This week facebook allowed you to select a user name so people could find you more easily. You could select one name and it could not be transferred, edited or changed, so you were advised to select carefully! At 12:01 Saturday morning when it became legal to select your user name, people went online and grabbed their name, usually their real name, in order to have their own dedicated URL such as www.facebook.com/larrywinget.
I certainly had every intention of picking my username when I woke up that Saturday morning but I didn’t plan on staying up and camping out online to grab it at 12:01. So when I woke up that morning and went to get my user name, I couldn’t because a dirtbag, cheeseball named Eric Winager had already made larrywinget HIS username. Why would he do that? I couldn’t figure out how using my name would benefit anyone other than me. What good would my name as a URL do someone who wasn’t named Larry Winget? It turns out I am not nearly as devious as some people.
I contacted Eric Winager, who proudly claimed to be an Oklahoma Alum and who already had about 350 facebook friends of his own and asked why he would grab my name for his user name. His response to me was this:
Eric Winager: To be honest, I’m a huge fan. I’ve purchased all of your recent books and enjoyed each of them a lot and have found the applications helpful in my own life. After reading your books I assumed that me grabbing your facebook name would make you upset (rightfully so) but I took it because I wanted the opportunity to meet/speak to you. I read almost nothing in four years of college, but after picking up one of your books I have read more in the last year than I have in my entire life.
Larry Winget is a brand, one that you have worked very hard for. I’m not interested in tarnishing the brand in any way. I would love the opportunity to meet with you face to face (on my dime of course) for dinner, or even a phone call at some point for me to bounce some ideas and questions off of you. If you would be interested at all, please let me know.
If not, I didn’t take your name on facebook to try and extort money from you or get anything else, so I am more than happy to turn the name over to you no questions asked. Whether that be facebook allowing a transfer of the name, or me giving you my login name / password and you taking over my account and making it your own, I have no problems either way.
I apologize for the inconvenience of me taking your name but I have a feeling if it wasn’t me it likely would have been someone else.
This guy took my name to meet with me because is a fan? That’s a bit scary! Remember Stephen King’s Misery? I had to reread his letter to see if he wanted to meet me for dinner or EAT me for dinner! And “sorry for the inconvenience?” Seriously, you steal my name, it can’t be transferred back, it wastes tons of my time, it confuses my friends and fans who want to find me, it’s sends people who are looking for me to some jerkoff named Eric Winager instead of me and it’s an inconvenience? I would call it more than an inconvenience; I would call it a colossal pain in the ass. “If it weren’t me, it would have been someone else?” Really? There are more of you “name squatters” out there ready to pounce on my name? When it’s only been available to do for eight hours? That many other weasels want to use my name too?
I won’t bore you with my response (but I have copies of the entire exchange for legal purposes) but I did point out that he could have just been a man and asked me what he wanted to know like thousands of others do. I asked him if he really thought that this action would ingratiate him to me and inspire me to help him, call him or have dinner with him?
Eric said he couldn’t afford to hire me as most people do for consulting so he knew, that while wrong, he could get my attention by stealing my name. I explained that I help lots of people for free and that all it took was one honorable man asking another honorable man to help him. If he had done that, it would have probably gotten him a response. Not dinner for sure, maybe not even a phone call, but it would have gotten him a personal response. As people who write me can attest, I respond to each one at NO charge. The problem is that he wasn’t an honorable man.
I pointed out to Eric that I had two fan clubs with nearly a thousand members and nearly 2,500 friends who were not happy with him and his disgusting action and that I am sure many of them would be in contact with him. I then reported him to facebook and asked that my friends and fans also report him for having a “fake profile” as well. I filed an Infringement of Intellectual Property report with facebook as well.
I informed Eric that I had done this because I believe he needed to know he had been reported and that his name had been given to all of my friends and fans as a complete douchebag. Of course, many of my friends and fans were already contacting me to tell me of his sleazy actions before I even had a chance to inform them. Eric then wrote me to offer me his account saying he would give it to me and I could use his account as my own. Like that was a solution? I have an account, I don’t need another one! I also reminded him when he signed up for my name that facebook made it clear that usernames can’t be transferred. I asked him one more time to do the honorable thing and just contact facebook himself, tell them what he had done and ask them to transfer it to me in order to fix his mistake. But that would have been taking responsibility for his actions. That would have been the honest, honorable thing to do. Again, Eric is not an honorable man.
So at that point, good ol’ Eric changed his facebook account name to Jay Smith. When Jay Smith showed up at facebook.com/larrywinget I then wrote Jay/Eric that it would take more than a name change to fix this and within an hour this dick had deleted his account completely.
While I may sound like I am breaking my own Larry Winget rules and whining about something that isn’t that big of a deal, I can assure you that isn’t the case. Yes, it pisses me off that someone took MY name on facebook. But that isn’t going to hurt me in the long run. I am easy to find via the Internet and on facebook and having a facebook URL isn’t something that will create any more success of cost me any money. But it is a big deal when someone steals. It is a big deal when some dirtbag actually thinks that it makes sense to take something that has value or belongs to someone else for their own personal gain. It is even more upsetting when that person thinks it is okay to then barter or sell it back to the person they stole it from.
At one point, Eric even said, “I agree that it would have been more upfront, honest and smart for me to have written an email asking.” Eric knew he was being dishonest, it just didn’t bother him. He admitted his action wasn’t smart. He didn’t care. He admitted his wasn’t being upfront. He lacked integrity.
Isn’t that the real issue here? People lack integrity. This little theft of my identity is symptomatic of the bigger problem. People think it is okay to steal. They feel no regrets for doing it. They feel no responsibility for creating problems for others. They have no regrets. They feel justified in their deceit. And when caught and confronted, they aren’t willing to make it right by taking the action to fix it. Instead, they take the coward’s way out and run from their responsibilities. Eric thought he escaped his problems by deleting his account and by ceasing to exist as far as facebook is concerned. But he didn’t cease to exist. He is still out there. As the saying goes, “you can run, but you can’t hide.” Guys like Eric are everywhere. They never figure out how to make a name for themselves, so they make a name by stealing the name, fame, or credibility of others. People plagiarize the works of others and think it’s okay. People go on the social networking pages of others to advertise their stuff to the fans of others because they don’t have any fans or friends of their own. People take too much change because the clerk gives them too much back. I even got responses to my rant about this issue from people who said that Eric was smarter than I was by beating me to the punch and I deserved to lose my name. What is wrong with people?
I got rid of Eric Winegar on facebook. I also made thousands of people aware of this dirtbag and his lack of integrity. I exposed him for what he is: a thief and a criminal. I proved the power of friends and the positive side of social networking by turning many honest folks against this thief. But he still got by with it. We have to create a society not where people get caught and go away but a society where people don’t even think about doing this in the first place.
All of us have to learn to stand up for our rights – but it even more powerful when we learn to stand up for the rights of each other. This is not about me having facebook.com/larrywinget. This is about every American learning to live with integrity. And this is about teaching your own kids that actions like this are unacceptable.
By the way, I still don’t have facebook.com/larrywinget.
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Larry, you are so right!!! We need more people to do the right thing!!!
I just have introduced you to @Ed_Dale on twitter and vice versa. He has the same kind of problem.
Seems like those types of individuals believe the world owes them something. “I have no money … you gotta help me for free.” And even if you help them with good advice they continue complaining, “are you crazy that book you told me I should read cost 11 bucks …” They want your little finger and your arm too. Your notion, “if he wants to eat with me or EAT me., ” was spot on.
I hope you have your username soon. Of course technically it’s not a big deal at all. Facebook needs to move a bit. But they actually allowed that problem to come up, which was not very smart. I don’t think you would give a loaded gun to a large group of strangers. Actually giving each one a gun.
I was shocked to see that Facebook even allowed arbitrary usernames for profiles. I do not quite understand why, because profiles are for real people only; no pen name or stage name, no brand name, no companies or organizations,,, no nickname.
So what is it good for?
But you are right of course, not the open door is the real problem, it’s the scumbags and thieves.
Yours
John
All you can think is how low will someone go? What a fool that person is.
I think it is pretty low and also indicates a lack of integrity on your part that you requested FB to close down his account on the FALSE basis of him having a fake profile over this nonsense. I mean seriously. You could have just taken /larry.winget or some other variation that makes sense. Glad you aren’t my friend. (Are you sure your name isn’t Mr. Petty?) Making a note to be sure that you never will be!
