tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post6697485630515269664..comments2024-03-28T17:48:19.196-05:00Comments on The Other Side blog: Why Plagiarism is a problemTimothy S. Brannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-37482748470566452162013-06-29T08:02:15.813-05:002013-06-29T08:02:15.813-05:00I think, as a culture, we need to take a care as t...I think, as a culture, we need to take a care as to how we throw "plagiarism" around, especially when we begin to discuss ideas rather than their expression.<br /><br />Culture is, IMHO, an ongoing conversation that started long before we were born, and will continue long after we die, and which we enter only in a limited way, no matter how prolific we may be.<br /><br />In the past, it was accepted that artists of various sorts built off of and imitated each other. I don't think there are very many first novels that aren't effectively pastiches of others' voices, for example. Likewise, it is the interplay of ideas and names between Lovecraft, Howard, Smith, and their circle that has made the Cthulhu mythos survive as long as it has.<br /><br />The ability to respond to, and build on, ideas that have gone before is necessary, because the alternative is sterility. Which is why ideas are not protected by copyright, but their unique expression is.<br /><br />Superman was inspired by John Carter and Tarzan.<br /><br />John Carter was inspired by Phra the Phoenician. Tarzan was inspired by Mowgli of the Jungle Book.<br /><br />Superman's costume was inspired by circus strongman designs.<br /><br />Remove the "plagiarism of ideas" and not only does the OSR not exist, but D&D does not exist, and the works of literature that inspired D&D do not exist. I imagine that we are still squatting in caves. And paying the family of the first cave-squatter exorbitant fees for the right to do so.<br /><br />I am absolutely sure that others have raised the same, or similar, points to those raised here. While no one should have the right to cut and paste your blog post and pass it off as his own, be very careful about considering how reuse of ideas constitutes "plagiarism" let your own blog post qualify!<br /><br />Just my $.02.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-21340873871591618282013-06-29T07:49:50.630-05:002013-06-29T07:49:50.630-05:00Hi Tim .. I can't comment re the gaming world ...Hi Tim .. I can't comment re the gaming world .. but can see the connection and ideas ..<br /><br />I can quite believe there is a lot of plagiarism out there ... a lot of my posts are plagiarism to a point, but I reword the thoughts/ideas expressed and give credit as appropriate .. <br /><br />Also I'm usually putting my blog posts over in a different way .. <br /><br />However I do think cheats should be exposed ... as any theft is theft ... <br /><br />Cheers and good luck with your goals in this case ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-1361203941179791512013-06-29T04:39:49.534-05:002013-06-29T04:39:49.534-05:00As always, your dedication and bravery in orchestr...As always, your dedication and bravery in orchestrating harassment campaigns of private individuals on behalf of major corporations who do not need, and have not asked for your help, is impressive. Insanodaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242489353812329703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-76309235366109099862013-06-28T21:15:42.200-05:002013-06-28T21:15:42.200-05:00someone should run all the l ron hubbard books tho...someone should run all the l ron hubbard books though plagiarism checkers - my dad said was a psyche student as they were being released said whole paragraphs stolen from texts - would be good for world if his masterworks were proven fraudsKonsumterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18170560484656800416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-75169849388667122492013-06-28T17:20:13.673-05:002013-06-28T17:20:13.673-05:00I believe your right, for whatever that's wort...I believe your right, for whatever that's worth. In the last few years two German ministers lost their job because of plagiarism (basically they got their doctor titles using copy/paste work, which is a disgrace, to say the least). The internet helped making that effectively public and that's not any different (if at a bigger scale) to what you did. I'm glad that it's possible to make it harder for those people to cheat and steal. And it's doing people who put a lot of work in their own products and ideas a great favor. Protects them even, to some extend. There is no "s/he stole only a little bit", no threshold for those things, it's just plain wrong.<br /><br />As far as the OSR goes, I like the community aspect of it and the thinking behind creative commons. If one's always clear about his/her sources, there is nothing wrong with it. In the contrary, it's creating a very fertile environment.<br /><br />So yeah, if you have the pull to do something about it, I, at least, appreciate it and applaud you for taking the heat and making a change for the better possible.<br /><br />So here they are, my two cents.Jens D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18394303166081684904noreply@blogger.com