christine-mcintyre

Good morning Gordon,
I am surprised to find this thread still here. I guess it is what you say, that the moderators will let it stand as an example. In any case, I had already written to Michael Pollock at Solostream last night and received a reply this morning. He is very kind and understanding and there are no hard feelings between us. Whew!
He has explained to me that they do know about the illegal sites and are still trying to figure out what to do about them – apparently it’s not such an easy process. I’m sure they will find a way to protect their work in the future. In the interim it’s great that they have such loyal customers. Even though I didn’t appreciate the manner in which I was treated by some here, I did appreciate that Solostream customers stood up to defend the company’s rights.

Thank you for your kind offer of assistance. I think I will be fine now. I have figured out how to change the theme and I do know how to add plugins and widgets (I’ve been taking tutorials) so I can improve it’s functionality. Now I’m off in search of one that will allow me to load a custom banner. Wish me luck.

You are welcome to visit my blog. It isn’t quite launched yet – only a few people are aware of it. As soon as I flesh it out, I will begin promoting it. In any case, you are welcome to visit. Thank you again!

christinemcintyre.me

Thank you @sgordon for at least giving me the benefit of the doubt. I also thank you for taking the time to explain the things you did. You are a kind (and rational) soul.
It is sometimes very confusing for me and I more often than not feel like a babe in the woods as I try to navigate the web. But I am learning – unfortunately sometimes the lessons come as a result of mistakes, serious ones I might add. I have taken all your points to heart. I will try my best to be more careful now that I know (little miss wendihihi drove the point home better than anyone!) about how insidious some can be.
It is now way past 3am and I am still here trying to find a theme that is legit to use on my blog. I thank you for the list of ‘legit” theme sites, but now I am so paranoid that I’m thinking I don’t know who YOU are and you could perhaps be misleading me. How can I know anything for sure or trust anyone? Things have gotten very tricky indeed!
In fact, in the last few hours while looking around for a legal theme, I have run across other sites that are giving away solostream themes. Doesn’t solostream do a regular check on this? I mean, if I can find them, certainly they can and then of course they could do something about it. I would think, anyway. In any case, I think I’ll take your advice and stick with WordPress Directory for now until I am better informed.
Changing themes will have to wait till the morning as I am exhausted now and heading off to sleep.
Oh yes, thank you for advising me about illegal plugins too. Something else I did not know and would never have thought.
I wonder why it’s taking the forum moderators so long to reply?
I must go…
Thank you for your “voice of reason.”

I have already contacted admin to remove the link or take down the whole discussion. And what about the link that @djeff8593 posted? It too has themes for free – are they legal?
Arrrghhhh. When I wrote that post it was in response to this discussion. I was acting in good faith – stupidly, I now realize.
This whole episode is turning into a huge wake up call.

This is ridiculous. I am no partner in crime. This discussion is coming down immediately.

@aaron929 Sorry but I did not see your post until now. If I had, I would have understood better and responded differently to djeff8593. I now realize that it must be possible for people to steal themes. And for others to unwittingly “handle” stolen themes. I have learned much because of this discussion – in the future I shall be on my guard!

I have contacted Solostream myself and sent them a copy of this discussion. I prefer to be in contact with them directly in order to sort this out. I believe I found in my History menu the site where I downloaded WP Launch. If this site is dealing in stolen themes then Solostream must be advised.

As for djeff8593, you might have simply informed me without the denigration and accusations. People do make honest mistakes you know, especially when they are neophytes. If you had explained at the outset that there are sites that illegally give away themes, I myself would have contacted Solostream immediately. I just now went to the site you posted earlier [link removed] and can honestly tell you that I have never before seen that site. Nor do I have that address in my History list.

But I do have this one: [link removed] I suspect this is where I downloaded WP Launch. But I’m not sure. The truth is I don’t remember exactly from which site I got it as it was quite some time ago and there has been a lot of water under the bridge since then. I’m still looking though my History list for all possible options. In any case, it is between Solostream and myself now.

As for @tsquez, tell me who was the leading Russian feminist at the time of the Russian Revolution? You see, you may not know this (I am not assuming that you don’t, but simply using it as an example to make a point.) And the point is: everyday of my life I learn something new and I never presume that I know everything. Being educated doesn’t make me omniscient. And I don’t expect others to know everything either, educated or not. I may not be as computer literate as I would wish to be, but every day I am learning. And I did learn something very important this evening. Despite the insults.

You know, I’m flabberghasted! Is this how people behave online these days? For your information, I wouldn’t have the first clue about how to go about stealing anything online, let alone a theme. I’m just not that technologically proficient! I have spent the better part of the last ten years in the jungle in Belize – without internet connection! I have a degree in History, NOT computer engineering (although I wish I had a degree in computer something so I would know how to do a simple thing like put up a banner!)
You are making accusations that are completely unfounded, and insulting me in the process. I really have no idea how exactly it is that I got the new theme. I saw it being offered and I liked it and clicked on the download button. It’s as simple as that. Seems to me, if somebody were to steal something like that they would need to have a lot of computer savvy to do so. And, I’m sorry to disappoint you (since you are so insistent that I am somehow in the wrong!), but that just isn’t me. The truth is, I am desperately trying to catch up on everything I’ve missed these last ten years – and frankly, a lot has changed on the web and there is a LOT to learn. Up until very recently all I was able to do with an efficacy was send and receive emails and design a rudimentary website (and that only because I had learned how to do it in Claris Homepage more than ten years ago!)
You are being extremely unfair. As for helping others – yes, it’s true I haven’t helped anyone at this forum yet because I don’t often come here – I have known of the existence of this forum for a few months now and may have come once or twice in the beginning regarding wordpress issues – can’t remember now – but usually I try to figure things out by myself. When I mentioned helping people, I didn’t mean necessarily at this forum. I meant generally in life.
As for disrespecting Solostream, how can I have disrespected them when they themselves were offering their theme for free (and I do remember seeing something about not having access to their support unless you bought it – which is perfectly acceptable considering it was free) You yourself say you would have taken advantage of it:
“If they ever would have offered this theme for free, I certainly would have taken advantage of the offer.”
And yes, I agree there are some very nice free themes available, but the point I’m trying to make is that when I downloaded this particular theme it was free! So please, stop accusing me of something I did not nor could not do!
If you truly believe that I somehow stole the theme, then why not report me to Solostream? God knows, I would love to be able to speak with them!

djeff8593 – It is not for lack of integrity but rather lack of finances at the moment. Your comment is very mean and judgmental, particularly in light of the fact that you know nothing of me nor my present circumstances.
In reply to your question, I got the theme from Solostream’s website. I believe it was a promotion they were offering when they launched this theme. I realize I would have access to their support if I bought it now, and I have every intention of doing so when I can afford it, however, in the interim I would still like to use it as I really like it.
When I come to a forum for assistance, I expect to be treated with a modicum of respect. I help others whenever and wherever I am able, without derision or judgment. When I am unable to say anything kind, I keep silent.

Thank you. I’ve just changed the theme but could always change it back if someone came forward to help with it.
blog address is christinemcintyre.me

I would still prefer to use the solostream wp launch theme, if I can get it the way I want it. ??