The blogosphere is a great place to network and learn from other bloggers. But sometimes, becoming too familiar with other bloggers' work can lead to problems. There have been many instances of bloggers copying other bloggers by attempting to re-write blog posts and then posting them on their own sites. In other instances, bloggers copy and paste different sections of other's blog posts, hoping it will get them more fans or add to their search engine optimzation efforts.
Has this ever happened to you? How would you deal with a copy cat blogger?
Nikesha Leeper said:
Originality is key. But another key is to know your strong suits. Most writers believe they can write about anything. And trying that strategy works initially until you find what you're most passionate about. for some its fashion for some its politics for some its music or activism. writing your strengths while sharpening your weaknesses is the best way in my opinion to stay original in what can be an unoriginal marketplace.
*sighing dreamily* Have I told you that your website is awesome lately? Am I overdue? Your website is awesome. That is all. :)
~Chap
www.insaneasylumblog.com
Plagiarism is committed by the simultaneous action of two wrongs: stealing and lying. So, I don't want to glorify it by addressing it as if it is some sort of a mere "character flaw." It is committed by someone STEALING someone else's writings and either LYING and saying it's their own, or intentionally allowing others to think that it belongs to them. I really don't think people understand that PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME... Seriously, it is. PLAGIARISTS ARE CRIMINALS, ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF PLAGIARISM... which are very real, and applicable. Ask any of these artists and authors who found themselves in court over just a tiny passage or a lyric that didn't belong to them, and that was neither asked for nor appropriately sited, as it should have been. Stealing is a crime, isn't it? So, plagiarism as a crime. It makes sense to me.
Since there are LAWS that address plagiarism, and if we seriously care to pursue a plagiarist, then we can pursue by-way-of the law (even though some things we write- truly valuable to us in their content- may just not be worth hot pursuit through the law to claim and protect). Now, if you who commit plagiarism are reading this, then let me say this to you:"You really ought to think twice about what you're doing, because you just never know WHO might get angry enough over losing their stuff to you and come after your lying/stealing behind with the cops." That is all. --Please give the proper credit to me, if you quote me. 8^)
Carolyn Moon said:
@Kimberly Gauthier...What a wonderful attitude and you are right; many people aren't aware but once they know...."they do better". I'm compulsive about this issue and when I first began blogging; I made every effort to avoid any semblance of plagiarism. What I find is if you reference your sources and in cases where it's possible ask permission to use a quote on your blog; there is a mutual sharing of information and an increase in the number of visitors. Essentially, what we all want is to be heard and the opinions of people matter although we don't always agree with them.
There is a quote on my sidebar under pearls of wisdom which makes the latter statement very clear:
"We cannot silence the voices that we do not like hearing. We can, however, do everything in our power to make certain that other voices are heard."
~Deborah Prothrow-Stith~
I really appreciate all the comments and points of views in this forum. We share and we learn. How great is that!! Peace.
Hi. I have a personal story to tell about plagiarism. I actually got an email from a writer who had spoken with his attorney. And the attorney had basically advised him to send me an email advising me that I had plagiarized and to revise before I got sued. So I did that. But I think that people make the mistake of thinking its okay to copy, revise and edit someone elses work. I have heard that people want to completely revise another persons blog. And to me that is not needed. Its the persons own personal take. That to me with out their permission would be plagiarism. And it would also be something they shouldn't do. They should write their own work.
To avoid they have certain cluases you can use but we all have problems. I was once told that a person can steal all of your work and you have no recourse but to let it go. I have also been told that people have actually gotten others taken off the website and she sued them or will sue them if they contiue. She got two books taken off of the website. Another author I have heard took the offending author to court and sued them for copyright infringement and won. So if they can do it and police their website then they can also help others do the same thing.
My idea is like the other poster, I am sorry I don't have your name is to first ask permission before you post anything. And then to also, post a pingback or something to their website. And if need be put in your blog post that you have permission to post. I dont do that all the time but I do post links to articles. I say normally this is something that you may be interested in. Hopefully that isn't that bad a thing to do. What do you guys think?
