The "P" Word
If there's one thing I can't take any more, it's plagiarism.
Being an editor here on FunTrivia is really a lot of fun, and quite a challenge. Especially with the 'General' category (though also in my two new categories 'Literature' and 'Religion'), I have to stay on top of my game in many aspects; I need to be eloquent and polite with my responses, I have to make sure my grammar and spelling are impeccable, and I have to know many facts, and what I don't know, I like to be able to research and absorb very quickly and efficiently.
Some people are very good to work with. Though they're only human, and god knows all us humans make mistakes, the people who are greatest to work with are the ones who are eager to accept my comments, and the ones who pay attention to detail. Basically, the ones who want their quiz to be the best quiz that it can be, and not the ones who want their quiz to go online for the sake of putting it online. Hey, even I make mistakes, but I do my best not to!
On the other end of the spectrum, the worst thing possible to see on someone's quiz is plagiarism. Plagiarism is, in my own personal opinion of course, theft, plain and simple. Someone has posted something, whether it is in a book, essay, website or whatever other media, and has given us their ideas. Then, someone notices it, and decides to use it for their own. They don't cite the original work, they don't give credit where credit is due, they just steal someone else's idea!
I'm very good at sniffing out cases of plagiarism in quizzes, probably one of the best. People try to get them by me all the time, and I catch them all the time. It frustrates me that even though it is clearly stated in the guidelines that you risk getting your account here in FunTrivia "toasted", people will try it anyway! Where's the fun? Why take a risk? Why not do your own research, formulate ideas (whether your own, or based on what someone else has thought up, it doesn't matter), and write down everything you want to say in your own words!
The worst case I ever came across was someone who tried to sell me back stuff that I had written myself. Of course, the person couldn't have known that I contribute to many websites around the world, but I found it very amusing to read back my own words in somebody else's quiz. And, I was quite insulted.
To all those out there who do their own work, I know you care, and I thank you. To all those out there who have the gall to steal other people's work, beware! I am everywhere! You will be caught!
3 Comments:
Nicely said. And I wish I could have seen the look on your face when you read your own words in someone else's quiz. One question: did you tell that quizmaker that YOU wrote what they put in their quiz? Then I would have liked to see the look on their face! Keep up the excellent work.
By ClaraSue, Jan 27 07 8:30 PM
Well said, A. This needs to be brought up occasionally, especially with the facts about plagiarism. As you state, plagiarism is nothing but theft, plain and simple!
Thank you for getting this out once again.
By dg_dave, Jan 29 07 1:27 AM
It had just been weighing on me for quite a while, and the phenomenon seemed to be picking up over the last few weeks. It's a lot of first-time authors, but then again, there have been some surprises from the veteran part of the gallery...
And no, I didn't tell the author that had plagiarized off of me that the article that they referenced was my own work. I was both too shocked, and I don't like to advertize the work I do elsewhere on FunTrivia.
By LeoDaVinci, Jan 29 07 5:35 PM