All About MLP Merch

[TornadoTwist]

Some of you know already this blog. But others don't. So me and and boyfriend (Ossie) started this blog some months ago. In the end of February to be exact. And we are a blog that try to post... you guessed it. All about MLP Merch. When we see something new we blog about it. But we also make video's and reviews.

I also want to thank some of the people here for finding a lot of new stuff! When we see something new we will make always sure we credit the person who has found it.

You can find our blog here: http://www.mlpmerch.com/

[teresat]

Thanks for doing this! Your page is awesome!

[Gloomygirl777]

Your page is in my favorites list You guys always have the latest news. Thank you!

[MandarinCupcake]

I visit the blog just about every day! It's one of my favourites Thank you for creating it!

[hathorcat]

Your blog is great. Its nice to see so many pony sites popping up now!

Can I suggest something though? You should check with people before you post their Arena usernames. I know I got a bit of a shock seeing not only my name listed on your blog but also the image I personally created only for the Arena Coming Soon being posted there without knowing you had done so.

Its all well and good to credit someone, but some people may not want their usernames or their images [assuming they are not just stock images] posted without granting you permission.

The Arena is not Tumblr, what people post here may not be things they want to repost or have reblogged by someone. It may be something they only want to share with Arena members. I know in the fakie plush thread I was sharing my thoughts with fellow members and did not then expect to almost be quoted on another website.

[ponylady]

Your blog is great. Its nice to see so many pony sites popping up now!

Can I suggest something though? You should check with people before you post their Arena usernames. I know I got a bit of a shock seeing not only my name listed on your blog but also the image I personally created only for the Arena Coming Soon being posted there without knowing you had done so.

Its all well and good to credit someone, but some people may not want their usernames or their images [assuming they are not just stock images] posted without granting you permission.

The Arena is not Tumblr, what people post here may not be things they want to repost or have reblogged by someone. It may be something they only want to share with Arena members. I know in the fakie plush thread I was sharing my thoughts with fellow members and did not then expect to almost be quoted on another website.

This entirely. I know myself I would not be happy with my username being posted, plus the fact the photo's I created being used without permission.

[Ossie]

Thanks for all the positive reactions!

@hothorcat Sometimes it's hard for us to find the actual source of images and news. If it's posted on the Arena it might sometimes be our deepest source available. This is why we use the MLParena (usually in combination with usernames) as the source for our posts to give credit. I was assuming that a username, since that is an online identity, would best fit here. But thank you for bringing the problem to our attention. How would you like to see us handle these situations in the future?

[hathorcat]

Apologies in advance for the wall of text but this is something which professionally annoys me.

I think if it was on another blog or on Tumblr then reblogging and quoting someone's username is of course fine, in fact its part of what makes these sites work. When you join such websites and post, you know that the world as a whole can see what you are typing and that anyone following you is open to reblog what you have said. Sharing what you say and do and post is what you sign up for.

A lot of the pony blogs which are out there seem to freely share one another's information - sometimes crediting the source and sometimes not. Your site does credit the source and the username which you would expect and there are other blogs which also do so - this is great . Unfortunately and equally [and as I know from testing the theory out] there are plenty that dont bother and have no issue just stealing/borrowing and reposting pictures - and thats everything from new product news to personal pictures of ponies/customs. I know for a fact we have several members here who have had personal images turn up on other image or blog sites without their permission.

It also does not help that the original source is normally lost in the reblogging path with each site in the chain simply crediting the site previous to it. Check out EQDs recent post on "POP Figures with Packaging Revealed" - those images were taken directly from here on the Arena and reposted there. I know that because I created those images from the background template we use ONLY on the Coming Soon thread. A thread which is meant FOR ARENA USERS ONLY. Is there a credit? Nope...nothing just the name of some unknown person who has taken the pictures and sent them on to EQD. These blogs need to stop pretending to be "news" sites and the people controlling them "pony media"- they are not. They dont do any research; all they are good at is using the copy/paste function on their keyboard. Other blogs do much better and tend to ensure their sources are checked or at least original. I know thats the way the internet works now a days and something this fandom seems to specialise in but not checking and crediting sources is just impolite. I also know I am fighting a battle I wont ever win and harking back to something as old fashioned as common courtesy but I will also admit I dont expect to post things here on the Arena and then see those images or my username all over G4 blogs.

