Helium is Pissing Me Off
Okay, I’m pissed – so naturally I had to blog about it. I emailed Helium.com and requested that they delete my profile because I wanted to use the seven articles I had on there in other places where I could make money on them. I emailed them 3-4 times over the course of a week or so and got ZERO response. Okay fine.
So what’s the quickest way to get your account deleted from a place? Inappropriate content, right? Wrong!
Apparently Helium.com values inappropriate content because after I swore and complained incessently in what should have been an article about muffins, they actually promoted me to one of their “Premier Writers”. Great! That’s like getting promoting the janitor to VP of the company without giving him a raise. F&#k you helium.
After exchanging emails a couple of times (they finally emailed me back after I posted the cuss-infested article) they decided to lock me out of my own account, so now not only can I not post anymore articles, but I also can edit or alter my own profile or existing articles.
Here’s the thing, Helium. I write for a living. You have no rights to my work (by your own admission – I have it in an email) so when I request that my articles, profile and account be deleted, that means I need it deleted right away.
So there’s a lawyer right here in Maine who has agreed to help me out. I told him I’d call him on Monday if they didn’t delete it after my last warning via email that I was giving them 48 hours to comply. But here’s the point of writing this online: I’m letting everyone know to stay the hell away from Helium. I’m sure there’s people who make money off their website, but the majority don’t. Besides that, their smug-we-don’t-have-to-respect-you-or-your-rights-as-a-writer attitude don’t make it worth doing anything with or for them.
I’ve said it before – go to helium to catch a little inspiration or to climb out of a writer’s block, but don’t post there because you can make money with that idea somewhere else.
Good luck and happy writing!
I can understand your concern. Before I found your blog, I responded to a comment you wrote to a Helim post I’ve written. This is what I had to say:
“OMG, are you kidding me? You don’t sound like a hard-core-freelancer to me. Sure, those who write for Helium usually only earn pennies through the advertisement system that allows Helium to pay us anything at all. Pesonally, I’ve only earned a few dollars that way.
However, that’s not where the money is. The Marketplace is where you want to go. That’s where you get the 50$-100$ you’re looking for (sometimes more, sometimes less). But hey, writing doesn’t pay the bill unless you’re selling books in millions. Writers “always” have a second job, the writing is just a side-kick. This is true even for those who sell books, so we who only write tiny articles are very far from that dream.
You could always sell your articles to magazines like you suggested, and perhaps even get a little more if you succeed. However, that takes more work and it’s harder to do good. Through Helium, however, the magazines come looking for YOU. Assuming you actually write well, it’s not that hard to sell articles. Just write frequently and with good quality. And, the articles that don’t get sold will always earn you the advertisement pennies, which is better than not earning at all.
And,as far as I’m aware, if you do it correctly you can have an article delted, for example if you’ve already sold it elsewhere. But that would be on a case-to-case basis. I’ve had frequent e-mail contact with Helium, and they are very flexible. Based on your actions, it simply sounds like you’ve been rather immature, and I can only imagine the contents of your e-mails to them…
All this said, Helium is a source of information. Writing for Helium is sort of like writing for Wikipedia, though in full articles with a personal touch rather than just a list of facts. You’re sharing quality information, and the information is the primary aim, not the money.
I’ll check out the sites you suggested, and even if they may be better than Helium (which I still doubt), I don’t see your criticism as legitimate or truthfull. But then again, you might be right, and I think I’ll look into Helium’s policies later on…”
Now, based on your post here, I can see that your reasons may be a bit more legitimate. However, I think you’re doing it all wrong. No serious writer would handle it by swearing in the first place.
And about the Pemiere Writer thing, in Helium’s defence that’s 1) a new system, and 2) just that – a system. It’s automatic. Eithe ryou’ve sold an article, have a devent writers rating or whatever the third quality was… It’s not like they were saying “hey, that person has some nice bad-content articles, let’s do a promotion!” To be honest, the fact that you’re talking down on it that way is to me a sign of poor judgent.
I don’t know what you wrote in those e-mails, or who you sent them to. However, I can see why you’re pissed. If you asked them in a “correct” way, they should have deleted the account, or at least the articles.
But if you’re hiring a lawyer, I think you’re way out there! The fact that you Americans (because yes, since you’re thinking of hiring a lawyer for such a small deal I am assuming that you are American) seem to do so a lot is something I personally will never understand. Yes, justice is good, but in other societies situations like these very seldom occur.
In short, I think you should calm down and think things though. Because as I see it, you’re acting on agression.
Damn Tootin’ I’m acting on aggression.
The first 3-4 emails that were completely ignored by helium were actually quite calm and professional. I even used words like “please” and “thank you” despite my growing frustration with them.
For many people it is “about the content” (which is silly since there’s no actual editor on staff so the content is often inaccurate, grammatically appalling and is about as fact based as wikipedia.org. And don’t give me that “members edit each other” crap because it’s evident that no one is actually taking a serious look at each other’s work.) However, there are far too many writers who signed up under the assumption that we could make more than a few cents – Maybe not hundreds of dollars or anything, but at least more than a few cents. It was a very reasonable assumption considering how Helium.com promotes themselves.
Also, this isn’t really making about money anymore, (I’ve quite given up on that) instead it’s more about getting them to delete my work and (at the very least) my profile. You have to agree that’s not unreasonable.
You can visit my Myspace Blog (http://myspace.com/thehardcorefreelancer) for a list of other blogs and websites that have something to say about Helium’s lack of respect for writers.
You can also Google Helium.com scam, Helium.com rip off, Helium.com warning, or even Helium.com TOS.
