Have you ever noticed how much fake stuff there is?
In the real world we see fake Rolex’s and other knock-offs. There are also fake breasts, fingernails, hair, eye lashes, tattoos, fake foods engineered to (sort of) taste like the real thing, fake weather conditions including snow and the list goes on.
Online and in print media we see fake in the form of air brushing or Photoshopping.
On social networking sites, pedophiles take on a fake identity to scam young children.
Today’s Lesson
On blogs we see fake, too. It may come in the form of plagiarized content or stolen photos.
We see evidence of fake in product reviews; reviews which make products and/or services sound magical. You know the ones; if we buy the product or service it can (possibly) make us rich, skinny, popular, etc…
For us bloggers, doubt may set in when we see an affiliate link.
Sadly, what some bloggers are truthfully sharing can be labeled as fake, too.
Although it’s normal to ask, “Is this person telling the truth?”, or, “Are they only interested rolex copy scamming us out of our hard earned money?”, skepticism doesn’t stop there.
We also see it in comments.
On my How to Remove Coffee and Tea Stains From Carafes, Pitchers and Thermos Bottles post, published on my Observation Mountain blog, several of 11 replica rolex day date m228345rbr 0002 mens rolex calibre 2836 2813 automatic the comments verify this.
Some who commented said, in part,
Was a skeptic like some of the rest…
Ok…I read all the comments and said to myself “yeah, right!”. I just came back from the kitchen…I tried it and OMG!!! One of the first tips I’ve found that REALLY works!!!!!
The first time I read the doubting words, I was somewhat surprised. I knew I told the truth freebase nola line blueberry 100ml vape juice and knew what I shared worked. That said, it pleased me to hear what I had shared was beneficial.
So it makes me wonder, how many people spend time online but doubt the validity of what they read?
How many bloggers bend the truth to earn a buck, or to appear to be an expert, or …?
How many blog posts are written for search engines instead of for the readers?
How do honest bloggers feel when others are skeptical about what they post?
Today’s Assignment
When you read blogs, are you skeptical of what the blog author posted?
Has anyone ever questioned the validity of your words?
Care to share?
~Barbara
Dear Barbara:
I agree. There are many out there who like to see all bloggers crowding to their blogs and hence plagiarise material. Thankfully, no one has questioned the validity of my posts but sometimes I do find that I am skeptical about some content posted on certain blogs. If I am in doubt, I quickly run a google search and try to find out. Plagiarism is intellectual crime and no one should indulge in the same. For that matter pictures are the most unacknowledged material used in blog posts. I think one should acknowledge the source, if the picture is not one’s own.
I would be terribly ashamed if someone points a finger at me and accuses me of plagiarism and I guess everyone should feel the same.
If material is sourced from a website which encourages sharing, then it’s okay but even for those sites it would be great if the source is acknowledged.
Joy always,
Susan
Hi Susan,
I hear you. A Google search will often confirm whether what we read is true or not. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to dig deep since many of the articles which are listed on the first page of Google (and other search engines) are there because the author used good SEO (search engine optimization) and not necessarily because they’re the best source.
Hello Barbara..
As I surf a lot in search of new and interesting discussions at blogs, on an average, I have found around 40% of the blogs use plagiarized content or content which is as old as black n white movies!
I can’t understand the logic behind talking about something which is almost a universal truth, unless one has some unique insight about it or something to add to it.
And therefore, it is but obvious that people who surf the web in search of genuine and quality content get disappointed when they reach such blogs and then grow skeptic of bloggers who are actually trying to share something useful.
Hi Nikhil,
40%? That’s a huge percentage.
I know what you’re saying about getting disappointed by online searches. Just the other day I was researching a topic and I kept running into the same content on different sites. I don’t know if it was plagiarized or not (some sites allow others to re-publish their content), but seeing that certainly didn’t get me any closer to finding “the truth”.
Dear Barbara,
I know that there are a lot of fake things out there, and I like to think that I’ve developed a way of “sensing” it, and overlooking it.
Sometimes, my words are questioned as being fake, but I don’t really mind it. It simply has to happen as I don’t want to escape some cliches. Words like “I truly admire the way you wrote this” are really what I feel. I know that spammers have ruined some portion of common decency online, but the author can always ignore my words or delete them. It’ won’t stop me from thinking that way. 🙂
Cheers,
Lily
Hi Lily,
That’s a good point. Even though others may question the validity of what we post, it not only gives us the chance to explain why we believe what we do, but it can also open our eyes to other possibilities.
I generally read the same “lot” of blogs and all of them are written by ethical bloggers. When I do stray out to look at other blogs, I sometimes add a new one to follow, but more often than not, I don’t care for most of them. Usually it’s because it’s a straight out commercial
blogfull length ad posing as a blog, or it’s a niche that I’m not interested. Sometimes, though there is blatant plagiarism or copyright infringement.Funny thing, though, on many of the climate science related blogs that I read, copying and pasting of other material seems to be the norm. I guess it’s in the scientific interest of “sharing information.” Some even encourage others to share their content. So strange.
Years ago, I did a lot of research into copyright and publishing material on the web and put together some pages on the subject at http://www.pddoc.com/copyright/index.html .
I have only once been accused of stealing the material of someone else. He even threatened me with legal action. However, there was no teeth in his accusation or his threat. I simply pointed out to him that the images that I was using did come from his site. However, the images were from 1860s Harper’s Weekly issues and were in the public domain. Once in the public domain, always in the public domain, except for any enhancements or changes of an original nature. Scanning an image in to electronic format does not constitute original expression, not even if the image is digitally enhanced to improve its appearance.
