It weirds me out that they wouldn’t bother to credit. But illustrators and designers go through this shit with megabrands like Zara all the time. They yoink ‘inspiration’, then play stupid, then assume you can’t afford to sue them, then blame it on an ‘intern that said it was their own idea’. Gross.
Update as it seems ambiguous and I was too snarky before: I hope this feels like water off a ducks back but you made a cool feature. Relatively cheap, fun, and it helped people find new writers so it served the company’s interest and the interest of writers at the same time. You should be really proud of it and not feel like anything is taken away because substack and summer both start with an S and you released it during summer.
This was a brilliant read, I love people who are powered by rage and spite, and I too am ready to burn it all down. 🔥
(Was writing on Substack for a bit but it made me feel batshit so I've defected but I still come here to read and sometimes I find the good shit like this which makes digging through the vanilla tapioca worth it).
I liked your original meme. Sorry it was ripped off with no credit given. Would it have helped if you had put a c in a circle meaning the entire page was copyrighted? Of course you would have had to file for the c/r with the Library of Congress. Do they allow that on Substack or does c/r belong to them? At least you could have charged anyone who used it or your idea a fee. I honestly don’t know how online stuff works. I was in book publishing.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Saralyn! Sharing creativity online (especially memes) is a bit of a free for all and it's hard to say who owns what. A Substack employee said he thought of "Substack Summer" independently and I am not about to fight him on that. As I said in this piece, I don't even think I own the phrase, I just needed to air out some grievances. I wrote this a week ago and many lessons were learned — mostly, that this community has my back and is full of people who enjoy a good vendetta. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. 💖
Loved reading this. It has that energy of someone planning things in rage - and you know the kinda rage where it doesnt overwhelm you - or those hearing the plans.
But is quite entertaining.
I am new to substack - and substack has missed the ball on being Classy here - Credit should be given! Even now, imho not too late - "We made a mistake, we got this from ..." is what would be a good thing to do.
2 questions:
1. How did it feel to scream from the top of mountain?
Thank you, Mr Noob! Welcome to substack, you will enjoy it here — it's a crazy, creative place that's full of interesting people. What's not to love?
I'm always here to entertain with my rage and I had SO MUCH FUN writing this. The screaming felt great, and I was mistaken for a mountain lion, but I just went with it.
Thank you, LLski! (That just rolled off easily - have you been called that, I wonder?)
Yes! Substack does have interesting people! I hope to be on here regularly, and post more - with 'Inktober' starting just around the corner!
That is fantastic, MOAR rage-fun pieces please!
I will pop-by and check those! :)
Ps: * "What's not to love?" * - such a Wunderful question zooms my engineer-trained brain into "Oh, we have a problem being posed here, let us get some Bullet points out there! Better if we can make a spreadsheet of it!" But, not doing it. Holding off on that! :))
HA! I have been called that! AND I was being facetious so please send those bullet points over when you have observed and engineered them. Carry on! Lots more fun to come.
There was a milli-blip of a moment when they were first starting out where there was some innovative thinking here with the mentorship programs they were trying out but that shit must've backfired on them, because—and I'm not trying to kink-shame here—these tech weirdos just can't help their compulsive need to show us all how uncool they are.
Nails it:
“And do we think they would have done that if I had 10,000 subscribers on my list?”
You have my axe
an honor, truly.
It weirds me out that they wouldn’t bother to credit. But illustrators and designers go through this shit with megabrands like Zara all the time. They yoink ‘inspiration’, then play stupid, then assume you can’t afford to sue them, then blame it on an ‘intern that said it was their own idea’. Gross.
Zara is notorious! An old friend of mine (an illustrator/designer) sued them back in like 2015/2016 and won. It was a real David vs. Goliath moment.
That is so epic!! I know so many ripped-off artists who couldn’t fight. Really proud of your friend!!
I actually came up with this name and didn't see your note. It's clever alliteration though — great minds think alike!
Wait until you find out about Spotify Wrapped 🤯
Got up with a crying baby and am very tired.
This comment made my whole morning.
Update as it seems ambiguous and I was too snarky before: I hope this feels like water off a ducks back but you made a cool feature. Relatively cheap, fun, and it helped people find new writers so it served the company’s interest and the interest of writers at the same time. You should be really proud of it and not feel like anything is taken away because substack and summer both start with an S and you released it during summer.
