I don’t know where it started, but there have been notices of flickr-photo theft everywhere this week. I heard a bit on the news about it and I’ve seen it online. It’s not flickr’s fault, it could happen on any photo service where you set your photos public, but since flickr is so big now – they are the most frequently spoken about. Most recently it seems the social network ORKUT has seen a rampant set of fake accounts set up using children’s pictures. It’s weird, but it’s there. Here are several examples that you can see if you have an ORKUT account.
I first saw it reported here at the account of someone I don’t know. But closer to home it happened to one of my friends and she talks about it here. Reading these testimonies make me crumble on the inside. I know there are freaks out there that could see pictures of my kids. As a matter of fact, I check the account of anyone who favorites or comments because freaks can use flickr as easily as non-freaks. I’ve blocked almost 100 users from my flickr pictures so they can’t favorite them. I guess I hoped that was good enough.
But now people are stealing photos of our kids and using them across the globe. Some say it’s “harmless” – but I say that is MY decision to make. If you truly think it’s harmless, ask me first. No, they don’t “legally” have the right to them, but it’s starting to look like it’s so widespread there’s just no stopping them.
I’m not going to go so far as to never show you all pictures of my kids again. I’m not popular enough to make that decision. I have a small and tight-knit community that reads my blog. I get moderate but not insane traffic. You are all repeat visitors who know me and my kids. I feel like we are family here. But – flickr has a much wider audience and I don’t know who’s over there. I don’t know their names. They are not my family.
So, I did something today that has had me in tears. Seriously. I am crying over this. I changed every photo of my kids on flickr to “Friends and Family.” There are so many of them (3,038 to be exact) that it is taking over 30 minutes. Once it’s done, you’ll notice their lovely faces won’t show up in my banner or on my sidebar. You will only see them if I include them in a post. And you will only be able to see them at flickr if I have you marked as a “friend”. I may change a few photos here and there, but for now? Almost 4,000 photos have been marked private. Hidden even from my real friends and my family so that I can keep morons from stealing them.
I just hate this. I just feel like it’s the only option right now.
So, will you do me a favor? If you have a flickr account will you leave your profile URL here so I can make sure you are marked as a “friend” on flickr? I’m kinda lazy about doing that and I need to be better about it. For those of you in my family who are reading this, I created a login for you all a long time ago. Email me if you need it so you can see the pictures of your grandkids/niece/nephew whenever you choose. Like I said, I’ll still post pictures here, but I’d love to let those of you who use flickr regularly see when I add new ones easily. And I’d like to be able to see your photos as well. If you don’t want to leave your flickr ID or URL here, email them to me. Thanks.
Stupid assholes. Ruin the fun for everyone.
I’m not going to be militant about this. No need to alert me if you see a periodic photo of my kids pop up as public. I’ll probably switch a few back as I see them. Those that wouldn’t be obvious choices for the previously mentioned type of profile thefts. This was just the easiest way to do a blanket sweep to make sure that they were all set as private.
Now you’ll be stuck only seeing pictures of my dogs in the banner. Luckily – they’re totally cute too.
yeah, i did that a while back too. i’ve made some of M public, but only far-away shots and the like. i hate having to think about shit like this. but it does seem we have little choice.
i’m sweetney on flickr, by the way. i keep a pretty vice-like grip on photos, but i think we’re already friends there?
what is it about this week exactly? seems like all the lowlifes have come out of hiding or something… weird.
I hadn’t heard about that, but it totally sucks ass. I’m so sorry you had to do that with all your pictures!
I think we are already “flickr friends,” but just in case, here’s my flickr url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sangrialover/
If you go look at my flickr photos, you should no longer feel bad about us only seeing dog pictures in your banner. Because my flickr photos are mostly of my dog. (Luckily he is cute!)