I never got a response from my accuser.
Hi Mike,
That is strange – that those in the scientific field encourage others to “share” the same information. I don’t know if they think the more people see it online, the more they’ll believe it, or if it’s something else.
I checked out the link you shared on copyright. That’s a work of art in itself. Great job.
Thank you for sharing your story about being accused for stealing images. I remember reading how images of a certain age can/do become public domain and no one owns the rights.
Barbara,
Anyone can start a blog or website. Most people are inherently good, but there are always a few bad apples in a bunch as well.
In general I think it takes time for trust to build up. Go to the site, read a few posts, start to get a sense of whether the person knows what they are talking about, see what they do in Twitter or LinkedIn to use as corroboration.
There is a level of depth that experts can get to that others cannot.
I use StumbleUpon occasionally to find new and different sites, and sometimes there is a site that right away wants an email address, or some other information that just makes me stop and think “what do I really know about this operation?” The answer is usually “nothing”, and then I am not going to go any further.
Hi David,
I’m glad you brought that up. Time (online) is one of the most valuable assets we have. For example, it’s one thing for someone to say they know how to make money online, but if we notice they’ve only been blogging for two months, obviously their credibility will be questioned.
I’m with you on the sites which want an email address or other information as soon as we land on it. Like you, I click off and find another source for the information.
Hi Barbara,
You’re right, the world is full of “fake” and blogging is no exception. I used to think that comments were a deterrent to scams – imagining that an inaccurate post will get called out. Sadly that’s not true. I’m sometimes amazed at the suggestions that some SEO blogs make. Things like article spinning or spamming are made to look respectable because they get results regardless of the long-term ramifications. I guess our only option is to stay informed and sceptical. Great post as always!
Thank you Chris,
True. We can’t necessarily tell if a site is legitimate if it has comments. In fact, some sites (scams) state how “so-in-so” made tons of money after buying “zxy” and you’ll see comments stating how it worked for them, too. Ironically, after a handful of positive (fake?) comments, they close the comments. Hmmmmm!
That’s funny you mentioned article spinning. That’s something I recently read about so I checked out a “spinner”. I copied and pasted a few paragraphs, hit “spin” and the result was complete garbage. In fact, it reminded me of some of the spam comments I get which make no sense at all.
I am definitely skeptical when I read most blogs. Part of that seems to be because most blogs that I find with Google are all trying to spam me with AdSense ads hoping that I will accidentally click on them after they tell me something that seems completely bogus. To me, it seems like the more I see AdSense Ads, the less I believe whatever the blogger is trying to say…
Hi Josh,
Yes. Oftentimes ads spattered on a blog are a warning the content may not hold water. However, that said, I don’t mind seeing AdSense ads on blogs if what they share holds value. Plus, in a lot of cases, the revenue the blogger receives (from the ads) is the only income they make online.
With regard to ads, I think “in moderation” is key.
I’m always skeptical – online and offline. It’s common sense precaution not to believe everything you read/hear. I do tend to trust major established sites more than personal blogs.
Hi Vered,
That’s true. Skepticism happens in all areas of our life. I also think that’s part of the growing process. The longer we’ve lived, the more we see/hear of scams.
Like you, I often turn to what I believe are reputable sites, but I also ask myself, “who is this information funded by?” and the ads on those sites are usually a red flag.
I’ve never considered this side of the coin except when I see what appear to be really outrageous claims and/or the best case scenario; especially when it comes to “How To Make Money Online” sales pages, affiliates, and bloggers. While they almost always substantiate their monetary claims by showing pics of their Clickbank accounts, to say that it’s easy to do and only takes a few hours a week seems a bit unrealistic. However, like I said, I’ve never considered this unless I find the claim/statement to be in bolded exciting text and just seems too outrageous in general. Thanks for the post, I’ll definitely read with a more watchful eye on some of the personal development and SEO blogs I read.
You’re welcome Rich,
Haha! I remember seeing those checks when I first started blogging and thought “Wow, I’d like to do that, too”. Then I learned how some of those checks are Photoshopped or edited to entice the readers to buy “whatever”.
That’s not to say people don’t make money online, however it seems like many of those who do aren’t bragging about it.
Hi Barbara,
Hope your holidays were fabulous! This is a great topic and one that everyone has an opinion about. I think I want to believe that most people are honest and have the best intentions. But I always worry just a little about everyone especially now. It is too easy to be dishonest and get by with it. And, now it is easy to be dishonest, make a ton of money off of a ton of people, because of the internet and get by with it!! It seems as though those type people gravitate to new ‘rip-off’ opportunities. And, the internet is full of them. I think the good bloggers will last. And the others will come and go, quickly, we hope.
Thank you Ann,
I know what you’re saying. In the “olden days” it was the door to door salesmen, radio and TV ads, but now with the internet, with a click we can easily land on a new scheme/scam.
Like you, I believe most people have good intentions and are honest individuals, however that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cautious.
This is very true! I believe you maybe if you are out there hard selling to people then they’d sense that you don’t really about their success, but only yours. Thanks for this reminder to keep it real!
You’re welcome Personalised Items,
Yes. Keeping it real will get us a lot further than trying to scam others.
It’s wise to be cautious, and even skeptical. It’s easy enough to check people out on the web, though in my opinion, too few people do so.
And depending upon our use for what we read online, we should do so. It’s as simple as running a Google search, looking on LinkedIn or other referenced sites (by the writer), and spending a few minutes looking for consistency of information or viewpoint.
I think this matters more when you are truly considering the source “expert” in some fashion.
