TO THE CREEPY IMPOSTER
Dear Facebook and Flickr user Makena Becker. you are not me. those photos are not yours. and those children certainly aren't yours either. your creepiness has me reeling. you have five hours to remove all my photos, all my words, and all your really skeevy claims to be someone you are not before i take legal action. you have infringed on my copyright. and i am pretty freakin' ticked off and grossed out by it.
thank you to reader paola for letting me know about this.
i would have loved to keep this a lot more vague and focused more on the idea of creating your own life, how figuring out who you are, little by little, and being true to that potential and the people you love is what makes life really great. and i think the higher road is to maybe leave names off.. but i can't. this is just too weird and violating and there is no possible explanation i can think of where someone would do this "innocently." if you have an idea, i'd love to hear it. i'd love to have something to wet the fury burning in my chest.
until then, i've got a birthday party to prepare for.
also: i have operated this blog the same way i try to live my life- based in faith and happiness and expecting the good rather than fearing and expecting the worst. this is not the worst, but it is really really weird. and i may need to adjust things around here for awhile until i figure this out..
ADDED: dear people (the non creepy ones), i love you. i sincerely do. i wish you were all here in person. i would hug you and thank you, wipe away my angry tears and take you to the park for a big picnic. we'd eat fruit, watch kids run around, soak up the sun and celebrate life (and the fact that the pictures were all taken down! hooray!!). after getting in our fill of spring at the park, you'd help me try to foster a little bit of sympathy and a little understanding for those who do things that aren't right, but then we'd let it go and move on... and after all that i'd try to sucker you into helping me make cupcakes and clean and decorate for tomorrow's party.. i've got a lot to do and am suddenly sooo very tired.
thank you again. truly.
xoxoxo
Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:02AM
Reader Comments (537)
Just saw your post (self-imposed week long blog ban to get work done!) and am so sorry to hear of your troubles! I've been lurking for a while now, and love to hear about what you guys are up to and see photos of your kids and your creations. You have a lovely family, and certainly don't deserve to have some creepy person try to attach your loves to them. Ew. It goes far beyond living vicariously!
I'm really glad that the photos were taken down, and hope you have found some peace. Give your family a big squeeze!
Hugs,
Sarah
Horrible. Could you do post telling people not to post photos of their children and if they have too - never, ever show their faces?This is a dead serious issue and one that is totally forgotten in the blog world. And certainly do not reveal identifying info like names, town they live in etc. Now that you have it is out there and I'm sure everything will be fine. But definitely contact the police - this is very serious. I have a really shitty experience with this (was stalked when younger - stalker saw my photo and name in newspaper when I was in elementary school play-- police told my parents to never publish images of children, never allow name tags outside of school etc). Just show your beautiful clothes on the girls but do not show their faces.
I saw just now what you wrote. I really sorry it happend to you.
its look from your blog that you are really wonderful person.
remember that only people that do, and create and connect got hurt, byt it worse it (to really really live). and see how many people like you
so I hope you will return to write again soon.
you picture your kids in the most full of love and inspaiering way.
many virtual huges, Rutie, Israel
Just wanted to add my two cents: You are a fabulous blogger! Thank you for being willing to share so much of your life with the rest of us. Go get 'em, girl!
Creepy indeed. Wishing you all the best and agreeing with the sentiments of the other comments.
I've recently discovered your lovely blog. Reading this, today, was like having a rug pulled out from under me. Creepy, horrible and icky. I can only imagine how you must feel. I hope this is stopped and that you can move on. I've really enjoyed your creativity and love of family.
HI!
That is indeed creepy.
I am glad she took them all down. But what was she thinking...
I have been following your blog for quite sometime now and love your sewing...
Keep up the good work and let the creepies just crawl away...
Good you were stern though!!
Sona
All the way from India
Yuck! I can't believe someone would do this. As I non-creepy mother of two, I was getting so angry reading this post. Your blog is so wonderful, your children adorable and i love your crafty ideas. If I was there I'd take all the kids to the park (with snacks) so you could clean in peace :)
So glad the pictures were removed
That is terrible!