I’d love to still be able to see your amazing photos. I don’t know which link you need so here’s both (for the photos and my profile)
http://www.flickr.com/people/njpeters23/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/njpeters23/
This sucks for those of us that love photography and sharing our photos. Boo to weirdos.
http://www.flickr.com/people/raava/
That’s my flickr profile if you want to add me as a friend. I just saw Y’s (Joy Unexpected) post this morning regarding one of her pics being stolen by some marketing crook and it made my blood boil. It really made me wonder if all of the other pics of kids on that site were stolen too (probably).
And yes, other idiots spoil it for the rest of us.
I was hoping you would say something about this, too. People are such assholes! I dont’ even have a blog, but tonight, after Girl! goes to bed, I’m making a bunch of changes to my flickr account. It may be too late, it may not even matter – but it pisses me off. i HATE HATE HATE that a few bad apples ruin it for everyone. I love sharing pictures of mah babee, but now I’m just a little freaked out. I guess I have to go back to the good old days of emailing Snapfish photo albums and marking all my pictures (of the kid, or any people, really) private. Sucks.
Don’t forget to get LilZ’s and MrZ’s accounts taken care of as well!
You designed my blog a while ago and I love seeing your kids grow up. Shame on the people who are ruining it for the rest of us. I applaud what you’re doing to keep your family safe. I’m Littledevilworks on Flickr.
I’m with Sweetney, except I’ve been seeing it a bit long than this week. The Internet has officially lost its damn mind.
Mine is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amyrn/
Is there a way to find out if your pictures have been stolen and posted on Orkut??
I’m sorry, that really stinks. I really liked seeing all your cute pictures of the kids (and not in a creepy way, I swear!)
Hi Zoot,
I’m frustrated and sad for you having to lock these photos up. People suck sometimes, don’t they? Honestly.
I’m the one that e-mailed you about a tag on a NikkiZ public bathtub photo in August for point of reference. I’d like to be friended too please. I don’t have a pro acct, so I think this is my address.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80167939@N00/
Thanks.
I don’t comment very often, but I’ve been reading your blog for years. I’d hate to miss out on seeing your beautiful children grow up because of some weirdos. Here’s my flickr profile url: http://www.flickr.com/people/spacecase/
Thanks!
I switched my status some time ago when somebody favorited a picture of one of my kids and I didn’t know them and it sort of freaked me out THEN a couple other bloggers I read had horror stories the same week about Flickr freaks. I hate it too, but the trade was sad but worth it I think. Too many creeps.
I know, and love, that you are such a photo whore so I’m not surprised this is so upsetting. I’ll still know NikkiZ is adorable even if I don’t see as many pictures of her!
Mine is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13763461@N03/
Thanks!
shit, I’m just getting all this set up (blog and flickr) and now this? btw I’ve been reading yours well for a darn long time:)
this is scary!
I’m sorry this made your day a little worse. Please do add me to your friends list on flickr. I’ve enjoyed seeing everyone grow up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22816408@N00/
My username is lakeline. I would love to be flickr friends with you.
This sucks. Now I’m trying to decide if I should make my daughter’s pics private too. I have been planning to for ages, but still feel like she is too little to have to worry… Argh.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelecake/
I do the same thing you do – block people that seem kind of weird who favorite my daughter’s photo – it’s so frustrating though. Why do people have to be yucky?
I added you as a contact today, and here is my flickr address if you want to add me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmrg/. I love seeing your pictures of NikkiZ and Lil Z and it makes me sad that we all have to be so vigilant about stuff like this. *sigh*
http://www.flickr.com/people/10934144@N04/
I’d love to still be able to see pictures. I’ve been reading since we were both pregnant and I would feel very sad if I never got to see your beautiful family again.
My profile isn’t filled out at all, but it’s me, I swear!
Asshats.
I don’t use flickr, so I have a false sense of security. My current security protocol: security through obscurity (not so great). This is the straw for me that’s also making me change all the names on my blog and moving my gallery to another domain and instituting some diligence with cross posting blah blah blah.
