Plagiarism is illegal and against myLot guidelines
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
United States
March 8, 2016 6:50am CST
It may seem quite innocent, you find a news story you think is interesting. You want everyone to read about it. You start out with a sentence of your very own and then cut/past from the actual news article. You can't do that, you are plagiarizing.
Newbies and anyone else: if you check the Guidelines it says and I quote:
"Posting plagiarized or copyrighted content - We take this very seriously. If there is an article you would like others to see and discuss, then post a link to that article along with your own commentary."
Plagiarizing is stealing no matter how you cut it. It is just as easy to write your very own discussion as it is to steal the work of others.
Photo: pixabay.com/en/legal-illegal-choose-choice-1143115/
39 people like this
32 responses
@Mike197602 (15515)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar 16
best thing to do is write a short summary in your own words then leave a link.
9 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
It sure is, and then you'll be fine.
5 people like this
@owlwings (43907)
• Cambridge, England
8 Mar 16
Strictly speaking, plagiarism refers specifically to posting (or publishing) someone else's words as if they were your own. It doesn't concern itself with copyright issues at all (hence the wording 'plagiarized OR copyrighted'.
It is well worth pointing out what 'plagiarized' means in MyLot's terms, however, because it's a word which may well be unfamiliar to many users.
MyLot forbids the publication of any material (copyright or not and whether written by someone else or the person posting it) which has been previously published elsewhere and has been copied and pasted as the whole (or the major part) of a discussion. An exception is made for a quotation of a few lines, provided that it is made quite clear that it is a quotation and that the source is given.
6 people like this
@owlwings (43907)
• Cambridge, England
8 Mar 16
@Mike197602 See here, Mike. The Guidelines are not entirely comprehensive.
I am reaching out to the seasoned writers here to help me with a question. I belong to another writing site. Is it within the rules to use something I wrote...
5 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Such as my example of quoting the Guidelines and saying so.
5 people like this
@Mike197602 (15515)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar 16
I looked and can't find the bit about not posting stuff that has already been published elsewhere....may have missed it though.
As far as I can see you can post it if you own the copyright or have the permission of the copyright holder.
3 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill To me there seemed nothing to learn because it was clearly obvious from the start that such writing would be wrong, both morally and legally.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
I learned to do it correctly years ago at Associated Content.
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@Asylum When I started writing online in 08 I was new to it, so therefore, to me, that's when I learned this since I had no need to follow the rule prior to that.
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14770)
• Torrington, Connecticut
8 Mar 16
I hate plagerizers, I have been a victim to this more than once and it was frustrating reading your own words in someone elses post
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
It sure is. I remember the fist time I found one of my plagiarized...it was a weird feeling.
2 people like this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (14770)
• Torrington, Connecticut
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill Same here, I was suprised and angry at the same time lol
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
8 Mar 16
Their laziness know no bounds. Couldn't even bother to pen a couple of sentences.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Lazy is the word...plus they figure they might get away with it.
3 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@Daljinder Yes, they do a fine job - anyone can and should report them.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
8 Mar 16
LOL If JJ and others who spot them went on holiday, they might.
1 person likes this
@rina110383 (24492)
•
8 Mar 16
I just reported 5 discussions of a myLotter yesterday and I'm happy that the Admin took a prompt action and removed them from his profile. A big thanks to @JolietJake for assisting me.
Some people want to earn at the expense of others. English is not my first language and I do have lots of grammatical lapses. However, I try my very best to come up with a discussion. If I can't think of one, I respond or comment on others' discussion. What matters is that I interact.
There are a lot of eyes here in myLot so they should think twice before copying articles. Actually, it's easy to detect one.
I condemn any form of plagiarism and I believe majority of myLotters dislike the same. So, let's help each other in reporting dishonest users.
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
That is one they they really keep up with on here - can you imagine if they didn't...we would be over-run with plagiarized junk.