When products or services come into play, again, it’s easy to check out whether or not there is a particular interest at work. And sponsorships or affiliations don’t necessarily mean there’s bias, but it pays to pay attention.
Everything on the net should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s a microcosm (or more?) of the world, with every variation of intention and result, from scams to authenticity.
Last – being honest, authentic, truthful etc. does not require divulging a multitude of personal details or facts that are not appropriate or yours to divulge. Over time, it’s clear who is presenting an essential truth, without stepping over that line of TMI, or worse.
Another thoughtful post. Thank you.
You’re welcome Big Little Wolf,
That’s great advice. By checking up on “the source” of the information or product, we become informed consumers. With the economy the way it is, money is tight for a lot of people, therefore if they’re going to spend some, it’s wise to know they’ll get value for their buck.
I agree. People don’t have to divulge their whole personal life in order to be deemed an expert, however if what they’re posting online isn’t consistent, that should make us question their credibility.
Content gets copied or stolen every single day. What I hate the most however was a while back I had travel blog I maintained at the time. As I was aware that picture could easy be copied I put a small watermark at the bottom of each picture I posted. Then one day I came across one of my picture with the bottom just simply cut out so my watermark wasn’t visible anymore. I was so angry, I contacted them and have yet to receive a response. What is worse, the picture is still on their blog!
Hi Quilting Fabric,
I’m sorry to hear about your photo being stolen. 🙁 That is one of the unfortunate things about posting content or photos online. Some people feel it’s up for grabs.
I remember when I first started blogging, I found a copy of homepage (another blog of mine) published on some foreign site. They had copied and pasted it, then added ads to the top of the page. There was no way of contacting them so I blocked their IP address from my blog. I didn’t know if that would help, but it did make me feel better.
“Buyer Beware” is still good advice – whether in terms of handing over our money or our trust.
During pre-blogging days, I would research some subject and words of a Philosopher, Professor Umberto Eco, would resonate. In an interview many years ago, he predicted we would need a new science – that of discerning validity of input on the internet.
Whether that’s a science, art or knack…it’s necessary.
There can be much sophistry – opinions dressed as fact. I have an attitude of “whatever” unless it is a subject that is important to me. Then I dig and, in the end, check with some trusted, tried and true contact I have in real life to give their input.
I’ve made a few purchases over the internet (I live on a small island) and my homework paid off. All of them have been valid and, in fact, have proven to give excellent service.
Another excellent post, Barbara.
Thank you Amy,
“Buyer Beware” is excellent advice – not only online, but off.
What you said raises a good point. Opinions can very easily be construed as the truth, all because of the wording the author uses. It’s one thing to say, “in my opinion….”, but if a blog author isn’t careful with their wording, their readers may take what they say as the truth and act on it.
Hi Barbara,
What a “debatable” topic you have here and could have long discussions without any satisfied answer. To make it short of my point of view, what is your answer when somebody like me do blog walking everyday to find a blog that enable me to leave a comment and did this not because i like the post and want somebody knowing who i am from my comments but it is more drive by “backlink quest” which every “blogger” needed to get their blog rank well.? Is the comment still genuine, honest or “fake”? 🙂 What do you think?
Thanks
Hi Edionnet,
That’s a good question. Since your comment addresses the topic of the post, I don’t see it as “fake”, however I do know because this is a do-follow blog, I get visitors who only comment for the link back. I don’t have a problem with that if the comments are “on topic”. If they’re not, they’re usually marked as spam.
You have a valid point here Barbara. These days, with so many “experts” and “gurus” in the field having opposing opinions, who’s to say whether an article is credible or not? I personally don’t believe in everything I read online, even trusted individuals from my field. I make sure to check with other persons of authority.
Thank you Tom,
I hear you. “Expert” doesn’t mean what it used it.
Like you, I take what I read online with a grain of salt and if it’s something I really want to know more about, I research further plus ask others in the real world.
I’m sure you’ve heard that joke, “if it’s online, it’s true”, but unfortunately, some haven’t realized that it’s a joke yet.
Fakes are everywhere. And I think people just have to be aware of every information that we read in every post. Let’ all be responsible for a better year.
Hi Ernest,
Yes, fakes are all around. I like your advice for us to be responsible. Not only could it save us from spending our hard earned money, but could be beneficial to our health and well being.
I do believe that some products are “fake”, and I know some people craft a persona, but I hadn’t considered people doubting words or the use of plagiarism.
Similar to Mike, the sites I invest energy and time with are of integrity. I am able to glean inspiration from many sources, so even if it is fake, there is an experience shared. And, I do not invest my money unless something has been referred or I have done the research.
Hi Joy,
You’re right. Some people enter the blogosphere and use a false persona. Although that’s done for numerous reasons, what they share may hold value.
I’m with you. Anytime we plan to invest money, it’s best to be well informed about the product or service.
Hi Barbara! I sure agree with Josh on this – the more adsense and commercial stuff I see on a blog, the more wary I am of the blog content – like are they just trying to sell me something or do they have a valid topic here devoid of commercial intent? Hard to know people’s intentions sometimes isn’t it?
As far as people reading my blog and being skeptical, oh I’m certain they are – only because I tend to expose things to the point that most don’t want to hear about it. Like don’t mess with their favorite junk foods etc – haha. And in the area of disease prevention, I believe that the people who need MOST to pay attention to what I’m writing about may not want to make changes until and if they actually GET sick. Then they panic, go to a doctor, take drugs and their cycle of ill-health continues and will escalate the more drugs they take.
