Is it intellectual theft or just apathy? A warning to StorySite Authors.
I would really rethink any plans you have of posting to Crystal’s storysite or sending them money, well that is unless you really don’t care about theft of intellectual property anything to worry about. Read the following board statements to find out why.
Me:
Back in 2003 I asked to have my stories removed. The author’s page was taken down instead.
In 2004 I asked again.
It’s 2010. Seven years later. Still here.
This was asked in Email and on the board.
Removing the author pages does nothing, since the stories are still accessible. How do I know? I’m still getting hits and comments sent to me. Wow! What exactly does it take to have them removed? The, “I have to do this one thing (fix a server issue, fix a programming issue, wait for work to slow down, etc) and then I can get to it,” excuse has worn thin.
I’ve really tried to be nice about this. Several times. Please, for the last time, remove the stories.
After someone asked where I was posting I returned this.
Me:
All you have to do is go to the “search section of this site” and type in Heather Sinclair in the Google search and *poof* there they are.
That’s what has me so annoyed.
I’m writing under a different name now.
Crystal:
Or you could simply go to :
web.archive.org/web/*/htyp://storysite.org
and read all of the stories every posted on StorySite. Deleting them from StorySite’s database doesn’t delete them from the internet. Anything posted on the net is going to be around forver (or at least as ‘forver’ as we can imagine). However, when the core system work is done, any stories that don’t have an author page to ‘anchor’ them will disappear from StorySite. They will only live on in other archive sites after that time.
Me:
Whether or not an archive has the stories is not the issue. The issue is I requested that these stories be removed seven years ago and all I get is “They will be deleted when (insert excuse/problem/whatever)”
I’m sorry, but that’s not an acceptable excuse any longer. As we have been reminded time and again, for various reasons, you are working on coding the site and haven’t got an estimate when this will be done. So another seven years could go by and you’d still be within your self imposed non-existent time limit.
I think seven years is more than enough time to delete a handful of stories. I’ve asked nicely several times. I’m done doing that now. Remove the stories.
Someone that can’t spell very well:
: She has there well reamin as long as people have links to it form there sites
Me:
Nope, not true. Here is the link for a random story of mine.
storysite.org/story/residentshevil~01.html
That tells me that this story is accessible from storysite.org not a random archive site.
Crystal:
That’s an address, not a link.
Me:
It’s very nice to see that you are so glib about the authors that submit their stories to this site. So, let me see if I have this correct. Author’s submit their stories. You put these neat little copyright symbols on every story page, reinforcing that the story is theirs, then when they want you to stop showing their stories, you show them anyway?
If this was a single oversight I’d let it go, but I’ve contacted you a number of times over this and am always brushed aside with one excuse or another.
Your ethics really have slipped, Crystal. I had my doubts, but you’re proving me wrong. Nice.
So after this I can only conclude that Crystal does not take me seriously and is intentionally stealing my stories via apathy? Are there any other conclusions that can be derived from this that I am missing?
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 13th, 2010 at 00:42 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
08:34 on February 13th, 2010
More drama. If she had actually taken the time to delete the stories instead of flinging lame insults, this would have been over with already.
Crystal
I corrected a misstatement that seemed designed to mislead. You were being dishonest. If you find that glib, so be it.
The copyright symbol indicates that a story cannot be reproduced without permission. StorySite received such permission in perpetuity when the story was submitted. I do not EVER have to remove it from the site, but I have taken down your page that contained the links to the story and told when the stories will finally disappear from the story database. If that’s not good enough, it’s too bad. If you weren’t calling so much attention to the fact that your old stories are still in the database, very few people would ever go searching for them. Or is that the goal here? You’re trying to draw attention to them, just as the protesters made the Noel story a ‘best seller’?
If I’ve disappointed you today, it’s nothing compared to the way my opinion of you has fallen
Me:
Attention? Not at all. That’s got to be the lamest attempt at an insult in quite a while. Yes, I want you to take down my stories so that everyone will read them. o.0 Only two of those stories are posted under my other name and the others probably will never be. Yes, I’m an attention hound. Pfft. It’s allllll a conspiracy.
