"Well, you know, I always kind of wanted my own stalker."

[meimichi]

I'm really not the most confrontational person. Which is why I was not initially planning on making this post when I noticed someone in SV fandom was copying elements of my journal and posts.

Except the more I looked, the more I found she'd copied.

And then I got upset and just decided to screencap the shit out of it.



Around the Smallville S9 premiere, I noticed at fandom_picspams, someone had started making Smallville posts with preview images that looked exactly like mine.

Whatever, picspams are about as far from srs bzness as you can get, who cares.

Still, the next time she posted using the same preview type, I clicked on her post out of curiosity.





Her picspams were also set up much like mine. But this wasn't weird yet.

What I did notice was that she was using icons I had made in the post comments. I was slightly weirded out by her modeling her picspams on mine, even though she'd never left a comment on my journal to my memory, so I clicked her userpic page because I was admittedly wondering if she had also been taking my icons and claiming them as her own or something.

Nope, she'd credited me.

But what was weird were the Clark/Lois and Lois icons she had uploaded, many of which she had made herself. She had copypasted keywords from my own userpics, using the exact same ones that I used for my own Clark/Chloe and Chloe icons. Her whole keyword system was copied from mine, down to the plus signs and ampersands I used to organize my keywords.

Also, the lyrics she had put as her default for a Clark/Lois icon, were from a song I had just posted on my journal that week, accompanying a piece of Chloe fanart I had made. A coincidence? Maybe. But more likely she must be watching my journal regularly, even though she didn't have me friended.





At this point I started to be a bit creeped out. One of the keywords she had assigned was copied from an icon I had deleted months before. She had been watching me for a while.

After that, I looked at her profile. Her interests list had listed some of the more creative interests I had made up for my Chloe summer fanwork challenge community, up_away, but with a word or punctuation mark tweaked somewhat, so that her journal wouldn't come up on search together with my Chloe comm if you clicked on them.

I was really weirded out. But she hadn't done anything wrong. Just creepy.

A lot of people comment on my SV picspams, though, and I've been making them for a while. I wondered if maybe she had dropped me a comment some time ago, and I just didn't remember. If she commented, it was still weird, but less stalkerish.

So I ran a search for her username and mine. No matches on any of my posts. But there was one on an icon tutorial community that came up as a match.

She had posted some of my Chloe and Chloe/Clark icons on an icon tutorial community in June, asking for people to tell her how to make icons that looked like mine.







Now I was really creeped.

I made a locked post at my journal, not naming names, but describing what was going on and asking my friends what they thought. One of my friends went and looked for the girl's journal off my description of what was going on, and she said that she thought her LJ layout looked like mine, too.

I hadn't looked at her main journal page yet. I clicked over and didn't really think it looked much like mine. But her twitter layout looked a lot like my twitter page did. Just Lois instead of Chloe, with an almost-identical cap (from the same shot) of the Daily Planet globe behind them.





Okay. Now I went from being creeped out to being slightly upset.

I got home from work that day and started screencapping the stuff she had copied from me to compare. When I went back to her journal page to get her twitter link, I scrolled down.





She had also created a "picspam master post" exactly like I had just created one week before. Arranged by episode, scene, and theme, just like mine. Even though she only had five posts, which doesn't seem like an amount you would need an index for. (I have over seventy.)





As I went back to cap her userpic page, I saw since the day before, she'd added yet another icon with copypasted keywords. Sheesh. This chick was dedicated.

At this point, I was pretty fed up and already had a DEAR SMALLVILLE JOURNAL STALKER, I'M NOT NAMING NAMES TO AVOID WANK, BUT STOP BEING A CREEPER, IT IS NOT COOL, post in TextEdit in the works.

But then she made a public post pimping her new community, clois_daily.

Remember how I mentioned that she had borrowed from my own community's interests list at up_away?

Well, she had made a whole community "borrowing" from mine. Besides being a picspam community, she had set up monthly "challenges" for posters, just like the system I had made.

And her first challenge was exactly like one of my community challenges. Visually with the small challenge header, worded in the same manner as mine without outright copypasting, and the challenge was exactly copying the seventh challenge from my community (except being about Clois rather than Chloe)

And her mod post explaining the challenge was posted with her using one of my icons. Oh come on. At least make an effort.







I clicked through to the community profile and saw that she had continued to rip from my comm's interest list to create her own, again changing a word or punctuation mark so they wouldn't link back to my comm.





Now I went from being upset to just being pissed, and was frankly too pissed and creeped out to write her a polite message asking her to please stop being creepy. I figured I'd just write this and post it here publicly, since she's obviously watching me and should see it eventually.

And now here we are, because I'm pretty sure all of the above cannot just be a grand coincidence.

