Be careful what you write on the internet.
@GardenGerty (160488)
United States
April 27, 2010 7:53pm CST
I have come from a discussion or two this afternoon where it was brought home to our users that anything you post on MyLot, while remaining legally yours, can still be posted to third parties by the administration at MyLot, as per the terms of service. It can be modified, as they see fit. I am okay with that, I said I accepted the terms of service, but WAIT, THERE's MORE!!! I have been taking freelance assignments that are mostly marketing type pieces for about two years. Sometimes I have not felt the most virtuous about what I was asked to do, but it was not illegal. It was also underpaid, and boring. Most recently though, I was asked to rewrite a sales page for an online product. I did so, but left quotes and testimonials intact. They were quotes, after all. Right? It was returned to me with orders to rewrite the testimonials, and change the names involved. I imagine that when you write a testimonial it moves into that same category. It is owned by someone else and they can MODIFY it and use it in other places at their discretion. I will probably not be writing any online testimonials, or any other testimonials in the near future, because of the information I have learned this week. So y'all, are you careful about what you write? Do you read the fine print?
15 people like this
33 responses
@hora_fugit (5863)
• India
28 Apr 10
I just wrote something about my online earning(and myLot) on a site and in spite of recent myLot issue, I was not bothered much. It was a simple reciting of events. But then the admin there changed the ending, and I feel like my post has been snatched from me. Like replacing a signature.
I wish I read your discussion before posting there! 
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
That would be a site I would stay away from. Another thing that I do is try to always be positive about the sites I am on. I can understand you being factual as well. I bet that site has a similar TOS.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Apr 10
My grandmother told me probably more than fifty years ago to becareful what you write because you can never take it back. I have heard about this situation and I hope Alice will do something like send out a discussion or something. I think with the concern this has gathered it does need to be addressed. I would think that after we write something on here and we are payed for it it becomes the property of Mylot. Seems normal to me.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Yes, I understand that part, and that is what makes me feel that even if you write a company to thank them for a good product, it is liable also to be modified. I think most websites have a similar clause. Went back and reviewed my profile here.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (165954)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Apr 10
I haven't gone and read the mylot guidelines on this but I would think that would be the case.
2 people like this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
28 Apr 10
Wow, absolutely eye opening. Thanks for posting this discussion. I knew to always be careful what you post on the internet.. never post anything that you wouldn't want the whole world to see and know. That was about it until I read your post. I am in awe. The nerve of some people to not only take a persons literary work and own it as their own to share with other third parties, (I got that part) but to actually modify the testimonials and names? Why even bother getting testimonials then? Then could just write their own fictitious ones and be done with it!
As a result this enlightenment, it is very unlikely that I will write a testimonial any time soon. Thanks for the heads up here.
As for MyLot, it doesn't bother me what they do with the material that they own once it is published on their site.
I agreed to the TOS when I signed up. No worries there. Not for me anyway.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
28 Apr 10
That is true that terms of service can be changed at any time, that is why most will encourage it's user's to frequently check back for any changes. Some will even alert you by email when changes do occur.
It is advisable to always read the TOS and be sure that you are able to agree and abide by it before joining any company, website and or program.
I am still appalled how some can go ahead and totally alter or even make up the testimonials. It really is an eye opener and have appreciated you sharing this in your discussion.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
From what I have seen on sales pages for quite awhile, I think all the testimonials are made up in the first place. Some opportunities are legitimate, but the third parties trying to profit from them can scam you anyway. Yes, we signed TOS and before I put any other stuff up, at any other place, I will probably re read the TOS. They can also change those at any time.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I had one early on that I absolutely could not write or rewrite to please them. It was just so not me.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
They wanted the name of the sales person changed as well. I am working on my last work for this guy. I never know how often I have to correct something and it just is not feeling quite the right thing to do.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
29 Apr 10
I am in some other places, and sometime when I get around to it, I will read all the TOS. I am about ready to look for full time work, as I just keep myself chained here, and it is not healthy. I want to go back to when the internet was fun.