Hey, I’m thrilled about yesterday’s news about statin drugs being dangerous, did you hear that? Man if these drug companies would just take some of these drugs off the market – they do more harm than good over all, most especially statins! Yet the pill is worth billions for stockholders, who you know don’t give a rats ass about anyone’s health! Well any signs of cracks in the BigPharma facade is worth a bit of YAHOO!
hugs
suZen
Hi Susan,
I can imagine you get skeptics visiting your blog. After all, we have been trained to trust our government and our doctors to tell us what’s best for us. Anytime our trust in those “of authority” begins to wane, I think we might feel like we’ve been duped. And…we may ask, “who can we trust?”.
I heard the story about the statin drugs and was shocked. I would have thought with all of the research and scrutiny drugs are put under, they would have known that prior to prescribing them.
Barb, The drug mfgrs themselves do testing – if it doesn’t look like it will kill you right out, they turn their “tests” over to the FDA who rubber stamp their approval -LITTLE testing is done these days! Have a blogger friend who is a dr. who used to work for the FDA – he’s being “fined” for shooting his mouth off on his blog about all this. Dr.’s are SOLD the marketing spin, most of which is fairy tales.
I’m always very skeptical when I start reading any blog. You know, it’s a little bit sad that sometimes we can find almost the same information on different blogs. I understand that news are the same and everyone wants to write about it, but sometimes it can be very boring for readers
Hi BuySellWordpress,
It’s maddening to read the same thing on so many blogs, isn’t it? And like you said, “it’s boring”.
All the more reason for bloggers to be authentic, write from their heart and make their site(s) stand out from the others.
Hi Barbara .. I mostly go from bloggers I know to their ‘friends’ and trust in that connection .. some on occasions I’m not too interested in .. but I’ve been lucky I guess – and steered clear of signing up for too much rubbish et al …
I have the odd picture that shouldn’t be there because I couldn’t fin another suitable and I’m not that au fait with my way round .. but when I do anything with the blog – I’ll need to check where the pictures came from ..
I don’t plagiarise .. if it’s a largish piece/paragraph I’m using – I give credit – or if it’s the phrasing .. then I adapt and use those few words somehow in the context of my blog.
I am wary .. but if they are friends here – then I’m fine and happy .. cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary,
I think that’s a good idea; when we find a blog we like, to check and see who else is commenting regularly and then check out those blogs, as well. Usually us bloggers attract like minded people.
I agree. If we’re quoting another blogger or an article, we need to give credit to the original source. Not only that, but it shows we’re blogging responsibly which helps us build our credibility.
Very controversial topic, I must say about fake and true. I must admit that I am very critical and until I am not proven that what I read is true, I am more likely to believe that it is fake…such a pessimist..I am..
Hi Anna,
Sometimes it pays to be a pessimist. I think that’s how we learn, not only about products and services, but about other people, as well.
Heh. In the words of my ex-wife, “George, quit being such a rube!”
I tend to not be too skeptical about these things. It is what it is. If something is an obvious scam or load of BS then yeah, I move right along. Nothing to see here. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
I haven’t been “taken” for quite a while, I’m proud to say. I don’t lay awake at night losing sleep over it, though.
George
Hi George,
Your comment raised a good point. If we do get scammed, we need to learn to move on. Hopefully we’ve learned a good lesson and don’t repeat it. 🙂
What’s that old saying? “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
very interesting
i wonder how much data online all those fake blog/facebook/website accounts take up?
lol
just a thought,
but yes, it really is a hassle sometimes seeing them all so plainly fake :/
thanks heaps 🙂
james
You’re welcome James,
I never thought of that – how much space fake stuff takes up on the internet. I’m guessing it’s lots. Kinda sad…
I am skeptical and my children will tell you I ask lots of questions and clarify.
Right now so much of life and activity is about earning money…it is refreshing to find something REAL and TRUE….
Even professional ball players are doped up…and we are getting so dumbed down…
Interesting words here – makes me think
Thank you Patricia,
I hear you. When I see a post, product or service and it’s not all about making money, it pleases me.
I hope you’re not right about us getting dumbed down. I feel like what I’m learning online (real and fake) is expanding my knowledge base.
I often find it interesting to look around a city and try and spot something which isn’t man made… more difficult than it sounds!
Regarding blogs, I tend to distrust anyone who has unclearly labelled sponsored posts. Other than that, my trust is usually a question of whether I usually agree with their opinions. Some people are perfectly honest, but I disagree on most things they say!
Hi Richard,
That would be a challenge – finding something that’s not man made.
Good point. Although we may not agree with others does not mean what they share isn’t truthful.
Yes , I came across many blogs which had same information which you can clearly identify that its stolen from some other blog.
Hi Dark Spots Cure,
There’s plenty of those sites out there, obviously posting stolen content. It’s sad, isn’t it?
I think that a blogger that doesn´t respect the copyright is a bigger problem. I mean. Some other guy spends time and money for creating content and another one just copies it.
About the problem with the affiliate links I think that it also depends on the blogger and the blog. If you use one or two affiliate links at your website or blog, it´s ok as long as you also would buy what you are selling. If you write a blog for helping people with something and you recommend a product it´s ok. The problem is that some bloggers fill their blogs with paid articles, to much google adsense, pop ups…
Hi Startblog,
I wonder if those who steal the content even care or if they’re more interested in hopefully making a buck?
Like you, I find it maddening to land on blogs which are filled with all of those ads. Oftentimes it’s hard to find the content. And those new pop ups – I thought we had seen the end of those years ago. UGH!
