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| Photo by Tracy S. Williams |
I recently joined Pinterest through Facebook. It’s like most online social media networks. You share information, but through an online pin board.
My vision for Pinterest involved lots of food — especially ideas on how to make chocolate treats. It seemed like the perfect place for fun recipes I find online instead of filling up my real desktop or the virtual one on my computer.
Then, all the posts concerned about Pinterest’s terms of service appeared.
Marcy Kennedy at Girls With Pens shares a great list of links in her post — The Pinterest Problem
The Pinterest terms of service are important to understand as you are giving the company the right to use, sell or modify your photos. For this reason, you won’t find any of my own photos on this site.
Of course, if I continue to use Pinterest I’m not out of trouble. If you repin a photo, the Pinterest company doesn’t take any responsibility for a copyright violation. You are 100 percent responsible for any copyright violations.
Stacy Green mentioned her reasons to stay with Pinterest in her ROW Check-In on Sunday.
I’m still trying to make up my mind about whether to stay or go. What have you decided on the issue — are you saying yes or no to Pinterest?
I haven’t joined Pinterest yet. I might at some point, but I have more than enough to keep up with just with what I have already. Like Google +, Pinterest seems like just one more social media site to keep track of and I don’t think I have the time right now to do it justice. Plus, I confess, I don’t really get it or see how i would use it. Feel free to educate me! 🙂
Susanna, With your schedule, I think it would be something to keep track of. I’ve just dabbled a toe into the Pinterest water. So, I’ll be interested to see how it plays out.
No, I do not pin and have no plans to get involved. I think I have enough going on with a website, blog, FB, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn. I have seen a lot of people (through blogs and FB) have become involved (and seen them complaining about it too!), but I’m not sold.
Karen, I have an account, but sort of remain on the fence.
I wouldn’t even join, to be honest (but I hadn’t even heard of the site, so thanks for the heads up re. their changes…)
Mark, I’m hopping they change those terms of service. Perhaps closing my account would be the best way to communicate that.
Honestly, I could entertain myself online all day (and night) long. There is so much good stuff at our fingertips now. I’m not familiar with Pinterest, but is it so much better than just googling the recipe you want? Or posting your own recipe on an existing site? You like it because of the back-and-forth conversation aspect of it?
Kim, Since it’s an online pinboard, it’s a centralized location for recipes, etc. I google recipes all the time. I have them printed out and in a folder on my desktop, but it’s disorganized. The visual appeal of Pinterest is a bit intoxicating. I haven’t had much back-and-forth communication on the site. I think there’s a way to do this, but I just haven’t done it yet.
I said yes–for about five days. Then I deleted my account after hearing about the copyright issues. I just didn’t need the potential hassle (On a side note–I have a friend with a blog who without warning got a bill in the mail for $700 simply for using someone else’s photo). Maybe if they change their terms of use I will go back. I definitely love the idea of it!
Oh Coleen I hope your friend was able to negotiate that. I was at a writer’s meeting several weeks ago about book covers. A woman said her husband’s business website was slapped with $1000 bill for a picture taken in front of a copyrighted photo in the background. The entire photo wasn’t visible, but a hand was shown. Good point on the potential hassle.
Thanks for mentioning the copyright issues; I’m not pinning yet, not sure if I will want to devote the time.
Annette, I guess the Pinterest issue should remind us to always read those pesky, long and important terms of use.
I joined Pinterest and had fun with it — on a limited time basis. I already have a lot on my plate. I was just going to ramp up my involvement as an author when I heard about the copyright concerns. Now I’m stalled, debating the “do I, don’t I?” question.
Beth, I’ve read several posts on how authors can use it to reach out to their audiences. I guess we’ll see what the company decides to do.
I’m on it… I’m hopeful (maybe stupidly) that they’ll sort out the kinks, including copyright
I’m hopeful too Nina. For now, I just won’t post any of my own photos and be careful on what I pin. I’ll let you all know, if my addiction to chocolate gets me in trouble with a pinned item.
I joined about a week ago just to check it out. Then I started reading all the posts about copyright and I am holding off and watching and waiting right now. I do think any new thing goes through teething stages….