If you had taken down the stories already then I wouldn’t have had to do this in public. There would be no issue, and thus a total inability for me to become an attention hound. So, no that scenario doesn’t fly.
It’s just impossible to actually get anything done by sending you emails that you don’t return, forcing me to take this public. You want to hide behind the exact letter of the law, fine. You want to point out the difference between a link and a address so that you may appear superior, fine.
I trusted you at one time, Crystal. You seemed to have the best interests of the authors that submitted their stories, and the community at large. That seems to have gone to the wayside. Holding on to someone’s work that they have asked you repeatedly to take down seven years ago is wrong. You know it and I know it.
I took you at your word that you would do this years ago when you said that you were too busy at work and needed additional time, when you said that you were having issues with coding, or server issues, whatever it was. So you can see how I can’t take you seriously when you say it will be done after this latest excuse.
10:16 on February 13th, 2010
I don’t know Crystal and I rarely use her site but I would say her responses as reported are basically attempts to shift attention away from the fact she is massively incompetent/lazy/stupid/whatever (take your pick).
I don’t think you are ever going to get anywhere with this – let it go – unless you really do want to make this a Lawyer thing?Doing that will only hurt innocent bystanders – basically she is coming across as kind of a bitch, with this and what she apparently said regarding those leaving her site over increased Kiddie p0rn/abuse stories. People like that will reap what they sow, let her hang herself on her own words – you can be the better person here.
10:46 on February 13th, 2010
That’s what I did years ago. I figured sooner or later she’d eventually get around to following through with the request. I’ll probably do the same in this instance, but I did want to let those that read the posts know exactly what they are getting themselves into when posting at her site and giving her money in support of this blatant abuse of trust.
Some people only care about the ability to whack off to pedo porn so they don’t care. But there will be some people that do.
It does, however make me rethink actually posting to any site that I don’t control. Erin at BCTS has morals and the software there lets me, pretty much control the story. If I want it off then it’s off. Will there be an archive somewhere with my stories. Probably, but that’s not the issue.
So, I will periodically remind people that Crystal is a thief and a liar in everything but the legal sense (and that, only due to a technicality) until the stories are taken down.
11:36 on February 13th, 2010
I didn’t know you actually had to pay to get your stories posted there – if that is the case then this does become a more serious matter as money exchanged hands and a contract was made.
Erin does seem pretty cool and I am glad to hear she is above board in her dealings with the creative persons that contribute to the site, there are a few sites like that out there. The thing is, well maybe it is because it is in my nature to be very forgiving of other’s faults but it could be that Crystal might simply be an emotionally unstable person – for whatever reason – and is genuinely unable to cope with the pressures of running her site very well. We all know of sites run by and for TG fiction afficionados (or is that afficionadAs? – what is the feminine form of that word anyway?) that have collapsed because the Admin goes off into the void somewhere.
Is Crystal’s worth saving? I don’t know – depends if there is anything on it that is both good and not available elsewhere.
12:28 on February 13th, 2010
The authors don’t have to pay. The site takes in donations from various people. Well, Piper shows up on the board regularly and asks for donations anyway. She runs/owns the server I’m pretty sure.
The thing is that people are helping to support the site and might not know the full story, thinking that Crystal is being honest in her dealings when she’s not. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you if she is stable or unstable, just that she’s a liar.
Either way, if I plan on posting anywhere in the future, I’m making sure that I have complete control over my stories.
23:28 on February 13th, 2010
OK – just please don’t stop contributing stories – you’re some delicious new flavour of Awesome
10:08 on February 14th, 2010
Wow. Seriously. A few minutes is all it takes to remove stories from a website/database. She probably spent more time arguing with you than it would have taken her to remove the stories.
Again: I love BC >_>
Hugs!
11:36 on February 14th, 2010
GS- Doubt I’m going to stop. As long as BCTS is active and doesn’t turn into FM or Crystal’s then I’ll be there.
Christelle- Seriously. Seven years. I agree about the arguing vs deleting times. But then she wouldn’t derive the satisfaction of telling me off and looking like a lying thief in the process. Everything I posted was verbatim as well, so you can see how much she just doesn’t give a crap about keeping her word or about the authors that contribute to her site.