Geez, what a jerk! Why do people think that doing something annoying (and illegal) is the way to get them to notice you?! And then they think that you are going to want to do them a favour?! Einstein was right: human stupidity is infinite.
Isn’t your name a trademark? Because I think (and your lawyer would know better than I) that if it is, you could sue this stupid guy for infringement.
Sorry you didn’t get your proper username, but I hope that Facebook will work with you to rectify what was clearly a misappropriation of your identity.
“This is about every American learning to live with integrity.”
Why only Americans?
Dear Jaime – this is an astounding response! it truly surprised me. If you were paying attention to what I posted, I didn’t ask FB to close him down, he ran like a coward and closed himself down. BUT, I would happily have him legally charged for trademark/copyright violation and I WOULD have had FB shut him down and lock him if possible. No mercy for thieves and liars and scammers. AND for your information, larry.winget goes with larrywinget so when you get one, you get the other, therefore he had both already. It just didn’t seem right for me to have settle for lwinget1 while he got to use my real name. The real question that perplexes me is why you would think I lack integrity by standing up for myself and wanting to use my own name? How am I wrong in any of this? He did use a fake profile in that he wasn’t who he said he was. He was wrong. And I am right. There is no grey area here. I think you will be hardpressed to find anyone who is going to agree with you unless it is a person of little integrity. Obviously you have never worked hard to make sure that your name stands for anything. I have. I have worked twenty years to make my name stand for something professionally. And I have worked my entire lifetime making sure that my name stands for something personally. As for you never wanting to be my friend – I don’t see that as a problem for me either so we should be good then. All the best to you – enjoy your world where you think it’s okay to be a thief. And please know, you are EXACTLY the type person this article was written about.
Sorry to disagree, but this guy was actually pretty smart.
He took something of value to nobody else but you, and was able to obtain an audience with you. Your response wasn’t exactly what he was expecting, but with all the hatespeak that you’re now spewing, I’m thinking he might have some libel money coming.
Barry Bonds hits a homerun. It’s his last ever home run and he wants the baseball to commemorate it. The guy who catches it wants to keep the baseball. Or sell it. Either way, someone is going to pay.
Now, I know you have rabid fans that will probably think I’m a total and complete moron for ever daring to ever disagree with you, and I do see your points, but I’m not totally with you on this one. I am a big fan, and I do talk about you to my clients and buy your books as gifts.
He stated clearly to you that he did it only to gain an audience with you, since there is zero chance he would ever be able to. He also stated clearly that he would relinquish his (however unrightful) claim WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Now, I don’t know the content of the remainder of your conversations, but I do know that if I say “no questions asked” than it means just that. Of course, if you then call me a scumbag lier cheeseball, I might not be so forthcoming.
You say that he wasn’t smart, but I disagree. His execution was poor, his response probably worse, and his thought process short sighted, but he sure succeeded at getting your attention in a creative fashion. And for some people, that’s all they need to get their foot in the door for a job, scholarship, business opportunity, etc. In this case, it backfired in a big way, but what has the guy lost? Absolutely nothing, since he had nothing in the first place. After all, in America, necessity is the mother of invention. That is, if we’re even inventing anything here anymore.
Dear Larry:
You are absolutely correct in calling Eric’s actions a lack of integrity. These days, people are constantly making excuses for their dishonesty and thievery, as if their need outweighs the needs of the people being screwed. (“But I am short on money, so I cannot pay you per the terms of the contract even though you completed the work.”)
My rant: The whole idea that my client needs the money so that they cannot pay me for the work I completed for them does not feed my children or keep a roof over our heads. Once someone is screwing me and by extension my family, I do not care how bad that person’s situation is; the bottom line is I am being screwed.
Anyway, bravo for taking a stand and calling a spade a spade.
De De
“No mercy for thieves and liars and scammers.” I am behind you 100%. I am sure that if it was another Larry Winget that got it before you it would not have been so bad. I never got mine either and when I did a search, I found the guy that has it his last name is McCready and his middle name is Hamilton. Go figure. I also agree with John Furst’s comment.
Larry,
First, people like Jamie outrage me. I have learned, the hard way, that people who lack integrity do not have a place in my life. Period.
I see situations like these happening frequently -stealing things that don’t belong to you. In Arizona, we have something called Career Ladder which is incentive pay for teachers. I was the Chair at my school this past year; people were cheating and expecting to get paid Arizona taxpayer money. They felt they “deserved” it without having to do the extra work that comes along with the program. I reported the cheating, and in one case forgery. I had teachers begging me not to report it because even though they didn’t cheat, it might mean that the program would get pulled from our school/district. Really, is this who you want teaching your child? The “higher” powers didn’t want to look at this because it would show that they weren’t managing their staff. I was asked to “overlook” certain things. I was blackballed and not renewed because of my “staff ethics.” I was told I didn’t follow the chain-of-command so I did not have “staff ethics.” The problem was that I did; I was ignored, so I moved up the ladder. Stealing in any form is absolutely wrong and it is absolutely okay to make people aware of it. Sometimes sharing stories makes people aware of the slime that is out there.
Thank you for sharing your story. I think we need to be aware that there are many out there that completely lack integrity and try and justify it.
Regards,
Jennifer Burcham
Aaron – The problem was that he couldn’t turn it over to me – ever. If he had taken it to get my attention (a dumbass move) and then actually been able to immediately give it to me, that would have been different -still stupid but different. In this case, the name can’t be turned over/reassigned/transfered/edited once you have chosen it as your username. Facebook makes that clear when you pick your name. He clearly knew that his offer was an empty one when he made it.
You stated there was zero chance he would ever get an audience with me. How would any one know that without asking first. As I stated, man up and ask. I help people every day for no money and send out hundreds of emails to people who ask me questions. I can’t get to every body but I do what I can. He is a coward – he was a coward – he will always be a coward. Perhaps now, he will be a coward who at least thinks first.
I appreciate your support.
Larry
There’s a very good reason why Larry was ticked off by this guy’s action- its called identity theft. Especially since Larry is a known name/celebrity and has products, etc. in his own name.
There’s no excuse for this Eric idiot’s actions. I hope he has leanred a valuable lesson from all this and grows up.
I think Eric must have accidently picked up the book, “How To Be A Complete Idiot!!” by Louie “One-Eyed” Wing-it!!!! LOL
And Aaron,…….WHAT????? I think your argument in defending this guy’s actions is totally weak and completely backwards. In a way….(albiet a bit more extreme….) that’s kind of like saying that John F. Hinkley was somehow justified by his actions…. by attempting to assassinate Ronald Regan in order to gain the attention of Jodie Foster…..
The ends justify the means, right??? WRONG!!!!
And as for the argument that Eric could somehow benefit by his actions, (i.e. get his foot in the door, business opportunity, etc.,) if I were a employer, and he told me of this, or I found out about it, I woulldn’t be thinking, “Now THERE’S a go-getter!!!!” I’d be thinking what a immoral, selfish, and frankly, loathsome person he was, and I’d have security escort him out of my office.
This is not someone dealing with a full deck here. And as for the slander part, I don’t think that would hold, since his character is strongly in question already….
Larry,
First of all I´m a real fan of your way to thnik on life and bussinness matters,
I´ve been following your site ans specially your blog from a couple of months ago and yes I have some of your material,
Regarding this specific issue with the facebook url, I can understand your anger because as you stated it this url had nothing to do with this persons name, but what would have happened if this Eric Winager may have been a real “Larry Winget”?, just thinking that you may not be the only person with your name, will your reaction would have been the same?, what would you have done then?.
Thanks for keeping the mind busy.
As usual, you’re right on target. I’m
sorry you had to go through this mess.
So you want to get noticed? Do you go up and slap someone in the face so you can get noticed? Okay, yes, you got noticed, but not in a good way……what an idiot. How sad that he didn’t realize that he could have just sent you a nice email.
I guess you can just say that Eric and Jamie just proved you right that – ‘People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It’. I’m sure you already know, but FB knows where to find this guy…..when he signed up for FB that info went somewhere in their database. They should do the right thing by you and find him and take appropriate action.
It’s too bad that this guy just wasted your time and everyone else’s. I hope you are successful in finding the jerk.