I usually respect what bloggers have to say may it be on a certain product, service, weather or his/her pet. My perception on blogs it merely explains the thoughts and feelings of a certain blogger. I appreciate the way they right and through comparison I know what to believe in. Such as the topics on earning money online and working at home. I have read so many blogs about them and I am happy to get different ideas from each one.
Hi Kimberly,
I’m with you. It’s fun reading the work of other bloggers, no matter what their topic is.
As for the money making sites, the more we read, the more knowledge we gain and like you said, they all give us different ideas.
Hi Barbara,
An assignment that was worth pondering about! I have and will always be skeptical about anything and everything. I think that it’s just common sense to be cautious about what you hear and read. I have had experiences where my words were questioned. I really don’t mind it because I think that this too is natural. I think it would give me cause for concern if no one ever questioned me and what I had to say because that would mean that no one really cared.
Thank you Personalised Items,
That’s true. It is natural to have others question our words. In fact, that’s how we and others grow and learn. And by having a friendly exchange of differences of opinions is how we expand our knowledge base.
I think that when reading blogs and even well established websites these days, we all need to double check facts. Sometimes it is absolutely clear that information is fake. For example when someone provides unreasonable promises like “lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks to fit into your wedding dress”. Those are easy.
However, the more difficult scenario comes up when you have a well reputed source but they have gotten their facts wrong. Or more likely certain pieces of information are open to interpretation and they have interpreted them to suit their version of the truth. A good rule is follow the money. Always ask yourself what monetary incentives an author has to spin information a certain way.
Hi Event Venue,
“Follow the money” is excellent advice, especially if the site is selling something or trying to convince us “this is the truth”. Although many bloggers endorse valid and useful products/services, sometimes a potential commission may sway them to bend the truth.
I love when I come across “real” information. There’s a lot of truth in “talk is cheap” (and it can cheap to blog 😉
Long ago, I remember a friend of mine reviewing one of my articles for a magazine and he said it had no “content.” It had a lot of words, but he said it lacked the insight and action for people to actually use as guidance.
I pushed back saying it was just supposed to be just a fun, quick read .. but he argued people would try to put what I said into practice and that I needed to go way deeper. He pushed me hard to create test cases and cover all the nuances of the information (it was a technical article.) In the end, it took me to a different place, and I then very much realized the difference between talking about a topic vs. writing truly actionable and insightful information people could use to solve problems.
Hi J.D.,
That is a good feeling, isn’t it? – to find real information that’s beneficial.
I like the story you shared. Not only does it sound like you learned a lot from what your friend told you, but you’ve put that lesson into action on your blog. And…you’ve named it perfectly; “Sources of Insight”. 8)
Well ofcourse you can never believe anything a person says whether it is online or offline. What he/she says or writes represents an opinion or an experience or only a sales strategy. What I always do is gather first as much info from many different sources before I make a decision to purchase.
Hi Joy,
That’s smart. I think anytime we do our homework prior to investing our hard earned money, we’re more apt to be pleased with our purchase. That’s not to say we won’t get duped, but the chances of that happening are lessened.
I always ask myself if the information in such a blog is true and reliable. So I do a follow up search on the topic. But since most of the author of the blog I follow are trustworthy I rarely do research on their topics.
Hi James,
It sounds like the blog authors you read have already earned your trust. Following credible sites is a good way to save time from further research.
I agree with you as I’m also doing some search before following some blogs. Even for my blog, I’ll do some research of the particular topic before create a post and publish it. It is better to give the readers great satisfactions. 😉
Most blogs reporting news are typically spinning an article so the content won’t be original but tweaked a little. There’s plenty of good blogs out there however that are unique, such as personal blogs which in my opinion are the most interesting.
Hi Paul,
That’s true. The news gets spun by many sources, but by following personal blogs, we’re apt to find more human interest stories as well as authentic data.
This issue, for me, is one of the pitfalls of the world wide web. People can be anonymous that they have abused it; making plagiarized content prevalent.
I hope that one day, issues like this will be addressed and put to an end. For the meantime, I will content myself with information from old-fashioned sources.
Hi Tony,
Yes. With the internet being such that content is continually being plagiarized, turning to reliable sources, either off line or on, is the best way to gather reputable information.
I promised myself when I started blogging that all my content would be original and so far, I have succeeded 😀
Hi Blogdog,
Congratulations! I can say the same thing. That’s a good feeling, isn’t it? 🙂
In the age of the online marketing, there are a lot of fake things. The online scene is much more complicated of this aspect, because we can’t see the “salesman” behind the big promises. The only thing we could do is to select clever:)
Hi Cindy,
You’re right. In online dealings, we “assume” we’re dealing with a reputable site. Sadly, it’s online where many get scammed.
I have a pretty good BS detector – I don’t personally think that online marketing is much different from traditional forms. The rules are tightening up such that you can be held accountable, at least in North America, for the claims you make. If you say that you made X amount of dollars last year, you better be able to prove it, or they may very well fine you – online or traditional.
Hi Heather,
Like you, I’m happy to hear online publishers are being held more accountable for what they put online. Although it may not stop plagiarism, hopefully we’ll see a decrease.
It has become a tradition to copy the content and face-lift original content. So I don’t think, I should be skeptical or bother about it. But, if someone is using someone’s work, he/she should provide the backlink and the original source.
Hi Canada Immigration Lawyers,
Like you, I think it’s only right to link back to the original source of the information we share online. Let’s give credit where credit is due.
There are so many millions of blogs that simply thrive on plagiarized content. And even some blogs that are usually churning out their own stuff will resort to copying in some small way. But that usually goes un-noticed.
It is really common in blogosphere to see the same content splashed around many sites.
