A few days ago while browsing the blogs I came across a very pertinent post on the issue of plagiari...
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A few days ago while browsing the blogs I came across a very pertinent post on the issue of plagiarised posts on Sulekha. Due to a glitch I was unable to post my detailed comments,hence this post as showcase of my views.Basically ,it seems one of us Sulekhaites had wrongly attributed a very well written article to him/herself,without having written a single word(less of course the typing/copying part).
Why would that person have done such a thing?Ergo,its most likely a case of succumbing to the temptation of catching up with the joneses'!! After all , on Sulekha we have a vast pool of highly talented writers,some simply outstanding,others good,some patchy(like me) and some readable(sic).
Now would'nt we all like to be part of the first category? Of course, who does not enjoy the adulation or praise of contemporaries?Who among us,does not look forward to a comment that says that your write up was witty,gr8,impressive,god forsooth - intelligent,or, if you get one from the girls .. a big muuuuaaah with lots of smileys- yes !!days made!!Also ,we must not forget the Mandarins of Team Sulekha,especially when they send that note" your blog has been showcased"- what an ego boost, for after all , we do write for recognition.
I mean, in my short sojourn on this wonderful network,I have come to the conclusion that 99.9 percent of us have a novel inside us ,while the balance have already penned one.
So to my mind this was an attempt to look good,pose as intellectually gifted or perhaps it was a case of forgetfulness- that is being afflicted by amenesia and forgetting to attribute the source( really??).
On Sulekha, we all masquerade! We use pen names,screen names ,no addresses,no IDs,no phone Nos etc.
On Sulekha, we weave a web of our imagination,we fuel it with our dreams,we choose issues to comment ,open our hearts on issues that touch us,please us,tease us,light up our lives,fire our passions ,or, make us pause and ponder awhile.
On Sulekha, we make friends with perfect strangers,our basic bond being the power of the written word,whether those words are a clinically precise analysis ,or, the varied takes on the "Express Yourself" contests on bucolic scenes of pastoral delights ,personal posts and many more.
For the Sulekha experiance to happen, one aspect of critical and central importance is that of "Honour Amongst Thieves". Our judgement of another person, his/her likes,dislikes,views,personality are all based on the premise that what he or she posts is an original effort or that it is attributed correctly.Blogs are our very own creations,our original efforts,inextricably wedded to the strands of our creative DNA, which makes them utterly unique ,not just to our own eyes,but also to those of others.
Blogs require subjects,ideas and these will continue to be borrowed,in some cases misappropriated,to be seen by others from different perspectives,prisms and lenses.This is a historical fact,not limited to the blogiverse.There will be some lovely quote or an article somewhere that we would like to qoute ,showcase ,referance or incorporate -- fine, but we must have the integrity to attribute.
The author of the blog " plagiarism on sulekha" ( I do not remember the exact title ,but will gladly acknowledge it in case one of you could kindly point out), has most sagaciously pointed out that team Sulekha must establish a system to check the practise,especially once they have been notified about it. I think that this is a very fair call.
What about action against these " PLAGI- BLOGGERS" ( my own concoction)? Well , I think that guidance would be a better option than penalisation or ostracisation.Nonetheless , the Sulekha Mandarins must take a call on the issue,that is if they have'nt done so already.
More importantly,so should we.. after all we power Sulekha!!
Let us not allow the imperfections of the physical world cast its dark shadows in this lovely community of netizens.
Honour Amongst Thieves
Q
(I would be greatful for a link to the article I have referred to,I saw it about a week / 10 days ago, it is a very good article)
PS: I thank yash chabra for his prompt and helpful note containing the link to MY utterances blog http://my-utterances.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/03/has-sulekha
-featured-a-plagiarized-post.htm
PPS: I recommend a reading of my utterances post as it reflects our collective distress on the issue.
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dear BM,
thanks for the visit and a really detailed exposition ,like a mini blog in itself:))
Hey its good to be given an ego boost ,and thanks for that.
