Hinky Writing and You

[cathschaffstump]

My blog is an upbeat blog that doesn't like to dish dirt. So, I'm going to approach this from a different angle. Let me do a little linking first.

Apparently, you can read about a plagiarism scandal that has occurred here:

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/10/11/top-10-tips-for-plagairists/

If you dig around in the comments and links, you can see that a writer, desparate for attention, plagiarized a famous author. Later, the plagiarist will tell you that she received this from a ghost writer, so she was screwed, because the writer she was trying to pass off as writing her own work actually fooled her by passing off a famous writer as his work. Regardless of whether you buy that or not, here's some information about said ghost writer:

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/10/victoria-strauss-christopher-hill-redux.html

So, I pose the musical questions:

1. What about personal integrity?
2. Why would people be so foolish as to try this scam?
3. Why would other people want to prey upon others in this way?
4. Why do you believe that you are the victim when you are caught in wrong doing?

These aren't naive questions. I know the answers. Catherine, the truth of the matter is that not every one is nice-ums. Got it. Understand perfectly.

But look at all the mess! There will be lawsuits, character defamation, and much neener-neenering. Someone's career will be ruined and tainted. If you're willing to be dishonest for attention, attention comes with a price. Karma has dealt relentless justice. As you reap, so shall you sew. Insert your favorite cliche here.

Remember this, fledling writers. I often tell students, "If you plagiarize, I will unleash the college's hounds of hell on you. If you think academic dishonesty is bad, wait until you get sued in the real world for doing it." Et voila. Prophetic words, down the pike in this case, I think.



More adages from academia apply.

1. Do your own work and keep your eyes on your own paper.
2. Don't hand in your cousin's paper from last semester.
3. If you are going to hand in someone else's paper, keep their name off it.
4. Know the content of your own paper.
5. Don't buy work and try to pass it off as your own.
6. Don't download your plagiarized material from the easily searched internet.

***

Why am I even writing about this? Well, it's an issue dear to me. I quit a job once because of censorship, and I have to say that it was one of the best things I ever did. It netted me a nice letter from Robert Cormier, and a lot of self knowledge. I don't think it's cool to compromise principles. People who do give the rest of us a bad name.

Hints, then. If you are a writer who has to hire a ghost writer, consider another career. If the reason you write is for attention, consider another career. If you can't admit you've done something wrong when you clearly have, both by law and by conventional wisdom, consider counselling.

And that's pretty much all I have to say about that.

Comments

[rhonawestbrook.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty darn cool that you quit a job because of censorship.

That ROCKS!

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Back in my younger, rasher days. That said, I'd probably have to do it again under the same circumstances, even now.

Catherine

[uzu-uzu.livejournal.com]

I thought one of the best points from that whole story was this.

Some people want to be authors because they're writers. While some, just want to become authors.

Or something like that. But it's so true! I love to write, but I haven't quite it the point where I've 'authored' anything just yet. I'm getting there!

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

So, if you can be an author without doing the actual work of writing, well okay!!

:D

Catherine

[uzu-uzu.livejournal.com]

It totally boggles my mind that some people actually expect to be able to do this!

Kind of like those 'sensitive artist types' that can't hold down a job in the real world. When you ask them what kind of art they do, they're always at a loss. XD

Yes, I've known far too many people like that, and the poor people trapped in a relationship with them paying all the bills. -_-;

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

Scary!

Catherine

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

What a mess! Thank you for sharing this, though; I had no idea.