|
© All columns copyrighted
Columns must not be
reprinted in any form without the author's express permission.
|
|
Melvin's blog
Nshima & Curry
Melvin's Blog
Nshima & Curry
| |
IT ISN'T WISE TO PLAGIARIZE
For the last year or so, my humor columns have appeared
occasionally in The Scribe, the student newspaper at
Bridgeport University in Connecticut. The columns were
submitted to the paper by an Indian student who really liked
them -- liked them so much, in fact, that he decided to put
his name on them.
Yes, he passed them off as his work, taking full credit for
all the effort I had invested. While I was spending long
nights staring into my computer, searching for inspiration,
this student -- let's call him RM -- was using his copying
skills to turn himself into a popular guy on campus, drawing
more adulation than almost anyone, male or female, on the
university chess team.
Well, perhaps he wasn't quite that popular, but I'd like to
believe he received a compliment or two, if not from his
fellow students, then at least from his mom. Even his
professors were doubtless impressed.
Professor: "I'm so proud of you. Your writing has improved
so much in the last year."
RM: "Thank you, sir. I have learn English good, aren't I?"
Professor: "Yes, you certainly have. And you write so fast
these days. Ten columns in five minutes. You're a genius."
RM's run as a prolific columnist came to a crashing end
recently when The Scribe's editors discovered his plagiarism
and dismissed him from the staff, unwilling to offer him a
lesser position, such as cut-and-paste assistant.
How did they catch him? I'm not sure, but perhaps it was the
fact that he was never seen with a baby named Lekha. Or
maybe they had trouble believing that he knew so much about
ancient times, particularly the 1980s.
Editor: "Good column, this week. I see you've been studying
history."
RM: "His story? No, it is my story. I write it myself. Not
his story."
When I heard about the plagiarism, my first thought was to
sue RM for $100 million ($10 in lost revenue and $99,999,990
in punitive damages). But then I remembered he was a college
student, which meant that all his money was tied up in
textbooks, video games and Ramen noodles. I'd have more luck
trying to squeeze money out of a horse. Especially a
well-heeled one.
Plagiarism, in case you didn't know, is a Latin word that
means "too lazy to do my own writing." It may seem like a
trivial crime, one that's flattering to the victim, but it's
virtual embezzlement to writers who've spent years, even
decades, honing their craft, learning to create elegant
prose. I don't want to sound prideful, but I know such
writers.
Plagiarism is unethical, dishonest, and just about the
hottest hobby on the Internet. Students are notorious for
plagiarizing research papers, but even the so-called
professionals can't resist the temptation of "speed
writing." In the last year itself, I've heard cases of
reporters plagiarizing articles, authors plagiarizing books,
and pastors plagiarizing sermons. (Hopefully not the "thou
shalt not steal" sermon.)
Some plagiarists are rightfully fired, because their excuses
don't pass muster: "My friends emailed it to me and I didn't
realize that someone else wrote it." (Thank you, Mike
Barnicle.)
Others are merely suspended or reprimanded, because their
excuses seem plausible: "My dog ate my integrity."
As for RM, he has to contend with academic discipline, a
ruined reputation, and a writing career on life support.
But not to worry. With the Internet around, revival is only
a click away.
Send this column to a friend
| |
|