11:54 on February 14th, 2010
My attitude is that pathetic people like that shall reap the whirlwind from the bad seeds they sow, ignore them, try and live within the Tao and let their path take them up or down or nowhere at all as The Way directs.
Be yourself and let other people be themselves – it will all work out eventually
12:44 on February 14th, 2010
Did you just tell me to be like Water?
“I would not let fear and adversity block my way. Instead I would flow around it and mold it with my patience, because one day fear and adversity will crumble before me.”
Yeah, but I’d much rather have Destiny’s Wave to hack away with.
19:52 on February 14th, 2010
Sure you would and yes I did just quote Taoist doctrine at you LOL, Well I am named after a Taoist god after all
10:39 on February 15th, 2010
Sigh. It pains me to see all the issues with web sites that were at one time bastions of one sort or another, but then I guess that is the way of the world.
Anywho, maybe I’m a simple woman I don’t know, but I have always stressed and will continue to do so and will never back down from my stance EVER that ever single author, from whom I have gotten permission first, posted on my site retains full copyrights on their works. I will sometimes make some formatting changes to accomodate my site and maybe enhance the stories themselve with the author’s permission and final approvals. This includes yourself Miss Langtree.
Also, I fund my own site and will NEVER ask for or accept any donations or monetary compensation. My site is in essence my own work of art in itself and is a showcase kinda in its own right and the authors and artist help make it what it is. I do my own coding from scratch without all that other crap that other may be trying to do, thus the sometimes missmash appearance.
Back to the topic in hand. If at ANY time and for any reason whatsoever Lilith you feel you must have your works remove from my site, then simply communicate your wishes and it will be done ASAP with decorum and respect and completely including all current pages and underlying files on my host server.
And on an off note, your stories as always rock and I’m going through withdrawal. Just got done rereading the Center and am having convulsions. More please!
10:43 on February 15th, 2010
Grrr! The site link didn’t work right. >.<
Once More With Feeling!
Beverly’s Balcony
12:16 on February 15th, 2010
Thank you Beverly. What I see when I visit your site is a collection of quality stories, art etc. There’s never really been a question about what is posted. We already know what to expect, if that makes sense. So there is little doubt that you would do the right thing if asked.
The previous post “Story Update” shows where I am at the moment regarding The Center and Do it Right. I’m hoping to have something very soon. Hoping… It’s always annoying when I get really close to the end of the story and my muse says “mmmm a sandwich sounds nice right about now”, and I’m like, “What? get your butt back here and finish this story!”
14:20 on February 15th, 2010
Hmmm. Could ya use a maid? Maybe fix your sandwich for ya? Make’s for less excuses.
15:05 on February 15th, 2010
LOL, See, now you’re just being a tease, and filling my head with yet another story idea.
Plot: A writer can’t get anything done due to annoying everyday issues of life. (Shopping, cleaning, banking, phone, etc.) A fan/friend offers to be his live-in assistant since she can’t hold a decent job due to starting her first year of her MtF Real Life Test. Wackiness ensues.
I could include a few genres that I haven’t written in as well. Interesting. Ah well, maybe after I finish something like The Center.
22:14 on February 15th, 2010
If that was autobiographical that little description then good luck on the RLT
03:16 on March 15th, 2010
Hey Lilith. Ummm I know you have your reasons as outlined above for Crystal’s site but what’s the problem with FM?
17:08 on March 15th, 2010
I think the better question would be what’s not wrong. The list is much shorter that way. Recently, during the Pedo-debacle, FM decided to institute a XXX-M (Pedo-stories) basically okaying people to send in their child rape stories, just as long as at some point in the story there is a T element, no matter how small.
Someone was nice enough to make a note of it over on their Wikipedia article.
I was having a problem with my “Most Visited” drop down menu. A lot of past links that I had visited in a while were popping up. FM’s popped up today. Imagine my surprise when the notation that FM was a Pedo site was gone. I went over to verify and yes, FM took down the rating and the notice that it even existed in the first place. Just like it never happened. *poof* In short, hypocrisy. If they changed their policy, yet again, then fine. Make a note of the change and move on. Now they are making it like the bad decision never happened.
