The Deal-io

Have you noticed lots of blogs recently talking about blog etiquette?

Even Emily Post talks tech etiquette.

It's weird, it's everywhere I turn right now. And I've been thinking. "A dangerous pastime." "I know." (Little Beauty and the Beast reference for you there.) Sometimes I want to get stuff off my chest, but I usually don't, after all you are here to see pretty stuff, get crafty ideas or laugh at my incompetence. (I know it happens. I'm cool with that.) :) But, I decided I had a couple points to make. So, I'm going in...

 First I'm going to say the opposite of what most bloggers are saying: 

If you don't like something I've done and have a suggestion for how to improve it, by all means, let me know.

Seriously. I don't know everything. I started blogging to be part of a creative community. If you love a project, it warms my heart to hear it, but it's okay if you don't. We all have different tastes. I don't need yes-men. I have more self-confidence than that. 

Now, if you are just being snarky and mean, keep it to yourself. But if you are trying to be constructive, I think we should all welcome that.

Unfortunately, as with so many other types of endeavors, there are those that just want to rip you off and take credit for it. You know all those bleach shirts? Never saw one out there (and I looked) before I started advertising mine in my online store.

I made a damn fine looking button for my shop too. Ah, well, c'est la vie.

My designs were hand-painted and not splotchy bleach pen things you see everywhere now. I realize it is completely possible that someone independently thought of using bleach to make designs, but the timing is suspect.

This was for Mateo, a nod to Jon Stewart and the Rally to Restore Sanity.

Best seller, Boston subway.

I've seen other bloggers get features and all sorts of attention, and not one of them has ever sent a little love back to my blog. In fact, I pulled my shop because my sales dipped that much. (Well, and I went back to school so I just decided putting up a fight wasn't worth it.) It's not the only thing that has been grabbed without credit and I know even the "big" bloggers have had these complaints as well. 

I love modern windfarms. I think they are graceful.

Essentially, it's stealing and it's sad that we have to remind adults that stealing is a no-no. :/ I used to get really upset about it. I'm past that now. Sure, it's still irksome, but being mad about it isn't doing any good.

So, the point of sharing my little drama is to say, play nice. Of course we inspire each other. Isn't that the point? If you play off of someone's post, link back.

My commitment to all my fellow bloggers is to always link back. I want to be known as a nice blogger who is all about the blogging love.

This post may be linked at the following parties (for their Blog Buttons see my Link Love page): (M) C.R.A.F.T., Amaze Me Monday, Sumo's Sweet Stuff,  (T) A Little Birdie Told Me  Stories of A to Z, The Blackberry Vine, How To's Day , Type A, Amaze Me August, , Show Me What Ya Got,  (W) Wow Me,  Blue Cricket Design, What I Whipped Up, Wicked Awesome Wednesday, Sweet Peas & Bumblebees (TH) The ArtsyGirl Connection,  Creative Juice, Thrifty 101 , Smilemonsters , Everything But the Kitchen Sink, Shabby Chic Cottage, Thrifty Thursdays, House of Hepworth's,  (F) Fingerprints on the Fridge, Furniture Feature Friday,  Lovely Crafty Weekend , Remodelaholic, For the Kids Fridays, , Craft Goodies, (Sat) Tatertots and Jello , Anything Goes , Funky Junk Interiors (Sun) Creative Blog & Hop, Sundae Scoop, Under the Table and Dreaming