That is why I really appreciate you and what you do and stand for. As a consultant time equates to money and I am sure you spent way too much time working through this problem. To bad you can’t send him a bill for time spent on his “concern.”
Keep Writing and Motivating!
Best regards,
Greg Leavelle
btw – A Google search of him brought him up in a couple of places….he can’t hide very well.
There are enough opinions on this you don’t really need mine. But one thing is for certain . . .our ability to be anonymous is gone with Social Media.
Eric was wrong and now the entire world knows it . . . when someone Googles him, odds are this blogg will be found and it could be found for years. This little stunt, and that is what it was a stunt, could haunt him when trying to find a job or getting other business connections via the internet.
There is no statute of limitations on the internet, its a very unforgiving medium for us all.
Be wise and be careful in all your Social Media activities – you have no privacy here.
And don’t say, if you have integrity you don’t have to worry about it. Everyone has great relationships and everyone has some where we have locked horns with someone . . .imagine all of your dirty laundry coming out here for all the world to see – every mistake, prank you pulled at a kid or screwed up customer service situation could be played out and totally from the other person’s side . . . imagine if it was your son or daughter being targeted after they did something stupid . . .
Step carefully is the lesson here.
Taking someone’s name as your own is the easy route. Working to build your own brand with your own name? Time, effort, and butt breaking work.
I remember going to myspace because supposedly a singer/songwriter I admire had a site, so I thought it would be fun to see what he was up to nowadays. I was a bit surprised at the illiteracy of the webpage; this particular artist is a Rhodes Scholar so I expected something a bit more coherent. As it turns out, it was NOT his site, some “fan” who finally got around to mentioning that after he was called on the carpet for it. While I don’t know the artist personally, it’s not hard to imagine he wouldn’t appreciate the so-called tribute without explanation. After decades of work, who would find it flattering?
So, Larry, I don’t think you overreacted. And I don’t think Eric’s actions are defensible. And besides that, after a certain point of learning from someone you admire, isn’t it time to build your networks, real and cyber, and apply what you’ve learned with your own brand? You know, live your own life as best you can?
Larry,
If he cancels his account, wouldn’t facebook.com/larrywinget become available?
I think this is something facebook will be able to easily resolve for you. As I recall, the process included an assertion that the user had rights to using the name they reserved to protect against this very situation.
I imagine your good name will be yours again without much delay!
Larry,
Aaron is defending Eric’s position that “there would be zero chance to get a personal audience with you”, so it’s pretty ironic that you got back to him – personally – an hour later.
Good try, Aaron.
Eric was inventive at best. Most of us could be very inventive if we threw our moral judgment out the window. Do what’s right.
Ide say you handled it the way it should have been handled.
the guy is obviously an attention whore. props to you Larry.
I can’t help but wonder…if at 12:01am, Eric Winager was thinking…”I can get money out of Larry for this”…then had second thoughts after he completed the profile creation…so he ‘made up’ the story of wanting an audience with you. Of course I can’t know his real intent… but I have a hard time believing his ‘story’.
He may have sent messages to friends and family or spoke to them about what he had done..and one of them talked some sense into him… how serious of an action this was and the ramifications of his actions… so he back-peddled, and came up with this story of “meeting you”.
I find his excuse of wanting to meet you for dinner seems a little half-baked to me…but that is just my opinion. I don’t know the guy or his intentions.
Sorry to say this, because honestly, I would rather look for the good in people. But I think he crossed a line he should not have crossed.
Aw, come on Lauren. David Hinkley was insane. Thats not even close to a decent comparison. I have no doubt that Eric is at least minimally sane. After all, he can effectively use the computer and put together a plan logically, even if it is a bad plan. There is a difference between false logic, and bad logic.
Larry, I do appreciate your response. If you’re ever in Tempe, drop me an e-mail and I’ll take you to lunch at Doc & Eddie’s by my office. Like I said, the guy was wrong and shortsighted, but I don’t think he was doing it out of malice and ill will.
A few things for everyone:
Identity Theft involves pretending to be someone else in order to steal money or other benefits. Eric did not commit identity theft (yet) because he had not attemped to steal or redirect funds from Larry.
Extortion involves receiving ill-gotten gains through performing services through coersion. Eric comes close here, but negates any illegal conduct by offering to buy Larry lunch. It is possible that by requesting Larry’s time, which has value, in exchange for the vanity name, he may have attempted to extort him. The IRS would see differently, as they do not allow for a value to be placed on time.
Check out the story of nissan.com and Uri Nissan’s struggle against the Nissan Motor Corp. This poor computer builder/tech got sued for copyright infringement, even though he registered the URL before Nissan was Nissan (it used to be Datsun). The court ruled that Uri was in the right all the way up to when he started placing ads for other vehicle manufacturers on his website. The court allowed him to keep his URL, but ordered that he not have any auto related banner ads.
Larry, I think the guy meant well. He’s a big fan. He got the name for you. I am sure there are other Larry Wingets in the world who could have got it, too. I think you are spinning this all negative. He even said you didn’t have to meet him for dinner on his own dime and he wasn’t asking for money. He just wanted to touch base with you. No where or anytime have I heard a “thief” be so honorable. He even said he would give you his password and you can take over the account. Has all your money and success made you such a butt wipe? I think after you just chill out a bit you’ll have a change of heart. This guy meant well. Sure, he went about interacting with you in an odd ball way…but at the same time he was thinking out of the box, wasn’t he? Call the guy and apologize. Show some kindness. Your kindness and understanding could really change this guys life for the better. Instead, you beat him down….. publicly… unmercifully.
No sympathy here.
1. It’s bound to happen over and over. Remember the .com mess?
2. If your brand is that important, you should have been online immediately
3. I’ve had my own Facebook brand for years and you can do the same thing.
4. Who are you?
Great, 2 grown men acting like children. We really need so much more of this on the internet.
Larry, if this guy read any of your books as he claims he had, he would know right off the bat that this wouldn’t get him anywhere with you. I mean, think about the effort this guy had to go through to get your name on Facebook: waiting up til 12:01am, signing up and so on. He was so willing to pay you for an audience then why didn’t he go through the proper channels like any other paying client?
Still, I’ll give this guy credit in one place: he’s got some stones pulling what he did. Its unconventional, and it did get your attention, just in the wrong way. He took a chance, and it bombed on him, and that’s the way it goes. Its like that interview with Tom Cruise where the guy squirts him with water in the middle of the interview. The question “why would you do that?” comes to mind here as well.
I think it sucks that you had to go through all that to straighten it out, and still didn’t get your name back. I think people serious about getting your advice can find you easy enough without Facebook, but it is the principal of the thing which can be frustrating, and not something I would want to go through.
Aaron is “Spot On”, dude you went on a rant and acted all pissy when you could have handled this on your own! You are lucky all he wanted was to meet you. He should have taken the name and made a buck or two, this is about business and money!!! Many companies and people had to spend lots of money to get their DOT.COM sites as others had snatched them up knowing the true value. Identity theft would have only happened had he pretended to be you. He did not do this! He got your attention and you got your panties all twisted. Dude you have a “Boot Room” and you let this guy get you? Or was your action a way to garner more fans and keep the action on your Twitter? When you walk with your “Balls” in the lead sooner or later they get kicked. At least the guy had sneakers on!
Larry,
the problem today is you don’t have to “man up” like the old days. You can hide behind a computer texting, instant messaging and playing games like the joker who stole your facebook name (I’m thinking facebook attracts those types anyway). I have never been on it and have no plans to be on it. My daughter live on it, having read your books I don’t see a match either…I know you hesitated to be on it so maybe that was the correct reaction, just a thought.
I have been teaching my 15 year old son if you want to ask a girl out don’t email or text her “man up” and ask her face to face. The interenet and social websites allow the weak to pull crap like stealing your identity possible. I doubt he would take your driver license or show up at the DMV saying he is Larry Winget that would be too hard for a weak interenet idiot like Eric. I was taught that integrity was doing the right thing when nobodies looking. It takes a person of character to do that.
Here is a tip…If you want to learn about somebody take them golfing and watch what happens. Watch them cheat, throw clubs lie about scores, quit holes and pickup short putts..