It sucks that a few people have ruined the fun for all of us. And, now, the public totally misses out – my kids are sickening cute.
http://flickr.com/photos/sherrypg
This really bites. I changed all my photos to F&F a little while ago. I added you as a “friend” quite awhile back though! I’d love for you to add me too.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamommy/
(IaMommyX2- screen name though)
I am so bummed over this. Why do people have to steal pictures? I understand completely why you are doing this. Please add me! I love your pictures and even though we do not know each other I feel like I have known you for years. I have been reading since before NikkiZ.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shalag/
I only have one pic on my flicker (I use picasa/google). But I will add more if you want to know more about me!
I did sign up for my account with you but I don’t remember what I was supposed to do with it. LOL
I’d really like to think I’m a friend. So, if you’re willing, please add me to your list – as far as I can tell, this is my URL – http://www.flickr.com/photos/70964077@N00/
Thanks!
this is why I never put my kid’s pictures on any of my blogs. It is sad, because I would like to share them, but I feel like i cannot.
oh. I am dumb. I put my Flikr address in the URL.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jptinnl/
I think mine is http://www.flickr.com/photos/marmagoo/
I would like to be added as a friend.
Thanks!!
*sigh* It sucks that people must deal with the insane.
I’d love to still see the pictures of the cute ones, though…it’s either that or I pop over to your street and stalk you [it's a joke...I was going for humor. My husband says I suck at it, though, so it may not have been funny]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joylynn/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26111928@N00/
I hope that’s right. Flickr has my username as “PHS_Wrestling.” That’s my username at tabblo.com, another free photo site, where I posted high school wrestling pictures last year (after wrestling season I used it for photos of hikes, vacations, etc.). When the java upload thingie tabblo had started getting wonky on me, I tried transferring them via flickr, so I guess that’s why it wants to call me “PHS_Wrestling,” and not by my Yahoo ID.
I haven’t used flickr much (but just started having a blog, so maybe I’ll be using it more).
Except my daughter (17) asks me not to put any photos of her on the internet (she has loads of herself on MySpace, but keeps her account private). She’s in a few of my wrestling photos (crowd shots), but those aren’t labelled.
Thanks!
Margie
Would love to be added to your friends at flickr. Would hate to miss some of the fantastic photos you get of your children
http://www.flickr.com/people/42106873@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42106873@N00/
Hey this one of Nikki wasn’t tagged so I think you missed it; it showed up in the banner:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/misszoot/114976083/
and this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/misszoot/306124559/
I don’t think you do have me marked as a friend, so ppplease do
I would miss all the NikkiZ cuteness, for sure!
Here I be: http://www.flickr.com/people/muirnait/
http://megsmind.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12437237@N00/
I have read your site for the past two years and watched the kids grow up, too. Stealing sucks.
Here’s mine.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julie37596/
This sucks. I have seen it happen before and I’m sure it will happen again. The sicko’s and weirdo’s ruin everything. I don’t comment often, but I do read. My profile is:
http://www.flickr.com/people/21072575@N00/
Wow, I never even thought people would do something like that.
Here is my info:
http://www.flickr.com/people/simbasmom
People are ickers.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhirhi
I had to do the same thing with my flickr acct. I hated having to do it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherflaugh/
mine is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pictureprefect/
thanks, zoot!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99807607@N00/
I already had you as a contact, made you a friend so you can see my kid pics too. Now, if I could just get more downloaded…….
What is the deal with all the asshats in this world? They take away the fun for everyone else.
I don’t have any photos in my flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14149927@N07/) because I don’t use flickr, but you and I have spoken over email a few times… I hope you’ll consider adding me! (btw, my account ID is umich0504).
Nooo…what am I going to do with my free time if I can’t sit and flip through your fun photos?
Do work? Eep!
http://flickr.com/photos/crisell/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennalb/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurlaur/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/guenosdias/
Zoot, I seriously love your blog. I swear I am not an insane stalker. I just love your stories about life. Here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jadensmommy24/ I am so not a crazy brazillian.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/watergirlsworld/
I think if you friend me, you get to see more of my pictures too- ones I take of friends I generally make private. I don’t know that they want their faces all over the internets. And now, maybe they have reason to. Although very few of my friends are children…
Ugh. Why do people do that? I don’t get it.
