I’m not calling it plagiarism or anything, because the idea was what was stolen, not the content. There’s a word for that. I don’t remember what it is. I think they made a movie about it. It was called, Inception. No, that wasn’t it. Nevermind. I’ll get to the point.
The day after I write a scathing response to an article published by The Frisky, they copy an idea for an article that I wrote almost five years ago and try to pass it off as something super-fresh and cool. This article was written by yours truly on February 3rd, 2006. I didn’t know about websites like Photobucket at the time, nor did I consider self-hosting images back then, otherwise it would be a lot more impressive a sight. Still, the idea of a top-ten list involving wacky haircuts should be readily apparent. Just look at the title of the post. This article was written by Amelia McDonell-Parry — my new Facebook friend of one week — on September 1st, 2010. Apparently she was just inspired to “research the wackiest hairstyles ever posted on the Internet” by a silly haircut she saw on another website. She couldn’t have possibly been inspired by my website, which she admitted knowledge of when she offered her hand in Facebook friendship, and which probably reads daily. A little credit would be nice, Amelia. It won’t stop me from mocking The Frisky, but it might stop me from calling all your writers horrible, horrible pigs. Fat ones. I feel like I should call them all “fat” now because that’s what men like myself do.
The truth is, I can play the role of éminence grise. The question is, how long can The Frisky hold out before their masthead contacts me to admit malfeasance.
That’s pretty much all I have to say. I’m posting an interview tomorrow so at least if you come back in 24 hours there will be some purpose to your visit. I don’t think I’m going to waste any more time tonight pointing out other blogs who have ripped off this one. Instead, I’m going to go eat Vietnamese food and maybe play some poker. You’re so jealous.
September 3rd, 2010
Hi Evan! This particular post was brought to my attention by the Google alert I have on my name, as I don’t read here frequently enough to steal your idea. Of course, your idea — and thus mine — is not original at all, as “WACKIEST HAIRSTYLES” has been done 10 million times over and, at the end of the day, we both were just recycling an idea for our own website’s benefit. Anyway, drink sometime? I am pretty sure that as much as you hate me, you would also love me too.
September 3rd, 2010
Oh, Amelia. I know it’s a lazy online journalist contingency plan. I probably stole it from someone, too.
Drink sometime. Totally. Maybe I will hire a camera crew. I’ll contact you.
September 3rd, 2010
…gettin’ frisky.
September 3rd, 2010
Oh Erik, you and I both know no one at the Frisky would ever fuck me. Not even with YOUR dick.
September 3rd, 2010
Sue her anyway, says Hornet Montana.