I run into Eric’s all the time and realize how weak they truly are. As for his comments, “Knowing better and doing better are two totally different things.” The best part is I’ll bet the real Larry fans aren’t afraid to ask you directly for advice.
Larry,
I appreciate your bringing this problem out in the open. It is unfortunate that there are people out there who think the end justifies the means. I see this a lot in the workplace now and it is very upsetting. What I hate seeing are the young 20 somethings who think actions like this don’t hurt anyone.
Sometimes you hit a point in your life where all you have left is your “good” name. Either Eric and some of his fans have never hit that point, or they are used to using whatever name is handy. Jay Smith comes to mind. I am proud of my name as I know you are of yours. Hopefully he has learned his lesson from this and takes mroe care with his own name.
Larry:
How would you like it if another speaker changed their name to your exact name? This happened to me about a decade ago when a newer speaker decided to change her name to mine. I was stunned! Luckily, because I’m a bestselling author, my name is considered copyrighted. My lawyer sent her a cease and desist and she changed her name the next day. Do you think there might have been a little confusion w/people looking for me and booking her?
Some people are naive. Your example was beyond naive.
Hi Larry hi folks,
yes I am a fan of Larry and I like his books. They inspired me and I did free promotion on my website for his books. I mailed Larry about my gift and is marketing cheef sent me a short meassage back. That’s the response you get if you are doing something nice or helpful. But if someone like Eric who steals your name Larry, he gets tremendos feedback from you. I believe you are sending the wrong meassage by giving him so much attention! That will encourage even more people to do similar things like Eric. Larry how would it be, if you give the same ammount of energy to people who love and support you, even with little things. I think this would encourage people to do the right thing! Best wishes, David
Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life. It’s Called Work for a Reason and Success is Your Own Damn Fault. People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It. You’re Broke (in a Facebook URL sense) Because You Want To Be.
You ever wonder if you get exactly what you put out into the world?
I’m not condoning his actions BUT it is your responsibility to protect and go after what you want. You should have been ready at 12:00am in order to fend off the idiots. There’s NO EXCUSE for you not doing it if it meant that much to you.
No offense Jim but this doesn’t compare to the water gun on Tom Cruz. I think Larry over reacted and went on to embarrass this guy. His heart was in the right place. He offered the name to Larry by giving him his password. Larry to spite his face wasn’t man enough to take the high road and see what’s in this guys heart. That’s what matters. Larry now has a second rate domain with a hyphen when he could have had the real deal. What a shame. Everyone lost? What the hell is a matter with people these days? …..so quick to get offended and angry. Well, I say to Larry…. Admit your mistake grasshopper, apologize for unnecessary meanness, and move one. I’m still buying your books Larry. I can forgive you for this. I use to get angry, too. I know where you’re coming from. Were all human. I just don’t see this guy out to hurt you and you’re blasting him.
Larry, I think you are over reacting. While it is obvious that Eric made a mistake in registering your name, the bigger problem is with the name registration process and facebooks inability/unwillingness to let people change their name after they have choosen it.
I notice that most of these comments are about the “story” of what happened. However, the point of this particular blog is “All of us have to learn to stand up for our rights – but it [is] even more powerful when we learn to stand up for the rights of each other… This is about every American learning to live with integrity. And this is about teaching your own kids that actions like this are unacceptable.”
It’s attitudes like Ken Leebow’s (“No sympathy here… It’s bound to happen over and over. Remember the .com mess?”) that seem so “American” today; so out of alignment with integrity that it’s no wonder we are seeing the economy collapse. It was attitudes just like Ken Leebow’s that opened the door to Hitler’s rise in Germany and to the concentration camps that wiped out much of the Jewish race.
Jennifer Burcham got it right: “Stealing in any form is absolutely wrong and it is absolutely okay to make people aware of it. Sometimes sharing stories makes people aware of the slime that is out there.”
What I’ve learned from you, Larry, is that it’s okay to name names and give specifics when I’ve been wronged and have the evidence to substantiate the facts. That’s an important lesson for me, because I have a tendency to ‘protect the guilty’ by not stepping up with the entirety of my justified anger.
Reading your books (and your blogs) has empowered me to shout truth from the rooftops and also to look within for the lies that I am telling myself. Poor Ken Leebow is lying to himself. It isn’t “bound to happen” if enough people tell the truth.
Thanks, Larry.
Aaron, I guess I didn’t understand the point you were trying to make in your original post. If so, I apologize.
I guess I felt that you were justifying Eric’s behavior; that it’s ok to do whatever you want, no matter the cost, as long as you achieve your desired end. (In my defense, I did preface my comparison saying it was extreme… 😉 )
I’ll agree with you that Eric’s approach was creative to say the least, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call him “smart”. I can’t imagine how he rationalized that Larry (or anyone else for that matter…) would be OK with his actions, and be happily willing to give their time to him.
There is a certain irony that it was an Oklahoma alum who squatted on your Facebook name Larry. After all, the dictionary defines a Sooner as “a person who settles on government land before it is legally opened to settlers in order to gain the choice of location.” Hmmmm…
Holy Crap are you serious? I cannot actually believe there are people that are agreeing or trying to justify this quote “DOUCHEBAGS” actions. I am slowly starting to lose respect for the people of this country. I’m real sorry to hear you have to go through this crap Larry. You know the old saying what goes around comes around so he’ll get his regardless. I respect all that you have done and worked so hard for so keep up the good work and don’t let one loser ruin it for you.
Brax,
“Larry to spite his face wasn’t man enough to take the high road and see what’s in this guys heart.”
If I walked into the grocery store and stole a box of cereal to feed my kids because the store can afford to lose one box, it’s still wrong, I’ll still fo to jail, but my “heart was in the right place”.
Piss off you ignorant scumbag.
Seriously? I’m sorry, but “get a life” is totally applicable. If you’re sitting at your computer at 12:01 AM in order to get another man’s attention, YOU’RE A LOSER (and this is especially applicable if you are a heterosexual male). And for anyone out there that thinks that any of this has ANY negative reflection on LARRY, well, you’re just STUPID. Stealing is STEALING, and if you’re seriously advocating that you need to be a pill popping, caffeine freak who sits up at night in order to STEAL ANOTHER PERSON’S NAME THAT IN NO WAY REMOTELY RESEMBLES YOUR OWN……….. I think we all know where I’m going. And to blame Facebook?? Please. When IS it okay to ACTUALLY BLAME THE DIPSHIT THAT DID THE ACTUAL DEED?? Or are we now a country of advocates for stupidity and neediness. Get ahold of yourselves, people. I can’t believe that grown ups are even HAVING this conversation right now. The only responses to Larry’s blog should have been “DUH.”
DUH.
For those of you who have agreed with this Eric sociopath, you are equally as f@#ked up and out of your goddamned minds.
Larry Winget is a world renowned branded trademark. When Eric Shyster registered Larry’s name, he took away ANY chance of Larry ever using it again.
This guy’s action was in every sense malicious. If he did it to meet with Larry, then that is extortion. If the guy was clever, then he was clever in a malicious way.
Lou, you are one major league scumbag to say that the guy should have used it to make a buck or two. Larry has worked his ass off for the past decade, traveling 250 days a year away from his family, building his reputation, and some weasel-assed punk stays up to watch Conan and steals the name? That’s right you dirtbag, he STOLE the name. Maybe YOU wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if someone did that to you, but in Larry’s case, it’s his brand and somebody f@#ked with his brand. You can’t f@#k with the Sony brand, Coke, IBM, Apple, Hertz, or Hilton. The same goes for a person who relies on that brand name to feed his family.
And Brax, to say, “Larry to spite his face wasn’t man enough to take the high road and see what’s in this guys heart.” you are one twisted stupid-ass son of a bitch. What was in the guy’s heart was extortion.
What the hell is the matter with those of you who think that this action was ok? Where the hell are your scruples and integrity? I wish you could post your photos so we could all draw some well-deserved “L’s” on your foreheads.
I’ve been a fan (outside of Facebook) of yours for years. I had the pleasure of being in your audience when you spoke to my husband’s company on the eve of their merger with another company in 2001. My children, then 12 and 14 became major fans and your CD, “Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life” became the #1 played CD in our house…and was for year. (I wish you had a miracle remedy to get kids who LOVE your advice to TAKE it!) ha
I’d Just like to thank you for continuing to stand up for what you believe is right. There are so few people willing to do that today. I’m sorry for the conflict, but appreciate you keeping us informed.
