Someone on this forum accused me of plagiarism

[WilliamPitt]

Specifically regarding my Plame article:

http://truthout.org/docs_03/093003A.shtml

Specifically that I plagiarized something from Franken's book. Accusing a writer of plagiarism is the same as accusing a banker of embezzelment. In short, it's a whopping accusation. I'd like to speak to this person via PM. I'd have handled this privately, but the posts with the accusation were deleted from the thread.

Stand forth.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Who do they think you are???

Colin Powell?

Don't get into it Will..there's a lot of cheap shot assholes on this board who are envious of you for taking a stand and making a difference while they jack off at their computer...

Let it go.

Translated....fuck em

[WilliamPitt]

2. Well

I'm also genuinely curious where this person thinks the plagiarism took place. This is my job. I *have* to take it seriously.

[hlthe2b]

7. Probably just some trolling troublemaker...

I think you'll have to get used to this kind of thing, Will (unfortunately).

Your reputation speaks for itself.

[Generic Other]

8. Will you make someone eat his words?

With a side order of freedom crow?

Can I watch? I'm an English teacher.

[MoonAndSun]

3. sorry to hear that Will,

what is up with some of our members here? I hope you can get this cleared up.

[LearnedHand]

4. I agree with NSMA, in principle...

...but I'd love to be a fly on the wall if that person DOES contact you. Love to know the reasoning (or lack thereof) behind the accusation.

However, you don't want to let the have an occasion to accuse you of dick-wagging, either.

On edit: fixed fumble-fingered typing.

[VelmaD]

5. I figure it was easy to accuse you...

when you weren't there to defend yourself.

Considering they never responded when other posters called them on it for examples of where you plagiarized I'll be really surprised if they have the nuts to respond to you in person.

But I hope I'm wrong...cause that would be fun to watch. :evilgrin:

[sistersofmercy]

6. I think they'll be to cowardly to come forth b/c they know it was a

cheap shot bearing not one ounce of truth. We all know you would not plagiarize. I agee with NSMA, "Fuck 'em!"

[JackSwift]

9. Need a lawyer specializing in libel? Ooo! Ooo!

Seriously dude, at least your accuser thinks you have good taste. I just finished Franken's book, and it is wonderfully light in touch. We all know you wouldn't steal someone else's writing.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Read my article again (above)

See if you can find where I plagiarized.

I have to admit to being 0.000001% freaked about this, because I finished the Franken book a couple of weeks ago. Sure as hell I didn't lift any text, but I'm wondering if I lifted a line from memory without meaning to. I'm not so much interested in yelling at this person as hearing the specifics of the accusation.

[bpilgrim]

16. well you are our 'open-source' warrior writer ;-)

i think everyone was quoting a limited number of sources and obviously the QUOTES are gonna be alike.

i think that poster just made an innocent mistake.

that article you wrote was very powerful and COMPREHENSIVE, one of your best :toast:

peace

[LearnedHand]

19. Do you know Franken?

If you want to be absolutely positive you HAVEN'T plagiarized, send your article to Franken and ask him to identify where you might have plagiarized.

[anti_shrub]

20. Upon reading your article

Perhaps this is what the person was referring to:

" Rove is a disciple of the undisputed heavyweight champion of political assassins, Lee Atwater, and has often reached into a deep bag of dirty tricks to accomplish his political ends. He knows no ideology beyond power, and has no bones about using it to wreak havoc on anyone who gets in his crosshairs. The Esquire article about DiIulio finds him recounting a singular Rove moment, as he overheard a conversation happening in another room: "Inside, Rove was talking to an aide about some political stratagem in some state that had gone awry and a political operative who had displeased him. I paid it no mind and reviewed a jotted list of questions I hoped to ask. But after a moment, it was like ignoring a tornado flinging parked cars. 'We will fuck him. Do you hear me? We will fuck him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever fucked him!'"


I seem to recall Franken mentioning the "fuck him like no one has ever fucked him" exchange, but you mentioning it hardly qualifies as plagarism.

[WilliamPitt]

22. If that was it

then no sweat. That came from the Esquire article which I used to research Rove.

[sistersofmercy]

26. I just...

PM the same thing to you. Glad it's no biggy.

[WilliamPitt]

28. Got it, thanks. Gonna ask to lock this thread.

The question seems answered.

[MoonAndSun]

21. Well, if you used the line - Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them,

then I think you should be ok. Or did you maybe use "Rush Limbaugh is a Big, Fat Idiot"?


The poster seems to be ignoring you so I wouldn't worry too much, Will.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WilliamPitt]

12. See post #11

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Subconscious influence does not = plagiarism

makes me feel a lot better. Thanks. And thanks.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

No it doesn't and everyday some idiot posts FREE SPEECH

on this board as though they actually have a fucking clue...don't worry about it.

[Lisa]

30. sure not the same magnitude as "Ambrosing" large chunks of text!

Now, THAT's plagiarism ... and that's something I can't imagine you doing, Will.

