Guys,
Fist, I want to let you know how much I appreciate the support you’ve given me after someone called “Becky” attacked me heavily, calling me names and using vulgar words just because she had issues navigating through my blog. As she promised (if it is “she” – I can’t really know), she downloaded most of the free files (mostly Photoshop brushes) from my blog and uploaded them on 4shared.com.
Thank you Joanne for letting me know. I already reported that.
So, of course, I felt hurt and pissed after I heard about it. I believe you would feel the same. If someone takes your work and offers it to the world as their own, it would piss anyone, right?
But then I gave it a second thought. I realized that I can not really hate that person. On the contrary, I felt kinda pity for her. She did not really hurt me by doing that.
How come?
Well, for one, I did feel distressed for a while, but I could not withstand negative emotions for too long. They start to hurt the one who retains them. “Becky”, obviously, retained negative emotions for a long time since she took the effort to do all this downloading and then uploading to that 4shared.com site. Her negative emotions made damage to her, not to me. It’s pure physics.
Secondly, people who use stolen intellectual property are people who don’t know how to make nice and beautiful things, it just doesn’t go together. Why? Well, if you steal it means that you have rotten mind, if you have rotten mind you can not create nice and useful things. And that’s it, plain and simple. That’s how things work.
And, in the end, I believe that this whole thing made me a better person. I learned something about myself and I am happy about what I found out. I found out that I can not withhold negative emotions for long. I found out that I can remain positive and not hate even when something is stolen from me.
In addition, through all this support I was receiving since this happened, I learned that there are much much more good people than bad ones. I learned that there are many people who appreciate my work and that is THE BIGGEST REWARD OF THEM ALL! So, all this filled me up with positive emotions, enthusiasm and optimism about the “Life, universe and everything” (You gotta read that book if you haven’t done so already).
I truly hope that “Becky” person will realize that she(or he – again) only hurt herself in the end. Not anyone else. With the feeling of hate and all other negative emotions she’s overwhelmed with, she just did damage to herself.
So, the moral of the story is: When the going gets tough, find the power to remain positive and loving person no matter what. We all knew that from before, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded.
And this is the end of the “Becky story”.
I promise to come up with nicer stories for as we look forward to Christmas and the New Year of 2009.
Love you all,
Silvia
You are a bigger person than I. Thank you for your inspiration 🙂
Well said and I agree totally
You’re a bigger better person than she’ll ever be… thank you again, you have shown grace through this….
I applaud your attitude! I love using your freebies and appreciate the fact that you offer them.
The blessings are all yours.
Hey, no worries, we all think you are awesome!!!! And that is all that matters. We love you and respect your work!! Keep it up, you’re doing great, and I love your blog!!
Silvia,
I am new to your site and ran across this part of the newsletter.
I was always told growing up “Be the bigger person!”
If someone does you wrong then you can’t always sit there and take it, but your attitude is Spot on! “Feel sorry” for Becky? That she had the spiteful attitude and can’t man or woman up and do what is right? YOU are the victim here and showed us how to react to the Becky’s of the world. I tip my hat to you and your wonderful site that IS helping to make beautiful things.
Shane
Curtney, Demiurgia, K.G., Lee, Diane, Dana, Viv and Shane! Thank you all for your kind words! Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! Love you all!
Hi silvia,
I came here today because for some reason, I’m not receiving any of your Gang newsletters (sniff, sniff)… and was surprised to read about what “Becky” did. I just wanted to let you know that I’m so proud of you for taking the higher road. The world is filled with all sorts of people, and though we cannot control how *they* choose to act, we can control the way *we* choose to act–I applaud you for your noble choice! I truly believe we get what we give… so just keep your heart as good and generous and loving as it is, and the rest will take care of itself. 🙂 Have a very merry, joyful, and peaceful Christmas filled with love and laughter!
Oh yuck!! I am sorry that this person gave you so much trouble, Silvia! She is giving the name “Becky” a really bad rap!! Well, I am another kind of Becky LOL—and I just want to say I love your brushes. Good for you for taking the high road—you are right, a person like that can only be pitied for being so small and petty and disrespectful of your art. Best wishes and happy holidays!
Thank you for your kind words, “other” Becky 🙂 !
I wish you happy holidays and a great New Year!!!
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