I used to maintain a website to show off my sweet little floor monkeys, but kept finding my photos all over the internet. My solution was to abandon the site. However, I still write, sometimes quite extensively <grin>, and I have not only found my work published uncredited on internet sites, but also in newsletters, information sheets, and even plagerized in magazines. You can even imagine my surprise to note some of my IDEAS, some shared with the expectation of confidentiality, used without acknowledgement or permission, or even notification! There have been times when I have seen articles in Fancy Publications (Ferrets, Ferrets USA, and Critters USA) that not only follow the outline I made when writing a post for the FML, but also used many of the same phrases! In all cases, the use represents theft, it is unethical, and it is immoral. Moreover, it represents a character flaw in the person using the material (or idea) without permission. Minimally, it shows the person is thoughtless, perhaps even uncaring, but at the other end of the scale it shows the intent of purposeful theft. How can the victim know which end of the scale they should assign to the person making the infraction? I have a simple rule. ASK ME, and you can use my material. It is that simple. I have even given some people permission to use my stuff anytime, just require them to send a copy of the finished material to let me know they have used it. The truth is, if I wasn't determined to get good information out in the ferret community in order to better the lives of ferrets, I wouldn't be posting on the FML; I would be sending my best stuff to "Ferrets" so I could get the bucks. The difference between a writer (or artist) and someone with an extreme amount of technical knowledge is the ability to express or give birth to an IDEA. That single act of creation defines the difference between the two groups. IDEAS are intellectual property, and I know of many instances where professional careers were ruined because of the uncredited plagerizing of something as intangible as an idea. An artist creating a painting, sculpture, digital art, or any other work has a tangible product that illustrates the creation of something (this includes bedding material--Alicia IS an artist! I have sleep sacks several years old that look NEW, even surviving "Digger" Mickey Moose and "Chewy" Tui! Alicia makes the best stuff I have ever used!). Even the creation of a web button represents something of value. The same is true of writing. The claim that changing a single pixel (or perhaps rewording a post) in no way reduces the impact that an IDEA has been stolen (it, in fact, shows the intent being one of theft!). Plagerism isn't word-for-word theft of writing anymore than copyright infringement isn't the note-for-note theft of a muscial score (just ask George Harrison....perhaps a pet pyschic will contact him for you). There is a tendency for people to suggest theft (or dismissed expectations of confidentiality, or censorship, or spreading false rumor, or ANY unethical or immoral action) is somehow ok so long as the suggested intent is to better the lives of ferrets. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Stealing a ferret from a pet shop doesn't prevent future animal abuse; only the legal pursuit of justice has that effect. Censoring complaints of unethical moderation doesn't help a mailing list, it only weakens it by driving away people with useful information (no, I am NOT referring to BIG or the FML, so don't get your undies in an uproar. One thing that makes me very proud of Bill (and extremely loyal towards the FML) is that he allows people to take him to task--he doesn't censor people when they think he is wrong). Ultimately, unethical or immoral acts HARM the people they are attempting to help. Even something a simple as stealing a button creates a feeling of betrayal and distrust, making future donations, or even cooperation, difficult or impossible. For example, I have found Alicia to be one of the most caring and sharing people I have ever met, a person who gives without expectation of return, a person who has essentially donated her home to sheltering ferrets or creating materials to support that sheltering effort; the theft of her ideas must leave her with a tremendous feeling of betrayal and hurt. Unethical or immoral acts are harmful, emotionally damaging, and disruptive to the ferret community. Moreover, THEY ARE WRONG. Of course, these are just my feelings on the matter, and you may disagree. If you do, please send me your address so I can sneak in through your window and steal your belongings so I can sell them to help support a local ferret shelter. I would greatly appreciate leaving car keys, cash, and expensive jewelry near your open window for ease of theft. That should be an acceptable act as long as the end justifies the means. It shouldn't matter if the theft is from your home or off the internet so long the intent is to help shelter ferrets. Bob C [Posted in FML issue 4117]