I have been reading about this all day and it makes me so sad. I come to your site every day (even though I think I have only commented a couple of times) and enjoy reading about you and your family. Here is my flickr address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renee30/
I currently only use it to post scanned pictures of my grandparents.
Hey there. Zoot I don’t comment much but wanted to leave my Flickr account.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamie_r/
This really bothers the shit out of me. I have cut back on posting photos of my girls on Flickr lately.
I’m totally a lurker here, but I’m not creepy, I swear.
My flickr url is http://www.flickr.com/photos/clairabella09/
Sorry you had to do this, but I certainly can’t blame you.
I mainly lurk but certainly enjoy your photos. I don’t use flickr much, but here’s my URL http://www.flickr.com/photos/ithinkyoushould/
This totally sucks, but I sure don’t want to miss out on any of your kids’ adorable photos. It is making me think way too hard about how much I share online.
I’ve already added you on my flickr, but here’s my link so you can add me.
http://flickr.com/photos/deew27/
Yuk. I feel so sad about this. What is WRONG with people??
My flickr account is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/32407575@N00/
I think you are doing the right thing- it’s just not worth the risk.
So sad. I just went through and checked on the photos with a lot of views and changed the settings on a lot of the kids’ pics. Creepy and sad.
My account is http://flickr.com/photos/yagottabelieve
We are already friends, but I am doing the same thing with my photos. And it makes me sad.
I found RSMs photo because the person has my daughter’s photo as her user icon. And then several other photos of her.
yes, the internet has lost it’s mind.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyonthewall78/
Please add me as a friend. Part of what’s great about your blog is that you document your family’s life so beautifully in pictures. It’s a shame that there are people out there who would take advantage of your openness, but I totally understand the safety measure you’re taking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/busybusymommy/
I have been thinking abotu doing the same thing I dont list that many pics but I do quite a few.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwitte/
I’ve had you as a contact for a long time, but this way, hopefully, you will know I’m not a freak.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58562354@N00/ Please add us.. Long time reader, I am making all my pictures of my kids private as well
Yvette
momma of two
I don’t comment much but I love your blog and adore your children from afar! My boys aren’t too far apart from LilZ and NikkiZ in age – my oldest is 9 and my youngest is 2.
Although I don’t use it because I’m using Google/Picasa currently (love it, BTW!) my flickr account is here: http://www.flickr.com/people/88454937@N00/
Please add me as a friend so I can keep up with you and your wonderful family!
–Mary
I am freaking out a bit too…
but sure hope I can continue to be a flickr friend
i hate buttheads!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justdawn/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amber-h/
Zoot this is so awful for you. I am sorry for the sickos out there. I am Yenbad on Flickr (I think we are already friends, or at least you are my friend on Flickr.)
Man oh man I hate that people do things like this. I do love seeing your dog pictures, but I’d love to still be able to see all your pictures. I really love looking at your photos in general, since you have such a good eye and you get so many great images. Anyway, here’s my flickr :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zembla/
Hey
I just started using Flickr in part because of you and your adorable kids. This sucks. I have my cousin on Flickr and she is adorable, now I am worried.
My Flickr address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/princesstoots
Bummer. I’m not yet ready to face this decision, but understand why you would make it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shokufeh
http://flickr.com/people/amyofbadgroove/
Is me…and sucks to be stolen from.
oh that sucks
I dont have a flickr account..
just post nice pics of nikkiz and i shud be fine, though
Wow that is really scary!!
http://www.flickr.com/people/maryjors/
Oh that sucks! I’ve been reading about that lately too. On sweet juniper and there was an article about a girl from the States that showed up in a virgin mobile ad in Australia.
I love seeing pics of your family, you are all adorable.
I’m http://www.flickr.com/people/purplelara/ if you don’t mind adding me?
I don’t have kids so I’m not AS worried about all this but I still don’t want anyone ripping of my pictures so I’ve added reviewing my settings/pictures to my weekend to do list as well.
Sucks.
That does suck. I’m sorry you have to take these measures.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryjo951/
This sucks. I don’t get much flickr traffic, but I will probably do the same thing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8631338@N02
I’m malinthemiddle on flickr.