I don't post much in SV fandom. I make picspams, I make fanart, I post them in my journal. I don't post at SV communities, except for the one I made this summer. I link my picspams at fandom_picspams or picspammy and that's about it. I'm friends with other Chloe fans and talk with them in posts, and that's most of my fandom activity. Otherwise I mostly keep to myself.

I have no idea what this girl's motive is. I'd never heard of her before three days ago. I don't know what I could have done to piss her off if she's doing it to upset me. She must know that she's copying me and that it's wrong, because even though she's clearly watching my journal, she's never commented and she doesn't have me friended.

I have no idea if calling her out will even make her stop, but it would be nice, especially since I know she'll see this as she's obviously checking my journal a lot. What I would like is for her to stop so I can go back to quietly making picspams and fanart without having to stress out every time I hit the post button that someone is going to copy it like a creeper.

If you want to make picspams and run communities and upload icons all devoted to Clark/Lois and how wonderful Lois is, then go for it! Have fun!

Just stop copying me, my journal, my layout, and my community while you're doing it, thanks.



(EDIT: Aaand she's deleted her LJ and twitter account.)

Comments

[vivamexico.livejournal.com]

As wrong as the copying is, what's creepy is how intentional the whole thing is. It's not exactly covert, but it's no accident that she never friended or commented on your lj. Sorry this is happening.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't figure out if she was actually trying to be covert or not. If so, she fails at it hard. But stuff like keywords are such bizarre things to copy from someone else... I don't know.

[lacylaces.livejournal.com]

That is very creepy, stalkery, and weird. It does seem calculated.

[go-clo.livejournal.com]

Geez I thought I was the only one that noticed this. I remember noticing a couple things where I was like "well geez that kinda looks like a Nyonyo post." A couple times I was skimming through my flist and I would see a picspam, not look at the username and just be like "oh yay Nyonyo posted a new picspam". When I got there, I was surprised to see that it was completely filled with Lois/Clois stuff. Then I noticed the username and found out it wasn't you. I didn't think much of it, thought it was weird but just figured that there isn't many ways to do a picspam so maybe it was just a weird coincidence. A couple months ago, I saw that post where someone was asking someone else to make a tutorial for an icon of yours. I saw you credited but thought it was pretty strange to be asking someone else ways to copy your icons instead of just asking you. But again, I just left it alone, I had no idea it was the exact same person.

I didn't research into their user icons and stuff cause I knew it would be filled with unbearable amounts of Clois but if I had, I would have noticed the similarity because I've always admired how you tagged your icons. As you said, that is unbelievably creepy! The thing that bothers me most though is the twitter header (btw that is freaking beautiful, I hadn't seen that before, I could see why someone would want to copy that lol)! That is sooooo not cool! That right there is blatant stealing. There is no way for there to be that many coincidences in a row from one person! I'm really sorry that that happened to you. You don't deserve that. You have such a unique and cool style, It's not right that someone is using it...especially for Lois/Clois themed stuff! *rollseyes*

[go-clo.livejournal.com]

Just found another similarity, check out the name of your graphics journal and then look at the name of their graphic journal.

[wwg23.livejournal.com]

Oh yuck! That's really bizarre and disturbing. Hopefully she/he gets the message. Ewww!

[chlarkookie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I saw that! I thought it was an actual software to picspam that way LOL yeah, I'm stupid like that.

This sucks, copying like that is just NOT COOL. Sorry this happened!

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

lol, well, there are programs to compile batch images and some people use them to picspam. But I was talking more about how hers are alike down to the italicized quotes underneath the caps and the commentary and such. If you look at fandom_picspams, admittedly there are only so many ways to put one together, but most people have their own style of posting. I don't think I've ever seen anyone else on the comms in any fandom do their posts so much like mine.

[carcassi.livejournal.com]

Wow. And I thought that Cnois SWF'ing Chlark on the show was creepy. Trying that in RL is TOTALLY not cool. Yeesh.

In a (very) weird way, I think this is a compliment, in that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Your stuff IS awesome, after all, even if I don't comment much to tell you. :)

It stinks that she's made you think twice about sharing your great picspams/fanart with fellow fans. Would it help to block her from your LJ?

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

I think I would prefer to have actually been flattered, rather than this, though? ;P

Blocking her won't help since everything she copied, I posted publicly. All blocking someone on LJ does is keep them from commenting in your journal and showing up on your friend-of list.

I could lock everything down, but that kind of defeats a lot of the purpose of fandom interaction. And I always think people who are like, "YOU HAVE TO JOIN MY COMM TO SEE MY STUFF" are huge attention whores anyway...

[massena1.livejournal.com]

This is seriously creepy stalker behavior. Keep track of your high heels and make sure your doors are locked. LOL


Sorry to make fun of the situation but this is so crappy it is funny. You are being SWF'd online.

That person obviously is doing it intentionally when they went to a board to ask for help on copying your work. Crazypants. They need to get their own ideas and stop ripping you off.

