What is Plagiarism:
well according to http://dictionary.reference.com/ it is this:
pla·gia·rism
[pley-juh-riz-uh
m, -jee-uh-riz-]
noun
1.
an act or instance of using or closely imitating the language and thoughts of another author withoutauthorization and the representation of that author's work as one's own, as by not crediting theoriginal author: It is said that he plagiarized Thoreau's plagiarism of a line written by Montaigne.Synonyms: appropriation, infringement, piracy, counterfeiting; theft, borrowing, cribbing, passing off.
2.
a piece of writing or other work reflecting such unauthorized use or imitation: “These two manuscriptsare clearly plagiarisms,” the editor said, tossing them angrily on the floor.
If you follow Parajunkee and her bb101 and Dishing Junk features then you know that plagiarism has exploded this year. Or maybe we are getting smarter and more saavy about rooting it out.
Stealing any writer whether they are a blogger or an author, or even if it's just your best friends term paper from last year, is just WRONG. It's dirty and skeezy. Someone has put hard work into what they have written. Authors agonize over word selection, and sentence structure. The same goes for bloggers. Now your friend might not have cared too much about any of that, but they did put in real work on researching.
So when I find out another blogger, or even author has been stolen from it makes me MAD! If you don't have the time, or frankly the chops to write something yourself than find a new fucking hobby.
Which brings me to why I am writing this post. I was just scrolling through my facebook feed when I stumbled upon a very upsetting post by one of my favorite authors. She has been plagiarized by someone on a critique/fan fic page. It's not a loose interpertation of her work. No. It's a word for word copy. Yes, I checked and, yes, I have screen shots to prove this. Fan fiction is a questionable thing in the book world. Some people think it's ok and some people think it is stealing. I've written fan fiction. Well kind of. I once wrote a short story based in the world of Emily Goodwin's Contagious. I had her permission and support. I didn't use any of her writing or even characters. It was fun.
That's not what this instance is. Honestly, I have no idea what to even say anymore. Stealing someone else's work and calling it your own is wrong, and hurtful. If you don't have anything to say/write, then just don't say anything. You look a lot smarter at the end of the day.
To all of those that have suffered from the grabby hands that have suddenly popped up this year. I'm sorry that people suck like this. I love you, and you have my full support however little comfort that brings you.
I worry enough when I find out ideas I already had are just similar to another author's ideas. Or if we use the same name... boo to plagerism
ReplyDeleteWhere's the Like button on this post? I want to hit it about a million times. Thank you and WELL said.
ReplyDeleteBooooooo to plagiarism!
ReplyDeleteThank you for say everything! I'm not a writer and never will be. If I get near an pen-pencil-computer my mind shuts down. That's why I have the up most respect for everyone who does! When I went to school go get my RN I had a classmate cheat her way through. It's not fair, never will be. I hope people get caught and punished, however I know must don't. That girl didn't. So as consumers we have to make sure we are supporting the true authors.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. Like Ginny, I worry about even coming close to someone else's ideas ~ I can't even imagine having the nerve to copy someone else's work word for word. It's something that happens with every aspect of art, which is really sad considering that art is supposed to be a way of expressing yourself.
ReplyDeleteIt is really sad. I just can't imagine waking up one day and thinking. 'Hey, ya I think I'm just going to copy that and it will be ok."
ReplyDelete