Plagiarization of other member's posts

[MaineDolFan]

In the "Around the NFL" forum Tommy made a "NFL wrap up post."  In that post he included a portion that was basically a word for word copy of something that I had penned a couple years ago.  I made a joke, in that forum, that I felt violated and plagiarized and was going to leave it alone at that.

While my original post was meant as more of a tongue in cheek poking at Tommy, I've been subsequently asked by him in private message and text message "how did I plagiarize you?"  Therefore, obviously, I need to respond. 

While I feel that this could be handled in private I'm choosing to do so in public for one general reason.  In 2006 I posted an MLB wrap up.  The following quote from Tommy plagiarizes, almost word for word, that post.  By convenience that post from 2006 is missing due to the crash, Fau is chasing it down as we speak.  Thus my reason for addressing this in a public forum because I am sure that people that read my original post will most likely remember it.  I wouldn't want Tommy to think I am attacking him, I am merely stating the truth.  And - as a writer - I dislike being plagiarized.  Therefore, in a long winded fashion, the above is the reason why I am addressing this in a public forum versus responding privately to Tommy.

Tommy's post:
 
I sit in my office and look out the window.  A big chill is in the air today in Orlando.  The skies are gray and gloomy, threatening to dump buckets of rain on us.  Team media guides sit unopened on my desk.  The Tennessee Titans,   the New York Giants, my beloved Miami Dolphins.  I play and replay the highlight video of the Dolphins-Jets game in the final week of the season, reliving the moment of the Dolphins completing the best turnaround in NFL history from a 1-15 team.  A few e-mails trickle in from high school buddies that played in the NFL; Rod Payne, Tony Gaiter, and of course, Derrick Gibson.  They all have pretty much the same message, “Man, it’s a long way from training camp.”

A long way away it is.  Six months, to be exact.  All across America this coming Sunday will be empty football stadiums, stadiums that once held 70,000 rabid, screaming, face-painted, beer-chugging fans.  No cheerleaders, parking attendants, or food vendors will be coming to work on Sunday.  Soon these stadiums will face a silent spring, and the blistering heat of summer.  Team pendants will be taken down, jerseys hung up in closets, grills and coolers stored in garages, and inflatable chairs packed away.

I specifically talked about looking out my window to a cold, dark, rainy day after the World Series had ended.  I specifically talked about the media guides from teams from the AL East as well as post season participants sitting on my desk, ready to be packed away.  I specifically talked about receiving an email from Josh Beckett and how he and I bemoaned that spring training felt like a life time away.  I specifically talked about once full stadiums sitting quiet, patiently awaiting the approaching footsteps of the new season...but on this day laying dormant and cold.  I specifically talked about no beers being poured, no nachos being enjoyed.

Basically this is my post, almost word for word.  The funny thing is that I wouldn't have cared all that much, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and we aren't exactly copyright protecting posts here.  But after Tommy's wide eyed "I didn't do it" responses to me I need to post a little something to show that yes, Tommy, you did.  Hopefully Fau can find that post.  Until then hopefully other members remember my original one and how eerily similar it is to the post, in bold, made by Tommy (above).

Hope this answers your questions Tommy.

[SportsChick]

I had an eerie feeling of Déjà vu when I read his wrap-up... now I know why.

[Fau Teixeira]

for what it's worth i remember your original post and this one seems very similar

[Sunstroke]

Similar?

How about "blatant rip-off"

How about "get an original idea already"

How about "not surprised at all"

[YoFuggedaboutit]

The weather in Orlando was exactly as I described it.  And I was getting e-mails from my high school buddies that I talk to on a frequent basis.  

I simply tried to change the words around so I wouldn't be copying your post "word for word".  What else could I do?  

If it was bright and sunny in Orlando yesterday, like it was today, then this wouldn't be such a big deal.

[MaineDolFan]

Yes, Tommy, it would be.  You stole someone else's work and tried to pass it off as your own.  It just happens that you had "media guides" around "your office?"  You just happened to get emails from "NFL players?"  The lines about the empty stadiums? 

