Of this and that

[katikat]

As you may have noticed, I deleted my previous entry. I decided to make a big fat line under the whole thing and not let anybody spoil my weekend. Should I receive any non-fic related responses to my post in the comm, I will ask the maintainers themselves to deal with it and clearly state what is and what is not allowed.

I thank all my friends who responded to said entry for their kind words. I want to smooch you all :D

---

But lets turn the page. I have a question about plagiarism for you, my dear friends...

We all know and feel that plagiarism is bad. But when the culprit is caught and apologizes... Would you keep reading their fics? Or would the bad taste of plagiarism remain and turn you off completely so that you would never read any of their stories again?

Comments

[keire-ke.livejournal.com]

I believe I would keep reading the plagiarist's fics, if they were worthwhile. And, more importantly, theirs. ;P One case of stupidity doesn't make them a bad person, and if they apologise genuinely they deserve another chance.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

:)) True. But I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm not so generous. I remember back then, in the GW fandom, there was this plagiarist... I don't even remember her name anymore, sheesh... I never read her stories again. It just... it didn't feel right and I could never be sure again that the fics were truly hers *sigh*

[keire-ke.livejournal.com]

Well, I certainly wouldn't buy their book (if it was available) or in any way support them, most likely. Like dinofly said, there is a difference between reading a piece of work and reading someone's work. I don't look at authors' names most of the time. If I do pass a fic because of the author, it's because I know they have a manner of writing that annoys me. So, yes, I would read. But I would be suspicious, most likely, and pay attention to anything that sounded "borrowed".

It depends on how they'd apologise. If they admitted they were wrong the moment they were called on it, and explained that it was a moment of idiocy on their part, I'd shrug and give them a chance to make it up to me (metaphorically speaking). If they got defensive and justified their actions, I'd be a lot less forgiving.

On the whole though, I have to admit I sometimes have very mixed feelings about plagiarising. Don't get me wrong, I would report someone in a heartbeat, but I think if any of my fics were plagiarised, I would probably report, point, laugh, shrug and move on. They're the victim, not me, if they need to steal someone's works to feel better.

[dinofly.livejournal.com]

Happy you are feeling better now.

I am not totally sure I do understand the question... but... generally:

Person's actions speak for the person. But, is the criticism against the person or against an action?

When someone steals your work and then apologizes so you are satisfied... I would say it is up to you.

For example, I used to like Michael Jacksons music but I could not stand him as a person. That did not stop me from enjoying his songs.

Even the biggest scumbag can be brilliant and invent cure for cancer.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you ;*

What I meant was, if the culprit apologize, took down the plagiarized stories but kept writing their own - would you read them?

I would not. I could never be sure again IF they are really theirs or stolen again :(

[dinofly.livejournal.com]

True, but then you could make sure that person does not steal anything ever again. If the stories are readable. And good.

If you steal something from an author, sure it is bad. That is what we have credit for, right? Not sure about this case, since I have no idea what is this about, but .... don't we all steal something from each other? I am using your words, when I say I am full. I am using words of all the authors I've ever read because it is my experience and my memory is not so good to remember this was written already.

We all make mistakes, it is up to us to learn from them. If we don't....

Anyway, by not reading this persons stories again, aren't you punishing yourself? Or were you doing this person a favor by reading her/his stories and by not reading them you are taking this favor back?

[jamesinboots.livejournal.com]

Would you keep reading their fics? Or would the bad taste of plagiarism remain and turn you off completely so that you would never read any of their stories again?

No, I wouldn't read anything else by them. I'm not usually a skeptic, but how would you ever know they're not subtly or entirely plagiarizing in the future? Regardless, the act itself is ... troubling, to say the least. One of those things you don't really forget.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

*squishes you* I'm happy that I'm not the only one feeling like that. It's just, every time I would read the culprit's fic, I would think "Didn't I see this in that fic?" Once burned, twice shy :(

[kwycksylver.livejournal.com]

Plagiarism is not treated lightly in the professional world, I don't think it should be treated lightly in amateur/fandom worlds either.

Theft is theft, no matter what the stolen item is. And once you've crossed the line, it's easier the next time.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what I think too. It just doesn't feel right to read their stories. They would always leave me wondering...

[disutansu.livejournal.com]

I'd say that's a tough question. Perhaps the amount of plagiarism, like if it's blatant copying and pasting, might leave me skeptical about any of their works. But sometimes, people get inspired by something, write it, and they just don't mention it anywhere. I suppose whether or not it's "good" writing as well, if it's worth reading.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

I think that it's one thing to get inspired. To steal it almost word for word is something else. It's sad that people do it :(

[disutansu.livejournal.com]

Definitely. To that degree, it's not even your own work, not something you can really be proud of creating yourself. x_x

[lunardreamed.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind a stranger jumping in out of nowhere.

It infuriates me to hear people wanting to give someone "a second chance." I work hard on my fics, and someone being allowed to get away with it and still get readers (especially when I don't have that many readers) when they have stolen makes me mad.

I have seen instances of plagiarism twice. In both situations, I was completely unaware that the stories were plagiarized. I loved them and looked forward to the author's works. And then I found out that they were fairly well known plagiarists. I was horrified to have been enjoying the author's work. In one case, I had no idea whether the stories I read were the plagiarized ones, but I refused to read her ever again. In the other case, it turned out that the very story I was hoping for updates on was the plagiarized one. The conversation came up when someone was looking for the story which had been removed for plagiarism. This person was mad because they wanted to continue reading the story. They thought it was good enough that plagiarism shouldn't matter, especially since the original was in a fandom she didn't read. I didn't read the original fandom either, but that didn't make it okay for me to be selfish. I was so disgusted that I don't think I would even read or engage in dialog with that person, either. I think I would feel very awkward if that person told me I had good writing. In a third case, it was not clear to me that the author had given the person permission to use her work. It turned out that she had, but I was prepared to boycott an author I loved if she hadn't.

In response to some other comments here, plagiarism isn't an accident. Everyone knows plagiarism is wrong. And plagiarizing is defined clearly enough. Using words that others have used before me, or even a cliched phrase, is not plagiarism, and I find myself distressed that someone could say that it was in order to excuse real plagiarism with the statement: we all plagiarize. And there is a difference between being inspired by someone and plagiarizing someone. There is even a difference between stealing and borrowing (i.e. we borrow the characters from our fandom, but give the creators credit). I have been inspired by someone else's stories. I ask them and give them credit before posting. Even if I don't think they have necessarily inspired me, if it works out in the timing of posting that they posted first, I always discuss the similarities between our stories with them before I post. When in doubt, I credit.

In short: no excuses, no forgiveness.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Word! And I don't mind you jumping in ;) Hi there! It makes me sad when I try and try and receive almost no response at all to my fics and someone steals something and they are praised for their originality etc. etc. It makes me sometimes think why I'm even trying :(

[yami-tai.livejournal.com]

As you may have noticed, I deleted my previous entry.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had problems on LJ, petal, *huggles* I hope that you are feeling better now.

But when the culprit is caught and apologizes... Would you keep reading their fics?

So far, no, because as you say, you can't trust them not to do it again. But, having said that, if they were really apologetic and I really liked their stuff, maybe...?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I do feel better now :) I had some troubles in one of the SPN comms and it made me feel rather sad :(

Hehe, you know my opinion of the plagiarist, petal. I never read their work again.

NICE icon! *drools*

[yami-tai.livejournal.com]

Hehe, you know my opinion of the plagiarist, petal. I never read their work again.

*nods* Btw, I think the plagiarist you were thinking of was Naomi.

NICE icon! *drools*

*hee* Thought you might like it, hun!