I realize that I will never get my profile deleted, but I have every right to be pissed about it and write about it at every opportunity.
Peace.
I think you’re being a bit unfair saying that the members don’t take serious looks at each other’s work. Sure, most probably don’t, but that’s the case with every writing community. Humans are just too lazy for that in general. However, I’ve received plenty of good feedback and personal e-mails from people commenting on my Helium articles.
But I have to agree with you that Helium’s way of promoting themselves is – as with most other commercial websites – a bit misleading. You won’t earn more than a few cents unless you make an effort, and that’s true everywhere. They’re not giving it away simply because you’re submitting an article, though their advertisement might make you believe that.
When it comes to this whole scam thing, I seriously think people are veiweing it wrong. Helium won’t refuse to pay you. They’re not out to trick you. However, based on the whole “glorious” advertisement deal and the fact that you only earn if you really work for it, I believe people have too high expectations, thus getting upset when they realize reality. And I think this is the case for you too.
Last but not least, regarding your deletion problem, I’m entirely on your side. However, it’s word against word, I don’t really know how things really have gone down. Personally, I have only positive experiences with Helium and its staff (though I too was once a bit upset once I realized you only earn pennies, but that went away as soon as I found things such as the marketplace, where the true money is at) and can’t relate to your story or the stories of others.
And I have to add that I believe you when you say there are better sites out there for professional writers. Places with true editors who evaluate your work, places where your ratings aren’t based on what others like to read about but rather the actual quality of your work. But for me, and many others, Helium win based on accesabillity, easy-to-use, a great community and simply because it’s fun. They have a unique system wich work for some but not for others. However, they’re not a scam and they don’t mean you any harm.
I was locked out of my account as well when I requested my contents and post to be deleted due to a star system that is truly unfair and ridiculous
Staff insulted me when I complained as well
I had to threaten with court and legal action but after, more than 2 years they are still using my posts to debate and advertise all round my posts for financial gain to themselves
I too had earned some dollars by point system but to earn a thousand dollars one will have to write over a million articles each month Can you?
I now have to enter my name into their website browser to read my posts and articles and that is about all I have; in return for many poems and articles, some that are ranked in the first one to five
So much for the money I earned by the wonderful point system
At Helium.com
You will land up, Even loosing that
“A waste of good time and talent”
Pathetic is all I can say!
I stumbled upon these comments, and I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a bad experience with Helium. Usually members tell us we are the most personal and responsive site on the web, with one of the most supportive writing communities around.
Helium is the up and coming website for online freelancers. Some professional freelancers have pocketed $1,000 per month in Freelance Marketplace earnings: http://www.helium.com/marketplace. You can register for free and check out the new print and web publisher titles daily.
We also offer nearly unlimited non-exclusive publishing options, with new upfront payments plus improved ad revenue share, with minimal member participation (maintain one rating star).
Helium is only 2 years old and has a page rank outpacing some 10 year writers websites. It’s because our site works well for SEO, and the competitive nature of the site with open opportunities for improving content has led to exponential quality rise.
Not all members can make it in this competitive writer environment but our 10,000 active writers have found great success. Writers from AC, Triond and Suite 101 are flocking to Helium to add their non-exclusive content to make a killing on our new upfront payments (that’s without waits or editorial interference). I think folks should take a second look at Helium.
I’m sorry if your experience was frustrating. Feel free to email me any time: bwhitlock@helium.com.
Barbara Whitlock
Community Development Manager
Helium.com
Did you ever get your articles deleted? Because I am having the exact same problem. They refuse to delete my articles.
Ellie: No, I have not been granted access to my account, nor has it been deleted.
However, you will notice that a “Community Development Manager” by the name of Barbara Whitlock has left a comment below yours. I have emailed her asking if maybe she could have my account deleted:
___________________________________________________________________
From: “Colleen Ruggelo-Sage”
To: bwhitlock@helium.com
Subject: C.L. Sage Articles on helium
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:04:50 -0500
Hello Ms. Whitlock,
Awhile back you had left a post on my website along with your email address. Can you have Helium.com erase my profile, articles and all data associated with me from the Helium.com website?
Thank you,
Colleen Ruggelo-Sage
____________________________________________________________________
We’ll see how that works out. I’ll keep you updated.
~C
Colleen, did they ever delete your profile and articles? I’ve never heard of Helium doing it for anyone. You’d be a first.
Barbara Whitlock is part of the Helium hit squad (my term) that rushes to counter any slightly negative comment about the site.
I call them Marketing Monkeys but I like your term better. Can I use that? (I promise to credit “Fluffy”)
Alas, no. I’ve given up on them. I haven’t even been able to gain access to my own profile. The best I can do is let as many people as possible know what happened so they can be more aware of what they’re getting into before they sign up with Helium.com. Ms. Barbara Whitlock got back to me stating “I would help you if I could.” Bull shit, lady. I guess as long as the world is still turning, it’ll be alright.
Right before Christmas I was booted from the site. I has recently exposed the statement “Helium stewards are unpaid volunteers” as being untrue. Both Barbara Whitlock and Mark Ranalli were involved in misrepresenting the paid stewards as volunteers. I started questioning Barbara in March of 2008 as to the employee status of one of their stewards which took seven emails to get a vague response.
After she allayed my fears, saying the stewards did not get paid, I published many articles before finding out the truth. Now they are taking the money my 109 articles earn. I consider this theft by conversion as they misrepresented their employees as mere members. Barbara uses the stewards to bully and cajole dissenting views posted by members. If they ban a member they gain by it. Do not even think about writing here or using their site.
Randy G.