Hi DoStartup,
That’s sad so many bloggers feel they have to depend on plagiarized content. Chances are if they started providing original content, they just might see an increase not only in their readership, but in their credibility, too.
My career blog has been scraped on several sites. I recently changed my rss feed to add my a link back to my site so at least Google will be able to tell who the original is. In regards to bloggers who post reviews, if I do not know the blogger I am usually skeptical unless someone I know can vouvh for them by being in the same social circles
Hi Dan,
That’s a good idea – to change your feed.
Yes. Referrals can make a difference. Asking fellow bloggers is a great way to verify the quality of products/services we’re unsure of.
I suppose depending on the niche of your blog, the doubt will be inherent. Some things are impossible to prove and in my game it often takes years or months to see certain results. People will certainly disbelieve in that case.
And as far as fake goes, you gave me uncomfortable thoughts. The things I blog about aren’t of my own creation, but things I learned elsewhere (with my own twist of course). Is that fake or copied? I write my own content, but is it original?
As original as any writing I suppose. But it IS real, not fake 🙂
Hi Iain,
You’re right. Readers are more skeptical of some topics, than others. In some instances, a reader could do a quick test to see if “xyz” works, but like you said, with some topics, it can take months to see the results.
You’ve raised a good point, Iain. Whenever we’re writing about topics which aren’t our own creation, we could be deemed as “fake”. That said, I think it has a lot to do with the spin we put on the topic and the quality of the links we’re referring to.
P.S. I looked at your “Panda Proof” post and if I landed on your site via a search, wouldn’t think you were fake, at all. 🙂
The reason that plagiarism is so widespread in the blog world is that a lot of people can’t write well and are just plain lazy. They don’t want to spend countless hours composing enthralling, entertaining material of their own, so they take the easy way out: they purloin somebody else’s.
Hi Obie,
I hear you. A lot of people don’t have writing talent (or are lazy), but for not much money, they could buy original content and have a blog which is unique. It’s too bad more of them don’t turn to that route. 🙁
Not just plagiarism content, but anything be faked. Therefore, now we should be extra careful in taking every steps anything in order not to be fooled by something that’s fake, thanks for the nice article.
You’re welcome Free Software,
That’s so true. Most anything can be fake these days. “Buyer Beware.”
You’re totally right. So many companys using fake websites, posting fake comments and do much more “fake” stuff to get a higher ranking on google and other search engines. This is a really sad trend but I think google is working hard to get rid of those who spam the internet with bad content…
Hi Gmbh,
It’s sad to think companies are using fake websites and/or comments. With social networks and people sharing how they were ripped off, it wouldn’t take long before the bad guys are exposed.
I hope you’re right about Google trying to clean up the spam.
Well, thats why I always put some links in my content, so if someone just stole, at least will construct backlinks for me.
Thanks for the article!
You’re welcome Andre,
That’s a good point. Putting links in our posts (preferably to earlier posts of our own), would create backlinks to us.
The online world is much more insecure than the real one, that’s why there are a lot of fake things there. We can’t see the marketers face, it is much more difficult to build the trust between customer and marketer. And they try anything to impress us (customers). The only thing we can do is to select carefully:)
Hi Catwoman,
You’re right. With us not being able to meet marketers face to face, we do need to be more careful – not only where we put our trust, but where we invest our hard earned dollars.
Hi Barbara.
I’m pretty sceptical with regards to blogs because anyone can start one. You have to use your own judgement and in the case of your suggestion for removing coffee stains, just try it. Of course this is a safe example. Other things you come across will most likely end up costing money. It all seems to come down to money, doesn’t it?
I’ve mixed up my blogging over the past year, posting my own writing and then writing grammar posts, using keywords for the search engines to hopefully drive potential customers to my blog. Well, I don’t believe I’ve received any new readers as a result of that.
However, I receive a good number of referrals from Google from people asking questions about punctuation. That makes me feel good that hopefully I’m helping out in some way. But again, they are taking my word for it and Googling is a quick way to find information. The safest bet is to have your own reference material that you know is from a reputable source. Blogging is great for sharing of information, but it’s become more of a cocktail party, it seems. Just conversation and tossing around ideas.
Hi Davina,
True. Google (or any search engine) can verify almost anything. One thing I do is type in “xyz scam or ripoff” if I’m in doubt. It’s amazing what I find. Others who feel they’ve been scammed by a product or service are quick to share their experiences.
I like your idea of referencing reputable sites. That way our readers know we’ve done our homework and won’t question the credibility of what we post.
On plagiarism: Interesting – but can I say “there is nothing new under the sun” – and I’ll expand just about everything is a re-engineering of something that went before …. where this actually turns to plagiarism is another matter and the grey area can be quite wide.
On fake reviews – there are no end of them, I laugh sometimes when I read positive Amazon reviews by people with only one review – “this widget is great 10/10” but they probably fool most people most of the time.
Hi Rob,
Isn’t that the truth? Some topics seem to get beat to death. I think it’s one thing to put our own spin on a topic, but when it borders on plagiarism from what someone else wrote, the blog author can lose credibility.
Fake reviews. Yes. Some of them will fool potential buyers. All the more reason to check more than just one source.
Fake is a great topic and pretty much what we see in german news magazines imo. They write an opinion and you have to believe it. So the question could also be called “When you read anything in the internet, are you skeptical what is written?” And my answer would be “I am always skeptical and I never believe anything if I cant proof it”.
Hi Dennis,
Unfortunately, I don’t think you’re alone (with regard to German news). Most news outlets or sites we find online are written by people who believe their perspective is right. As you do, it’s best if we question it and prove it for ourselves.
