There�s something that�s been on my mind for a little while now.� This whole notion of people quoting my diaries without a mention of where those words originated.� Yeah that�s right I said diaries.� I have more than this one.� (Don�t we all?)� The only other one that I really mess with is one other one.� It�s not a secret, but if you want to know for sure, just email me, I�ll tell ya.� Anyways, I have seen my words, meaning my poetry lines quoted elsewhere.� One time a girl used a quote from my other diary as her entire layout.� Now is it not kewl or is it kewl? I mean there�s a nice feeling when you see your words like that, but when the person doesn�t ask you, then that�s just fucked.� I mean, I believe that all people are creative in their own way.� If they just sit down and open their own minds on a blank piece of paper that to me is more beautiful than using my words.� While I feel that some works of fiction are so quote worthy, Fight Club by Chuck for one!� I mean how can anyone not quote that?� It�s so difficult.

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I still think personal creativity is far more awesome than masking yourself with someone else�s work.� It would be like my using artwork in my layout and copping like it was my own.� That�s just not a very personal statement at all.� I believe everyone has a talent. Find your talent.� Display that which is you.� Truly you!�

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Lyrics, of course are quote worthy. I myself do it all the time.� But another person online?�� Another poet or poetess?� I�ve never done it without permission and full credit.� So what makes people think that they can just kype my words and make layouts?� The person that did this using an entry from my other diary quickly changed her layout when I pointed it out by entering another entry on that diary.� It was done in a clever way and I didn�t ream her like I at first wanted to.� Because my one time friend Joe told me it was an attribute in life to be considered �steal worthy� by another human being.� She later tried to say, �I thought you knew�.� How would I know?� Osmosis?�

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I fight with myself on this.� I have seen my poetry quoted by people that list me in their favorites.� That�s a nice thing, so don�t confuse what I am saying.� What I am saying is a person who takes my words and makes them their own without any credit or mention of where it�s come from.� This has happened to me so many times I can�t even tell you how many.� And if I tried to list links I�d be here all damn day doing nothing but that.� I wonder how many of my poems are hanging on bulletin boards (I am not being arrogant, I am just stating fact, I have been told by people that they do this!)� I have done it myself with other people.� But to me, its different to print out a poem someone I admire wrote and keep it for my own use.� To kype words and plaster them on your own website or even your wall at home without including the author.� ( I always include the author so I don�t ever forget myself) is just plain wrong!

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I�m not even going to get into copyright infringements and all that bullshit.� It just comes down to giving credit where credit is due.� Yeah, my picture of where I live on my website was kyped from another site.� I never thought much of it cause it�s a pic of the beach.� I mean, really, c�mon what makes one picture of the beach anymore than another.� But now, I think I�m going to head out there with my own damn digital and take my own pics.� Enough said.� I gotta practice what I preach and I don�t feel much like giving that twit credit for a stupid beach pic.� So I�ll obtain my own.� Besides, I know I can get a better pic myself.�

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All of this talk makes me want to delete my poetry, and then I don�t want to because it�s me.� It�s part of me. I would think that I should be able to share without being sabotaged.� It�s so hard to know in this situation what�s best.� I just know that when I see my words on layouts, it pisses me off only because I�ve been given no credit and it�s like the owner of that diary is saying �I like your words enough to make them mine, but fuck you they�re mine now!�� That�s so wrong.

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I mean even my layout; I changed it because Lex stopped hosting the images in her design.� So the top pic isn�t even from her, and come to think of it, I gotta give credit where credit is due.� That top pic was a gift awhile back from ktothac and I�m going to have to put something up there permanently in her honor, because it�s really her genius and not my own.� My point being the only part of this layout that has remained the same is the background tables and link placement, nothing else is even about Lex and I didn�t remove credit from her in anyway.� She still did the html work. C�mon people give credit where it�s due.� Or don�t take my fucking words!� It�s not cool in the end.

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The only solace I take from this happening is that I am steal worthy and self worthy and I must say things that people relate to.� And my statements in this diary do not apply to my personal friends.� In that area, I feel that my heart is your heart.� I am the most giving friend you will ever have.� I have seen a good friend put my words in his profile, (you�re more than welcome to do so V.) That makes me smile.� But that�s a friend.� If you come� here and you don�t know me, my words are mine.� I am so confident that you can find your own way with words.� The human language is amazing.� I have read things all over the Internet that I wish I had written.� But I never pretended that I have.� I have no doubt that I have a god given talent.� I am grateful for it.� On the other hand I can�t design and I can�t do layouts, and I can�t sing�and I can�t�.and so I don�t pretend I can.� And I do quote lyrics, I do have my friends poem scrolling across my diary because I am not the only person with a voice and wonderful words to share.� But notice I give credit.� And I have permission.�

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Whew�I really had to get that off my chest�.your opinions are welcome.� Throw em at me!� And if you read this far�one of my other diaries is quixotic-one.�� It is a diary I am very proud of.� If you read this far, you deserve to know.� Thanks.

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-PoeticaL

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and another �steal worthy� lyrical quote follows:

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Days go by and still i think of you,
days when i couldn't live my life without you,
without you...
without you...
without you...

-Dirty Vegas