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
28 Apr 10
It is quite shocking to discover that our discussions here are being splashed in other sites without even notifying us, the OP. I can't do anything to stop this act of unfairness as I have foolishly signed the membership without scrutinizing the fine prints of this site policy. I have seen some of my posts are being used in other sites as well. Yes, it is better to only respond to discussions than posting new ones only to find that they are being used for others benefits.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
What I like, Zandi, is that although they will use our words on their site, they are trying to keep control and will stop others from using them on unrelated sites. I do not have to worry, the same people who have run MyLot will run the third party sites, and will confront those that are not part of the bigger subsidiary picture. I do not like the idea of things being modified, however.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I have no problem about writing on the internet. I DO however, have a problem if my material I write on one place is used somewhere else and perhaps "modified" and taken out of context. This is making me wonder now about the "fine" print at Associated Content, as I think they have a TOS that includes "distributing" one's material elsewhere. I wonder how I can find out if my articles have been reposted somewhere else from there
2 people like this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Apr 10
hi gardengerty I did get a rather snappy little note from go ask alice saying when I signed up here on mylot I agreed to let them have permission to use and modify anything we posted. Well its been two years and when I signed on here I had a lot more on my plate than a site on the internet.So I was guilty of not really reading and digesting the fine print untill now that we have learned our postings can be used anywhere I guess by my lot and there is not a thing we can do about it. I did protest that if they are going to reuse our postings we should be paid more for them in that case.From now on before I ever sign up on a site I will read and reread the fine print and if it stinks, I will not sign up at all.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I have more of an issue with them not totally explaining this the first time they were asked. I am okay with this, as I only write what I am willing to share. I just find that there are places that are a lot less forthcoming than MyLot, and I am going to have to be careful, myself. I tend to tell everyone everything.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
28 Apr 10
wow. i didnt know that. But then im sure most of what i post has no great value to anyone or website. 
where as many post very interesting things on here i just mostly post about my life. of course someday i might write a book on that. but no one will have all the parts from here. im glad you have a better more important outlet of your insights. 
where as many post very interesting things on here i just mostly post about my life. of course someday i might write a book on that. but no one will have all the parts from here. im glad you have a better more important outlet of your insights. @GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
As a whole, what we write as a community is valuable, even if it is our day to day life. Just think, someone who does not have the freedom you have may read about what you do on a daily basis and find some hope or insight.
@crazydaisy (3896)
• Canada
28 Apr 10
Thanks for letting me know I know you don't let anybody know your s.i.n. number because they will find out so much about you,I watch CALL FOR HELP that's a very good show which tells you all about things like that you should watch it,You will learn alot from it.and be surprise.
cd
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Yes, we protect our numbers, and some of us protect our regular names as well.
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Hey Gerty! And thanks for writing this discussion if only to
warn again those that don't realize that whatever the do write
on the Internet, once they sign those small print disclaimers
they are doomed! I think we all realized this when a certain
other mylotter friend of ours (named Lamb) found this out by
"accident"! Nothing seems to be off limits once we "sign away
our rights"! This has taught me that even if I was thinking about
writing on the Web I no longer will! I will stay here in mylot,
not for the fact of feeding mylot admin and staff's gain, because
after what I have found that they did I am still very angry! I
will only stay here at mylot for my true friends! I believe that
we deserve to be paid for our words and not to be made fools of!
I don't care if we signed whatever! I am here at mylot for what
I really get out of this site which is true friendship and things
that I couldn't learn anywhere else!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Opal, the friends are the very best part of all the sites. There are some money making opportunities that are for real, and some of my friends really need them. I hope all is doing well for you today. Do I know when your appointment is? Are you doing okay?
1 person likes this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Hi GG! I'm afraid I haven't been very careful, I hate to say. I'm glad you started this discussion. It will help those of us like me, for example, think about what we're posting. It never pays to give out too much information. Kathy.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I do not mind that MyLot reposts us. If I start writing for a lot of other content sites it will help me develop a presence. I do mind all I am learning about some other scam like sites. I have always made a point both here and on Gather not to post pictures of people without their permission, and never pictures of children. Someone suggested hiding our friends on here, and I have done that, and I have eliminated some of the details on my profile.
1 person likes this
@Kisha14 (117)
• Philippines
28 Apr 10
Yes we are not secured when we are using posting something on the internet.We can be accuse of something we posted. That's why we need to be careful in mentioning names can cause you direct harm.We need to be careful we are being watched by them.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Right, be careful how you use people's names. We share all this information with the whole world.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
25 Aug 11
Interesting, but actually not surprising to say in the least bit. I know that many places do things like this and it is frustrating. But to have someone say to have you rewrite someone's quotes? Wow!! No wonder things get a little mixed up from time to time to where no one really knows what to believe. I guess in a way this explains a lot for sure, but I would not want to write for these type of people either.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
25 Aug 11
That is when I quit, it just was not worth it to me and it did not fit with my personal morals. I still have no trouble with some of the more reputable sites quoting me and using my material, but most of them want to own your material.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
28 Apr 10
When I'm asked to do something like that-which I hate but I need the money-I always try to avoid quotes because I don't grab something off the internet for fear of plagiarism. That makes it difficult! But I just learned this morning about myLot being able to sell my content. That's something I missed in the TOS. I'll be careful from now on not to knock myself out on long, quality answers. A penny per response isn't worth putting a lot of work into it when they probably can make up to a dollar or more off it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I tried to avoid this situation, and Mr. A was okay with it, the client was not. I am shutting down on him, as I dread the work, and often get given really boring assignments. It has been okay, but I will be doing some other things.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
29 Apr 10
It has just stolen the fun from me. I have some other earning ideas and I will try them when I get back from Minnesota at the end of May. I will say that my son has enjoyed Amazon Mechanical Turk and it is legitimate.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Darn, that means I will get more boring topics! 