Funny – I just spent the weekend moving a few people from friends to contacts because I really didn’t know them, and now I’m thinking the same way you are – protect the children and will now friend & family my photos of the kids… and I’m so damn proud of them!
Here’s my info: http://www.flickr.com/photos/colagrl/
This sucks. I am going to do the same thing, even though I don’t get much flickr traffic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malinthemiddle
http://www.flickr.com/people/8342442@N02/?search=monetlily_2
I would be lost without your photos.
I’m not entirely sure if I did that right. Everyone else was doing it that way so I had to follow the herd. I think that’s right though. At least you have my user name and ID.
This SO sucks. I recently opened a Flickr account and just finished uploading the majority of pictures I want to put out there. And now I hear this… (Although I did have an inkling of weirdness. I posted one picture of my son from when he was about two and potty training. In the pic he was sitting on the toilet looking cute. Most of my pictures have been viewed anywhere from 0-25 times. This one was viewed over 600 times in just a day! So I did mark that one private.
Please add me as a friend: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cori_s/
Thanks.
I was reading about this on RSM’s blog and she has some links for petitions and things to try and get Orkut shut down. You just do whatever you need to in order to protect your precious LilZ and NikkiZ. I’ll be happy to look at your other “children”. They are also very cute just like mine! She’s a yellow lab and she doesn’t know she’s a dog!
I get it. I actually removed all of my videos on youtube after someone (unknown to me) favorited them. It just creeped me out to think of some stranger watching my kids play in the backyard over and over. Unfortunately, I didn’t save them for myself.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpressivetype/
Is there any way to tell if this has been done to any of my pictures? Would we just need to register that site and check out the profiles?
oh, and as long as I was there, I went ahead and posted these just for YOU
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpressivetype/1441384060/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpressivetype/1441384064/
Zoooot,
I read your blog almost every morning and would be very sad if I cannot see cute pictures of your cute children anymore. My flickr name is julabean and I have pretty pictures from Greece and the promise of cute baby pictures to come when my cousin has her baby in May!
-Julia
P.S. I’m sorry the interwebs are sometimes so stupid. Stupid people should be put away somewhere far away.
Maybe the URL would help more:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julabean/
http://flickr.com/photos/9979802@N03/
Gosh, you have a lot of friends.
Doh. Stupid creepy creeps.
I would love to still be able to see your adorable kids (and animals) on flickr. Feel free to add me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamielynnlynn
All this time I have been messing with Flickr. I am not happy. I will spare you the details, but I still can’t use my url. Don’t ask.
I will figure it out tomorrow.
It’s terrible.
Mine is http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdvelazquez/
Maria
So sad.
http://flickr.com/photos/angiedi70/
http://flickr.com/photos/mandaraine
You know the more I think about this the more pissed I get.
This totally sucks. I was just thinking about using flickr more. GAH! I’m at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/momofmanymaleyoungsters/
That really sucks. I see that you’ve already got me marked as a friend (I’m jasra there). Thinking of you!
Mine is: http://www.flickr.com/people/nme525/
This really sucks that all this is happening.
http://www.flickr.com/people/apsies34/
Sorry to hear of this all happening. But I totally understand your decision, it’s always better safe than sorry.
Dude, you have a lot of people to add!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95665678@N00/
Please add me, you take amazing pictures…
I’m here http://www.flickr.com/people/starlite75/ Just sorta started using flickr again. Love your pics though.. I’ve been a lurker on your blog for a while
Happy Adding LOL
Okay. I think I added everyone. If I didn’t it is because I was paranoid someone was setting up a fake account just to comment here and I’m a total freak. If it really was you and you are not added on my contacts, please let me know. Mainly this red flag went up if I wasn’t one of your contacts. And again – just paranoid. But – if I didn’t add you, feel free to comment here again, or email me (misszoot@gmail.com).