I think it’s a sad, sad world when people’s sense of entitlement, let alone their unethical if not illegal actions are excusable — and someone’s right to defend his name and reputation not justifiable or deemed “overblown” — because “it’s part of doing business.”
You’re kidding me, right?
I would applaud anyone trying creative ways to get my attention. But at my expense? No. And in this case, it was at Larry’s expense. C’mon. Extortion is extortion. Just because I said “please” or simply wanted to meet with my bank manager when I robbed it (and I have every intention of returning the money, “no questions asked”), it still doesn’t make it RIGHT. Or excusable. Or wrong for protecting what’s rightfully ours.
I can’t speak for Larry, but if this guy’s name was truly Larry Winget, he wouldn’t care much. This has NOTHING to do with taking a username. It’s about integrity. It’s about doing what is right. And if you think Larry went overboard for such a petty thing, I have two things to say: 1. When is doing something wrong no longer considered “petty”? Where do you draw the line? And 2. It’s a slippery slope.
Way to go, Larry.
If you have to do something so stupid and irreversable to get noticed, then you’re sitting on your brains. To say “everyone is doing it, it’s okay” tells me that you have never had it done to you. I’m with Larry and his true friends 100% on this one.
The best part of this whole soap opera: I am going to laugh my butt off when I read all about it in one of Larry’s future books.
The ONLY way this could have in any way been “right” would be if his name was also Larry Winget. Otherwise, it’s just wrong!
None taken Brax. I think of it like this. Let’s say I wanted a Facebook name like facebook.com/barackobama. My name isn’t Barack Obama, and I suppose I could have made a buck off that, selling the name to Barack Obama. That still doesn’t change the fact that:
1. I am not Barack Obama
2. I am only registering my Facebook site like this to either get attention, or to sell it off.
3. The account is technically the property of Facebook, so I couldn’t sell it, even if I wanted to.
Its about principle, and I think that’s what Larry’s getting at (unless I’m missing something, which is entirely possible). A lot of celebrities have been impersonated on Twitter, and they’ve been a lot more colorful than Larry.
We can’t control what other people do. We can control how we communicate to them, how we perceive their actions, and how we allow their words/actions to affect our emotional state.
Unfortunately it seems we live in a world where all people seem to care about is “themselves”. It’s me..me..me and all others be damned. I ask myself daily “what the hell is wrong with people?” If you find the answer to that one, please clue me in.
The lack of integrity seems to be something not taught by parents anymore. Perhaps they have been too busy working. I’m not sure what it is but there do seem to be more rude and dishonest people in the world then ever before and it makes me sad.
Merle
Kit says: The ONLY way this could have in any way been “right” would be if his name was also Larry Winget. Otherwise, it’s just wrong!
Right on, Kit.
The first clue was in the opening line of his first response:
“To be honest, …”
You don’t have to state the obvious truth.
I’m 5’6″, I weigh 200 pounds.
And I NEVER start a conversation with, “To be FAT with you, …”
‘Cause it’s obvious. To me, or anyone else who looks at me.
But Eric didn’t MEAN to be dishonest, and he didn’t come up with the idea on his own. It’s been around ever since the Internet began.
Somebody else told him about it, and it seemed to be a good idea when he heard it.
I’m guessing he’s pretty depressed right now, and feeling pretty foolish, too.
Larry, you dont need me to tell you you are right, Some people know that truth and honesty is the way to live, some people may never get it, some people need their toes stepped on, Thats where you come in, Their is only one Larry Winget.
Hello Larry
I can believe that happened. There is a lot out there going on with Identity Theft. In the next few weeks I will be putting on a semiar about Identity Theft Prevention. What you need to know about Your Identity. If you want a good read then just read the book called “The Silent Crime” by Mike McCoy.
Sorry about the creative email address but I would hate for you to think I too was trying to impersonate you or anyone else.
I think this is unbelievably petty on your part. From what I gather he did not steal your identity nor create a fake profile. He used an alternate url provided by Facebook in an attempt, albeit foolishly, to gain contact to a celebrity who up until this whining rant I thought to be a straightforward and stand up guy. You know just as well as anyone that it is not a crime to take a URL extension with no malicious or fraudulent intent. He wasn’t trying to “steal your identity”. It sounds like you were pissed off just as I was that someone with a different name than yourself took a name you really wanted. For obvious reasons of detriment, I will not reveal my name.
With that said, come on bro, man up yourself. All those books you wrote and your podcasts and other stuff all you email marketers send out preach about the same thing. If you want something you go after regardless of who or what stands in your way. In his mind he thought this was right, it wasn’t, but he thought it was and it doesn’t violate the law and contrary to Michel Fortin’s comment is no where near being similar to robbing a bank to meet the manager. You are a man, a very well branded man, but a man nonetheless. Seeing how you are not compensated by facebook he did not steal your money. People only search for you on facebook if they already know who you are, the url makes it easier but not having it doesn’t make it any harder to find you on faceboook.
It amazes me that you being as powerful a marketer as you are would be so petty to destroy this guys reputation and force him to cower simply for the benefit of publicity. You could have just as easily conference called Facebook execs with him and explained that he made a mistake and wants to rectify it immediately. They say there is no changing names because this obviously would have happened to every celebrity on facebook in an attempt to extort money or for other gain if they didn’t. Nothing in URL’s is permanent but they don’t want to spend their time babysitting facebook accounts. I am sure in his mind he had a completely different reaction in mind than the one of you doing exactly as you preach not to do, WHINING.
While I do side with you that it was not the brightest thing to do, I still think you have better things to rant and rave about than this BS. You may or may not publish this comment because you don’t like it, but at least man up and stop WHINING about it.
Please explain to the others on here who are obviously trying to kiss you butt, that it won’t make them any more likely to meet you than the moron who took you facebook url.
eric is the result of bad parenting.
Folks…this is what Eric said, “If not, I didn’t take your name on facebook to try and extort money from you or get anything else, so I am more than happy to turn the name over to you no questions asked. Whether that be facebook allowing a transfer of the name, or me giving you my login name / password and you taking over my account and making it your own, I have no problems either way.”
This is not stealing. This is not squatting. This is not malicious. This is an over zealous fan that made a mistake making a dumb move. We’ve all made little mistakes. Give the guy a break…he was handing it back over to Larry and he hadn’t even had the name for 24 hours.
Larry, could have had his FB name in a 10 minute phone call..maybe 15. In fact, Larry spent more time beating this guy up and probably pacing back and forth calling him every name in the book. I think ego got in the way here. In my humble opinion, Larry could have taken this as a compliment and called the guy up and said thank you so much for getting the name for me how can I help you. Share some info and say goodbye. Everyone is happy.
Please, don’t get me wrong….Eric’s screwed up….but he’s not a thief.
Brax,
You said, quoting Eric: “If not, I didn’t take your name on facebook to try and extort money from you or get anything else…” to which you commented, “This is not stealing, squatting, or malicious.”
Oh?
You failed to quote the rest from Eric, where he said he wanted to bounce a few ideas off of Larry. Well, sorry to inform you Brax, but that’s an attempt to get FREE CONSULTING.
When Eric said he wasn’t trying to “extort money” from Larry or “get anything else,” he was not only STEALING from Larry, he was also LYING in the same breath.
Two for the price of one.
And you think this was petty?
Something has certainly gone awry if people think this was petty and nothing should have been done about it.
I equate this to stealing from a bank with the promise of returning it, “no questions asked,” just because one wanted an audience with the bank manager. To me, it’s no different.
Sure, there was no violence. Sure, there were no threats. And sure, there was no actual money stolen. But he did try to usurp Larry’s time, expertise, and brand reputation (i.e., commercial value). He wanted free consulting.
Petty theft may be petty, but it’s still theft.
I recommend watching this brilliant video from one of my favorite consultants, Perry Marshall, about why he doesn’t do free lunches, entitled “Those who bite the hand that feeds them, Lick the boot that kicks them.”
perrymarshall.com/bite-the-hand-that-feeds/
Respect goes both ways.
“Eric” said: “… I didn’t take your name on facebook to try and extort money from you or get anything else, so I am more than happy to turn the name over to you no questions asked. Whether that be facebook allowing a transfer of the name, or me giving you my login name / password and you taking over my account and making it your own, I have no problems either way.”
