I got the following email over the weekend:
Dear David Dust
I have reason to believe that you have used my name and probably my images on a blog, website or any type of uploaded internet post and you have not been given any permission to do so.
I recently found blogs with my pictures stolen from my model page and posted on various websites which are strongly supported and and sponsored by the GAY community which has tarnished my image to both my working environment and my family. If you read the messages below [Note from David: these messages are not included here] it shows that I have contacted various sites and have attempted to remove my images already.
When I google my name a link to a post on you comes up and I am trying to reduce any more damage to my image. Please remove all images and my name related to any of your blog post or similar. If you havent used my name or image I apologize and disregard this message.
Very Concerned
[REDACTED]
After a quick investigation, I found out that this guy is a model and DANCER (more on that later) and at least one DustBunny blogger had posted his pictures and (gay gasp) NAME - but I most certainly had not.
Here's what probably happened. The aforementioned DustBunny blogger posted this model/dancer's pictures on his blog. Since there is a link to DavidDust on my friend's blog, this model/dancer assumed I couldn't resist his hotness and immediately posted his "stolen" pictures on MY blog also.
Closetcasesaywhat?!? First of all Missy, I had to Google your tired ass because I never heard of you. Ever. When I did a Google search, there were certainly no pictures of you with links to my blog. And judging by the last sentence of your poorly-worded email, you obviously didn't take the time to investigate which blogs actually thought your pictures were worthy of "stealing". THIS blog (and blogger) certainly did NOT.
Now let's address the (hot pink) elephant in the room, shall we?!? You are a DANCER and you think that being featured on websites which are "strongly supported and and sponsored by the GAY community" is going to hurt your little Cha-Cha career?!? Mary, puh-leeeaase. Girl, you need to look at your life and look at your choices. No one forced you to put on tights and toeshoes - but once you did, your "image" became gayer than Liberace at the Ramrod on a Saturday night. During Pride.
Embrace your inner (and judging by your pictures - OUTER) Nelly - it's the only way you'll ever truly be happy.
Oh, and by the way ...
Note: I replied to his email and basically said "Um, never heard of you. If you provide me with a link to where I've posted one of your pictures, let me know and I will happily remove it".
I truly have no problems when models email me and ask to have their images removed. Sometimes their careers are starting to take off and they want their image to be a little more controlled/exclusive - and sometimes models change careers and don't want future employers seeing them in a pair of skivvies. But when they email me with A) No example of any instances of me using their pictures on my blog and then B) Flat-out tell me they don't want to be included on a "gay" website, then I have a little bit of a problem.
But, then again, it's Monday and I could just be cranky ...
.
