Brad Cassagne is a Plagiarist (recognize anything?)

[monkeywrench133]

You guys are like a pack of wild dogs feeding off of each other's self righteousness. I'm trying to make this right and none of you will let me. I know everyone of you has done much worse things than and here you all are trying to crucify me while I'm trying to apologize. What would you like me to do, be burned at the stake for posting a photo that wasn't mine?

Here's the problem: You aren't trying to make it right

You're making excuses

like "I know everyone of you has done much worse things"

If you want to make it right, apologize, PERIOD, without the excuses.

 

[jsrocket]

A SINCERE apology might suffice. I don't know.

 

[HerpVenue]

I have been accused of gross copyright infringement, which is absurd. I can't think of more than 3 or 4 of the photos that were not actually mine.

Is that anything like saying.... I have been accused of murder which is absurd. I can't think of 3 or 4 people that were actualy killed.

I was simply too lazy to ask for permisson to use the photos

yeah it is much easier to remove and crop the copyright information. Then rotate them to make them look different.

You have done no one a favor by having these removed other than making yourself feel better. If you would have simply sent me a message I would have been happy to remove your photos.

Kinda like making yourself feel better with getting credit for the pics.... and all you simply had to do was send them "a little message"

You guys are like a pack of wild dogs feeding off of each other's self righteousness.

Pretty funny coming from a guy who took it upon himself to better the world by posting pics that were stolen. Pretty funny coming from a guy who went to great lengths to make the photos appear as his...and then when he gets caught he calls the pictures "mediocre at best". Pretty funny coming from a guy whos first post REAKED of self righteousness.

 

[bmcassagne]

A SINCERE apology might suffice. I don't know.

I'm sorry but at this point I don't think my accusers deserve any more sincere of an apology considering the way they've handled this situation. I'm being made out to be some sort of horrible scumbag because of a trivial mistake I made. You people already had me convicted and executed before I knew what was even going on. I've tried to apologize and instead of making any attempt to meet me half way, all I get are boneheads like Ritchie trying to contort everything I say and make me look like an even worse person. I think the merit of his comments, or lack thereof, is obvious now and I won't waste my time responding to them any more.

I've recieved no credit whatsoever for the attempts I've made to apologize, only more verbal abuse. I don't want to be given a medal but I think this has been blown way out of proportion.

If a cop pulled you over for going 3mph over the speed limit and called you a mass murder of women and children, you would be defensive too. Well, that's how I'm being treated now.

I could have come on here and said my accusers are just a bunch of whining losers that don't have anything to do but fret about their useless photos. I didn't do that. I admitted I was wrong and tried to apologize, but all I get is more crap from everyone. I've been trying to be adult about this but that's not what you guys want, most of you anyway.

Some of you actually seem to care about the truth of the situation, but the rest are just looking for someone to pick on so you can feel good about yourselves... just a bunch of schoolyard bullies ganging up on the guy that forgot to brush his hair one day.

 

[monkeywrench133]

If a cop pulled you over for going 3mph over the speed limit and called you a mass murder of women and children, you would be defensive too.

Sure, because you DIDN'T DO IT. However, as you have admitted, you DID commit copyright infringement. Your actions brought this about, absolutely nothing more.

..their useless photos.

But you used them, how could they be useless?

 

[Jim O]

I've recieved no credit whatsoever for the attempts I've made to apologize, only more verbal abuse.

An apology with a "but" clause is not an apology but rather is an excuse. Understand the difference and then you understand what your are receiving: credit for making excuses.

 

[bmcassagne]

...be a man, apologize and stop the behavior.

I have apologized and you have not acknowledged my apology whatsoever.

These images were lifted off of Botarby8's website (re-size to 640 pixels for him). Then the copy write info was CROPPED OFF

If all you had done was repost them - I would have. But to actually place your name as the photog - that's called plagiarism and you did it over and over.

