Topic: IsMyHome.com
Well that didn't take long.
Fourteen days after getting the gig as a blog editor over at Dallas.IsMyHome.com, I got canned. I've never been fired from a job before. I don't care for it.
Why did I get fired?
I'm glad you asked.
According to the site manager, David Peralty, it was because I couldn't get along with my fellow blogger.
Ah, my fellow blogger. Her name is Raine.
Dave's right. We can't get along.
We can't get along because in the two short weeks I worked on the blog Raine deleted and altered my posts. On top of that she has a habit of plagiarizing the work of others. I was fired for pointing these things out when they occurred.
Let me explain myself...
Wait! Let me share the emails I sent Bossman David Peralty concerning the matter...
08/15/2007
David,
I hate to be a bother, but I have this nagging suspicion that my fellow blogger in Dallas is deleting my posts. My post from yesterday disappeared this afternoon.
I reposted this evening and verified that it published. Several minutes later it vanished again.
Can you take a look at this?
David's response:
Hi there,
You would be right. He(*) said you are adding spammy links to the post, and so he thought something bad was happening.
I told him to NEVER delete posts. Very sorry about that.
David
(*) At this point, both David and I thought Raine was a dude. Turns out he's a she.
In response, I wrote:
What in the world is a "spammy link?" I can't think of a link I have included that would be inappropriate, but if there is please do let me know.
Thanks, I appreciate you looking into that. I was just amazed that it disappeared.
Now in order to prepare for the blog, I review a lot of news and announcements and some of what I was reading in Raine's entries was verbatim from other sources which prompted me to write this to David at IsMyHome.com:
David,
I know this seems very crappy of me, but I think you and I want Dallas.IsMyHome.Com to be the best it can be. That said, your other blogger here in Dallas is lifting whole passages straight rom other articles without citing the sources.
From tonight's post
(http://dallas.ismyhome.com/news/presidents-daughter-jenna-bush-to-wed/):
"The two, who have both worked as schoolteachers, currently are ollaborating on a children’s picture story to be published in spring 008. Proceeds are to donated to two education programs: Teach for merica and The New Teacher Project."
The exact same passage above appears on Yahoo News:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070816/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_daughter_engagement_5
Also, the article on Patty Smyth (http://dallas.ismyhome.com/downtown/patty-smyth-scandal-tonite-at-house-of-blues/)
is completely lifted from John Freeman's article at the Dallas Observer:
http://www.dallasobserver.com/2007-08-16/calendar/she-is-the-warrior/
I thought you'd want to know.
I was worried about how David would respond to the above and was relieved when he sent me the following email:
Hey,
Yeah, now you understand what I am dealing with... this isn't the only blogger to think they could make an easy buck by lifting other people's work, and this is EXACTLY the things that make me glad you are around.
I will talk with him, make sure he understands how things will be, and reduce his status on the site. If he does it again after I talk to him, or you find his quality sub-par constantly (and not improving) then he will be gone.
Thanks again,
David
P.S. I want all this to be the best it can be too...
This morning I find that Raine had altered one of my posts. Again, I sent a note over to David:
David,
It appears my fellow blogger has edited my entry from last night. It was originally posted as http://dallas.ismyhome.com/travel/reflections-33000-feet/
The above is now a deadlink.
I find this morning that she has recategorized my post as COMMENTARY rather than TRAVEL providing it the link
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/commentary/reflections-33000-feet/
This is significant. If one were doing a blog search on Google, you would not find the entry - as I couldn't this morning.
What the hell is she doing editing my posts?
I also note that she moved posts that were older than mine above my entry from last night.
