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- Go to On One Level Blogging Is Like A Treadmill + The 75% Plagiarists
Azur!
Had reblochon tonight and thought of you! I whispered to Steve at the table...Azur (well I didn't use you nic) loves reblochon! ;) It is so the best!! My second taste of it...once in southern England...this time in Scotland!!
posted by
ginnieb
on February 3, 2006 at 2:19 PM
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CarolynMoe - Most large colleges now run all term papers through software
to detect plagairism. Its very sophisticated and always used with human follow-up. Its been in common use for about 5 years now. - Now days, instead of buying a term paper or thesis on-line a whole new cottage industry has grown to bypass the detection: Hire out your paper. The cost is much greater than the old "buy it on-line" approach, but they can't be detected.
posted by
blogflogger
on February 3, 2006 at 1:53 PM
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How Fascinating
That is amazing that it can be analysed like that.
Most of my work is written sitting in the train so I feel confident about that - but - you could still be remembering couldn't you,
Jo
posted by
brisbane_artist
on February 3, 2006 at 1:47 PM
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Azur
Everything in this post was interesting. Of course, the part about plagiarism grabs us all because as bloggers we are so continually aware of it.
posted by
TAPS.
on February 3, 2006 at 1:19 PM
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JohnMcNab
Not being funny but that is one feeling of guilt tht I work strenuously to avoid
posted by
Azur
on February 3, 2006 at 12:57 PM
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Azur
I'm sure 99% of some posts would be plagiarism, Azur. But, if it comes to that, aren't we all guilty of plagiarism to some degree?
posted by
johnmacnab
on February 3, 2006 at 12:40 PM
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Plagiarism...
is when you use language or ideas written by someone else and present them as your own. Writing your own thoughts or expanding after giving credit to the author is not plagiarism. Seems so simple to do the right thing, and so lazy to just copy -- but some students don't realize that cut & paste from an online source actually has to be cited. At least that's the story they gave instructors at the school I worked for.
And there's the old college joke: steal from one author and it's plagiarism, steal from several and it's research. I'm sorry, but I don't remember where I got this quote, but it's not my original idea....
posted by
Pat_B
on February 3, 2006 at 10:04 AM
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I found myself relating to the idea of writing for its own sake - I've been almost obsessed with rankings (and how to pull my own blogs out of the doldrums) lately. Thanks for posting - both the post and the comments were interesting reads.
posted by
kidnykid
on February 3, 2006 at 8:59 AM
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A software program which detects PLAGARISM???... oh, crap Azur what ISN'T plagarism?... "nothing is new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes - Holy Bible). So what about all the books, etc. people have read? A mixture of all that together with the writer's own thoughts cause to make a unique (on a scale of 1-10) creation.
The program sounds overly suspitious and all puffed up with pride, yet ultimately simplistic.
Not to mention overpriced as well. And what would it say about what I just said? What about the fact that so many people are so mysteriously on the "same page" at any one given time?
So if writing is 75% chalked up to plagarism, why bother the so-called "professionals" who spend their time grading papers and not writing books?... hmmm Azur...
hmmm? (I'm just bummed out that I'm not on the front lines in either journalism or literature)... I take back what I've said. 
.
posted by
cmoe
on February 3, 2006 at 8:04 AM
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Hmmm how interesting...
posted by
_Symphony_
on February 3, 2006 at 3:44 AM
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Wow..that's high eh Azur!
Good luck with your meetings!!
posted by
ginnieb
on February 3, 2006 at 2:38 AM
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Azur
Wow thanks for the update on writing. I liked your comment also about playing the game and by golly I think that's me, I'm addicted to blogging~ again.
Azur, do you know if rewriting a book I had published in 1985 is plagiarizing myself ? Is it allowed?
I got lucky back then to actually get published and the work is important enough for me to update it. I'd love to have your thoughts on that.
posted by
WileyJohn
on February 2, 2006 at 9:29 PM
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majroj - Point well made. The software that catches plagairists ...
... really does look for the ultimate "lazy plagiarist" and those who are publishing derivative content don't get snagged. True "research" will not be flagged.
posted by
blogflogger
on February 2, 2006 at 8:45 PM
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I once googled a post.
There will be a characteristic turn of phrase in every piece which can be run on Google and it will often turn out a similar if not perfect recount.
However, plagiarism, versus being derivative, is like lying versus just being wrong; there has to be intent.
posted by
majroj
on February 2, 2006 at 8:34 PM
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MerryAnne - Those stats may be low. There are a myriad of sites on the web
...for college students to purchase term papers. You can buy a full-blown thesis if you have the money. The information age is truly a blessing and a curse.
posted by
blogflogger
on February 2, 2006 at 8:05 PM
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Azur - I’m not nearly as nice or soft as my response indicated.
I too think plagiarism is an ugly posture from pathetic poseurs. While catching them could be fun, I think the best punishment is their own self-disgust. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror.
posted by
blogflogger
on February 2, 2006 at 8:04 PM
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well...
certainly my reposts would rate! lol... I've heard of this being used at universities. 75% seems awfully high to have been a mistake or misunderstanding...
posted by
MerryAnne
on February 2, 2006 at 7:45 PM
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Blogflogger, no not evil at all. Just desserts I'd say
Plagiarists, or most of them at least, are nasty individuals because the profit from the work of others. Some are just plain stupid. We could have some real fun couldn't we? I reckon we'd turn up plagiarists at all levels.
posted by
Azur
on February 2, 2006 at 6:28 PM
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Azur - That brought out my evil side. Wouldn't it be fun to put all posts
... through the plagiarism meter and expose the phonies? Then again, wouldn't it be interesting if the worst plagiarists had poor standing on Blogit. (chuckling.. I'll split the cost of the software with you.)
posted by
blogflogger
on February 2, 2006 at 5:17 PM
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