Zoot, I’m sorry you had to do this. People suck! I have been reading your blog for a while. I rarely comment but when I am looking at your pictures and my son says “who dat, mommy?” I say “that’s my friend Zoot’s little girl.” He actually recognizes her now. We are going to miss seeing her!
I’m a bit stunned right now and not sure exactly what to do…
http://www.flickr.com/people/crumleydotorg/
There is my flickr profile, I hope you will add me as a friend. And I will probably spend most of my son’s 3rd birthday weekend doing the same as you.
I looked at the link you had for ORKUT and I feel sick. How is it legal to have a picture of a little child with “Sexy Angel” next to it??!??! I think I would’ve thrown up if that had been my child.
But, thank you for writing this—I don’t use Flickr but have a few things up on Photobucket and just made my account private. I hadn’t even realized it was public and was horrified to see that I’ve had 1000 views!?!?
Here is my flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/reddiva/
I hope that you will add me to your friends list…. I think I am going to go through my photos and mark the ones of my niece and nephews friends and family only as well. It’s pretty creepy that people would steal pics of kids.
http://www.flickr.com/people/fraulein_n/
Creepy people suck.
Hey Zoot,
I’m a regular follower of your blog and love viewing your beautiful pics of children, family, stuff! Although I’m just a lurker, I feel like part of your family by reading your daily posts. I’m not a freak (just ask me!), and I have my own Flickr account. My address is http://www.flickr.com/photos/shamrockmull/
Thanks!!!
I have heard they can get to them even if you have them marked friends and family. They know they way around it.
Ahh that sucks! So is this just general weirdos of the internet or is it people stealing the photos and using them for some kind of profit?
I will wait to ask you to add me as a friend when I actually have more photos on my Flickr account so you can see I am not one the “those” people.
Wow, this really sucks. There are some really messed up people out there who have to ruin it all for the rest of us. Grrr!
I am a regular reader of your website and love checking out your pictures, both of your family and others. Although I rarely used it (I think I had about 10 photos), I had a Flickr account before that used my real name, but because I am attempting to remain semi-anonymous here I just created one with the name of my website. I’d love to be “friended” by you, so here’s my Flickr address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/completely_irrelevant/
I’m thinking now that I have an account and an email to go with my website, I may actually use Flickr more regularly now, so hopefully I’ll have more than just one lame photo up there soon.
Crap. I hate this.
Off to change my settings on my flickr account. Thanks for the heads up.
Holy cow you have a lot of friends. Here’s mine: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amiebea/
Thanks!
Amy
I don’t comment much, just here and there once in awhile. What is happening is aweful. I have you as a contact, but I don’t think I am added as a friend. I would very much like to be.
here is my flickr acct info:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheeka-beeka/
I am not a freak, our daughters are around the same age.
Thanks
Tasha
I still haven’t quite figured it out. Forgive me, I am really slow today. I promise to take another crack at it when I get home from work.
Cause I wanna be your friend too!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shickles
HA! GOT IT! Here it is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenyham626/
I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out!
Quinn says “hi”.0hhh03 vccxcxfcghbjklkl.;/;./’
Hi. Long time reader, sometime commenter. I don’t have kids, but I’ve been taking pictures for about a decade and using Flickr for more than a year. I have removed or made private most of the pictures I’ve taken of other people’s kids some time ago because you just can’t be too careful. Disabling the “blog this” option does nothing because if someone wants to use a picture, they can save it to their hard drive and upload it somewhere else. It sad it has to come to this.
I AM CURSING IN MY HEAD right effing now!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennyham626/
I had my kids photos set to “public” on a photo site, but changed them to “private” very quickly when I started to become added as a favorite member of a few strangers. And strange they were. These members were all middle aged men with hundreds of random photos of kids in bathing suits and bathtubs. All of their favorite members had young children in the same photo situations. I reported them to the website, but they said these members had done nothing in violation of the sites rules, so they could do nothing about it.
Here is my URL for FLickr, please add me, I love your photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88704324@N00/
THANK YOU for this.
