Public apology.

In a recent post I thought I was being funny about my crankiness about everything that came across my path that day. However, as with most of my posts it was written, sent and not maybe really thought enough about.

Part of that post dealt with the issue of copyright and bounced off a post written by Brenda Gael Smith I said - referring to people who are concerned that their work is not copied by way of photograph on other people's blogs,

"I think they are just missing the point and they are humourless, selfish, uptight people. ( I accept that when I have had chocolate and water and sleep I may think that they are lovely people who are just missing the point.)"


I had meant this to be a crack against my own unreasonable attitude on that day and to say that when I was in a better mood I would not think ill of the people themselves but would see that they had a perfectly reasonable point on which I disagreed. It was meant to be a joke against myself and my bad temper But, in hindsight it was an extremely crass thing to write.


I have had a personal email from a quilter I know and respect who does dislike bad photos of her work being on someone else's site and who was extremely distressed to be described as humourless, selfish and uptight. This person is far from that. They work hard on their web site to share information and resources and they were one of my first influences in quilting. I am mortified that (a) I upset them so much (b) that I may have upset other readers who have not contacted me a (c) that anyone might think that I was calling Brenda herself humourless etc.

Let me make things clear:
1. Copyright law is copyright law. Brenda and other quilters who want to protect their copyright in all ways are absolutely 100% entitled to do so. On my post I did say that Brenda was right.
2. It may make me cranky on a bad day. Lots of perfectly legitimate things do. The fact I am cranky does not alter the law or excuse me writing something capable of being interpreted as a personal attack on someone who is not cranky about the law as it stands.
3. People who want to protect their copyright in a way which they are entitled to do so are not humourless, selfish or uptight. I however, on a bad day react to perfectly lovely and right people in an unfair way which may be funny to many readers but patently not to those who feel themselves to be under attack from me.
4. I am really truly sorry for any offence caused to anyone.
5. The person who emailed me thought that I was calling Brenda herself names. I wasn't but on re-reading the blog I can see easily how that conclusion was reached. For anyone else who also thought that but didn't comment either on the blog or privately let me say that Brenda is another quilter who is more than generous with her time and expertise. She has spent hours and hours assisting our Twelve by Twelve group with her computer and quilting expertise and her blog is chocka full with tips and free tutorials. I can testify - having been with her on a day when she suffered the problems of trying to navigate around Somerset on small, very badly signed roads - that she is not humourless.

I on the other hand am clearly an idiot and I apologise.