Short answers as to why I don’t like FM? Here they are:
1) Very, very, very few actual stories there. The vast majority are stroke fantasies.
2) Hateful people. While there are a number of people that actually care, they are drowned out by the vitriol of others. And FM does nothing to rein them in. All in the name of free speech.
3) Promotion of pedophilia. Nothing has changed. As long as there is a mention of a T issue then you can write about all the child abuse/rapes you want. All in the name of free speech.
There are a number of other reasons, but those are the big three for me. I much prefer BCTS. Not because they are a bunch whiny sissies like a number of those at FM describe them (see reason 2) but because they actually care about their authors. They are an actual community there.
02:16 on March 16th, 2010
Ok gotcha. The problem is that Morpheus and the Professor don’t regularly post there. I want to write a story based in the Professor Crescent City Universe and I don’t see anyway to contact em’ anyway but through FM.
As for stroke fantasies I don’t necessarily disagree with you as I tend to like Cherysse St. Claire’s stuff for that. “Magical Transformations” I REALLY love though. To be fair though some of your stories definitely have sexual elements, Sangria and that Fairie story easily off the top of my head. Don’t get me wrong, they have stories as well. I quite like Sangria’s frankly. I wish more of the Fairie story would come.
Besides the authors I mentioned there are some exclusive authors to FM I’ve seen nowhere else. The issue is FM is the huge site for TG Fiction. To fix that we’ve got to get these people over to BCTS and others in droves. Too many like Bill Hart and Elrod w. are still there.
13:51 on March 16th, 2010
If I’m not mistaken, The Professor is currently posting the Ovid stories at BCTS (actively) I don’t know about Morpheus.
Regarding sexual elements in my stories: In Sangria, there is written about 40,000 words about a thousand of which can be regarded as sexual. There’s a difference between integrating a scene containing sex and a story that has virtually nothing but sex. The means to the end at FM (for the most part) is sex then plot. The only reason the plot is there is to get to the sex. There are exceptions to this.
FQ is around 27-30000 words with the same outcome. That doesn’t include all of the FQ Universe stories witch would round that out to around 70,000 words.
The issue is that FM “Used” to be about TG Fiction. Now it’s becoming a Nifty clone where sex, any way, shape, or form is priority and the TG element is secondary… if that.
There was some diaper story where a child was abused, raped, bound, and occasionally dressed in girls clothes. This included scat play, water play, etc. The TG element was negligible. Yet it was very popular, received many reviews and went on for something like 30 episodes. That’s a very recent story, and an excellent example for what I’m talking about. It was miss-rated, and category/key words were missing that defined it as such. It was child abuse and sex for sex’s sake, with virtually no story.
Having those established writers from FM move, or at least post their work at a reputable site would be great, but I have a feeling that they are holding out due to some measure of loyalty to what FM used to be. I could be wrong.
Anyway, try contacting the Professor through BCTS, you might have more luck.
20:47 on March 18th, 2010
Ok I didn’t know the Prof. was at BCTS. Well the sad thing is there are other stories I’ve mentioned that are FM exclusives. The Amy stories are HUGE and awesome but you might not like them. It’s not all about sex in the least but most of the language is VERY course.
I could likely find 20 authors writing good product. Frankly I’d love Morpheus to create a sequel to “The Academy”. Also I’d like “The Last Boy Scout” to finish the Great Shift story he/she wrote. It’s awesome, with the Heinlein elements.
Does ANYONE know if “The Last Boy Scout” is still around?!
16:22 on May 7th, 2010
It’s been a while – how are things?
22:34 on September 6th, 2010
Buy:Benicar.Nymphomax.Buspar.Seroquel.Lipitor.Lipothin.Wellbutrin SR.SleepWell.Aricept.Female Cialis.Acomplia.Cozaar.Lasix.Amoxicillin.Ventolin.Female Pink Viagra.Zetia.Prozac.Advair.Zocor….