Apparently, I am a cheat......
By gemini_rose
@gemini_rose (16264)
September 18, 2008 7:16am CST
Yes it is true, Gemini-Rose has officially been declared a cheat, isn't that terrible. Are you all ashamed of me, seeing as I am always so sweet and innocent?
Well, actually it is not as bad as I have made out, I was a member of a website and I had to review things and I would get paid for it. I was doing really well, and had load of things I could review, one of those things was books as I am big into reading. So, I reviewed a book that I had recently read and I submitted it, a couple of days later I received an email telling me that I was a liar and a cheat and they did not want to have anything more to do with me, ouch, that hurt and that is exactly how they told me too.
The reason for it was because of my sypnosis, I am sure that you all know what one is but I will explain anyway, sypnosis is the story of the book you know the bit that usually comes on the back of the book. Well, I had done loads of book reviews for the site and I would put a sypnosis first and just put the back of the book on it, sometimes I would change the words, sometimes not. I did not think it was a problem as I had done it on every review I have ever done, but apparently it was. I lost 20 dollars too, sucks, I was really gutted and I am still licking my wounds over it. Never mind, life goes on!!
I personally think that they should have just warned me first and made me do it again rather than just boot me out, how am I supposed to know if I am not told, I am not superwoman! Do you think I should have been told first or do you think I deserved everything I got?
Have you ever been banned or thrown off a site for something you either did or did not do?
6 people like this
18 responses
@tessah (6617)
• United States
18 Sep 08
regardless of whether you should or shouldntve been copying the synopsis (which, considering you were getting paid for original reviews, shouldve been common sense you werent sposed to plagerize anothers work) the lack of professionalism in their letter is mind boggling and way over the line. if was me, id write to the main administrators and file a complaint along with a copy of the letter.
3 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
18 Sep 08
I do see why, but it was on the back of the book, and everyone does it so I cannot understand why it would matter, well I do and I dont. It is what I look for when looking for a book review so I do not mind that someone has copied the back of the book to tell me the story! But you are right, my common sense is a bit slack sometimes. I did try to get in touch with them but funnily enough there is no contact address!
3 people like this
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
18 Sep 08
I think a lot of these sites will cancel your membership for very little reason, it benefits them, I don't do any other sites any more, I just stay with the trusted..Mylot
3 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
18 Sep 08
Well one of my thoughts was because every review I was putting in was gaining the full review price, and I wondered to my hubby if this was the reason I had the boot because they did not want to have to pay me top price all the time!
3 people like this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
18 Sep 08
[i]HI gemini,
wow...I can feel the pain there..What a heavy word..hmm..ANyway, I haven't experienced anything like that but I will agree about warning for the first offense! That was too quick for them to judge you and at the same time, what a huge amount for the deduction!
Oh well, it's their rules...Just take a breath there!
If that will happen to me, maybe I will suggest them to give warnings but I don't like to be deducted again..LOL! Hopefully, they are open about suggestions![/i]
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
18 Sep 08
H[i]i gemini,
Correct, that is a great experienced since you have now an idea that some sites will not allow you to do it since you have mentioned that in other sites it works..Anyway, great lesson for you and for the rest who are in the same situation, include myself also, who knows I will be invited in sites like that![/i]
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
18 Sep 08
Well I concede that what I did would be classed as cheating, although to me it is not, not really but anyway I can do nothing about it but learn from my mistake!
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Sep 08
gemini how can you say that is not cheating? if they wanted an original review and you just copied the books review youare using the authors own words without his or her permission.If I were the author I would also be upset with you.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
18 Sep 08
Sounds like a huge misunderstanding. I'd explain it to the admin and see what they have to say about it and go from there. Yes you should've been told the rules and since you haven't, you should'nt be to blame. All you can do is explain your side of the story and hope for the best. I wish you luck!
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
18 Sep 08
Thanx I guess that I inadvertantly broke the rules. What I thought was fine was not and there are no second chances so it is my own fault, I will take more care next time.
1 person likes this
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
18 Sep 08
I think they should have told you first their reasons instead of accusing you right away. Instead of booting you out they should at least give you a chance to explain your side and made you do it again in one condition that you wont commit the same mistakes all over again. One mistake is not enough reason for them to accused you of being a liar. That is a very strong word to say i think. I guess you just need to move on and learn something out of what you have experience.
I have been banned in a site before without even explaining to me the reason why i was banned. I was never given a chance to explain my side so i totally understand how you feel. I do hope they will change some of their policies though.
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
It is hard because I hate thinking I have done something wrong, I guess my way of looking at things was different from the rules, Oh well I am OK about it now.