Joanna, Good strategy.
I have stayed away from Pinterest mostly because I just didn’t have time and didn’t understand the service at first. I am reading more and more negative about the site, though, that is making me concerned. I think I will stay away.
Karen, I’ll let you know if they change their terms.
I have done a bit, but find it challenging to find much of interest. You’ve intrigued me about the copyright stuff; I am such a stickler to try to do it right, Stacy. I’ll look again before I think I can re-pin anything. Thanks!
Linda, Many blogs now have a “pin it” button, so you can pin their post, photos, etc. I had a difficult time following people at first. I think I’ve figured that out now.
Stacym no, I don’t pin yet. Decided not to when I saw the copyright issues.
Also want to tell you that they have haulted fracking in the Youngstown area of Ohio because they HAVE linked it to earthquakes. Have made a couple of trips to that area, and it is dotted with mining everywhere, especially near Canton. Now, it has become a big issue we are fighting in my area, near Dayton. And, it is hot issue.
Pat, I saw that last week and promptly called my insurance company to see if their earthquake coverage would cover damage linked to injection wells. Ah, how my life has changed with fracking in the mix. I hope you are able to keep it away from your area. My area will soon have wells, but it seems the “oil play” is a little more risky here — as in I think they aren’t sure it will be as profitable. We’ll see.
Stacy, I had only joined Pinterest a couple of weeks before the copyright issue made the Internet news, and I fell in love with the site immediately. I simply love looking at images and it was a great place to store and share them. Now, I’ve deleted all of my boards but have retained my account with hopes things will eventually turn around.
Sheila it is nice to see all the boards. I’m hoping they turn around too.
I haven’t joined yet, but if the recipes are that good I may need to!
Emily, I’ve found some fun ones there.
I haven’t joined yet, but if the recipes are that good I may need to!
You know, everyone always talks about how Pinterest is totally addictive, but I joined and (weirdly) couldn’t get interested. I still have an account and I’ve pinned a couple of things, but I hardly ever look at it. I’m concerned about the copyright issues too though and (since I wasn’t that interested anyway) it just doesn’t seem worth it.
Emily, I think that’s the key to social media. You have to be interested in it to participate. I love Twitter, so that’s why I’m there. If I didn’t like it, I could see how it might be annoying.
I’ve heard of it, but haven’t joined. I can’t keep up with the social media I already have. I hope you have fun with it.
Susanne
PUTTING WORDS DOWN ON PAPER
Thanks Susanne. I will.
At the moment I have enough social networks to deal with and with the issues of copyright and Pinterest, I’m in no hurry to try it out.
Lynda, I’ve heard the “I have enough social networks to deal with” several times today. Seems to be a theme this week.
I’ve joined only like you to dabble a little. Will wait and see what happens. You have won the Kreatif and the Sunshine awards. Please go to my site to pick them up.
http://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/won-the-kreatif-and-sunshine-awards/
congrats, Clar
Many thanks Clar. I’ve behind on my visits today. I’ll stop by.
I’ve joined only like you to dabble a little. Will wait and see what happens. You have won the Kreatif and the Sunshine awards. Please go to my site to pick them up.
http://clarbojahn.wordpress.com/2012/03/13/won-the-kreatif-and-sunshine-awards/
congrats, Clar
I haven’t joined yet, mostly because I’m afraid of the time suck for me and what it will mean for my writing. Though I’m drawn to the visuals!
~Debbie
Debbie, What could you be doing with all your time? I hope you get the joke in that. You are busy! I don’t blame you for staying away.
Hey Stacy,
Yes, I’ve been sucked into the Pinterest vortex. But it’s fun. It’s especially helpful for anyone who is redecorating or throwing a party. There are lots of cool ideas out there than I wouldn’t have found if it weren’t for ‘Pinners’. But it’s true, I should be writing instead of pinning!
Thanks for the info! I felt like I’m missing out since I can’t afford the time to take it on. Now, I don’t feel as bad, since it doesn’t seem like a good fit, for me anyway.