Look, here’s the thing. Facebook made it abundantly clear in their explanation of the new URLs that there would be no transfers. As I recall (and I could be mistaken, because I *was* up at midnight to register *my* Facebook URL), there was even an “are you sure you want to do this, because once you click ‘OK’ this is irreversible” dialogue box that popped up to confirm the URL selection.
So “Eric” was being disingenuous, at best, when he said he would turn over the URL to Mr. Winget. And what good would it have been for Mr. Winget to be given the username/password of the account? Mr. Winget already *has* a Facebook account; he doesn’t need two of them.
Whether “Eric” admits it or not, he is guilty of extortion. The definition of “extortion” is: “unlawfully obtaining money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.” The fraudulent assumption of Mr. Winget’s name on Facebook, and the subsequent offer to turn it over to Mr. Winget in return for a free consultation, do amount to “coercion.”
Wikipedia has a nice little article on “extortion” that would be instructive for those of you who think that “Eric” did nothing wrong. Consider these statements (from the wikipedia entry):
“The actual obtainment of money or property is not required to commit the offense.”
“In the United States, extortion may also be committed as a federal crime across a computer system … or in using any instrument of ‘interstate commerce.’ Extortion requires that the individual sent the message ‘willingly’ and ‘knowingly’ as elements of the crime.”
“Theft by extortion is commonly called blackmail.”
“Neither extortion nor blackmail require a threat of a criminal act, such as violence, merely a threat used to elicit actions, money, or property from the object of the extortion. ”
“Coercion is the practice of compelling a person or manipulating them to behave in an involuntary way (whether through action or inaction) by use of threats, intimidation, trickery, or some other form of pressure or force. These are used as leverage, to force the victim to act in the desired way. ”
“Eric” stole, lied, and extorted. He may have committed a federal crime. He certainly displayed a deplorable lack of ethical and moral sense. His actions were deplorable and criminal, and Mr. Winget is completely within his rights to defend his good name and his trademark, and the intellectual property that they represent.
THIS GUY HAS READ ALL THE BOOKS, LISTENED TO ALL THE AUDIO, BUT APPARENTLY DOESNT APPLY THEM OR HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND USED HIS OWN NAME TO BEGIN WITH. BUT HE FIXED IT, IF HIS INTENTIONS WERE SO GREAT WHY DID HE CHANGE IT TO JAY SMITH? LETS HEAR FROM THE REAL JAY SMITH NOW. LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT BOOK.
I guess the difference for me is sure Eric wanted something in return for the domain name but did not require it.
You bring up a valid point that Eric screwed it all up for Larry because Larry already has a FB account. So, what’s Larry going to do? Get Eric’s password and username and take ownership of the account then tell everyone at his old account to add him on his new account. Yea….a big pain in the rear for Larry because Eric did a really stupid thing. I would have done that. I did it before on MySpace.
So, again because Eric gave Larry an out…a total freebie I don’t look at him as a thief just someone that did a screwed up thing. Now, if Eric didn’t make the offer to give everything to Larry without Larry having to do something for him, I would have no mercy for Eric and would encourage Larry to throw a few bucks to his attorney and make Eric’s life miserable.
May I add something to my previous comments?
Agreeing with Larry (something I do now and then but not always) is not automatic butt kissing. I’m too old and arthritic in the spine to get my floors as clean as I’d like them let alone caress anyone’s posterior in any fashion.
Saggy bottom line: If tomorrow you found yourself with nothing in the world except two things, you could start over and rebuild a new life successfully…
your word and your name.
If someone misrepresents the first and misuses the latter, you’re more than screwed.
Better to take a preemptive strike than to sit back and say, “Oh he means no harm.”
Hey NOT WHINING… you need your diaper changed. Everything about you stinks, bro.
Hey Editorium… Incredibly well said, my brother.
Larry, you know what I think the problem might be here? TV shows, magazine articles etc. that give stupid advice to people about how to get the attention of prospective employers and whatnot, by doing “bold” and outrageous things like this. Idiots read accounts of people who supposedly got jobs by bursting into the CEO’s office, or showing up at his home, or delivering themselves in a box with a bow on top and crap like that. Jobs, lovers, anything you want can be yours if you do something outrageous enough to be noticed.
We’re led to believe the idiot “impressed” the person in question with their “initiative” and “outside the box thinking.” I hear these kinds of tall tales all the time, and they encourage idiots to make a nuisance of themselves by grabbing someone’s attention using obnoxious means that can’t be ignored. “Be bold! Take a chance! Nothing ventured, nothing gained! DO SOMETHING MEMORABLE!”
Complete idiocy. And while a handful of people may have found success using this mythical method, most just come out looking like morons and stalkers. You really want to get someone’s attention, in a positive way? Don’t be so desperate for it that you’ll act like a jerk.
I just took facebook.com/LedZeppelin and I am NOT GIVING IT BACK!!! until Robert Plant his dinner with me.
Larry is within his rights and Eric was foolish.
But lambasting Eric across the internet seems rather harsh – and brings Larry too close down to Eric’s level for my comfort!
Using or taking what is not your’s, without permission IS THEFT!!!!!
Boy what a jerk he was! Recently I had a conversation with my daughter about someone one at her work stealing. Being the good kid that she is,she found something a patron had left at her work she put it aside where only employees could go with a note describing the person who left it. The next time she saw the patron she asked if she had the item returned to her. NOPE,the item was missing from where my daughter had left it,the poor women had the item only a few days and now it was gone! How does a mother who has raised her children right explain to them why a person steals? It’s just doesn’t seem enough to say they are just jerks.
Does Eric also think that Rape is a great way to meet women?
If he actually read ANY of your books, he would have known he had a bad plan.
Larry:
You probably won’t see this since I am responding so late, but I actually think that you UNDERREACTED.
I think that you should go after the douchebag with the full force of the legal system (criminal as well as civil). Do you think that if you had taken up his offer to turn over the account to you that HE would have forgotten the username and password? He was probably hoping that you would do it so that he could gain some financial advantage from your use of the account.
The hippie-dippie side of me would like to believe that all people mean well, but the pragmatic side of me says, “When someone shows you who they are, you need to believe them.” To me, Eric is like a stalker. He admired Larry so much that he wanted to become Larry. How scary is that?
In cyber world (or the real world), we really can’t predict how someone will behave in the future. I think that the thing to do with troublesome people is to try to make their behavior as costly to them as possible, thereby giving them some incentive to stop. Otherwise, who knows, problems could continue for a long time.
Larry, you are a great teacher with a lot of integrity. Be careful out there!
There is much difference between imitating a man and counterfeiting him. ~Benjamin Franklin
To all,
It seems to me that most people on here are focusing on the legality of this which is stupid! Yes I said stupid, why is that?
In Oklahoma it is illegal for the owner of a bar to allow anyone inside to pretend to have sex with a buffalo.
I am by no way saying laws are stupid but to live by the letter of the law does not make you a good person. The law has gray areas, life does not.
There are no laws that force the general public to live with integrity. To clear up what integrity is here’s the definition
adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
or barney style “doing what is right even when no one is looking”
Larry should not have had to wait online at 12:00 to keep some idiot from taking his name.
He also shouldn’t have had to “take the high road” as some of you put it. In my opinion he did take the high road. Yes he humiliated Eric, he did Eric a favor. I have read 2 of Larry’s books (the first two non-fiction books outside of school I’ve ever read) and Larry from what I can tell is a simple man to figure out. All he expects is
1. Live with integrity (we covered what that is already)
2. no one is perfect when you mess up admit it, own up to it, correct the problem and move on.
Since Eric screwed the pooch on #1 all that he needed to do was say “You’re right Larry I’m sorry, I’ll contact FB and explain the situation to them” then actually follow through with that.
What did Larry do wrong here? Nothing. I know you fearless defenders of Eric are probably thinking “he overreacted though” in what way? By giving Eric consequences for his actions? In his last book Larry outlines that a bad behavior when ignored breeds more bad behavior. So yes he did give consequences but, I’m sure when Eric made his FB account there was a little voice in the back of his head that said “this isn’t right” he admitted he knew it was wrong…well if you know something is wrong DON’T DO IT!!! That is what is wrong with people today “know what I mean”?
