You Better Watch Out If You Plagiarize....I'll Report You
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
May 7, 2009 11:51pm CST
Okay no more Ms. Nice Gal here. I'm fed up with plagiarizers.
I, as well as many of my friends who belong to Ciao have been acting as watchers for the plagiarizers who not only "lift" their material from other websites and claim them as their own, but have the balls to copy/paste other members reviews and claiming them as their own as well. These cheaters are then reported. This of course doesn't make us very popular and then we are often are targeted and get revenge ratings at our own reviews out of spite. I guess these people don't think they're not going to get caught, but if you know how to test a written piece to see if it's plagiarized it WILL be found out. I even did a discussion about this a ways back.
Well boys and girls of MyLot...seems MyLot isn't even safe from the plagiarizers.
I just came across a poster here that replies all his answers to discussions with copy/pasted responses, and his responses don't make sense to begin with as they don't even have anything to do with the discussion topic. This isn't the first time I, as well as others have caught these cheaters here and reported them.
To The Plagiarizers: Read my words...if you are a plagiarizer...YOU WILL BE REPORTED...PLAIN AND SIMPLE...GOT IT? We don't need this kind of shiit here.
For the rest of you...if you catch someone plagiarizing here do you report it? As I said, I do, and when I do I also quote the original source where the copy/paste plagiarizing was done.
I, as well as many of my friends who belong to Ciao have been acting as watchers for the plagiarizers who not only "lift" their material from other websites and claim them as their own, but have the balls to copy/paste other members reviews and claiming them as their own as well. These cheaters are then reported. This of course doesn't make us very popular and then we are often are targeted and get revenge ratings at our own reviews out of spite. I guess these people don't think they're not going to get caught, but if you know how to test a written piece to see if it's plagiarized it WILL be found out. I even did a discussion about this a ways back.
Well boys and girls of MyLot...seems MyLot isn't even safe from the plagiarizers.
I just came across a poster here that replies all his answers to discussions with copy/pasted responses, and his responses don't make sense to begin with as they don't even have anything to do with the discussion topic. This isn't the first time I, as well as others have caught these cheaters here and reported them.
To The Plagiarizers: Read my words...if you are a plagiarizer...YOU WILL BE REPORTED...PLAIN AND SIMPLE...GOT IT? We don't need this kind of shiit here.
For the rest of you...if you catch someone plagiarizing here do you report it? As I said, I do, and when I do I also quote the original source where the copy/paste plagiarizing was done.13 people like this
29 responses
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
8 May 09
Yes I do report plagerizers. In my opinion, it is pretty sad when people will cheat for measley pennies. I mean its not like you are going to get rich on My Lot. lol. Its even more frustrating when you put a few hours of hard work into writing an article or review and a cheater comes along and steals all your hard work. Definitely makes me angry!
5 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
So far I've been lucky that none of my articles or reviews were "lifted" but so many of my friends have had this problem...glad to hear you report plagiarizers
2 people like this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
8 May 09
Pye-
Good luck with this. I've reported plagiarizers of my work, and nothing has ever been done. Most sites seem to just turn a blind eye. I've now got a special coding on my personal blog that warns this is copyrighted material, but of course you know that never stops someone who wants to lift material. I had one person copy two of my published articles, as well as a few of my husbands. We should have sued the person, but just weren't up to it. It can be a lengthy and fruitless process so we didn't go there. However, if it occurs again by this person I will take legal action.
It takes me a lot of time when I'm writing things, and it's difficult work. I have to say I can relate with your anger when someone else takes your work as their own.
Again, I do report, cite the sources, but so far nothing has ever been done. People still keep their accounts, things remain up, and I finally have to let it go and move on with life. It's that old addage of "Life's not always fair", or as Erma Bombeck once wrote "Life's a bowel of cherries, but they forgot to tell us about the pits" (or something like that 
).
Namaste-Anora
).
Namaste-Anora4 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
Well with websites like Ciao, Associated Content, etc. usually if someone reports someone for lifting someone else's work, the person will be banned from the site. The same happens here if enough people report the plagiarizers...I actually DID have someone copy one of my discussion two years ago...it was about a very serious matter to, so didn't take kindly that someone had copied it...the person was banned.
As far as in your situation with blogs...can you contact the blog host site itself?? One thing I've done with my photos for instance though is place my copyright notice right on the photo---it does deter people from copying and using my photos
2 people like this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
8 May 09
Life's a bowel of cherries 
I hope that is just a typo and you do not think of life this way, even with the pits.
I hope that is just a typo and you do not think of life this way, even with the pits.@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
8 May 09
Pye-
We've copyright notices on the two articles of mine that were copied, as they were published in a magazine. I just didn't go after the person legally. In the future if they do it again, I will.
Mari-
Yes, typo lol. That should have been bowl. Late night typing eh.
Namaste-Anora
2 people like this
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
8 May 09
I Love it and well said. Good for you pyewacket.
I have had one of those copy and paste responses but didn't know what to think of it until just now. Thank you for posting this discussion.
I can not stand thieves. Urks me to now end. As an artists I have had my share of fending off those blood suckers here on the world wide web.
