me not to steal my own work? I think I knew that already. And, I know it’s her opinion, because if it wasn’t hers, I wouldn’t think she’s the dumbass, now would I? Thanks for the clarification, genius. (For those who don’t know, that last word was dripping in sarcasm.)

Now that I’ve said what I really wanted to say, but was too polite to in the course of the argument, here’s what I actually posted in response to her drivel:

“I don’t think my attitude is out of line, given that, whether you meant it as such or not, that was an accusation, given that your first question was ‘Are you sure you didn’t steal this fic?’ You write fic yourself, you should know that it’s insulting to be asked that question. If you had concerns, you should have PM’d me, because posting something like that, whether it’s true or not, is damaging to me as a writer. Once the idea is out there, it’s hard to take it back.

And what do you mean ‘Thank [my] lucky stars?’ That was condescending and rude, and I don’t appreciate it at all. Don’t make comments like ‘Someone like you’ (which, considering you don’t even know me, comes across as ’snotty’) and then tell someone else to check their attitude. Because of your comments, I’ve PM’d a mod and asked that this thread be removed. I don’t need this kind of stuff in my own thread. I’d appreciate it if you kept your ‘warnings’ to yourself. “

I’ve had my rant now, I’m no longer annoyed (actually, I’m kind of amused that one person, who’s over the age of 10, could be so clueless), and I want to thank those of you who read my work and appreciate that it’s all totally mine, that I never steal what isn’t (as evidenced by the fact that I’ve even credited her for her quotes above), and that I strive to be original and good to my readers. The next part of Some Scars Never Heal will be posted soon, I promise, and I thank you all for your patience.

Oh, and if you disagree with me on any of this, please feel free to post. I’d love to hear your opinions.

ETA: There’s been a new development in this sad saga (it’s sad because I have to waste my time defending myself to this person), so here it is. I received a private message from her a few minutes ago. Here’s what it said:

“Listen,
I don’t know who you think you are, but you obviously think that you are better than anyone else on this forum if you think that each fiction does not hold a little similarity to each other.
I feel sorry for you in thinking that I accussed you for stealing someone else’s fic.
I’ve seen 10, out of hundreds of fiction that I have read, with similar beginings, yet have completely different endings.
I simply thought that you story may have started off the same as some other fic I’ve read.
By the way, I don’t want to come off as mean when I say this but I seriously would think about learning English if you don’t know what “thank my lucky stars” means…
In other words…
I read your fic off of your website, I liked it… I just never expected you to be posting that fiction onto this forum.

I hope we have come to an understanding of each other, and that neither one of us is better than the other… even though, judging by your picture, you do seem to be a bit of a pushover and a bully to fellow writers.
I am here to tell you that I stand my ground as a strong writer and that you have no influence over me.” (Hobbitlass84)

I’m not going to dissect it here, I promise, but here’s my response to it. I think I’ve covered everything I needed to say in it, and I don’t think I need to waste any more time on it.

“I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to say any more on this matter, but you leave me no choice. You’ve now created another personal attack on me, and I’m going to defend myself.

I never once said I was better than anyone else. Not once. Each writer is different, and each has his or her own merits. I don’t read a lot of fanfics anymore, mainly because I don’t want to be accused of stealing ideas if something I write comes out similar to one I’ve read and commented on. As you yourself stated, there are always similarities in these stories, and that’s to be expected. In all the fanfics I did read when I first started checking the boards, I never once came across anything with a similar beginning to the story I posted here tonight, and there’s nothing wrong with priding myself on being original.

Also, it’s kind of hypocritical to say, in the same message, not to think I’m better than someone, and then go on a rant that clearly says you think you’re better than me. You talk down to me in every post you write, both here and on my fic thread, and it’s not necessary. I would never talk down to you, and I don’t believe I have in any of my responses, because, as previously stated, I don’t think I’m better than you, or anyone else for that matter.

I do, however, take offense to you telling me to learn English. I have my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, specializing in editing and publishing, and therefore have a pretty good command of the English language. Again, that was condescending and rude. When I asked what you meant by your “lucky stars” remark, I simply wanted to know why you said it, and what I needed to thank my lucky stars for, as that comes off as a threat, like I’d be in big trouble if you’d read my story somewhere other than on my site. It was not the words themselves I had a problem with, but mainly your intent behind saying them. As you can see, my command of the English language is very strong.

And why wouldn’t I bring this fic here? It’s not inappropriate, and I’ve seen numerous complaints about people wanting “deeper” fics, that talk about more serious issues. A lot of people here like my writing, just as a lot of people here like yours, and I thought I was within my rights to post my work here.

Oh, and just so you know, I’m neither a “pushover” or a “bully” (which, if you check their meanings, are totally opposite things…what were you saying about the English language?). That picture was me goofing around with a friend and her camera, and I happened to like the result, so I used it.

You can stand your ground all you like, because I’ve never tried to influence you, or your writing. I’m happy with who I am and what I produce, and feel no need to inflict my opinions on others or influence anything they do. The fact that you felt you had to “stand up to [me]” says more about your own insecurities than it does about anything I’ve done.

I’m finished with this now, as I don’t want to waste any more of our time with it. We’ll agree to disagree and leave it at that, but I would prefer that you keep your personal attacks to yourself.

Have a good night.

Bethany“

I promise, no more will be said about this, but I do appreciate the comments, and welcome all new friends to the site. Enjoy!