I'm really not in a situation to quit, the money I make goes into savings and retirement and is the only funds I have to contribute. Oh well...most of the work is okay and I'll muddle through the rest!
I'm really not in a situation to quit, the money I make goes into savings and retirement and is the only funds I have to contribute. Oh well...most of the work is okay and I'll muddle through the rest!1 person likes this
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
29 Apr 10
this could be my greatest drawback with mylot. but what can we do, we agreed with the terms. but we were just shocked to discover the truth about reposting of our discussions. what really made me feel sad is the decision made by one of the most intellectual and courageous member who already left the site. anyway, i always try to be honest but careful with my posts here.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
29 Apr 10
Neil, people come and go. I miss them when they leave. Sometimes they come back. That is why I never delete my friends. He deleted himself though. At least he did from me.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
30 Apr 10
Yes, neil, I saw it on another of your posts, and he requested me as friend this a.m. He also has a big thank you to Alice on his profile.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
25 Aug 11
What they had you to do with the testimonials was wrong.
If one deliberately alters what someone has said, that person can potentially be sued for damages. That is in the same vein as (showing my age here) a tabloid said that Tom Selleck was gay; Selleck then proceeded to launch a lawsuit for libel.
If you write an article and sign away all of your rights (common on the content mills that many "writers" are producing content for these days), that site or publication may then alter, mangle, mutilate, and resell the content as it sees fit. However, if you haven't given the site or publication all rights to the work, that changes things drastically as to what they may do with the stuff.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
25 Aug 11
A lot of us had some second thoughts for a while because we learned that the owners of MyLot have other sites and were reposting our stuff. We do know, however, that we are quoted correctly and credited, but we have given them this right when we joined. The testimonial thing is the real reason I am skeptical of many of the sites that are not US based and that want us to turn out hundreds of "articles" to their specifications for less than a penny per word. Some even have advertized as a task here--wanting articles written for one fourth of a cent per word, in batches of 100 to 500 articles. Really scummy.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
2 May 10
I am sorry to know that, gerty. I think these people who couldn't think and write for themselves are cheap shots. Please do not respond to them anymore. I believe they are making more money out of you. As with mylot, I think it is about time to ask them to come clean about that Lamb Lies Down case. I, for one, had never read the Terms and Conditions but I think it is never legal nor binding to use our work, verbatim or modified, without giving us our rightful dues. What did Alice say to this?
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
3 May 10
As of the time I left Friday Morning, The Lamb had come back. I believe he and Alice have had a talk, but we will have to hear from him directly. We do agree to the terms and check off a box before we can become active. I actually can see where MyLot reposting our responses can have a beneficial effect for those of us who are other places online. MyLot pays more consistently and has done so much longer than any other website I have looked at. What we earn is not dependent on popularity or page view, but on what we actually write. I am okay with what MyLot is doing, personally, but it is up to everyone to decide for himself.
1 person likes this
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Hi Gerty. I totally and fully agree. But we both write articles for a very cheap payment and do you know what they do with our words and research we struggle so hard for?
I have not seen any of mine in print but at first I was glad/happy to be accepted to write until I figured out I was making literally nothing.
Also being asked to re write a piece I made so little writing??? dah? And I seem to break the comma usage barrier ..........and THEY can't fix it ????
I am sure they do MODIFY what we write!
Ok, what is the difference with that and responses on mylot?
Not much except we don't research our topics and just type in how it is or blah , blah, blah, you get the picture.
I am now more than careful. Thanks for pointing this info out.
quita
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I think you probably write where my daughter writes. I have learned of some different opportunities, and I am just not going to do what I have been doing. If you write where my daughter writes you make about three times as much per word as I do right now. I will send you a PM, but none of it involves signing up under me. I am not looking for referrals.
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I might HAVE written for the same people but I quit. The writing itself is a pleasure to me but when it gets to the point where I am critiqued and dropped a level and for only $1 to $2 or a bit better then NO I quit.
I think mine and your writings are worth than that and I just want to find a site /place to write where my interests are taken into consideration.
It just doesn't make sense to work that hard for that little dab of money.
I would appreciate a PM if you don't mind.
I hope things are working well for you.
quita
1 person likes this