I am so sorry this happened to you.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

*g* Luckily I'm more of a flats girl in the first place.

[murasaki-kaze.livejournal.com]

:/ Is there any way to block her off your journal? Or, idk, I'd post this to your comms or flatout show this to her. Because...that's really freaking creepy.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

I can't block her because everything she copied, I posted publicly. Making a locked journal to put everything is about my only option but it would be a huge pain in the ass, so I really don't want to.

[peachmacaroons.livejournal.com]

I don't know the whole thing is just so uncomfortable. Why doesn't she go out and find her own style. I orgasm over your stuff and wish I was as awesome as you or had a shred of your creativity, so I understand why she copies but I don't really condone that, especially when done down to the t.

It says tons about how awesome you are, but not nice things about the lack of her creative ability.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Hee, this post is seriously more me venting and letting her know that I know in the least confrontational way possible, it wasn't so much a FISHING FOR COMPLIMENTS TELL ME YOU LOVE ME NOW PLZ POST. Though obviously I appreciate it. (Last time it was vomiting, now it's orgasming? You go to extremes with your reactions, lol.)

[savingpeople.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your stalker. Please don't stop sharing your fun commentary and beautiful picspams on account of this person.

It's really unfortunate that someone can't come to you and ask you questions about your art, directly, or even come up with their own ideas. Obviously, they have artistic talent, so why copy your ideas? It's a shame, really. If you've got the talent, put it to work.

With video editing styles, I had an editor mentor one time tell me that all editors kind of borrow from one another, which is true, because there are certain techniques that are constant. The difference, then, becomes in how you use it and make it your own, if that makes any sense.

It's unfortunate that this person didn't just simply admire your work and try to take it as inspiration, but rather just flat out COPIED it like they were writing a term paper and plagiarized the encyclopedia.

Keep doin' what you do.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Inspiration is fine. Copypasting...kind of has "copy" right in there, so... I don't know. I was creeped out by just the first few things, all of it together is too much.

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

This is seriously so creepy. If it was just copying your icon style or keywords or something...it would still be creepy but at least it wouldn't be all out insane. The twitter background and the community are just beyond crazy.

At least you can rest knowing that you are both creative and awesome and creepy chick is creepy.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

I will whisper that to myself when I lay my head on my pillow tonight. ;P

[indefiance.livejournal.com]

Wow, she is a psychotic creeper. Wasn't she the one that was spreading rumors about Chloe fans making a virus?

*Shakes head* how disappointing. Why are people like that?

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I was told since, though I don't really keep my finger on the pulse of the Chloe-vs-Lois endless fanwar drama.

I don't even knoooow.

[chiri-chan.livejournal.com]

Insanity, seriously. Sorry it's happening to you; it's really ridiculous. :(

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :/

[legendarytobes.livejournal.com]

What a bitch. I hate her more than almost any other.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

...but tell us how you really feel, Toby. *g*

[murder-marie.livejournal.com]

First of all I love your work. They're awesome and the coloring is always breathtaking.

I am so sorry you're being stalked by such a creeper. It speaks of how sad and pathetic she is that she needs to copy and steal someone else's style and then add it to her own ship (CNOIS) to make an impact.

LOL at how just like Nois she has to copy an become the second hand version of someone else.

BB, don't waste your time on her. I understand your outrage. Damn I barely know you and I'm mad on your behalf.

You're awesome, she's a copycat and nothing will change that. :)

A;ways looking forward your work and secretly fangirling you

LUNA

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for such a nice comment. :)

[marikology.livejournal.com]

I really hope this doesn't discourage you from continuing your picspams. They are the best part of this crappy show and I love them. I'm sorry this person is so bereft of ideas that she took to copying you down to the letter. I guess her ship just isn't that inspiring.

Once again, Chlark did it first and did it better. The list just keeps getting longer.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

With the picspams, I feel like the damage has been done - she's copied my previews, the format, and frankly I have a creepy, possibly over-paranoid feeling that even her commentary is also trying to sound like a Bizarro version of my posts as well. She can't take anything else from them that she hasn't already, short of stealing my caps or directly copypasting my commentary in.

So logically there's nothing stopping me from continuing, unless you count, "Why the fuck am I staying in a fandom doing stuff that's supposed to be fun, and yet is getting my blood pressure this high."

[kissme-myfool.livejournal.com]

WHOA. That is F***ing CRAZY/CREEPY.

I am sorry this has happened to you, this is way beyond creepy. I can't get over the fact that someone would go at such great lenghts to copy every single detail like that.


What a Nois Nut.

[ayanne-c.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is so pathetic to copy someone else's work, & your picspams are awesome. She needs called out for it.

Katie

[apeygirl.livejournal.com]

You're right to call this what it is: blatant SWFing. Ten to one, this chick won't even get confrontational about it because she doesn't want to draw attention to the fact that she doesn't have an original idea in her head and is a stalky little copycat.

