I can't share a link because I'm banned and can't sign onto the forum. But, it was pretty ugly.
This guy that I blasted would take one of my videos and turn it into a write-up format. The first video he copied to my knowledge is my Rear Axle Seal / Bearing Replacement video. I mean it is a 100% copy of my work down to the exact specialized tools I use and the techniques I use. At first I thought, I don't really like my work being copied like that, but if it serves people who don't like watching videos, I guess it ok. He did mention my channel in that video and provided a link to my video. Then I noticed he copied my timing belt replacement video and barely gave my video a mention of Page 2 of his write-up. That kind of ticked me off and I exchanged messages with the guy giving him shit about it. He ended up doing a better job of acknowledging my video on his write-up after that exchange. Then recently, I saw him post a write-up of doing LCA bushing replacements. I looked at his write-up, and it was clear again to me he ripped off my content. While skimming though his write-up, I noticed he provides links to tools and parts. Those links were Amazon and Ebay Associates links that you can make money from. That's when I blew a gasket. So, he took the knowledge he learned from me and he's turning a profit from it. That is just totally dirty of him. It's one thing to plagiarize someone in the name of helping people. It's a whole different thing when you're turning a profit off of someone else's hard work. I use Amazon and Ebay links to make money too. BUT, I don't rip off another person's content to do it. I have used information that I learn from other people's videos and write-ups and I do my best to remember to mention them in my videos. However, I have never just copied someone's content and claimed it as my own. That is a dick move.
So, I blew a gasket and started a thread to expose the guy. Man did that idea blow up in my face. I'd say 90% of the comments were against me and I was getting blasted. Most of the criticism seemed to be coming from the Old Guard, the guys who have been on the forum for a long time with a high message count. It was like they were just waiting for me to slip up so they could burn me at the stake. It felt pretty shitty to be treated that poorly on a forum I contributed so much too. And, I got no warning from any of the moderators, like a PM to tell me to back off the guy or I would get permanently banned. I just got a message I was banned for a rules violation and that was that. I did do some inappropriate name calling on a couple PMs with the guy who ripped me off and another dude who was a huge a-hole towards me, but my actions on the actual forum where all civil even though people were clearly enjoying ripping me to shreds.
What killed me is some of my biggest critics admitted they don't even watch my videos. A couple even said they hate my videos but then rendered an opinion on the subject when they don't even understand what I'm claiming. If they watched one of the videos in question and then looked at his write-up, they would see the uncanny similarities and see he's linking tools and parts he learned about from me and understand why I'm pissed off.
The experience left a serious bad taste in my mouth. I really wish I was the type that could let things go, but that guy ripping off my content and turning a profit from it really pissed me off and I couldn't stay quiet. I don't like letting people get away with shit like that. I believe I had every right to expose him for the crook he is. I don't regret blasting the dude one bit. He deserved it.
Anyway, that's the story. Looking forward to a fresh start here.