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Have you ever encountered plagiarism on the Net? What are your feelings on this issue?
Click here to retun to the Reader's Speak Out homepage. I have not personally encountered plagiarism, but I would regard it as a low theft. Ephraim Glaser Haifa, Isreal Not yet. Plagiarism is plagiarism, no matter where it is found and the same penalty should be received. Anna Getz Coaldale, PA Plagaiarism is like cheating at cards. If you waste your time cheating, what's the point? There is no satisfaction in stealing or cheating -- maybe monetary, but the world is too small --- how could anyone expect to get away with plagiarism? Beverly Goding Sagle, ID Not that I recall. Of course, making a profit from another's work is questionably immoral, but even then I wonder who is actually being cheated: the person who is not getting paid for his/her work, or the person being deprived of perhaps creating an even greater work out of someone else's... The appealing part of the Internet right now is that such borrowing can take place without too many people really minding. I suppose when the time comes that money can be more readily made this way, more heads will start to turn and look at what's going on behind their shoulders. Wayne Luke Greening Canada I can't honestly say that I have encountered plagiarism on the Net. In my opinion it would be very time-consuming and almost futile to try to prove plagiarism. There is such a vast amount of information to be obtained from this new media resource. In order to verify every bit of data, you would need a tremendous amount of time. I believe that anyone who publishes on the Net needs to have faith that other users are morally upright and will not stop to cheating. However, there are always those few who spoil the party. I am not sure if there is a foolproof way in which to guard your work on the Net. Hopefully users will have enough integrity to respect the works of others and through their own hard work create their own masterpieces. Phyllis M. Hanlon Charlton, MA No, I have not encountered plagiarism on the net, but it is an issue I have been concerned with. Judy Ingram Grand Prairie, Texas No. Plagiarism on the Net is just as wrong as print plagiarism. However, it may be harder to identify and prove. David Irvine Henderson, NC Other than, perhaps, images used without the author's permission, I don't recall noticing plagiarized materials. I think plagiarism in any form, even electronic, is still plagiarism and the plagiarists should be penalized. Kris Jagusch Cerro Gordo, IL Plagiarism in any form should not be allowed anywhere! I haven't used the Net enough yet to encounter any but as a writer I don't want anyone taking my ideas and calling them their own. Give me credit for the work I do. Hazel Jenkins Hampton, VA Never encountered it Yet. I hope most people would have more integrity then that and I will never see it. Rob Johnson Francis, UT I'm sure I have. It displays the ignorance and ineptitude of a so-called "writer" when it's apparent. The net spawns too many ignorant phonys claiming to be writers. Howard M. Kaplan Englewood, CO My feelings on the issue are this... I am a graphics arts designer and i have bought multiple software packages that have the same clips. On these there are no copyrights or credits for this art. If these artist are being plagerized i would like to know. I don't want to continue this cycle. None of the hard copies or softcopies have any specific guidelines to go by or original artists names. Suzanne Kaye ST. Petersburg, FL In one instance I found that someone had taken one of my short story titles and given to a completely different type of story they had written and posted on the internet---I was angry for at first I tought my entire story had been taken --when I first saw the title with someone elses name on it---but on reading the story saw that was not the case. I am taking an on-line tutorial from a law school in Indiana and receive regular information on what can and cannot be under copyright protection, and in one lesson listed as NOT copyrightable were titles---now this tutorial elaborates on things like this as it progresses so that's all I know so far, that possibly titles of stories are not protected and can be used by others. I will have to do more research on this. Marie San Francisco, CA I have not encountered plagiarism on the Net. I have no negative or positive feelings on this issue. If someone feels the need to steal someone else's work/research, that is their perogative. However, I do believe what goes around comes around. Samantha Kelley Boston, MA I have not encountered plagirism on th e'Net, but I'm sure it probably exists. Of more concern is the unauthorized use of authors' intellectual property, with or without attribution. Dale Kiefer McMurray, PA No, and hope I don't, but I'm somewhat new on the net so my experience is limited. I imagine that there are those few who do that rather than write their own stuff which is sad, sad, sad. When we are not true to our selves, and trust our own thoughts and abilities, we cannot be true to others and will not respect their material. This is true for all things, and has always been the case. If self doubt and self hate violates me it will violate someone else as well. Whether that is a violation of body, land, creative art, music or writing, someone else's personhood, or property, this I know is the source of plagiarism as well. I write and counsel, and do my cable show all to share the internal system of self which winds up not only violating ourselves, but others as well. Ignorance of ourself leads to ignorance of the proper attitudes towards others and their work. Good question! Virginia Klein Somerville, NJ Not Yet. I feel that anyone who does plagiarize gives those of us out there who are trying to get started in the professional writing area a bad name. If a person can't think of anything on their own to write then they should get out of the business! Brenda LaGrone Temple Terrace, FL I haven't come across any plagiarism (that I was aware of), but I would have as low opinion of it there as anywhere else. Plagiarism is a neon sign stating the "author's" lack of talent and creativity. Marianne Lasby Phoenix, AZ NO; not that I know of. I suppose it happens, like anywhere else, by unscrupulous folks. Don Layton Watkinsville, GA Not that I know of. Some people like to write but may be a little lazy in the thinking department. It's not an acceptable practice. Shame, shame. Jean Lengwin Grants Pass, OR Only once have i encountered plagiarism on the internet. I was browsing through the pages of a lyrical Web page, when i found a writer attempting to pass off the works of an old 60's band as his own. Some of they lyrics he posted were from Eric Clapton's first group, Cream, which is not real well known. I was rather upset at this display and wrote him a message. I have not visited his