Oh What Tangled Webs Content Spinners Weave!

As someone who has bounced from writing site to writing site, I've dealt with some fine communities of people. But I often have left due to poor payouts - pennies per article - or because the site was terribly spammy and it simply would make me look bad to have my content on there. I am a bit proud of my writing and if it's being associated with "spamminess" in the least, I want nothing of that.

Recently, someone quite dear to me joined a new writing site. I won't mention the individual's name or the website in question, but apparently someone who is quite active on the site is parading around acting like she's some incredible speed-writer. She somehow can rack up something like $10 a day by whipping out post after post. Of course, you know how this happens? Spun content.

Now I've seen my share of plagiarism. It's a crime that's been around for centuries. Online, it's become a sort of epidemic. Oh, but it's even worse than that. Spun content is put through some sort of program that jumbles things around just enough that duplication checkers don't red-flag it. 

Apparently, this one lady has the gall to be sweet and sociable and people are thinking she's LEGIT? Oh, look I need 10 more blog posts today. Who do you know who can write TEN posts a day? OK, I could probably do it, but seriously, if you look at the site, it's OBVIOUSLY spun. Some are easier to catch than others. But the "author credit" does it for me.

My dear companion is very torn about it. Apparently this member is one of the top earners on this young site and is so clearly getting away with it. She's apparently already been reported and nothing's been done. 

Should she be called out? I can't see why not. I just know I won't be joining any site where that's happening without any sort of consequence. If it's said that it can't be proved since duplicate checkers won't work, just look at the content. It's clearly not written with the same voice.

Oh, my, that's right I'm a real writer. I guess only we real writers could pick that up. Seriously, dude, if you're going to run a writing site and you see how suspicious that person is "writing" clearly very random content that has author credits on it that link to nothing, um, yeah, red alert? All crew to battle-stations?

I'm just sad that people are just gaming these sites. No wonder they fail. Yet many keep letting the webs be spun, stealing the revenue from people like moi who actually put blood, sweat, and tears into her words.

I'll take that bitch for a spin... She won't like it! But I will!

~ Amelia

Photo credit: Pixabay, Public Domain

Life Happens

I have not been writing quite as much lately as I perhaps would like. There are many reasons for this, first and foremost, this thing called life has been happening. It has not been a beautiful and melodious time. Musicals will not be inspired by the events of the past week...

OK, maybe one could be, but it would be some mix between emo and death-metal and the lyrics would be screamed in the highest possible pitch that a human voice box can produce. It's been hell.

But there is the future, yes? Things have not been falling into place for me so much. However, I am determined to keep my eyes looking forward.

I found an interesting little diversion today to lift my spirits, a little app called BitStrips. I'm having a ball with it. Too much of a ball, in fact.

But, believe me, after the stress of the past month, I'm happy to finally sit down and maybe write a few things. I've had topics on my mind, but I've been a bit jumbled as far as what seems to be the priority to get out.

 I've dealt with a lot of conflicting passions lately, and some rather terrible bouts with anxiety and depression. I'm not perfect. I am not having a good time.

But I need to pull myself together. I have some friends going through a lot of trouble, a couple of them dealing with suicidal thoughts and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness. A couple are somehow keeping a positive outlook and staying the course. (God, I feel like Gee Double Ya Bush saying that...)

I've always tended to be a bit pragmatic and very much sarcastic. I tend to have a rather dark sense of humor but I know that love is still my favorite currency in the universe. I never seem to have a lack of it. Has it bought me happiness? No, not quite, but my tendency towards affection has given me some friendships that I could never imagine living without.

 I intend to stand by my dear friends. One is doing far better, and I'm looking forward to help promote her new book that should be published soon. At least the universe is favoring someone. Hopefully, the All Powerful Feline Overlord - or whatever omnipotent, omnipresent diety you'd like to believe in that's mucking up our daily lives with all these trials and tribulations - gives the rest of us a break soon!

OK, I'm gonna go take two Screwidol and call it day!

Love always!

Scarlett Johansson Welcomes Baby Rose Into the World!

Congratulations to Scarlett Johansson and her fiancee Romain Dauriac on welcoming Rose Johansson-Dauric (or whatever her last name ends up being) into the world yesterday! I'm really glad that they named her something normal. These days celebrities usually call their babies the most ridiculous things just to be "unique."

I'm glad that conservatives haven't gotten crazy yet - that I've been able to tell - that Rose was born "out of wedlock" and that's some horrible thing. They've been engaged since September 2013. They hadn't gotten married yet due to the fact that Scarlett has been extremely busy filming lately with "Lucy," "Chef," and "Captain America: the Winter Soldier." It also made sense for them to wait until after having the baby to have the marriage. They're going to try to keep things private as possible, and good for them!

It's nice that Scarlett will be able to settle down for a bit. This is her second marriage, of course - with her famous divorce from Ryan Reynolds. But it seems like these two are going to work out, so I think Rose is in excellent hands.

Again, congratulations to Scarlett and Romain. I hope this is the beginning of a very happy family!