I have alway had a bet of a hard time trusting what i read in blogs. I think you have a lot of really good points. There is so much dishonesty out there that you never really know when your work is going to be plagiarized by someone. I feel bad for all those that are honest and the don’t get the respect they deserve when it comes to there work on there blogs. Fake is awful.
Hi Don,
That’s the unfortunate part of blogging. We don’t know if someone will steal our content or photos. In some cases, I’m sure that deters some people from even starting a blog, however if writing or sharing is our passion, I think we need to just go for it and deal with plagiarism when and if it happens.
I try to be pretty trusting of bloggers doing reviews and what not but there are a few things I look out for. Any type of sloppy advertising and I’ll leave the site or not trust the review. I also always hover over links in reviews to see if they have affiliate tags in them.
Hi Jon,
Like you, I think most bloggers are trustworthy. As for the affiliate links, I don’t have a problem with those as I know it’s often the pennies bloggers make from linking/sharing which keeps them going.
That’s a good point though – if a site looks sloppy, it’s often a sign the blogger is only in it for the money and doesn’t care if they’re telling the truth, or not.
Fakes are everywhere. And I think people just have to be aware of every information that we read in every post. Let’ all be responsible for a better year.
Hi Akif,
I agree. We should all be more responsible with what we post. After all, it’s our reputation that’s on the line.
I don’t know why, but I’m always skeptical.. And you are probably too because you ask thies quiestion 🙂
Hi Cupcakes,
I’m skeptical at times, however I know of many bloggers who consistently post accurate and honest information and they are the ones I never question.
That is so true some bloggers write almost anything from fake reviews to fake posts but it eventually decreases ones credibility.
Hi Dev,
You’d think bloggers would realize fake information will eventually hurt their credibility, but unfortunately it continues to happen. 🙁
Sadly, you’re correct. That’s why Google Panda punishes website for acquiring duplicate content. I agree with you, stop FAKING.
Hi Hanna,
I don’t know how many bloggers realize they can be penalized by Google for posting duplicate information. Maybe they think they’ll just do it until they get caught (and then start up another blog/site).
Unfortunately a vast amount of the internet is looked on as a way to make a quick buck. Sadly the worlds ecomomy and our indvidual lifestyles have been effected to the point where we want to find a way to make some money. We end up out of pocket and the scammers get rich. Very unfair to the honest ones like us.
Hi Angelica,
You’re right. The internet has gotten the reputation of a place where a quick buck can be made. Although money can be made with/via blogs, what a lot of people don’t understand is that it will take as much work (or more), than getting a part-time job in the real world.
Even though I am skeptical of what I read, if the blog is interesting enough to grab me then I will research it further. I find there is more doubt that the bloggers posting comments are genuine. Some people are so obvious that they are replying just to get links that it rather spoils the blog. I was on a blog about a beautiful monkey at the weekend and some lady start waffling on about dressing this monkey in dog clothes. Very very obvious and not at all relevant.
I think more blogs should have protection from spammers, like proper memberships. CommentLuv is a great way around this as it lets people post a link in their title, while still having to comment on something decent to gain that link.
I love your diary format by the way. Envious
Thank you Chris,
I hear you. Those who spam blogs in the comments just to gain a link back to their sites can dilute the original post with their nonsensical comments.
I know for myself, although I use two spam blockers, I still have to spend time deleting spammy comments which are irrelevant.
P.S. CommentLuv is one of my favorite plugins. Not only do I get to give commenters a link back to their blog, but other readers can see if the link will take them to a spam/sales site, as well.
If a post is packed with facts and evidence then no need to be skeptical about it, but hye there are some posts that do not need to be packed with any thinks it would be like a life experience, ones feelings..
Your post is one example!
Hi Agar,
That’s true. Whenever we see a post which has been thoroughly researched, there’s no need to be skeptical.
It’s really a shame that people assume that things that bloggers say are untrue. Although it turns out that a lot of times it is true, which is the bigger shame. We need to clean up the internet blogs and demand people stop tarnishing the image.
Hi Chris,
I think it goes back to that joke, “if it’s on the internet, it must be true.” Because of that, some blogs are looked at as being fake, too.
One way I think we can get around some of that is to have our blogs look professional. After all, it’s the first impression we’re giving our readers/visitors.
Hi Barbara.
Recently, 13 Chilian people suffered burns while trying to cook a traditional Latin American dish, chichis, by recipe wich was published in the local newspaper La Tercera. And this is newspaper, where there are censors and editors! And to put information on the Internet is much easier, so I try to verify it.
Hi Anna,
That’s sad. Although I don’t know the whole story about the 13 Chilian people, it sounds like something major went wrong.
I agree. It’s important to verify what we read.
This is true. This a world full of lies and trickery. People do have doubt that you are in fact genuine. The way to show people that you are truthful is by following up on your promises and deliverying credible information to others. If you make an effort to be genuine it will definitely show.
Hi Alan,
Your comment reminds me of a favorite saying of mine; “walk your talk”. As you mentioned, if we can deliver credible information and follow up on our promises, it will show others we’re genuine.
I agree with you, the world is full of “fake” and blogging is no exception. I used to think that comments were a deterrent to scams – imagining that an inaccurate post will get called out. . Thank you so much for this article. I am very new to all of this but am very happy to find articles with advice I can actually follow and see some results. I have just recently started getting some comments on my blog and I will be sure the comment is not spamming. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Dr. Herzog,
Welcome to the blogosphere. Although you may receive some spam comments, what I find is there are plenty of honest people out there who will show up and share their ideas/opinions. It’s those people who make the journey of blogging all worth while.
