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I want to run a situation by you guys and ask what you think I should do because it is driving me crazy.
In feb of this year I started an eBay group for artists who paint ponies (topp ponies) I invited all the artist who has listings and the group got on its way. I started the group with the ideas that we could eventually have a logo within our auctions that set us apart from other artist, that we could do philanthropy work and donate ponies etc to help different causes have a website etc you get the idea.
Months went by and stuff wasn’t running right- some of the artist within the group thought that everything should be voted on- including whom to invite into the group. I invite a couple people without telling anyone (I was the group leader) and several people freaked out about it- I wasn’t really strict in the beginning of the group so I wrote a long explanation saying I was the leader and I could invite whomever I wanted- and that it was silly to have to vote on every little thing- this post was on the angry side and it stepped on some toes. This broke the group into two separate groups- people who supported my taking control etc and people who wanted me to step down as leader- one of these people was also the mod whom the group have voted on.
It got so bad that two people left the group- two of my supporters- who basically emailed me in private and told me they were sorry but the negativity of the group was too much and the group wasn’t fun anymore. OH and I forgot to tell you I made a website- purchased the domain and hosting and made the entire site for free… I can’t even guess how many hours of work down the drain.
Anyway- the group who didn’t support me was suggesting I step down and let another person run the group- I am not going to lie this seriously pissed me off- I was the one who started the damn group- why should I step down? Through out all this crap there was crying and anger on my end. Anyway- as soon as the two people quit the group I decided to shut the group down. The negative energy was just too much to overcome (and I’ll be damned if I am going to let someone else take over my group and act as though it was their idea etc- I know not the most mature thing but I didn’t care)- and I did apologize for being so short in the letter I wrote but I don’t think they really forgave me. YOu know how online situations can get out of hand because you are not face to face.
We had a logo that one of the members helped design (he was one who quit the group but supported me)- we had a coa, and we were all including the logo in our auctions etc- we were even in the middle of a project to raise money for a charity.Now here is my problem- the two women who were really against me- started another group. We were the CPPAA and they are the AAOPP… the are using the same logo with different initials- and they are promoting their group like it was the same group I ran- putting the AAOPP into their auctions and bragging about how they are the only artist association for painted ponies and how special the artist are who are members. I have been trying so hard to be the bigger person and just not care- but it is killing me that they took my ideas and are making them seem their own. The whole group idea was mine, the logos in the auction etc the charity work— these were all my ideas when I originally invited the members to the group.
If the group never goes anywhere I wouldn’t care- but I can’t help but think down the road they may actually gain customers because of the AAOPP logo in the auctions etc and I am having trouble letting it go.
I wanted to put and explanation at the end of my auction explaining how their group got started off of the original CPPAA
Then I was thinking about asking to join their group just to see if they would deny me– which I don’t think they would because it would make it seem as tho they hold a grudge. But my husband says this seems like I am admitting they are right and begging to join- which isn’t why I would ask to join– I would ask to join more as to just cause upset within the group as they try to figure out if they should accept me or not- I know this sounds evil but I can’t help it
😈 Even if they accepted me I would not use the logo etc- maybe I would just join so I can see what is going on– being nosey.
So I can put an explanation of how they are stealing my ideas for their group within my auction, I can try to join their group just to be a thorn in their sides… or I can do nothing and say I am the bigger person… but this last one is so hard. Oh- or I could start my own group (Again) as competition- and be very very picky about whom I let join etc.I don’t want you to tell me what I should do– I want you to tel me what YOU would do if in my position. Please be honest… I really want to know what other people would do in my situation.
Thanks for listening!
My parents just went through something similar with an education group they started. After several years of work another couple members decided they didn’t like being “confontational” and a whole new set of leaders were elected. Now the group is wishy washy and useless, unorganized and lazy and they all know it. They still ocme to my parents asking for help and advice – and Mom and Dad provide it. They’re no longer part of the group, but they’re indispensible. If I were you, I’d do the same. The logo, the idea are yours. The people of AAOPP know it. I would join the group and make myself indispensible. No matter whether I actually ever get to boss again. I would make use of my work, I would reap the fruits, and I could pursue my idea. Plus, the AAOPP people would feel rather uncomfortable, knowing they relied so heavily on the person they originally dissed.
first of all, for me, I would ask the fellow artist that made the logo how she/he feels about them using it. If they do not feel well with them using it, then a request should be made that they take it down. I would talk to the artist that made the logo as it should be them that makes the request and I would back them up.
the second part about joining..I would consider a few things first: Could I emotionaly handle being in this new group? would it just make me even more emotionaly upset? what type of stresses would I run into and can i HANDLE that stress?
Because of my own health, for me these questions are a lot more important then they would be to other people..but for others they still can be useful. If it was me, the answer would be that I can’t handle the emotional upset and stress it would cause and the affects it would have.So I would stay away from it all and maybe watch. Maybe even start a new group that is ONLY me and the artists i respect the most or are friends. If I did that, ask my friends that were sapporting me if they would like that better, then we could also have the right to use the old logo.
In the end though, I would just sit and think over these possibilities for a while, consider what could happen with each and ask the opinion of other people who may be or end up involved. If I see an option that I think I can handle and would be good, that is the one i would go for.
My comments are pretty much the same as Koshii’s.
In regards to the logo issue, the only thing that I would add is that if they’re uncooperative about removing the logo even though they’ve been asked to, is to evaluate whether the time, effort, and stress needed to force them to do so is justified by the potential gain.
I personally would re-open my group with my original logo, like it never shut down. I would def NOT join their group. That, to me, is the worst idea. If reopening your group is not an option, then just ignore it.
I understand GB’s idea about making yourself indispensible to the new group. If they have to come running to you all the time, that might make you feel better and it would be a very subtle form of revenge and is probably the more mature thing to do…..but, personally that wouldn’t work for me….I’d have to go with Ski’s idea and reopen my site (original logo and all), be very careful about who I let join and then act as if the other group wasn’t even there.
starbreeze wrote:I’d have to go with Ski’s idea and reopen my site (original logo and all), be very careful about who I let join and then act as if the other group wasn’t even there.
Same here. I would also ask them not to use the logo, because it’s not theirs – well, I’d see what the artist who created thought about it, if she/he’d want to joing your group, etc.
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http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htmskigod377 wrote:I personally would re-open my group with my original logo, like it never shut down. I would def NOT join their group. That, to me, is the worst idea. If reopening your group is not an option, then just ignore it.
This is what I did (reopened original group)- I invited 3 people. I am going to give it a week and see if they respond. If not- then I am just going to drop it. The person who created the logo isn’t even selling on ebay anymore because of how things went. I am still talking with him but I didn’t even mention the logo etc.
So far one of the three I invited joined and we are discussing if having the group is worth it at all etc. I don’t really need the promotion- but it nice to have other artist to talk to- like the PYO section of this site- where you can discuss thing etc that pertain to you pieces.Thanks for your input everyone. You were right- why would I want to join their group and cause myself stress? I will keep you guys updated on whether or not I keep the group open etc.
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