This was a brilliant read, I love people who are powered by rage and spite, and I too am ready to burn it all down. 🔥
(Was writing on Substack for a bit but it made me feel batshit so I've defected but I still come here to read and sometimes I find the good shit like this which makes digging through the vanilla tapioca worth it).
Thank you! Your comment made me happy. I think writing on Substack makes all of us feel batshit at least a few days a month.
Reading this and the comments like ‘ok hold on, have I found my people?’
Welcome home!
Something tells me you’ll be able to relate to this one: https://keye.substack.com/p/ten-reasons-your-top-ten-list-makes
Keyestack got a big cackle from me <333
I liked your original meme. Sorry it was ripped off with no credit given. Would it have helped if you had put a c in a circle meaning the entire page was copyrighted? Of course you would have had to file for the c/r with the Library of Congress. Do they allow that on Substack or does c/r belong to them? At least you could have charged anyone who used it or your idea a fee. I honestly don’t know how online stuff works. I was in book publishing.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Saralyn! Sharing creativity online (especially memes) is a bit of a free for all and it's hard to say who owns what. A Substack employee said he thought of "Substack Summer" independently and I am not about to fight him on that. As I said in this piece, I don't even think I own the phrase, I just needed to air out some grievances. I wrote this a week ago and many lessons were learned — mostly, that this community has my back and is full of people who enjoy a good vendetta. I hope you have a wonderful Sunday. 💖
Loved reading this. It has that energy of someone planning things in rage - and you know the kinda rage where it doesnt overwhelm you - or those hearing the plans.
But is quite entertaining.
I am new to substack - and substack has missed the ball on being Classy here - Credit should be given! Even now, imho not too late - "We made a mistake, we got this from ..." is what would be a good thing to do.
2 questions:
1. How did it feel to scream from the top of mountain?
2. Did people mistake you for a mountain lion?
(link: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/ko7bgp/eli5_why_do_mountain_lions_make_a_sound_similar/)
Thank you, Mr Noob! Welcome to substack, you will enjoy it here — it's a crazy, creative place that's full of interesting people. What's not to love?
I'm always here to entertain with my rage and I had SO MUCH FUN writing this. The screaming felt great, and I was mistaken for a mountain lion, but I just went with it.
Thank you, LLski! (That just rolled off easily - have you been called that, I wonder?)
Yes! Substack does have interesting people! I hope to be on here regularly, and post more - with 'Inktober' starting just around the corner!
That is fantastic, MOAR rage-fun pieces please!
I will pop-by and check those! :)
Ps: * "What's not to love?" * - such a Wunderful question zooms my engineer-trained brain into "Oh, we have a problem being posed here, let us get some Bullet points out there! Better if we can make a spreadsheet of it!" But, not doing it. Holding off on that! :))
HA! I have been called that! AND I was being facetious so please send those bullet points over when you have observed and engineered them. Carry on! Lots more fun to come.
I Love a good Substack Attack....
you’re a poet, PIMP 🫶🏼
a Skeet Taste
There was a milli-blip of a moment when they were first starting out where there was some innovative thinking here with the mentorship programs they were trying out but that shit must've backfired on them, because—and I'm not trying to kink-shame here—these tech weirdos just can't help their compulsive need to show us all how uncool they are.
The more I thought about this throughout the day the more I considered how fucking tacky it was. The lack of attribution.
As a professional designer of 45 years I know how annoying it is to have my concepts lifted wholesale by someone else (or some corporate entity).
Honestly, knowing it enraged you more throughout the day makes me feel better. I appreciate you!
Luckily for me, good ideas are a renewable resource. As for the corporate entities … well …
…start a band?…
sure, why not
…cool can I open for substack vendetta?…i do bad music and bad comedy…i an great…
Yikes. I was just thinking today how dumb and gimmicky "Substack Summer" was and now we know who to tar and feather. :)
we ride at dawn, GARY!
I must say, the Age of Unhingement™️ is a delicious term of phrase.
All this was missing was another classic meme - Jessie from Breaking Bad shouting "They can't keep getting away with this!"
HA! Breaking Bad gave us so much. And thank you, I am really good at naming things 🥲
Somehow I missed “Substack Summer” entirely. And I’m on Substack daily; writing 2-4 times a week. Weird….
Probably confirms I’m just 100% nobody. Even on the “good guy” network.