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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I have a question. but first let me state my position on the subject.
I am against plagurism. So much so that I generally avoid reading stories when I am in writing mode.
Now my question is.... If I read a post, it is plagurism if the subject inspires one to write a sequence into a story???
I need help with this decision.
Please......
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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First, in my opinion, plagiarism implies intent. Just as in a court of law intent needs to be quantified. You may personally make your decision, and I am sure you will with each situation that comes to you.
But ask yourself, is it possible that this is coincidence? Can two people have the same or just similiar thought process? We say in the USA innocent untill proven guilty, have you applied that standard in the case you speak of?
We learn writing styles, we hear things in our youth that shapes our thoughts later in life. Could these be contruibuting factors?
Plagiarism it seems to me requires a very high bar for proof or even an accusation.
Does it exsist? Of course it does.
Is it wrong. Absolutely.
Just be sure, be very sure.
Good luck, though I am sure I am not much help.
Merry Christmas Marc.
My love to you and Kevin,
Kevin #1 hehe :-*
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I am not pseaking of an occurance of paralell thoughts.
I am speaking of a post on a message board that has inspired a chapter in a book.
My ethical dilema is wether to run with the inspiration or not.
And.....
Hugest huggs and kisses to you too from Kevy and myself.....
Have a wonderful Christmas.....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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i don't think this is plagiarism, however you could always contact the person who posted what inspired the thought, pose your thought, and chances are they'll say yes. 
i've had things like that happen to me in writing forums i used to be in on AOL. 9 times out of 10 if the person just would have contacted me before turning a fledgling post i made into a huge folder of a chronicle something-or-other, i'd have been more than happy to hand it over. i might be talking a different parallel than you. this was an actual board MEANT for sharing, passing, collaborative writing, and tag poetry. so we were all there FOR the purpose to write.
if "billy" writes about something that happened to him at school, and that triggers an idea for a story in your head, from reading it in a place that has nothing to do with writing per se, then i don't THINK it's plagiarism. our ideas come from somewhere--the words we use were taught by people before us, invented by people before them, etc. now i know that's like, way out there from what you mean, but if all else can't be figured out, just contact the person whose post it is, maybe?
sorry if this is kind of convoluted--i've had about 3000mg's of acetominophen (sp?) and ibuprofen--so i'm a bit spacey. i think my tonsils are coming out tomorrow, rofl. merry x-mas, huh???  )
my void does not want.
-- 2.13.61.
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I do plan on contacting the originator of my inspiration.
I just want to be totally comfortable about my work when I publish it.
I need to be sure....
Merry christmas to you too from Kevy and Me.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Steve
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Really getting into it |
Location: London, England
Registered: November 2006
Messages: 465
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Marc,
As I understand it, plagiarism involves lifting material written by someone else and presenting it as your own. That is very different from a situation in which something that someone else wrote inspires you to write new material.
I don't think you have anything to worry about; but the advice given by Heathyr is good: get their permission first (even though you don't really need it) and perhaps also acknowledge the source of the inspiration as a note before or after your story.
Just get on with the story! If it's only half as good as the one you wrote for the recent competition I shall read it with great pleasure.
(Just for a giggle: Sir Arthur Sullivan - of Gilbert & Sullivan fame - was once hauled into court on a plagiarism charge. He carefully explained to the gullible judge that "he and I only had the same seven notes to work with". So you can claim that you only had the same twenty-six letters to work with...)
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Inspiration is not plagiarism. It is inspiration.
It would be a great thing for people to be inspired, for is that not what teaching really is? To inspire learning and thought?
Do you violate, or are you inspired by someone?
If you are inspired, thank that person. For we are a better world when any of us is inspired.
Kevin
"Be excellent to each other, and, party on dudes"!
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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Inspiration, as others have said is just that, very few people are actually talented enough to think of entirely new ideas for themselves. Changes in creative industries are simply different people adopting the old ideas used by other people. Look at the changes in the movie industry since 'The Matrix' came out, for example, a lot of people have been copying the same style of action, using slow motion, flying through the air and other such techniques. Is this plagarism? I don't think so, it is merely realising 'Hey, that idea works! I might adopt a similar one' unless you copy identical content, then it isn't really plagarism. Ideas aren't quantifiable really hence they can't really be copied, because each idea is interpreted differently by different people anyway. So go for it, use the post idea and do so with a clear conscience because if the author is anything like me, then the whole reason they posted the thing is to get other people to think.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13800
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The answer is almost simple.
If you are inspired and use the inspiration, then it is ethical. If you use something verbatim then it is plagiarism.
If it is bordeline, then you ask the people concerned for permission
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Re: A question of ethical standards..... 