I would be willing to wager that now that Eric has “burned his hand on the stove” he won’t soon stick it out again without thinking “wait a minute, last time I did this it HURT!”
He just wanted to get Larry’s attention although misguided? That’s completely ridiculous!!!
How in the name of God could you think that it’s a good idea to try and get the attention of a man that lives his life with integrity by doing something underhanded? Not only that he thought it was going to end well? He expected to have dinner with or talk to Larry on the phone? That makes as much sense as poking a 150lb dog with a sharp stick just because you wanted to get it’s attention. You’re going to get it’s attention all right but when it’s not what you expected and it bites you in the ass don’t blame the damn dog! YOU poked it with a stick YOU knew it was a bad idea and yet like the idiot you are YOU did it anyway. Hmmmmm seems to be a common factor there….for those having trouble reading between the lines that common factor is YOU!!
In summation Cudos Larry for having the compassion (not a typo I mean compassion) to teach Eric a small lesson on integrity and honor. My only fear is that I don’t believe Eric learned from his mistake. People like that seldom do.
– Adam
what was this guy thinking? did he even try to contact you for help before he steals your identity? or was his first thought “i don’t have the money to pay for help, but i need it. so larry owes it to me” what is wrong with our society that people no longer work for anything, and think they are entitled to everything. the world owes you nothing. when will this douchebag, and all the other douchebags that support him learn that this is not the way to get someones attention? larry has worked hard for years to become who he is, and this guy swoops in just to steal larrys life work and says “my bad. no harm no foul”? come on, get real. this guy deserves more than just a slap on the hand
larry, if nothing else, i have become a bigger fan of yours. and i have added the true larry winget to my facebook friends
I cannot fathom what goes on in the mind of someone who thinks taking your name, even though it is wrong, is a good way to meet you.
This person never learned proper socialization, now did he?
Who was that nut who thought he would get a date with Jody Foster if he shot Ronald Reagan? Not quite that loony but close.
I have no idea about your work or who you are. I read Michel Fortin’s blog and he mentioned this post.
I understand your anger that comes through in your post. I am at the very beginnings of building my name and this would prove to be annoying, but personal insults… really! It just doesn’t sit well.
This could have been sorted out, you could have the name you want in a matter of days or weeks and only a few of your fans would have known what has happened.
Instead this man will be plagued by your words and I am sure you are ready to take responsibility for that as he will have to for his part.
I am not condoning what he did. Forgiveness is never about condoning something but about letting go of it. I just think a little forgiveness and sorting this out with him (or getting someone in your team to do that) would have gone a long way. If Nelson Mandala can manage forgiveness after 25 years of being locked up then it shouldn’t be that hard for the rest of us.
He messed up. Big time. He did something for attention (which he got all be it negative) and probably didn’t expect the response he received but I personally don’t believe he deserved this one either.
I guess this is a prime example of “the stupid things people do to ruin their lives” because no matter how sorry he may be now this will follow him around for a while.
There was a very well known internet marketer who had his name used on Twitter by a fake and everyone followed this fake person. When they found out it wasn’t the actual marketer they just unfollowed and ignored the person who did that. This marketer let everyone know what his actual Twitter name was and got on with life. People like that get very little out of doing things like this.
With your fan it doesn’t seem as if he was after your subscribers and that was his intention. He just wanted your attention and your time. People do crazy things when they are “in love” 🙂
At one time I was connected to 3 “Oprah Winfrey’s” on Myspace – whether any one of the 3 actual was her who knows. It happens, but you are a big enough brand not to be troubled by it and to make it disappear so it has no major effect. Now thanks to this blog post it will be around for a while and you will be judge on your response.
There’s a guy called Andy Beal who has written a book called “Radically Transparent” all about building and managing your online reputation. Its a good read and will help anyone who might have to handle a situation like this one.
As the “pit bull” of personal development maybe this is your way of dealing with things. There have been a couple of occasions when I wanted to do the same thing, a well known online network using my name after I left and another online marketer. But I chose to breathe through it and let it go. I did get in touch with them, I gave them time to remove my name and I laid out what would happen if they didn’t. On both occasions they did and life continued.
It’s your name. There is no disputing that fact. You have every right to defend it. I will ALWAYS defend my name. I just don’t believe that this blog post and the name calling is the most effective way of doing that.
This is a real hot topic at the moment.
But seriously Larry you have shot yourself in the foot.
I know for fact that Facebook vanity urls CAN be trasnfered by Facebook if both parties agree (It’s not instant or automatic).
The bully boy tactics and the social engineering of the deletion Eric Winager facebook account is a pathetic way of trying to gain control of the situation.
I do NOT agree with Eric’s actions to register a vanity url that may misrepresent you. However it’s your responsibility to work it out with him and facebook and not make it a social war across the Internet.
Think about it before using School yard bully tatics to get what you want. I think you’ll find the nice and easy approach will work better.
Regards
Myles Agnew
Myles –
My foot feels fine but thanks for your consideration. “The social engineering of the deletion . . . ” You give me too much credit. Something happened and I told the story. I didn’t engineer anything. I just reported it and the consequences played out the way they did. Welcome to the world – the REAL world. By the way, if you were paying attention to the exchange, I tried the nice and easy approach by asking him to fix it. Didn’t work so well. But exposing the TRUTH almost always has the desired effect.
For all of you losers who think I am wrong in this, you are indeed the problem with society. You are the people who go around doing your best to erase that line between right and wrong. You can call all of us who stand for integrity and honesty names like buttwipe and bully and loser as you have done here and at the end of the day, we will all still be standing – TOGETHER. Because we get it. It really is that simple. We get it and you don’t.
My wish for you is that you wake up before it’s too late. Your rose-colored world is wilting.
Although I hate cyber-squatting and people that take names such as this with no intention of using it for the purpose it is intended… I must say I’m finding it odd that this is referred to as stealing, and that anyone can feel they have a right to a username over anyone else.
I agree it’s a nuisance and the username was not taken for the right reasons but unfortunately it is only a username and no one really has more or less of right to it over anyone else.
Yes, the reasons and intention for taking it was wrong, but it is not an identity, it’s not an entitlement and there was no previous “ownership” over it so it is not stealing either.
I feel sorry for Eric, but I the problem with people like him is that if no one reacts and lets them get away with their stupidities, they’ll keep on doing the same over and over. I don’t think his intentions were that honest at all. If so, he’s just a big idiot. Yes, this will be going on for a while and now a search for his name will show this, but I’m sure the other Eric’s out there will think twice before doing some similar thing.
What this guy did was despicable, he is a low life.
Some of the posters on here crack me up, I love the ones who say they have no idea who you are and then go on to bash you. Probably friends of the low life, with just as much integrity as he has.
Keep on doing what you are doing Larry, the world needs you and the smack in the face wake up call that you deliver!
People are idiots, and once again, you proved it
OMG! Can someone say “stalker”?!?!?!? sheesh! If you wanted to take Larry to dinner, just ask. He’d probably say no, but hell, at least you asked, right? That’s the whole point is to ASK!!!!
It amazes me that folks think they’re entitled to things like this. It seems like small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, and really, it is. But Larry gets to the matter by pinpointing what Eric really is: a liar, a thief, and a dishonorable man. Not to mention the fact that he’s a bit of a freak for doing all this to get attention.
Make your own name. Do your own thing. If you don’t have any good ideas for your own success, then brainstorm with folks who are more successful than you and get some good ideas. But, for Pete’s sake…ASK!!!!
I hope that Eric hides in shame for a good long time. I also hope that he becomes successful on his OWN merits. Not because he made a name on the backs of others, but because he got out, did the hard work himself, and used his own brain. It’s so much more satisfying to be successful because of your OWN efforts or those that you participated as a team member in, than to steal someone else’s notariety and always have to keep looking over your shoulder to find out if that person is ready to go to battle with you.
You just don’t mess with Larry or his friends. He a man full of integrity, good ideas, candor, and reality. I appreciate what he has helped me to create in MY life (even though he is completely unaware of my existence or successes), and I anticipate that he will be around giving out good ideas and advice (along with healthy doses of reality) for a good, long while.
Best wishes to youand your continues success, Larry. And good luck to Eric……he’s gonna need it!
wow. what a douchbag… I would be just as mad as you.