I did not crop them because I wanted credit for them, I did it so wikipedia would not remove them. I also could not post your name or they would have been removed. I'm not trying to say what I did was right, but I'm being attacked personally on a level that is not justified. I'm not going to denounce myself as a horrible person just because of a couple of mistakes they way you people would like me to.

 

[bmcassagne]

Okay, let me apologize for insulting the quality of the pictures. They are useful, obviously, I just didn't see them as having monetary value, plus I was mad as hell in general.

I also apologize for using them without permission... again.

I'm just having a problem with being accused of trying to recieve personal gain from what I did, that was not my intent. I also have a problem with totally unsubstantiated accusations of plagerizing all of my images, which is just as wrong as what I did.

Is that not a fair apology?

 

[monkeywrench133]

I'm not trying to say what I did was right, but I'm being attacked personally on a level that is not justified.

OK, this is a "Yes" or "NO" question, there are no other options:

Do you understand that what you did was a criminal act called copyright infringement?

 

[HerpVenue]

I could have come on here and said my accusers are just a bunch of whining losers that don't have anything to do but fret about their useless photos. I didn't do that..

Actually the words were
You have done no one a favor by having these removed other than making yourself feel
Also it was not useless photos it was "mediocre"

just a bunch of schoolyard bullies ganging up on the guy that forgot to brush his hair one day.

Actually you were to lazy. You did not forget. remember?


so let me get this straight.
You come here telling people not to get all uptight because the pictures were "mediocre at best". You call that an apology and me turning your words around?

You do not contact people and just take their pictures without asking..... then get mad that these same people did not contact you?

you come here with a selfrighteous attitude and claim everyone else had one?



Lets look at your first post. Let's look for the apology. Lets look at why everyone jumped on you.

Look at your first post and tell me it was not self righteous. tell me you wwere not basically implying people had nothing better to do with their mediocre pictures.

LOOK AT YOUR FIRST POST.

THAT was the reason i am now jumping on you.

I've tried to apologize and instead of making any attempt to meet me half way, all I get are boneheads like Ritchie trying to contort everything I say and make me look like an even worse person.

Contort everything you say?

You copied pics that were not yours....... then turned the situation around and started blaming them for not contacting you. How is that for contorting?

 

[HerpVenue]

yes that apology is definately much better.

your first apology was full of excuses and turning the situation around so that the others looked like they were the ones doing bad

 

[loteer]

I don't like your apologies. In a true apology there should be no buts or i am just mad. I don't see where anyone said all your photos were plagiarized. Just that a few were and that was grounds enough to contact wiki directly.

A true apology would be something like ...

I am sorry for what i did ... next time I'll be sure to get permission before i use someone else's photograph.

 

[bmcassagne]

Obviously I will ask for permission to use a photo next time. It's been over a year since I used these and I haven't done any since. Seems to me like a little more discression from Botar would have been warranted since I've been a customer to them on a couple of occasions, but I guess not.

loteer - you and a few others are wanting me to basically accept responsibility for all of the accusations that have been posted here and that is not right. And yes, I have been accused of plagarizing all of my photos which is crap. All of my photos have been banned from Wiki, which I put quite a few hours of work into. Considering my actions have caused no real damage, I think that's a bit excessive, but I guess it doesn't matter now.

 

[monkeywrench133]

Seems to me like a little more discression from Botar would have been warranted

WHAT?!?!?!?

So now this is BOTAR'S FAULT?????

YOU stole RANDY'S picture off BOTAR'S website! (plagiarism)

YOU cropped RANDY'S copyright info off of the picture!! (copyright infringement)

YOU posted RANDY'S picture on Wikepedia as YOUR OWN!! (more copyright infringement)

Do you want to explain to me how Botar is in any way, shape, or form responsible for YOUR CRIMINAL ACTIONS?????

I thought you were just stupid, I was wrong.

You are a lying, thieving, scumbag.