3 people like this
@rina110383 (24492)
•
8 Mar 16
@JolietJake Admin replied to my message after he posted that he's back. Few minutes after that, I checked the guy's profile and the 5 discussions were taken down. I guess I made Admin's job easier by providing the site from which the 5 discussions were 100% copied. Admin did his job as expected=)
2 people like this
@rina110383 (24492)
•
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill And no one wants a site filled with copied contents.
In fact, if we start a discussion, it says "Describe what's on your mind!" It doesn't say "Describe what's on other's mind!" If they plan to cut & paste/copy & paste, then they could have just stated that on the discussion box because that's what they're thinking as of the moment=)
2 people like this
@slund2041 (3314)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Yes, it is stealing. I am glad myLot takes it so seriously.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Yes, and they jump on it right away.
1 person likes this
@dazzledlady (1618)
• Philippines
8 Mar 16
Oh some thought that doing that way is ok but its not. They have to think of the intellectual rights. Anyways, I barely notice it in mylot . Maybe because I seldom pay attention to news reporters in mylot. I rather read discussions bases on their experience.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@JolietJake Plagiarists don't care what they take or where they take it from. they don't even read what they steal.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Yes, reminders are a nice way to do it.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472476)
• Switzerland
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill So true, they think that copying is so quickly done and they can make money easily.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@LadyDuck Yes they do and getting caught doesn't deter them either. How's the weather - is it sunny - its very nice here today.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
It takes a little brain work and that's what plagiarizers don't have any of.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
The chance of that happening is nil! They don't read anything, they just pick at random.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@DianneN Maybe some will read it by accident LOL!
2 people like this
@DianneN (247183)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill I know. I just had to state that. Idiots!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
I have seen a few Bible quotes. Maybe they fall into a different category LOL!
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38869)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill It's not illegal to share bible verses. I wrote and asked permission from Oxford out of England, to use it's bible in my writings, and they sent me a letter saying that they were fine with people sharing any portion of the Bible that they wanted to whether for pay or not. I'm thinking that would be the same for any publisher of Bibles. I would think that saying what version it is would be good practice. And only having verses on here without any commentary would not be a good idea, but it wouldn't fall under the term of plagiarism.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill Interesting question: do Bible quotes count as plagiarism. I don't think so as the Bible is public domain and there is no author or ownership. I don't believe any publisher of the Bible has rights to the words.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
It should be a rule in all such sites. I never been involved in one that didn't have that rule/guideline.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@Lucky15 I guess you would have to ask them why they do it and it would be interesting to find out the answer, but they probably would not tell the truth.
1 person likes this
@Lucky15 (37374)
• Philippines
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill and i don't get it why.some still.pushing their.plagiarizes.post :(
2 people like this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
8 Mar 16
Very true. A big NO NO to plagiarism.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
When you see something that isn't right, report it.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (171195)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Mar 16
Yes, you are right. People who do this don't seem to care.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (171195)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill ...Their mind doesn't work that way.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 Mar 16
And it doesn't bother them when they are caught either.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 Mar 16
@celticeagle It sure doesn't. Or what little mind they have.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37496)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Mar 16
I have known this and can't understand why some never learn that it is wrong to plagiarize.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (37496)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill I think they think that no one will notice. But, of course some people will notice.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 Mar 16
It means nothing to them, they just continue.
1 person likes this
@yalul070 (1713)
• Manila, Philippines
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill Of course, of course. I'm sure that's not plagiarism.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
Yes, you can use a quote - but it can't be a stand alone thing..it has to be incorporated into a discussion.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
8 Mar 16
I saw one the other day that was two sentences...Who would copy and past two sentences instead of just writing them??? A thief, that's who...
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
And "They" will continue to do it as long as they get away with it...report report report
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@PainsOnSlate They sorta fall into your lap don't they?!
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
8 Mar 16
@AbbyGreenhill I do report, I look for thieves every day and usually find one, its not hard to spot them.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
9 Mar 16
Maybe @Owlwings can answer that question, he's the go-to guy for things like that! I am curious now also.
2 people like this