OK, we may not be all writers here,, but blogging as opposed to say serious writing of best sellers has its own individuality..
see its like keeping a diary or journal where you jot down what you feel like about anything under the sun ,
yes,it is also about attention/showcasing/ communication
or for that matter ,about honing of the latent skill of writing..
and none of these fields ,less the attention seeking one would support plagiarism.!!
Here is to a creative and uncomplicated future :))
Q
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quasi, I don't remember being on your blog space before yet you are such a familiar name. Emabarassingly I realise that could mean only one thing. You have been commenting on my posts most regularly!! LOL
I admit I don't read too much here. And mostly, leave without comments (speechless!!). But today, the title of your blog caught my attention. Not that plagiarism or cut and paste jobs on the net are a new phenomenon.. But recently, a fellow blogger had alluded that I 'thieved' a post! LOL So your title had contemporary value to me!! he..he..
You say, "Blogs are our very own creations,our original efforts,inextricably wedded to the strands of our creative DNA, which makes them utterly unique..."
I couldn't agree more. An individual proud of his/her own creation would never find it within him/her to showcase someone else's work as one's own. And I believe, to be accused of such a crime is the worst offence committed against him/her. A man who creates is a man who has an ego and great pride intellectual pride. At least, that is what I believe. And I have both. The basic need of a writer (i wouldn't say a blogger) is to express himself/herself. To interpret the world as they see it. To share life as they understand it. That is the most powerful motive - the driving force, that lies under any form of creation. He cannot subsititute it with recognition or applause. They cannot make him/her create.
But then, the question on a platform like sulekha is are all writers here? No. Are all original thinkers? No. The medium allows each and every one of us to be what we are here (sometimes, what we are not also!!:-)). We all come here seeking something. Some seek attention. Some recognition. Some friendship. Some information. Some the company of like-minded people. Cooking receipes... The list is long. If you understand what each individual is motivated by, you will see that plagiarism is limited to only those that are desperately seeking attention and recognition. Isn't it? I don't think people who seek friendship would go about copy pasting articles here. Unless they have an inherent need to project themselves as someone they are not. But then such an individual is not actaully seeking friendship but attention cause friendships are built on the premise of honesty and trust. :-)
Gee! I forgot what I began with. I lost my train of thought!!! LOL
Before I start again, let me say, I didn't realise you had such a stylish way of presenting things. It was passionate. :-) Good day, quasi. I will be back for more sometime soon.
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Indeed Kamalji,
which is why there were no names or links to the article
regards
Q
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Hi,
Yr name is difficult to prounance, so just HI !
Yes this problem was there, maybe it is still there, god knows.In a basket of good apples, there aer bound to be a few bad ones.
We just should carry on with our writings, and enjoy the fun at Sulekha.Regards.kamal
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dear kalyanee,
no its not a secret,MU has the details,I did not quote the article as my aim was not to point fingers ,but, to raise the issue of ethics..honour among thieves:)) ?
Q
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Quasimodo,
which blog was dis? secret??
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dear reffy,
thanks
Q
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dear avinashjee,
thanks for the visit and such detailed views.I feel that self regulation is the best ,hence my views.Thank you for your encouragement
Q
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I had read the post you are talking about. For me Sulekha is a wonderful place to get back my writing skills that i had left untended somewhere on the road a few years back owing to pressures of the other kind. No writer can write without getting appreciated or commented upon. Sulekha serves as a wonderful platform for this very reason. But imagine what horror it can be for those who are aiming for print publication if writings were to be plagiarised.
The one who plagiarises does it as you have said "to catch up with the Joneses." However he/she has done it knowingly. The only point I differ from you is that it should be punishment and not guidance. May be you are right and guidance will be better. But at least for now my opinion is punishment.
Thanks for writing this. The more we write about it, the more we will sensistize the sulkeha community about the phenomenon.
Avinash
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quasimodo,
I missed out on the issue ..so will go and check it out...and will endorse what you say..there has to be a system of checking it..
reffy
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