When I found out that my name was already taken, the first thing comes out of my mouth is f%$k…even though my name is probably not as important as yours…
I really hope he goes to jail for that so other people who are thinking about “squatting” can be warned and stop.
Hi Larry
You say, you tried the nice and easy approach, we would like to know exactly what you said and the response. That would probably be a lesson to all of us that the nice and easy approach does not always work!
I support reporting the whole truth as you have done but only after you’ve given the nice and easy approach a really good try and is proving not to work. Tell us all the juicy details.
Love your blog,
Tim.
Way to go, Larry. You were absolutely 100% correct in how you handled this situation.
To anyone who thinks Larry “went too far”: the problem in our society right now is the lack of consequences.
In other words, people feel like they should be able to do whatever it is they want. And then when it bites them in the ass, they whine about the results.
Give me a friggin’ break.
It ain’t THAT hard guys.
Listen, here’s some life “secrets” for you:
If you don’t want to be tasered by cops…don’t run from them when they pull you over.
If you want healthcare…manage your damn money better and buy a good plan.
Lastly, if you don’t want to be called out all over the internet as a cyber-pussy…don’t steal someone’s name in some callow attempt at gaining attention from someone you supposedly admire.
I swear to christ. The liberal race will be our downfall with all this WHINING.
Hi Larry,
First – I don’t know you at all. I came here from Michel Fortin’s blog where I made some comments a few moments ago.
Second – I can appreciate your outrage. I have had EVIL things happen to me – online and offline.
Third – to ALL you people who have commented here… it is PATENTLY OBVIOUS to see who is honest and who is DIShonest. You can draw a line right through most of the comments.
Honest people on one side and dishonest people on the other side. It is so easy to see.
Some of you have exposed yourself with your complete lack of morals, honesty and integrity. What has happened to you in your family life or “education” that has made your hearts so BLACK? Wake up to yourselves!
I am well and truly on your side here Larry.
Gary Simpson
Theft is theft. In some parts of the world, Mr. Winager’s hand would be cut off. Only in America would his actions be given some level of credibility. This is what happens when we don’t teach right from wrong.
Larry, keep up the great work.
First off, the terms “Nelson Mandela” and “Eric Wineger” really should never be used in the same post. Don’t trivialize Mandela or the horrors of apartheid by comparing them to a cut-and-dry matter that any legal system on Planet Earth would agree on wholeheartedly.
Wineger is a conniving dirtbag who tried to extort professional advice and ideas from someone who makes his living off of giving professional advice and ideas, by means of online identity theft for personal gain. Pure and simple. I don’t care if he’s a fan. I’m a fan, too, and never in a million years would I think to interfere with Mr. Winget’s ability to market himself on Facebook (or anywhere else) for personal gain. If I want to get any personal gain from Mr. Winget, I will buy one of his books and read it, or, listen on CD.
That’s what they are there for.
Secondly, forgiveness does not wipe out the necessity of punishment. What he did was at the very LEAST actionable in a civil court. If being shamed online is all he gets for this, he’s getting off lightly.
If it were me, and someone took my business name on Facebook and did it solely to contact me and get free website design or consulting tips, I can guarantee you I would be ruthless to the core in prosecuting the offending party in civil court, I don’t care if it kills me.
Lastly, how hard would it have been to write questions or requests to the man via e-mail, or a line or two on Twitter? Hell – why not take real time out and write a letter and send it to the guy through the USPS? He might not have answered, or taken longer to answer Wineger than he would have liked, but it would have been a much better alternative than taking Mr. Winget’s name as his own on the world’s most popular social networking site.
Sorry, but “letting go” and not pursuing at least verbal punishment on an unrepentant, unethical, and cowardly smooth-talking heel is not really letting go.
It’s bending over.
Maybe I’m wrong (but I don’t think so),
MK
I have had my identity stolen and integrity (lack of…) needs to be prosecuted to the highest extent of the law and community. Larry, I guess this idiot would fall in the low 20% of people of steal from companies by just showing up and not working. Thanks for speaking up.
I don’t understand the debate on this at all.
It doesn’t matter whether the guy stole Larry’s name,
his car or his dog—the guy admitted he STOLE in order to get an audience with Larry. Stupid, bad & legally indefensible move.
If you want an audience with someone & can’t afford it—
you use legitimate means to do so. You ask politely.
You offer to intern or offer some sort of quid pro quo.
You contact someone who knows them and ask what you can provide for them that they might need.
And if you don’t get an audience, you move on and look
at other ways to increase your skill set & improve
your value of what you offer to society.
If you steal someone’s name, or car, or dog (or whatever) –you’re a criminal no matter how many ways you want to sugar coat it or re-define it to try to justify your crime.
Larry went the gentle route at first in contacting the
criminal and asking why he was doing it. Larry could’ve played hard ball immediately & contacted Facebook & had the criminal shut down & had charges field immediately.
So, all this ludicrous posturing about Larry not being a
straight up guy is crap. Larry contacted the criminal first
to see if there were a legitimate explanation. Larry told the criminal how to remedy the situation.
The criminal then did what all guilty parties do–the crook closed his doors and fled the scene of the crime. Typical coward.
Kudos to Larry for trying to give the crook a way to rectify his crime.
Shame on the accomplices who’ve posted here attacking Larry for defending his intellectual rights, copyright and trademarked brand name.
Larry,
You are a busy guy, even moreso as the years go by. I once wrote you an email. A snowballs chance in Hell you would respond, I thought, but you did! I even saw you in the airport once and you were kind enough to chat a little even though you really wanted to read that book you were carrying. Even though a moment is all any of us may ever get, what would this loser talk to you about that he can’t find in what you have written/said already? Maybe he’s a big fan, but nothing he has read or heard from you seems to have sunk in.
Sean on June 15th, 2009 4:25 pm
“Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life. It’s Called Work for a Reason and Success is Your Own Damn Fault. People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It. You’re Broke (in a Facebook URL sense) Because You Want To Be.
You ever wonder if you get exactly what you put out into the world?
I’m not condoning his actions BUT it is your responsibility to protect and go after what you want. You should have been ready at 12:00am in order to fend off the idiots. There’s NO EXCUSE for you not doing it if it meant that much to you.”
So, would it be okay for me to knee you in the guts, steal your birth certificate and driver’s license and walk around showing your ID to the police, just because I’m “going after what I want”?
Whether there are possibilities for Larry to use the legal system on this guy or not is really not the point: It’s a question of ethics and honesty.
This douche was trying his hand at extortion. He wanted time, information, consultation from Larry… by holding something Larry considers highly valuable over his head. EXTORTION. “I’ll give you this website if you give me your valuable time, which I’ve already admitted I can’t afford which is why I came up with this ridiculous scheme WHICH I KNOW IS WRONG to get your attention.”
Larry, take it as far as you can. Too many people these days have a false sense of entitlement. Just because they CAN do something, they DO it. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
All I have to say it’s too bad you finished the last book before this guy came a long. It could have been another chapter. I know you personally. I am proud to know you and you have helped me many times with free wisdom. I am sure you are over this punk and moved on. Life has bigger problems then this guy. I wonder how far he would have gotten if he used Ohbamas name? God forbid it. Dig
I would have been ‘cheesed off’ as well Larry as I work hard on developing my brand. In Australia we were very lucky as we got our Facebook names before most did in the northern hemisphere due to the time difference.
people DO make mistakes.
that´s life.
if you´d get absolutely annihilated everytime for making a mistake just like eric did, no one would ever do anything cause of fear to get annihilated again.
was it smart to take your name? no.
was it smart of him to think it would make you go out on a nice date with him? of course not.
people are idiots. and people do make mistakes.
that doesn´t mean you have to punish every mistake with full force.
bit late but..
your name is your most important asset. without it you are nothing. some freeloading smart ass tried to pull a swifty and got called on it. perhaps people should go out in his local area and use eric’s name every time they want to do something dishounourable. better yet as was metioned earlier, why not make it so he becomes the ” oh your that guy” scenario. good luck getting a job, loan or trust.
Wow. That is creepy. You’re lucky he didn’t pull a “Kathy Bates” and smash your kneecaps with a hammer. Yikes. I’ve heard of cybersquatting on domain names and such, but facesquatting (Facebook squatting) albeit hilarious sounding, is downright weird.