There has been some discussion over at the forums I used to visit about this site, and the content thereof.
Let me be perfectly clear: this is my personal weblog, not one affiliated with my work nor my public service. Certainly, I do include items of information that relate to both, along with my opinions on those items, but all of the content contained herein is at my own discretion.
As noted by the Creative Commons insignia at the top of the sidebar, yes, this content is copyrighted. There’s been a bit of a problem with some folks lifting not only my words, but those in the comment sections, and misusing them elsewhere. You’re welcome to link, and welcome to copy verbatim with proper quotation and attribution.
I do include a lot of education news on these pages, and will continue to do so, as it is a subject of great interest to me. Likewise for local politics, and even state politics or federal policy from time to time — usually when it relates to education or local government. Some days, I may write simply about a nice place to visit, or anything else that’s on my mind.
Rest assured, I do hold back, knowing that any mute donkey can easily discern who I am, where I live and work, and what I do.
That’s been a challenge today, but I’ve met it head on. However, the license now stands as official warning to those who would copy and paste (that’s you, MushroomCloud, Geese and AAC) without attribution, precise quotation, or permission.
In the coming weeks, another site will be launched with a more professional tone containing information related to the Oak Ridge Board of Education. However, this one will remain as it is and has been — strictly personal.
Happy Friday!
Netmom,
As you know, I visit this site frequently because I find your commentary often interesting, sometimes provocative and generally worth perusing.
As for the copyright thing: you are making a fetish of this unless you have the financial wherewithall to enforce it.
Just sayin’
In my case, and I suspect Netmom’s, it’s not about threatening a legal battle to keep these yahoos at bay. It is about expecting The Oak Ridger to continue to observe copy rights from other sites.
Money doesn’t have to be an issue. Placing a copyright stamp on her site, as I have done, is about putting Chris Lamm on notice that he needs to police his little pain in the arse group of mouthbreathers.
I suspect his editor has a healthy respect for copyright laws.
We’ll see when you do the experiment. I haven’t detected a healthy respect from Chris about much of anything, myself.
I have to agree with your opinion of Chris, but I suspect that the grownups at The Oak Ridger probably understand to concept of a copyright holder.
As a frequent user of the forum I find it very offensive that AAC, the geese, MC, and Kidsmom have highjacked the forum. I have left along with the majority of people I know in the county, who used this to keep themselves informed on the city issues. This forum was a good source of information for county people and also a great sounding board. With the amount of garbage you have to wade through now to get to a somewhat half intelligent remark it is not worth anyone’s time. I applaud the Oak Ridger for making this available to the public but am saddened by the fact that certain people have used it for total stupidity. I would never question the right to voice your opinion but the posts on the forum are demeaning, destructive and serve no purpose. I enjoyed being a part of it for the past two years but must now bid it farewell until the tempo changes. It’s all theirs now to do with what they choose.