Happy Blogging!
Hi Barbara,
Sometimes it hard to find what is true and what is fake. Some fake often pretends to be true but its experience which allow to analyze the difference. I found lots of thing while surfing internet or in our daily life which glitters like gold but most of them are wolves in sheep’s skin. It quite hard to ignore such thing world is full of these fake stuff.
This is really a great article. I appreciate your effort and like to read more of yous in future.
Regards.
Thank you John,
Yes. There is a lot of fake out there. It’s up to us to discriminate what is and isn’t. And that’s not always easy. 🙁
Great as always. You’re right. The internet has gotten the reputation of a place where a quick buck can be made. Although money can be made with/via blogs, what a lot of people don’t understand is that it will take as much work (or more), than getting a part-time job in the real world.
Thank you Don,
In some cases, it would be wiser to get a part-time job than to start what we believe will be a money making job.
I don’t know if they think the more people see it online, the more they’ll believe it, or if it’s something else.
I checked out the link you shared on copyright. That’s a work of art in itself. Great job.
Thank you for sharing your story about being accused for stealing images.
You’re welcome Usa News,
That’s true. The more times someone reads something, the more they believe it’s true. In some cases it takes a lot of digging to get down to the actual facts.
You are so right, Barbara! I think from all of the posts and reviews people put up online, they tend to sugar coat it too much that it doesn’t sound so right anymore. I think it’s good to make an alluring sales article, but keep it sincere.
Hi Personalised Items,
Sincerity is key. Even though we may do product reviews, I think it’s important to list the good and bad – and as we all know, no product or service is perfect.
Thanks for replying to me. Its really nice to see an active blog that replies to so many comments. I have started a blog on a page of our pet accessories website but I cant even find spammers to comment on it. Its not WordPress though, its run through Weebly. Any ideas how to get visitors (or did I say it all saying WordPress?) LOL
You’re welcome Chris,
I just clicked on your name and the link went to a 404 page. Your CommentLuv link goes to your feed. 🙁
If you’re looking to get comments on your blog/website, start commenting on blogs where you think your audience might be, and make sure you’re links are pointing to your articles.
What I hate the most is when someone steals your photos or articles youve written and than reposts them on their blog or website as their own. Happened to me a few times :{
Hi Matt,
That’s maddening, isn’t it? In those cases all we can do is contact the blog author and ask them to take them down. Hopefully they do.
Those few words of your post title could be what brings in traffic, making your blog go viral and spreading through the web like wildfire, or scaring all potential readers away, not even giving themselves the chance to discover your well-written gem. While there are only a few words in your blog post title- they are the most powerful words you’ll write. The power here is due to the fact that to most of your readers, the decision as to whether to read the rest of your post relies on them.
Hi Sigfrid,
I agree. The words we choose for the title of our posts plus the first paragraph is what will attract and hopefully entice our visitors to read our entire post. Plus, they may even leave a comment. 🙂
When you read blogs, are you skeptical of what the blog author posted? – yes, yes,and yes i do feel a lot skeptical most of the times when i go through a review from a not so reputed site or blog. It happens so often with the technology sites. The fakers Just copy the content from that at least is ok but most of them just become the a product reviewer over night and write a lot of crap.
Has anyone ever questioned the validity of your words? – No i haven’t yet.
Hi John,
That’s the sad part of the internet. With so many sites copying and pasting the same thing as what legitimate sites published, it’s hard to know what’s real. I’m sure a lot of that stems from the fact people find out they can make money online and they think by taking short cuts, they’ll rise to the top quickly.
With the anonymous shield of the internet, people can and will make up stuff. I’m generally pretty trusting when I read a personal blog, but I wouldn’t be too surprised to learn that some of those people really exaggerated their stories or completely made stuff up. Perhaps their real story just wasn’t interesting enough to them. Product reviews can be especially tricky to tell if they are fake or not. Some manufacturers or retailers will put their own made up reviews out there or they will pay people for favorable reviews. So you do need to be wary about what you read online. Most of it is probably true, but you simply wouldn’t know when it’s not.
Hi Jeremy,
Like you, I’m pretty trusting but when it comes to reviews, I get a tad skeptical. As you mentioned, manufacturers will publish their own, plus if they supply bloggers with free samples, I’m sure they realize even a bad product could be reviewed favorably. It comes down to buyer beware, doesn’t it?
I really find it hard to believe anything you are saying in this post. But seriously, this has been going on well before the internet and blogs. In some ways I think things have improved. Now anyone can post an opposing opinion. That wasnt possible in the days of TV advertising and before
Hi Language Learning,
LOL. Yes. In the real world it was the “snake oil salesmen”, but at least now with the internet, as you brought up, if someone is unhappy with a service or product, they have the option of stating so, online.
Hello Barbara,
The problem of Plagiarized stuff is making us in trouble since the early days of internet!! I still remember when I was in search of some information for my school project, I tried to get variety of data by having a thorough search in Google , Yahoo etc. but It was in vain , because more than half of the information articles were same of each other!! How could a student write a unique article if , he and his classmates find the same kind of content everywhere!!
Most everyone is providing information and services because they want to make money. It rarely ever has to do with actually wanting to help out the people of the world a.k.a. Giving, because there isn’t much out there right now that is actually good for us.
For instance, all we really need is clean running water, fresh food, sunlight, oxygen and shelter. Everything else is just for sh*ts and giggles. Thus, 99.9% of the time there are ulterior motives behind most advertisements out there.