I just changed all my photos to private as well.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamamimi/
I have been seeing so much of this lately that I just went through and made a lot of mine Friends and Family only, too. I hated to do it, though. And the kids are a huge part of my blog, so I’m still not sure what I’m going to do there… it’s just craziness.
Anyways, I’d love to be your Flickr friend – I don’t have a Pro account, so I’m pretty sure my address is this mess of numbers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/95912288@N00
Just to double check, I’m bbackpurple, on there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lanisaa
I’d love to be added as a virtual friend. I get such smiles from seeing pics of LilZ & NikkiZ, and love knowing what’s coming up for my son who is a few months younger than NikkiZ.
Here’s our link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeromylindsey/
Sorry you’re having to do this. I’ve considered it myself at times, but I don’t have a blog, so my photos aren’t all that public yet.
http://www.flickr.com/people/mandco/
Mine is http://www.flickr.com/lifehaschanged
I’m in the process of doing the same thing. It’s going to take me forever. I have SO many pictures online.
Do you have any idea how to find out if your kids pictures have been used specifically?
I have been reading for a looong time but never posted a comment. Sorry about that.. I guess I should do that now and then!
I’m so sorry to read about this. I know it happened at Sweet Juniper recently and reading what Dutch had to say about it really made me sad at what some people will do.
Anyway I have flickr (and still have no idea how to use it other than to look at photos my sister and friends post) but I’d love to be added to yours. My adderss there is http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyoliver/
Ugh…it’s just so sad. I’m thinking of doing the same thing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11801487@N08/
I completely understand your decision – I’ve added you as a friend/contact on Flickr, my account is under pugtopia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pugtopia/
Hey Zoot! I just wanted to say that as much as I love seeing the photos of the kids, just looking at the flickr banner today, it was kind of neat to see your other photos, too! Usually I look at the cute ones of NikkiZ and barely notice the other stuff!
I totally understand your decision. Here is my flickr web address. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheltiefan2002/
I hope you will sign me up as a friend-I love looking at all your photos! They turn out so good! I just set my account up and I have dial-up (urrrg) so there won’t be many added to mine till I can get to a computer with high speed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishtail/
I am pregnant with my first kid and haven’t decided how much to have public and private yet. Why are there so many creepy people out there?
[...] Miss Zoot [...]
I was wondering why your kid photos were gone from my recent photos from your contacts thingy on flickr. I’m Geechee_Girl there
Here’s mine, Zoot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58823381@N00/
I am Dawn D-B on Flickr. I love keeping up with the goings-on of the Zoot family both here and on Flickr, and I totally understand your decision.
I am TheMomCrowd on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/people/14252551@N08/
I love watching your kids grow. Its like looking into the future with my own daughter. I like to see what Ace will be doing when she your daughter’s age. I keep a Photo Diary of my daughter online using Gallery on my website and have thought about this issue before. Thanks for writing about it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/msadventurenet/
I’m The Metamorph on Flickr, I’ve had your friended there for a while and I try to comment often over there, as I don’t comment all that often here.
Gah, this stuff is so annoying. People who pretend to be/know someone they’re not/don’t should just be banned from the Internet, seriously.
I have been sick to my stomach since I read about this last night another site. I was wondering what to do, but I like your solution and will be following suit.
Have never had my kids public – but to protect my actual identity….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cursingmama/
Smooches! http://www.flickr.com/photos/maren6300
That sucks so much. I know how much you love flickr. You are why I even joined.
My url is picturepages5.blogspot.com.
My flickr ID is mcgeeexpress.
Sigh. I completely understand why you are doing this, and it sucks that you have to.
My flickr is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/billandmaria/
I lost my flickr account; sometime when it went proprietary to yahoo…. But I’d hate to not be able to see what’s going on with The Zoots.
My flickr is : http://flickr.com/photos/10597758@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/people/21244068@N00/
I would love to still be able to see your fabulous kiddos.
Hey Zoot… I think I am marked as a friend already but if not…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tammykpics/
I am at a complete loss. I don’t know what to do. I am as heart broken about all of this as you are. I have well over 3000 photos on my flickr most of them are of my kids. I hate that jerks are ruining this for the rest of us.
