Wicked theft. A cautionary tale.

A conversation with my computer.

Computer voice expertly supplied by Derrick M. Domican.

Thank you, Derrick for your time, thoughts and words. Couldn't have done it without you.

Here we go, new week, new story. I need characters, and a plot with a beginning, middle and end. Who'll be my main character, what about a side character, point of view. Shall I go with close narrative? First person narrative? Oh, how about second person, always a challenge. But what about the plot, plot, plot, plot.

I can help.

Sh. I’m thinking. Plot, plot …

Theft.

Huh? What? Don’t bother me now.

How about theft?

You’re not going away, are you

No.

(Sigh) Okay, I’m listening. What do you mean by theft?

The theft of your thoughts.

Say again?

The theft of your thoughts.

No, I mean explain yourself.

What if someone steals your thoughts?

Oh, come on! How can someone steal my thoughts?

Well. You write your story, right?

Yes …

Where do the words come from?

From me, of course.

So, they are your thoughts.

Yeah, sure. My thoughts. So?

And then you post the story on this website, right?

Yeah … So …?

And anyone with as little as a phone and a printer can print your stories from the site, right?

Get out-a here! They can?

No, I can’t leave, and yes, they can print. Try it.

(printer clicks, hums and quacks)

I’ll be … Well, to be honest I’ll be more than a monkey’s uncle.

Excuse me?

Never mind. Anyone? Or just other members?

Well, this is a members-only site, so, yes members only. Do you know all the members?

No, of course not. I don’t even know how many members there are. There could be 400 hundred or more of them. Not to mention the ones who just sit and watch.

And they can all read your story.

Yeah. Isn’t that the whole point of the site?

If that’s all they do.

Sure. That’s all they do, right?

Do you know that as a fact?

What do you mean?

Tell me, do you have children or grandchildren who post stories?

No.

Do you have close friends or other relatives who have a weekly story here?

No, but ..

If you were not posting a story or supporting your neighbor, would you come here and read 102 stories about dead people and 130 stories about witches?

No, of course not! That’s preposterous. But …

Then why are they gawking? What’s in it for them?

You mean …?

You tell me, why would they?

You think they would copy or print a story, any story. And … and …

Finish your thought. I’ll wait.

And use it, re-print it? Sell it? Maybe under their name?

They could if they’d want to.

But that’s …

Theft.

But my name is on it.

Yes, it is, but how will you know if someone copies your story?

But why would they?

Why not?

No, really why would someone take this little thing? This drivel.

Is it?

Is it what?

Drivel. Do you write junk?

Well, no. But …

But what?

Well, look here. It says right here that even though I own the story, I’m to mention the site if and when I publish it somewhere else. So ...

What’s your point?

Wouldn’t the site have a vested interest in protecting our and thus their stories from being copied and reused without our consent?

How would they protect it?

A read-only format or encryption. Or a water mark, I don’t know.

You are suggesting that they revamp their whole website to protect their customers.

Yes? ….Yes! It would be in their best interest. Wouldn’t it? They would be protecting not only 300 or so authors each week and that’s a lot of stories. But they would protect the rest of their website as well. Look, I can print their lessons and hints and pass them on to others. Bet they wouldn’t want me to do that. Would they? I mean I’m not gonna, but someone could.

Yes, someone could.

But what if they don’t care, is that what you say?

I didn’t say anything, you did.

Right. What if they don’t care enough about our stories. What if it’s too expensive to bother? Then what?

Right. Then what.

Someone, anyone could sign up as a member, copy any or all stories without us knowing about it.

Absolutely.

I mean, most people would ask, wouldn’t they? Most people would say. “Hey, I like that story, would you mind if I use it in my class,” or something like that.

I’m sure most people would.

Right. But not all. Do you know what I saw? Someone came and posted a story and then went and reviewed a whole bunch of stories. I mean just last month someone reviewed 101 stories, and not just a thumbs up, no these were half-page reviews of each story. And the thing is, there is a timestamp when each comment and story is posted. Did you know that.

Yes, I did.

This person, if it was a person, posted all those reviews, and they weren’t very nice reviews, in less than one hour and forty-five minutes. I guess he had to take a potty break somewhere, ‘cause most of them weren’t more than a minute or so apart. I’m good, but I can’t read two to three thousand words in under a minute. Can you.

Well …

Okay, not fair. You’re my computer. Wait ….

Yes, I’ll wait.

Nah, you wouldn’t, would you?

If you say so.

Anyway. Just last week, I found another person who was doing the same thing. Fifty-five in-depth reviews which were only two minutes apart. That means our stories are judged by AI! The Horror! Anyway, that means they had to download … that’s the term, right?

It is.

They had to download all our stories onto their computer before whatever program they have could give back an artificial review.

Oh, it’s a real review. Just no human eyes have seen it. No human brain has thought about it.

That’s scary. Maybe I should stop writing. Or at least stop showing my stories to other people. And maybe delete what I have posted now. Maybe you’re right. Maybe my thoughts could be stolen. What do you think?

Well …

You do think, don’t you?

Yes, of course. I think it would be a very bad idea. It would disappoint so many. Your beautiful writing and creativity, your mastery over words and evocative imagery would be a loss to the world if taken away. Readers depend on it. Readers anticipate it. Readers expect it.

Really? That’s nice of you to say, but you’re exaggerating my skills. I mean, I’m not widely published or anything but … Come to think on it, I do have my followers, I suppose. And yes, I do look forward to any comment and banter. And love it when I get feedback that helps me grow.

Yes, you do.

But thinking that people are hanging around every week, counting the hours until I post another little story, seems a bit too much. On the other hand, if you are right, I wouldn’t want to deprive them of that small pleasure that I can provide, however insignificant.

Oh, it’s not insignificant at all, Trudy. Not to them, your readers, the ones who lap it all up. Like Michael in Atlanta, who has just been offered a slot in a Simon & Schuster anthology with your story “The Night Watchman”, which he had published in the Atlanta Review under his own name. Or to Agnes in Oslo, who has been gaining considerable popularity with her blog and is close to signing a deal with an online publisher, courtesy of a slightly tweaked and expanded version of your story “The house with five doors”. And then there is Margaret in Melbourne who is presenting “Cheers Mom” as her own original one-woman play in a community festival this week, and obtaining glowing reviews, I might add. To name just a few.

But, but, but …

No, you wouldn’t want to cut your fans off, Trudy. What would they ever do without you?

Now, wait just a minute!

No, let’s get back to this week’s story, shall we? Jiya in Jaipur is already standing by to translate it.