I am very sorry to hear that this has happened to you.
Hoppe you can focus on your birthday party plans!!!!!
Big Kiss & Take care.
Alicia.
I'm sorry this has happened. I hate to say this, but maybe you should refrain from posting any more personal info: where you live, the faces and names of your kids, etc.
hi katie, i know a number of people have commented already. so sorry to hear about this situation, so very creepy and scary. i'm glad it was resolved. i really enjoy visiting your little corner and hope it doesn't keep you from sharing. you obviously inspire a number of people.
oh my goodness. that's awful and so creepy! I hope things get sorted out, I'm so sorry that this happened to you.
I think I'm the last person to read this post (and to comment)~
Stealing photographs is appalling in itself but stealing photographs with children makes my skin crawl.
"Nightmare" is the one word that keeps coming to mind. Part of me wants to go remove every single photo of my children off my own blog and the other part wants to say "NO - our blogging community will not be scared off by sick individuals who taint our world with ugly, hurtful acts!!"
I'm glad the pictures were removed - at least that individual had enough sense to be embarrassed~
You are fortunate to have Paola say something to you!
Holy cats that's weird!!! I haven't been to your blog in a couple of weeks, but was shocked to read this tonight. I told my husband and he said "the cute family in NY somewhere with the white apartment? Who would do that?" Apparently he HAS been paying attention when I share your posts...and we are both outraged! I'm so sorry for you, for the unsettled feeling this must have caused, for the disruption in all of your lives...I hope by now things are starting to settle back down, and you're comforted by all of us who have your back. We're wishing you grace!
I went through something similar about a month ago. It broke my heart. My blog is now private. Someone told me about your blog and your experience and I just wanted to comment that I feel your pain. Sending positive vibes your way...Mean people....grrrrrrrr.
Best,
Tina
I hope you still post all your adorable creations for your girls. They are amazing and inspire me! Hoping the creeps go creep somewhere else:-)
From a mormon mother of two in Georgia
hey lady
I missed the initial brouhaha, but just wanted to also tell you how horrified i was to read this. I'm so sorry you had to deal with such a lame-o.
As the mommy of a 5 year old boy, I can't even imagine how crappy it would feel to have someone violate your trust like that. Argh!!!
Thanks for sharing your sweet family with us. I love your blog and all the creativity and heart you pour into your posts.
I'm so sorry that one loser had to ruin the party.
: (
xo
Alix
modernkiddo.com
it was taken down, rest happily!!
That's so scary that someone is trying to steal your life! So sorry to hear about it, I really hope this impostor stops!
I'm sorry that this is happening to you, but you may consider that it is a little irresponsible to post photos so openly of your children and your personal life. Privacy is a precious commodity these days.
You handled this appropriately. You have the write to voice how this makes you feel and to demand that this person stop.
Love your blog, and I hope this gets resolved!
This has happened to me before and I totally get what you are feeling right now. Really creepy and weird, and unfortunately one of the major downsides of being in this computer world. So sorry to hear this has happened to you as well.
I am soooo sorry about the igits of the world. Why or how would someone selfishly benefit from someone else's family and creativity....just can't even find the words. Good luck to you and hopefully the weirdo's of the blog world will not hender the ones of us who are truely thankful for the inspiration that you and some of the others provide. I have never met you and probably never will, but thanks for all that you bring to the teaching table of blogland and your hard work does not go unnoticed.
That is so creepy! I would take a break too, but do know you are missed. Hope the birthday made you smile and life has been wonderful ever since.
Wow. Unbelievable! Ugh. &c, &c. I am so sorry this has happened to you! Your faith and happiness, and positivity and openness, are what make your blog so fantastic -- I (like many, many others) hope this will not keep you from continuing to share your amazing creative mind. I only get the opportunity to check in on your blog once every couple of weeks, but when I do, and you have a new post -- zing! What joy and inspiration you bring to my day! Ok, enough about me. I hope you are well and the party was a success. xo, a devoted fan, Nicole