I can not stand it when I run into those who have swiped someone elses content and posts it as their own. How brazen. Loosers. What are they thinking anyway? I can't believe how dense those people must be in order to even consider it never mind do it!
What's more are those who pirate software. That piisses me right off.
I run into those people far too often and is making me more and more angry.
My elderly Mom had some PC tech re install her PC for her when I was out of town. He put a pirated copy of XP on her computer and told her not to bother updating her OS. Man was I heated. I called the guy and chewed him out before reporting him to Microsoft.
Recently I am looking for a computer and am going to buy used. I keep running into these people who have hoards of PC's for sale that contain a "copy" of the OS.
Still deciding what I am going to do about them.
In any case thanks for the opportunity to vent. There. I feel much better and thank you for this awesome topic.
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
9 May 09
He was an independent contractor.
I did report him to Microsoft because he was dense enough to leave his email address hanging around my Moms OS.
Now, I keep running into these people who build and sell computers but that are pre loaded with "copies" of an OS. How lame is that? Makes me furious.
2 people like this
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
8 May 09
If they get reported they are only bringing it on themselves. It does not take a whole lot to write original pieces, but some people chose to cheat no matter what. I can't say I feel sorry for anyone who gets caught cheating. Cheaters make it bad for everyone else.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
Yes cheaters do ruin it for a lot of people. At Ciao for instance they've blocked certain countries all because the biggest cheaters came from there...the sad thing is, is that there were a lot of quality, legit writers there who are being punished as well only due to being in the countries banned now.
2 people like this
@lumenmom (1986)
• United States
8 May 09
That is very sad indeed. I know I would hate to be a legitimate writer only to be banned just for being in a country where there are a lot of cheaters. To me it takes so much energy to try and abuse the system. When I hear of some of the things people do to cheat it amazes me because they are things I would never think of doing. What is wrong with using your mind to come up with original material? You might end up saying something that can be very helpful to someone.
3 people like this
@boogerman (1544)
• Philippines
8 May 09
Hi there! How can I determine if the content was original or plagiarized? I just want to know so that I will report if I saw copy/pasted content. Thanks. Happy mylotting and have a nice day!
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
It's really very easy to check...I do this for my own articles and stuff to see if someone's being using my own work. One highlights the first sentence or two of an article, review, whatever...copy it...open another window and paste it into a search...if it hasn't been plagiarized nothing will show up, if it has it will lead to the original source--by having the two windows open one can see if the plagiarized work is word for word.
2 people like this
@jellymonty (2352)
•
8 May 09
Yes I have come across people who have copied my posts. I havent reported them yet but I intend to do so the next time it happens.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
9 May 09
I don't even know how to copy and paste on mylot. I didn't think it was allowed.
The only time I've ever done anything of the sort is if I get something cute via e-mail. And I always say "Hey, I got this on my e-mail today and thought it was funny and wanted to share." I also try to find the names of the people who write something...i.e. if I quote someone I give them credit.
I'd never dream of copying and pasting a response. Each response I give is pertaining to the topic and usually well thought out.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
10 May 09
Yes, you are allowed to copy and paste, useful for researching and composing someplace else and then moving here to MyLot. Others use it to steal material, and that is when it is abuse.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 May 09
Yes after 500 posts one can copy/paste here, but unfortunately that opens things up to the cheaters here like the ones I've caught openly plagiarizing
1 person likes this
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
10 May 09
I think after 500 posts or some other milestone you are allowed to copy and paste.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47646)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 May 09
On one of the cross-stitch boards I visit, a member told of coming across someone who would post photos of finished cross-stitch pieces that somebody else had done but claim them as her own handiwork!
It takes all kinds.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
Unbelievable...now why would a person do that if they did indeed do their own cross-stitch pieces?
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 May 09
what do you want to bet this discussion gets plagerized?
i'm joking,but i'm also serious-another friend started a discussion the other day,and within 10 minutes 2 other people started threads i swear to god looking word-for-word.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
10 May 09
that's even worse when it's somebody's personal stuff..
just plain rude.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
About two years ago, one of my discussions was "lifted"--it was a discussion about a very serious issue occurring in my life...a fellow mylotter alerted me to it and the copied one was deleted.
1 person likes this
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
8 May 09
Wow this is really getting sickining all these people that can't write their own stuff, just so they can make a buck at other people's expense, and others that try so hard to write decent stuff. But now it seems we are over run by this type of people. I just wish there was a way to stop them once and for all.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
One of the reasons I'm not that active anymore at Ciao was that I just couldn't keep up with the cheaters, and I also became very hesitant about accepting more friend requests since I never know if they are the cheaters or not. It was becoming a full time job catching them..sheesh
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
8 May 09
It is so stupid because these days it is SO easy to find out if someone plagiarized something as it is out there, all over the internet.
I not only would report them, but make sure the original person knows, too, if at all possible.
I have seen it a lot, too. It is just life. There are lazy people out there who do not have the brains or the desire to work and cheat.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
Unfortunately some of the websites where things have been plagiarized from don't have "authors" so to speak but general writers (the ghostwriters)---so they are never credited with their work on the sites unless I just contact the webmaster of the site.