The following posts were made prior to my entry noted earlier and now all are placed higher on the front page:
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/social/club-one-and-lord-byrons-hosts-sickboys-on-thursday/
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/deep-ellum/the-art-of-richard-ross-one-night-only/
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/social/town-square-project-this-saturday-nite-in-deep-ellum/
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/kids/kids-getting-drunk-on-hand-sanitizer/
http://dallas.ismyhome.com/social/the-writers-garret-is-looking-for-a-presenter/
Based on an entry she made this past weekend, I suspect she believes herself to be my boss (http://dallas.ismyhome.com/about-dallas/thank-you-for-visiting/). She describes herself as THE editor rather than AN editor. I chose not to disabuse her of that notion in the interest of fostering a positive work environment. I see now that I was probably wrong in that decision.
I am growing weary of reporting her performance. It's no fun feeling like I have to watch everything she does. I hate being in this position, but she is killing the enjoyment of this endeavor for me. What can we do about this?
This evening I found out exactly what we can do about this:
Hi,
It really looks like you and Raine just are butting heads, and as much as I'd like to keep you both on, this isn't going to work, and so I am sad to say, that you no longer are required for dallas.ismyhome.com at this time.
Please send me your paypal information if you haven't already and accept my sincere apology.
I hope in the future we find a way to work together and I hope there won't be any hard feelings.
Thanks again for everything. It is a shame that you two couldn't come to an understanding.
David
Stunned, I sent the following...
I've been thinking about this tonight and am frankly puzzled by the decision.
At no point did you communicate to me that I was on the bubble or that there would be no change made with Raine. You actually did the opposite. In your email to me of August 16th, you said:
"I will talk with him, make sure he understands how things will be, and reduce his status on the site. If he does it again after I talk to him, or you find his quality sub-par constantly (and not improving) then he will be gone."
I've really enjoyed writing for ismyhome.com. I thought you and I had similar goals for the blog. I don't understand why I am out.
If you didn't want me to share my concerns about Raine's tendency to brand someone else's work as her own, fine. You never told me that, though. I'm feeling penalized for objecting to her editing my posts - when she and I both bear the title editor.
Let's be clear.
I've not altered her posts.
I've not deleted her posts.
I've not posted someone else's work and claimed it as my own.
Am I fired because I pointed these things out to her boss?
Despite it all, David, I'd still like to continue with ismyhome.com. If that's not going to be the case, can you at least explain why? 'Cuz I don't get it.
David was good enough to explain it all:
Hey,
I know that it must be puzzling, but from my perspective, I had been getting e-mails from both of you every single day about this, that and the other thing, and it was time to put a stop to it.
As for the e-mail I sent you, the traffic stats don't lie, and Raine's content has been bringing in a ton of visitors to the blog.
I had to pick one of you since you couldn't get along, and in actual fact, I have given Raine another warning saying if that the prima dona attitude has to stop, or I will be starting over with the Dallas site.
I wanted passionate professionals, and I wanted people that could get along, and make things work with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds.
It just wasn't meant to be. Had you both sorted out your differences, rather than coming to me every day, then we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Again, sorry...
David
In all honesty, I appreciate this feedback from David Peralty, though I did feel the need to clarify a few points.
I understand that, but at no time did you provide me any indication that I was doing something to irritate her. Nor did you suggest that I was on the bubble. In fact, you told me that she was.
If at anytime you had told me "get along or move along," you would have gotten exactly that from me.
I don't intend to seek compensation for the posts I have written for ISMYHOME. I would appreciate if you would delete my content. You might have Raine do that. She seems to be familiar with that process.
And that's where we are tonight.
As I scratch "WILL BLOG FOR FOOD" on a wedge of cardboard with my marksalot, I'm kicking myself over this. Truly, when I urged the editor to delete Raine's plagiarized content and it didn't happen, I should have quit. As a writer, I should not have abided this absence of integrity.
One cannot expect ethical treatment from unethical people.
Lesson. Learned.I whored myself because I was having fun. Really, it was a kick-and-a-half.
I'm disappointed and to a lesser extent, I'm pissed off. I'm sure I'll manage my way through this.
I hope to find another such opportunity elsewhere.
Aron Head
www.EvilBastard.net