 

[bmcassagne]

You see, Monkey, it's idiots like you that make this so difficult. You have contorted what I said far beyond recognition. That is not at all what I said or implied. I'm just saying I'd give my paying customers a bit more slack rather than putting them on trial publicly. He had a right to accuse me and even sue me if he wants, but that doesn't make it a good idea. I have a right to hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on all of you guys and drag you through the mud publicly, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Botar has probably done nothing illegal about all of this. I'm just not the type to hang someone out to dry like all you guys. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance to make things right, but I know I'm in the minority, and the web is a dangerous place for poor judgement.

 

[NeoScales]

I want to make this point clear to Brad here, and then I think this should be done with - the thread is/has served it's purpose.

I just didn't see them as having monetary value...

Well while you may not see the monetary value in my property, others clearly do. Including the Smithsonian asking me to shoot an A. seemani image for their December 2006 issue:

...I don't do that for free, it's paid/credited work. Also my images have been purchased for use in Reptiles magazine ads, as logos for websites, to be produced as store window decals, as prints in zoos, individual homes...and Botarby8's has several thousand dollars of my prints on had to sell at any given show.

Now the image you took was one of the first photo's I'd ever done of a spider, and as much as it make s you look like as ass - you're right it's not that good. And that's the reason I'm not going to bother to file a civil claim with Mississippi Justice Court in city of Picayune (or surrounding county). Not that I'd have a good chance of recovering anything from the judgment - but it would still be public record.

I've got no symphony for you Brad and while you may be accurate that Wiki required you to "be" the photographer...you clearly knew it was wrong (as evidenced by the notice on your own page). You simply didn't care, and you don't value anyone else - a quick trip to your myspace page shows how egocentric you are.

But I do thank you for the acknowledgment of what you did, and your apology. While others may not see your contrite statements as sincere, I think they are as sincere as you are able to be - so enough said, lets all move on.

 

[monkeywrench133]

You see, Monkey, it's idiots like you that make this so difficult. You have contorted what I said far beyond recognition. That is not at all what I said or implied. I'm just saying I'd give my paying customers a bit more slack rather than putting them on trial publicly. He had a right to accuse me and even sue me if he wants, but that doesn't make it a good idea. I have a right to hire a private investigator to dig up dirt on all of you guys and drag you through the mud publicly, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Botar has probably done nothing illegal about all of this. I'm just not the type to hang someone out to dry like all you guys. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance to make things right, but I know I'm in the minority, and the web is a dangerous place for poor judgement.

Me?? an Idiot??

I'm not the one who committed copyright infringement, and then admitted to it on a public forum. YOU DID.

And stop trying to drag Botar into this. He's one of the most stand up guys I know, and he's got NOTHING to do with this. And, he's not the owner of that picture, RANDY IS!


Randy May?? Remember him?? He's the photographer who took that picture, and had HIS copyright info on it. You know, the information you cropped off of the picture so that you could post it on Wikepedia as your own.

Now tell me, what words have I contorted? NONE!

 

[NeoScales]

Botar has probably done nothing illegal about all of this. I'm just not the type to hang someone out to dry like all you guys. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance to make things right, but I know I'm in the minority, and the web is a dangerous place for poor judgement.

Just for the record - Botar is my business partner and while the images are my property, he was limited written permission to use them.

Brad - I'm all about second chances, and I've got no interest in dragging you further through the mud. But the more you post, the worst this is going to get - you're just that type of guy .

I'm out of this thread unless something specifically requires me to intercede - I hope others can let this go as well, please.​

 

[bmcassagne]

My understanding was that Botar and randy were the same person/company. I guess not.

So now I'm egocentric because I have photos of my bike online. Does being proud of your photos and business make you egocentric also? I continue to be insulted for things that have nothin to do with this incident. This is why my apology does not sound more sincere. And I've already apologized for insulting the quality of the photos.

 

[monkeywrench133]

OK, this is a "Yes" or "NO" question, there are no other options:

Do you understand that what you did was a criminal act called copyright infringement?

I'll ask this question again, even though I already know the answer.