As part of my job, I have to investigate and document plagiarism incidents. I've had a lot of experience dealing with this kind of thing, and you don't fit the profile. Real plagiarists lift stuff repeatedly .... and lie about it when caught. Plus you're not the type of writer who's too careless or just plain incompetent about citing sources (the other major category I run up against).

[WilliamPitt]

32. ...without getting caught, anyway

:)

[Ripley]

13. Not me.

Waaaaaaaaaaaah. Ohhffffffffffff.... BAMMMMM...........BBBBBBIIIFFF..boombahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Good luck.

[Brucey]

17. I've an idea...

I just finished reading Franken's book, and now I've read your article. The place they intersect is the Rove quote, "We will fuck him, etc." My belief is that some idiot thinks it's plagiarism to have the same quote, or thinks that you took the quote from Franken's book. Anyway, it's obviously bogus. I couldn't find anything else, and I have a pretty good memory. I'm sure that must be it. Good luck, Will, we are all with you.

[WilliamPitt]

23. Yeah

Someone noted that above. A quote is a quote is a quote. It belongs to the universe. I sourced it, end of story. Thanks.

[LearnedHand]

27. Oh, good idea!

I thought, Will, when I read the essay on truthout.org that you should cite your sources, not because I worried about your academic integrity, but because you cited some information I didn't know or didn't remember. I wanted to look up the original information myself.

This certainly will CYA on most accusations of plagiarism. (Notice I didn't say ALL; there will ALWAYS be jealous idiots who -- like the Chihuahua to the Labrador Retriever -- will want to take you down.)

[WilliamPitt]

31. My source was the Esquire article

and I cited it. I'd forgotten completely that the bit was also in the Franken book.

[efhmc]

18. Listen sweetie, I hate to say this because basically I like to think well

all here but I have noticed that there is a certain degree of envy where you are concerned. Investigate, don't, whatever, but if you are doing right and I am sure that you are then just let it float away into the oblivion where it belongs.

[WilliamPitt]

24. I b'leeve I will do just that

No PMs yet, anyway. Thanks. :)

[efhmc]

25. Good night. Sleep well.

[VelmaD]

29. Sounds like you're feeling better about this now...

and I'm glad for that. However, I have to respectfully disagree with some of the other posters on the thread. It is, of course, up to you and I support whatever decision you make in the matter, but I personally would not let it go.

Granted, I wouldn't lose any sleep over this accusation, but I think letting it go completely let's the little shit who accused you off the hook. If it was done out of malice then he/she deserves a little public scorn.

Still kicking myself for not writing down the name of the person who did it. *smacks self on forehead*

[Nevernose]

33. Could he have been referring to this section?

Mr. Rove has done this kind of thing before, specifically using Robert Novak in that one notable attempt to cut down Mosbacher. Rove is a disciple of the undisputed heavyweight champion of political assassins, Lee Atwater, and has often reached into a deep bag of dirty tricks to accomplish his political ends. He knows no ideology beyond power, and has no bones about using it to wreak havoc on anyone who gets in his crosshairs.

PLEASE DON'T GET ME THE WRONG WAY, but that's the only thing I see that may even be remotely near plagarism -- but only for the simple expediency that EVERYBODY uses the word "disciple" when talking about Atwater and Rove. Everyone else on Earth, including Karl Rove, has also described Atwater as the grand-poobah (or something similar) of politcal assassination, too.

It's all well written and bears little resemblence to Franken's (a comedian's) book; "The Most Insidious of Traitors " really isn't very funny at all ;-). I actually thought it was one of your better bits of writing.

The more well-known you become known, Pitt, the more assholes are going to come crawling out of the woodwork.

Fuck 'em, and keep telling the truth.

[WilliamPitt]

35. Funny. That 'disciple' bit was an edit.

The first two drafts had Rove as a 'student.' I changed it to 'disciple' because it sounded better. I think that first draft is floating around on DU somewhere. :)

No, I think it was in reference to the 'fuck him' Rove quote. A DUer showed me where Franken used it on page 159. I scooped it from Esquire; forgot it was even in the Franken book. Feh.

:)

[rucky]

36. Wouldn't it be ironic...

...if Franken's publisher sued you for using the word "disciple"?

I'm making light because the accusation is just as valid as Fox News is fair and balanced.

[WilliamPitt]

38. Dont'cha think?

It's like rain...on your wedding day!

:)

[im4edwards]

34. I would think you need to check with the Mods

its possible that the person was de-activated for those very deleted posts.

It may not be possible for them to respond.

[DuctapeFatwa]

37. Did you use the phrase "Fair and Balanced" anywhere?

If not, you should try it. I heard Franken was able to buy all new clothes!

[WilliamPitt]

39. He can sue ME and make ME famous!

:)

[VelmaD]

40. Stop the presses!

Gotta add Al's picture on the cover of the new book. ;-)

And it's famous and RICH...don't forget rich. :-)

[LearnedHand]

41. I forgot to say, Will...

...that "Most Insidious" was an AWESOME essay! I hope it gets really wide circulation.

[TSIAS]

42. Locking

Per poster's request.

Taylor :)
GD Moderator