The Arena is not a blog and its not Tumblr. Its a closed membership only forum. We dont allow non users to see pictures, we dont allow certain membership levels access to certain forums, we approve all people seeking membership - its a controlled environment where people should feel free to share but know that in doing so they are sharing with fellow Arena members and not the internet or the entire MLP fandom. If they want the wider world to know about their finds or their opinions, then they can submit them else where or post them elsewhere. There are lots of members who perhaps only use the Arena [and/or TP] and who dont therefore want their username on certain sites or forums.

I think the best idea, and certainly what I would expect and have seen people do in the past, is simply ask the original poster. Whether in the thread or via pm a quick "do you mind if I share this and credit you as the source". 99.9% of people will say sure no problem [I know I would]. Its the courtesy of simply checking that I think is missing.

And look, I know other sites out there already post links to the Arena and sometimes quote names without permission, its a battle which I am not personally going to win. But you posted this in the Corral and I had been startled to see my username used on one of your posts when I dont remember doing anything other than sharing an opinion on an Arena thread, so when you asked for feedback I was going to give it...and if anyone else asked I would tell them the same thing.

So keep doing what you are doing, I am sure lots of people find it a great source of information I just think it would be polite to check with people that they are cool with you at least using their usernames and images [although this will vary depending on if they are just stock pictures or if they are personal pictures].

/rant over

Edit: just to add it should also be done in the reverse as well of course. Anyone sharing images on here which do not belong to them - courtesy would at least be to credit if its website and ideally check to ensure the original image owner is ok with the picture being shared outside the source of their original post.

[Ossie]

I have to agree with most of your post here. Our blog really focusses on giving proper credit to people who submit or share information. We find it only fair that the rightful creator or publisher of images and info gets the credit, and not a random reblogger. I also agree on the EqD part, I often see information with poor sources over there.
The username issue is something that I think a little different about. Since the arena is an open forum, all usernames and information (except for the images) is open to everyone and I think that, in the right context, this information can be shared. But that could just be a little disagreement between us

About the images, I agree with you aswell. If we find stock photos of, let's say promotional picture, we always try to find the source of those pictures. In some cases, we can't find this information and have to credit the person that (indirectly) informed us (being submitted to us, or whoever posted it online). If anyone created their own images it is indeed fair to ask for permission if no other form of copyright or license is mentioned. We have not done so in the past, and I appologize for any discomfort this has caused, we'll try our best to improve our communication when it comes to usage of images.

[hathorcat]

Since the arena is an open forum, all usernames and information (except for the images) is open to everyone and I think that, in the right context, this information can be shared. But that could just be a little disagreement between us

Unfortunately I am going to disagree with you on this. You are more than welcome to your own opinion on this but the Arena is not an open forum we don't protect it to the degree of ensuring you see nothing if you are not logged in because we would like to think members are courteous enough to respect one another and their online identities.

Honestly, you should just post in the relevant thread a one liner and most people will be absolutely delighted to have their name and info reposted And it will make you the politest pony merch blog out there thats for sure!

[Ice Crystal]

Oh, gee. That's good to know.

I volunteer (and eventually inherited from the original owner) for MLP News and when learning how to post to the blog was told that just credit was needed, so I continued on like that for years. I never thought, although I should have because it seems common sense now, to ask to use non-stock/event photos even though I was crediting. Also never considered that someone may not like to have their username posted. Unfortunately the email system stopped working for me so if there were issues, I'd never know. In any event, I, too, apologize and will be asking permission in the future.

Granted, the blog ain't what it was and I think I may let it go soon because I just don't have the energy for it. You guys at All About MLP Merch do a much better job than I do anymore. It was nice to see you pop up since MLP G4 Merch seems to have faded as well.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I will chime in and say that I also do NOT want to see my images/username ever appear on your site or anyone else's, credit or not.  I shared them with the MLPArena community under the jurisdiction of their administration, and I do not want to see them this content elsewhere on the Internet. 

Please treat my request with respect.  Thank you.