I’m over at http://flickr.com/photos/foundimagination/ but I won’t be offended if you don’t add me as a friend since you have SO many to add and, well, you have no idea who I am : )
Hey Zoot, I read about this at RSM’s site… It’s really sad that people are such… assholes. I don’t understand people.
I’d like to be added to your f-list, but I’d understand if you wouldn’t want to. ^^ My link is http://flickr.com/people/sechakecha
I have a journal over at LJ, as well, but it’s Friends Only. If you’d like to make sure I’m not some kind of freak, though, then I can get you a log in of some sorts.
Hopefully this insanity will stop soon…
Lurker un-lurking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pickingupthepieces/
Zoot, I have heard about this happening and I wish it wasn’t so. I think I am going to follow your lead. I have been thinking about changing my kids pics from public to friends and I think now I may go ahead and do it. It is sad, but I will feel better.
Here is my flickr in case we can still be flickr friends:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55899304@N00/
please add me, I almost never comment but I read every day and your kids are too cute to miss. I am katymac79 on Flicker
My flickr is http://www.flickr.com/photos/christyleigh/ and I would love to be flickr friends with you! Your pictures of your kids are gorgeous!
Zoot,
I am a longtime reader of your blog and would love to be added as a Flickr friend so I can continue to follow the visual elements along with the written.
My Flickr url is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbshopmom/
Thanks much!!!!!
Oh my gosh, I dont know what I would do if I couldnt look at cute photos of NikiZ.
Here I am:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfredsmom/
I love seeing pictures of NikkiZ, specially the ones where she’s being cute with LilZ… so pretty please?
http://www.flickr.com/people/xikita/
I just opened a flickr account so that I could continue seeing pictures of your family. It totally sucks that this kind of crap goes on. So, I don’t know how to be set a “friend”, but I don’t have many pictures on my account, here’s my page:
http://www.flickr.com/skddm
I’ve never commented before but read religiously and love seeing the photos of your wee ones! I’m at http://www.flickr.com/photos/eilidhb
ps – Congratulations!!
Hey Zoot! First CONGRATS on the pregnancy! Second, not sure I have you on my Flickr or not. I too have changed A LOT of my pictures to private, sad I know:(
You may add me if you like: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cucchiara/
I just had to do the same thing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogzillakilla/
username is augieandrenegade
This sucks, but it’s for the best.
[...] of the perks that has come from the flickr drama is that I now have so many new flickr contacts. Which means so many new photos to see. I started [...]
If would love if you would add me to you flickr friends…I love seeing your pictures, I just got my Nikon and your pictures are great inspiration.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/e_and_e/
I just got started, but here’s me:
http://www.flickr.com/people/14409504@N07/
Me too please.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindylou3/
Thank you.
http://www.flickr.com/people/threedogsandababy/
Thanks!
I would like to be added. But I don’t actually post pictures on flikr… but I have an account to look at other people’s… I swear I’m not creepy…
rdelorie
Thanks!
I love looking at your pics.
My Flickr info is http://www.flickr.com/photos/eaboost/
(User E. Alice)
I hope you are still checking comments, I would love to be added to your flickr account!
I just added some photos to my account today (of my son and husband) so you would know that I am not a stalker (previously I only had the account so I could see my brother’s photography shots, but I am just now starting to actually use the account). I do hope you’ll add me, I’ve been reading you for years, but don’t ever comment (sorry about that, just a little shy).
My info is http://www.flickr.com/photos/amylg/
Thanks Zoot! I miss all the cute shots of NikkiZ! Also: CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!!
I know I’m late to this, but meh – http://www.flickr.com/photos/geekbrat/
I’m late, but if you’re still looking, here’s my url:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87162429@N00/
I mostly lurk, but I love your pictures!
I am late too! Been busy, and was just catching up on my Zoot. I noticed some pictures were unavailable and it made me sad. Now I understand. Please add me; I’m Amor y Alegria on flick’r.
Here’s my link and I also added you as a contact! http://www.flickr.com/photos/chemgk/