I read her post that completely copied even your writing style, calling Smallville an abusive ex-boyfriend, etc... It was just such a stupidly blatant copy. I don't see how Cloisers can even attempt to use those words. They have not broken up and are getting everything they want (and the ratings that match everything they want. Tee-hee).

I think the thing that made me laugh the hardest was her Clois comm thing asking people for their Clois origin story. *Snort* When up-away did it, it made sense, asking people why they Chlois is a genuinely interesting question. Why do you chuck the set ideas? Why do you go against the grain? Asking people why they Clois is just... I don't think there is a why. It's some variation on "that's the way it is because Lois is Lois infinity," "seventy years of ICONIC!!!"

The worst is that your creativity and unique flair makes me proud that you're a Chlarker. For her to attempt to replicate that flair and apply it to Clois makes me more angry than amused.

Not cool.

[marikology.livejournal.com]

she's even copied Nyo's long and quirky entry tags. It's quite odd. :-\

[lifeisforliving.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that happened to you, and boy there are some really strange people out there. :/

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Just one more confirmation that the internet is a weird place.

[angryscientist.livejournal.com]

I'm shocked that you were SWFed. Copy-cats aren't using imitation for flattery, they're just cheap.

*hugs* Hope this doesn't impede your need and inspiration for picspams, they are so purdy!

[gotearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Wow I'm so surprised I hadn't noticed this before. I've seen some of her picspams before and I think maybe in the back of my mind I saw some similarities but I never connected the dots.

She clearly admires your style (you're fairly uniquely talented in my opinion) and has bookmarked your lj or something but has never had the courage to comment/friend you. Inspired to be a part of sv fandom on here she's used your style as a sort of template in all areas to develop her own and make a platform for her own fandom interests. Except she hasn't tried hard enough.

I don't think that she's trying to make a point or be malicious or creep you out. But she's getting credit for a sense of style that isn't her own and I think you're right to point it out publicly. Ultimately, she's an extreme case of someone loving your style. It's a shame she couldn't just tell you that and then have a shot at being herself. Sorry hun. :/

[murder-marie.livejournal.com]

I've come across some really nice Cloisers & unpleasnt ones on fandom.

But shelley505 takes despicable to a new level. To be inspired by someone else's work it's acceptable. The picspams and icons could be the product of inspiration and admiration for Nyonyo's work. BUT to follow her to twitter and make herself Nois-version of Nyonyo's background? That's pathetic and borders on plagiarism. Which is not cool. AT ALL.

Then there's the Clois_daily stuff. Fandom is HUGE, cloisers have a right to have as many comms they' like just as we have our own. But for her to model her Clois community after Up_Away and to have the nerve to even steal the challenges "We're awesome ask us how" it's shameful. I don't want to generalize but are Cloiser aware of this? They accept a cheap plagiarist and encourage her antics?

This worries me. I know cloiser & Chlarkers do not get along greatly but I think we can respect each other to the point of not falling into something as absurd, pathetic and plainlyoutraging as copying th other ship.

I really expected better. And I refuse to believe Cloisers will know about this and look the other way. It's you fellow shipper and she needs to be called on it.

Nyonyo is too much of a nice sweetheart to approve of a more final action on what this person id doing. I'm not and I'm going to call her on it. On twitter and LJ.

This is creepy as fuck. And If I learned a Chlarker was doing this shit I'd instantly call it on he/her.

LUNA

[babydee1.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, hun. This Noiser has clearly taken SWF'ing to a whole new level.

Short of putting your journal on lockdown, I don't know what else to suggest. I hope she has the balls to at least own up to her stalkerish behaviour and apologise.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

I'm sorry to see that happening to you.

[andromedabastow.livejournal.com]

Is there anything you can do? Like report her or something so she can at least stop copying you from now on? I'm sure that with time you could lose the interest of showing up your work if you have on the back of your mind that she is just going to copy it.

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

Not to LJ. The only thing LJ constitutes as harassment as a bannable offense, is if someone is posting your RL contact information.

[vagrantdream.livejournal.com]

eeeeeeekkkk...

That's just spooky. Very intentional. if it were like fingerprints you'd have hundreds of concurrent points.

As far as graphics go- you're like God or something and I understand that some people would want to emulate you....
but twitter? the comm stuff? THE TAGS??! That's just way over the line.

btw, I just noticed how amazing your twitter bkg is. like woah! XD

[nyonyo.livejournal.com]

That icon doesn't get old.

if it were like fingerprints you'd have hundreds of concurrent points.
adj;dajfk how do you make it sound so pretty. MAD WRITING SKILLZ YO. ALSO WHY DID I NOT HAVE YOU FRIENDED UNTIL NOW?! *REMEDIES*

And thanks!