Website since, and don't plan on it in the future. I think plagiarism and very wrong. If you aren't creative enough to come up with your own stuff, you shouldn't claim to be a writer in the first place! Melissa Letsch Warsaw, IN I haven't observed plagiarism on the Net but given human nature, I'm sure it's there. I think having more information about what plagiarism is would reduce some instances. Judith Martin Ridgecrest, CA How would I keep track if I had encountered plagiarism? Everything is so fast and available, here, that there seems no possible way to monitor or effectively measure how much theft there is or is not on the net. If I choose to display my writing openly on the net (via homepage etc.) then even if I have a copywrite, how am I going to know about a theft of my idea, words, concept whatever somewhere over there in cyberspace? And really what is there for me to do? It is like doing a public reading and then expecting your listeners/participants to regurgitate your work just so that you can safeguard the work! Randy Mason Quebec, Canada I've never noticed any plagiarism on the Net, but I'm sure it's being done. I worry about putting any of my own work on my website, because it would be so easy to steal. Beth McCoy-Knorr San Diego, CA I am sure it is out there and it is just as wrong on the net as in print. Melisa McCurley Tickfaw, LA I can't prove it, but I believe it is there more times than I want to count. It's a shame that this wonderful form of communication opens up new avenues to an old problem. Plagarism cannot be tolerated, but we cannot allow the fear of it to suppress our freedom of speech. Pamela Monroe Chattanooga, TN I've not encountered plagiarism, but it is unfortunate that some people would resort to this means of achieving fame!! Jake Murphy Brisbane, Australia Have not seen plagiarism on the Net. Plagiarism is outrageous. It's out and out theft. Patricia Noonan Kansas City, MO Not yet, but it can't be far away. Plagiarism anywhere is despicable. Harold Owen England Plagiarism is plagiarism. It stinks. Alfred Palla Elkhorn WI No, I have never encountered plagiarism on the Net, but it should be treated the in the same many as any case of plagiarism, whether it be on or off the Net; there really is no difference. Jennifer Peasley Owls Head, ME No I haven't, but I think that plagiarism is the lowest zenith that a writer can possibly sink to. When a writer plagiarises it shows a lack of immagination, creativity, and intelligence. Adina Pernell Fairfield, CA Probably. I'm betting plagarism is rampant on the Web right now, but will be watch-dogged, much like it is in print, in the near future. Michael Pugh Chicago, IL I have not to date. Plagirising should have far worse penalties. Crystal Queen Austin, TX No. It's hard to have respect for people who cannot use their own capabilities , even though, I'm quite sure if they put their mind to it they could easily come up with some wonderful material of their own. They must have faith in themselves first before anything else....... Kathleen Rizzi Las Vegas, NV Not personally, but members of my authors' group say they have received messages concerning the lifting of published horror stories being used by netpubs without authors' permission. Gordon Ross Klamath Falls, OR I have not encountered any plagiarism on the net as yet. My feelings on this issue is that we can all be creative without stooping to plagiarism. Sharon E. Sartini Georgetown, TX Copyright law on the Internet is an emerging area that will become more complex in the future. Eric Hjerstedt Sharp Eagle River WI No I have not. Unfortunately, there are people out here who do not want to think for themselves, and will knowingly use the works of others. Jamia Shepherd Altadena, CA Plagiarism worries me, but I have never encountered it. If there are internet stalkers out there as they say, I'm sure theft of words goes on, too, but like street crime I guess you just hope it doesn't happen to you. Kate Simpson Tacoma, WA Plagiarism is theft, taking something that is not yours. Literary theft is theft of personal property. There is no place for a thief. Bernie Stayton El Cajon, CA Yes, I have encountered plagiarism on the net. I think it is a shame that some feel it is necessary to steal from those who have worked hard to be creative. If, those who are plagiarizing think they can get away with it, they are sadly disillusioned. Today, the net is widely used (and abused) and sooner or later they will get caught and it will destroy all hope of future writing. Isn't is great to be creative and proud of what you wrote from deep within? Shelly Steele Sun City, CA Have not encountered plagarism as of yet, but it is to be expected-especially regarding student work. As for literary publications, most still prefer postal submissions.And it would be highly embarassing for an editor to accept a plagarised work-if it was found out. As a writer, my own work was plagarised in a workshop long ago, don't know of any other instances. A plagarist is a thief who spotlights an impoverished imagination. SuZi Oklawaha FL I have never encountered plagairism on the Net. I think that plagairism is cheating: if you aren't smart enough to think your own thoughts, then you aren't smart enought to give me your opinion Elizabeth Swift San Antonio, TX I have not yet encountered plagiarism on the internet. As a writer i think plagiarism is theft in the 1st degree. very very lame!!!!!!! Rene' Treece Deep Gap, NC No I have not, but feel that it is a punishable action! Sue Vershum Ann Arbor, MI I can't say that I've seen plagiarism on the Net, but I think there should be some sort of restrictions on it. If it's illegal anywhere else, why should the internet be any different? Samantha Vogt Nashville, TN Many people are worried about submitting to ezines or allowing their work to be published on the net and I suppose that those fears are valid, but I have yet to find plagerism a problem and I've been surfing for years. Steven Walker Quakertown, PA I feel that it's okay to quote someone, but give them the credit. If you go beyond a quote, than it shouldn't be done. Most of the time, I see the credit being passed along, although I've also heard of plagiarized material presented on the web. Scott Wells Hillsboro, OR Plagiarism hurts so many people. Being an aspiring writer it makes me angry. When I put time into a piece of work, I want the thrill of calling it my own. Being in education I see students try to get by using it a lot. I try to make them understand its stealing someone else's words. Seeing it on the internet seems to encourage it, however, by giving permission. Deborah Whitlock Brainerd, MN I have never encountered plagiarism on the net. I feel that if I did I would report whoever was doing it. It is illegal and not fair to authors who put great time and effort into their novels. Jeron Wilber Columbus, IN |
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