2 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
8 May 09
That stinks! It is still stealing and, unfortunately, there are enough cheaters and liars in the world to keep it going. All we can do is our best to stop it.
2 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
8 May 09
I have never seen any of the plagiarized responses you mentioned; I surely would report them I spotted them! It sucks that people need to do that especially here! Can't they think for themselves and string a couple of words together?
I did see a MyLotter a while ago who used to start discussions with copied articles etc, it was quite obvious actually; I noticed this particular person is gone now and it is just as well.
The only copying I have ever done has been quotes from my own articles and I AM THE AUTHOR!
Thanks for the warning and the reminder Pye I will be on the lookout for copy cats!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
8 May 09
Yikes I've been checking the person's discussions started and gee guess what? They're copied too...Nope guess people like this can't think for themselves or are trying to earn a few extra cents the easy way--by outright stealing
1 person likes this
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
8 May 09
wow, i never thought some people could really plagiarized responses too, that's disgusting, copying and pasting a response? why would they do that for a few cents? i've heard about that discussion that was posted word for word but havent really seen it yet.
i will not know which is plagiarized and which is not as i am still new here.
if ever im gonna see or catch something like it, for sure i'll report it too. and you're right, when reporting give the original source too as proof. i'll do just that, thanks for the info on this, i hope i will not be able to see some of my responses being used by other users.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
As far as plagiarized discussions, one can tell which is the original and which is the copied one by looking at the number or hours or days the first one was posted. I once had a discussion copied word for word myself. When I caught on I reported the cheater and the copied discussion was removed.
@jayrene (2708)
• Philippines
9 May 09
i will keep that in mind... "looking at the number of hours or days the first one posted."
being new here, there are still so many things to learn. discussions like this is a big help for us newbies.
them cheaters should really be reported and have their accounts deleted, they get the pay they dont deserve and if it keeps on going, honest members suffers in the end.
1 person likes this
@Greenhill (178)
• United States
8 May 09
It's pretty low when people feel the need to cheat in order to make a few pennies. Such things should not be tolerated by anyone on here and by who ever it is that owns this site. There should be software in place to prevent that from happening.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
I know. It's not like the person is making a lot of money by posting plagiarized posts here, that is several dollars per post, only a few pennies.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
8 May 09
I always have and will continue to report anyone who plagiarizes.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
What's really amazing is that some of the plagiarizes aren't newbies but have been here for awhile...it's just by accident I'll come across them
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
8 May 09
Ah, then I suspect you know who Christine Pelton is? She taught in a school district in my county and resigned her position rather than reverse her decision to flunk 28 students for plagiarism.
Honesty and integrity.
1 person likes this
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
8 May 09
I remember that case. I didn't read the reports myself, but just from what I heard, in my opinion she took things too far.
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
9 May 09
The students signed a syllabus at the beginning of the year and knew the consequences of cheating. How is making your students turn in honest work going too far? She caught them with word for word paragraphs that were the same. 28 out of 118 students used the same website and weren't even clever enough to put it in their own words. Three parents complained and Pelton was told to change the grades. She resigned and kept her integrity.
Before this Piper was considered one of the top schools in Kansas. Now they will be forever known as "Cheaters High School".
1 person likes this
@paid2write (5201)
•
8 May 09
It is theft so it should always be reported. Cheats never prosper, and other people's words are not there to be taken and used to make money by plagiarism.
I saw a discussion on another site where someone was complaining because he had been banned from a paid writing site for plagiarism. He argued that he was not guilty. He posted the offending paragraph and another paragraph he was charged with copying. It was clear he had changed a few words, but the sentence structure was exactly the same. There was no way this could have been accidental but he still did not understand that he had done something wrong.
Copy & paste is even worse. I have known blogs be reported and removed for being filled with copied content, without gaining permission. Writers do check regularly to see if an article has been reproduced without permission, and there is software available that will automatically do this.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 May 09
This actually did happen with a fellow member here who has a blog and found out his material was lifted and copied. So far, knock on wood, my articles on other sites haven't been copied
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
8 May 09
Go get 'em, girl!! I reported my fair share at Ciao, believe me. I love the ones who took a foreign language review, used a translator and then pasted the translation as their own review. But, I never got revenge ratings out of it - they never knew I reported them. I haven't been in Ciao in so long since they changed all the rules. It's no longer worth it to me. I haven't found much here (I know it exists), but have seen one or two who do the same response to everything. I have reported them as well.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 May 09
I'm not over at Ciao much either anymore. Just once in awhile and when I do I get messages from some of my friends about one of their reviews being stolen....things just don't change there do they?
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
10 May 09
Not much, it seems. But, I went over and took a look and it seems they've changed their payment structure again - or rather, tweaked it. You can be paid per rating of your review, like 1, 2 or 3 cents depending on the quality of rating. The more ratings on a review, the more pennies. OK, so it's not spectacular, but that's more than it was after the last big change I remember. They still have that "pot" they award each month or whatever to the best raters, but there seems to be a bit more incentive now. I know the cheaters will still use this, but it will be far more labor intensive than it was before to accomplish anything.
1 person likes this