@elmersmith (1)
•
19 Sep 08
Keep your Head up High,Because everyone make mistakes even the best of us.Do what you Do best and make it better.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
22 Sep 08
Personally, I have seen this happen to many people on a lot of different sites, and feel it actually does not benefit anyone except themselves. I think that when there is a Rule they think a person might be breaking, they need to send a Warning to that member first, and then punish later. Personally, that is for the betterment of the site in general, but if they do it other ways, I guess that is up to them. All I can say, is do not give up hope. Learn, Live and move on. There are a lot of different sites and such online you can earn Extra $$ from so this is not the end.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
19 Sep 08
Sorry to hear about that Gemini. They should of notified you right from the start before you even submitted the first review. That sucks you lost that amount of money too!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
That is what gets me, I submitted a lot of book reviews and was never told what I was doing was wrong. I did not know.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
18 Sep 08
gemini rose was not the review and the synopsis supposed to
be in your own words? if so and you just copied word for word you were plagirizing and if you had done this in a class at the U I graduated from you would have been expelled.You were just lucky the other times. You must reword it in your own words otherwise you are actually stealing from the authors work. sorry but plagirizing is against the law.Yes they should have told you but s till you should have known too.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
My review was my own words hatley, just not the synopsis, its my own fault because I did not know that it was not allowed because others had done it. I just thought that because it was on the back of the book that it would be fine, I had also done it before on there too and they never said a word.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
18 Sep 08
No, I've never been banned from a site and that would be terrible for me if it happened.
As for calling you a cheat, that's awful too.
They should just say you're supposed to make up your own synopsis and since you didn't we can't accept all of this that you've done.
I'd like to remind you that $ 20. is very little pay for reading an entire book.
I don't mind making interesting posts but reading an entire book for that kind of money is a bit much.
My humble opinion here, that's all.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
Well, I know now, lesson learnt and all that, thanks for responding though!
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
19 Sep 08
Never for a website but I have been unfairly labeled.. I don't like it one bit when someone does me that way.. I know my morals and I am not dishonest, even if someone has the mistaken thought that I am.. I don't think that you deserved it as long as you had done the same thing before.. If it was wrong, someone was amiss in their duties for not telling you these things the first time that it had happened.. I am mad for you and no, I don't think that you deserved that kind of treatment..
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
I did not deserve the way that they were with me, but I just wish they had told me rather than be like that. I had never done anything like that before so how is someone supposed to know and learn if they are not taught. I just felt really sneeped I hate being told off.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
19 Sep 08
I think they just didn't want to pay you. But a lot of places are like that, they'd rather boot ya than teach ya. I had a job like that once. I made one simple mistake and suddenly I'm fired.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
18 Sep 08
thats so sad. they should have given you a chance. just like ebay did me. back in '96 i used to buy and sell on ebay, not much n just a little here and there. in 2000 my son and his girlfriend asked could they use it to sell some things. that way when they got the money for it theyed pay me back for the postings fee. anyway, '04, i needed to sell some things. ebay tells me im suspended. i ask my son what happened. " oh, i meant to tell you about that. i dont know why they suspended you!" well, i tried every way to find out, explain to them about the kids, etc. still suspended with no explaination for the next 4 years! i just now got back into it.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
20 Sep 08
Never let your kids on your ebay account, one thing I know for sure. My son opened his own in the end and HE got suspended for god knows what! Well at least you got back there in the end!
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
19 Sep 08
Hello gemini_rose. I just responded to another discussion of yours on the topic "I am moody...". So that is why you were so moody. You are right that the site should have warned you first and made you do it again instead of booting you out, which is unfair to you. I think that there is a must for you to contact the site again for its being unfair to its loyal readers and users. I wish to see you happy and get rid of the shadow given to you by the site. Be happy and cheer up, dear friend.
@redwarrior82 (480)
• Singapore
19 Sep 08
I think you should have been told first. There are many websites which cancel your membership for no reason. The only 2 websites I trust are myLot and Triond. I love both of them, those websites actually pay me for doing something I enjoy - Triond ( writing ) and -myLot ( giving my opinions ).
Happy myLotting!
@Beruang (1309)
• Malaysia
19 Sep 08
That's the thing with all sites that pay you. In the beginning they will make things easy for you and at time they even closed one eye and let you do the things that you like doing. However, as time goes by and especially when they are strapped for money, they will start finding excuses not to pay you anymore.
I agree with you that sites such as the one that you mentioned or any sites with membership for that matter, should at least give the members a warning and the explanation about the warning so that members can take action to make things right. By doing this, honest members, who would try to rectify the issues can be separated from cheaters who would not be bother to change things.
But sadly, all the sites that I know so far love to cancel your account first. A few will allow you to defend your case and the majority are could not be bothered about you anymore. Well, I guess if they cancel 100 accounts, which they need to pay $20 each, they have saved $1000....
It had happened to me a couple of times before and all I ca do was to move on and forget about them. So who is the real cheater now?
