What is Plagiarism?

[frenchtowner]

It seems that since I started my forum, I have had to deal with the fact that a lot of people really don't like to write. They hate it so much; it is such a gruesome task, that the only way to face it is to STEAL someone else's work and present it as their own. I use other people's writing as a springboard to my own writing all the time, and there are times when nobody can say it better than it has already been said, and so I pull out my trusty old " ------ " marks and go to work.

This morning I awoke to a new thread on the forum that was exploring an area of the country that I've never been before and I was excited to see what someone had to say. I read the post and discovered that someone had gone to a Chamber of Commerce site and simply copied, pasted and posted that information on our forum. The section even included a reference to a photo above that of course was not part of their post. This is plagiarism and it is something that we will always remove from Frenchtowner.com whenever we find it. We also encourage you to let us know if you stumble across it too.

The funny thing is that if anyone wanted to use a section in a forum post, all they have to do was learn what a quotation mark is, give the author and website credit and preferably give them a linkback too.

To learn more about Plagiarism, and why it is stealing, go to: Plagiarism.org.

Sincerely,
John Stringfellow
Owner: Frenchtowner.com

[LanasCountry]

Hey Star..I sometimes use others writing, giving where it came
from total credit..is that OK? ('cause if NOT, I will stop it.)

[LanasCountry]

This definition is good (IMHO)
(Not my definition)

The willful act of presenting another person's work as one's own.
ALL credit to: >>
www.athabascau.ca/handbook/glossary.htm

[ken7700]

With the Internet it seems people are always stealing others people's work. I do commend you on catching and putting a stop to it. Me being a writer I see a lot of it though.

[frenchtowner]

Originally Posted by LanasCountry

Hey Star..I sometimes use others writing, giving where it came
from total credit..is that OK? ('cause if NOT, I will stop it.)

Lana,

I have no problem with any of us using someone else's words as long as we give them credit. That is only wise. What I despise is anyone coming on here and just doing copy and paste posting without noting that is what they are doing.

Writing is an excellent tool that should not be misused.

FT

[frenchtowner]

Ken,

I'd like to hear more about your writing, and I appreciate your support.

FT

[Rabscuttle]

I'd say unless you're working for that CC and trying to prop up your region, then this is blatent and really should not be tolarated...

[frenchtowner]

Thanks Rab, I would love it if we would all "prop up our regions" even more. That is what makes us unique. That is what people that will visit our respective regions want to know. But I do think it means a hell of a lot more if any of us simply use our own experiences, responses, feelings and words.

Go ahead, quote your local Chamber or Commerce or any chamber across the country; just give them credit for their work. One of the reasons that I am so energized about this is that from my own personal experience, I know these chambers and local associations sometimes have to pay big money for this copy writing that some of our members have been using as their own work.

FT