It's a blatant word for word rip off of someone else's work and it's not cool on any level - right down to the "NFL, I live for this" - which is a rip off of a Major League Baseball slug line (and one I told you about last year when you did the same thing).

It's not that hard to understand and it's not defendable, really.  You stole someone else's work and tried to pass it off as your own.  We aren't talking about one sentence here, it's a whole THEME.

That post included real emotions from me, real sentiment and real work.  Those words weren't stolen from someone else, they are part of my "craft", if you will.  And it's not cool.

[SportsChick]

And Tommy wants to return to school? Be sure to read up on the honor code there buddy

[Gabriel]

Jeez, Tommy. Show a little creativity. Lame.

[Defense54]

Point Made.  I've seen Threads locked for wayy less. Can we show a little class and lock this one as well?

[MaineDolFan]

A little class?

Tommy asked for an explantion via personal message and text message to my phone.  I am not able to uncover the original post from 2006 as proof, therefore I need to rely on members that remember the post.

There is nothing in this thread that lacks "class" and there is zero reason to lock it.

[Defense54]

Fine......
I guess you enjoy kicking puppies too?

[MaineDolFan]

Fine......
I guess you enjoy kicking puppies too?

So you're saying Tommy is a puppy?

I don't think you, or Tommy, grasp the level of this.  I write.  I get paid to write.  I just found out that Tommy posted this on another web site as well, I'm going to contact that website and inform that it's not Tommy's work. 

It wouldn't be unusual for me to work out some kinks for a piece that I am writing here, on this site.  So say I do just that.  I submit my little article and it's run in my local rag.  Tommy decides to take those writings, change "MLB" to "NFL" and present it as his own.  A casual sports fan is on the internet, as sports fans have a tendency to do, and comes across Tommy's post.  Something rings familiar in that post so he picks up his paper.  Wouldn't you know it?  There are my words!  And you know what?  That casual reader is going to think that I stole the idea and words from Tommy.  I am going to have to go to the outlet that PAID me for that piece and try to explain the truth.

It's STEALING.  He has done this before, most notably to Sunstroke.  It's not picking on Tommy, it's not starting a fight.  It's protecting something that is MINE.  I lived those words.  I formulated those thoughts.  I've been paid for it.  I'll be damned if I sit back and watch someone steal it, state it's their own and then ask "huh?  What did I do?"

It's stealing.  As a cop you should get that.  I make a nice little penny of extra money each year writing pieces.  I NEED that income.  This isn't a game for me.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Yes, Tommy, it would be.  You stole someone else's work and tried to pass it off as your own.  It just happens that you had "media guides" around "your office?"  You just happened to get emails from "NFL players?"  The lines about the empty stadiums? 

It's a blatant word for word rip off of someone else's work and it's not cool on any level - right down to the "NFL, I live for this" - which is a rip off of a Major League Baseball slug line (and one I told you about last year when you did the same thing).

It's not that hard to understand and it's not defendable, really.  You stole someone else's work and tried to pass it off as your own.  We aren't talking about one sentence here, it's a whole THEME.

That post included real emotions from me, real sentiment and real work.  Those words weren't stolen from someone else, they are part of my "craft", if you will.  And it's not cool.

So if I follow your style of writing, but tune it into a different sport, I've "Stolen your pieces"  And for your info, yes, I do have NFL memorabilia at my desk.  And yes, the guys in my post are guys I played ball with in high school, and I talk to them on a weekly basis. 

And last of all, the style might've been SIMILAR to yours but it wasn't "word for word". 

Chill.

[Defense54]

I did not know you were a writer. That definitely changes it a bit. But letting Tommy know how you feel and everyone ridiculing him are 2 different things.  

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I did not know you were a writer. That definitely changes it a bit. But letting Tommy know how you feel and everyone ridiculing him are 2 different things.  

Because that's what some people on this board like to do.  They know they don't have the balls to do it to my face, so they have to do it from behind their computers.