Wow ... Just ... I mean, did she even think??

Every so often, while perusing the internet, I come across something that just BLOWS. MY. BRAIN.

Today's winner - Judith Griggs.

Because ... well, it takes some serious balls to steal another person's work (PLAGIARISM!), profit from it, and then, when called upon it act like you DID THEM A FAVOR.

Really?

Yes, really. Because I cannot make this crap up.

So, yeah. If you want to read more about Griggs' egregious error in judgment and humility, please do.

Here (via Nick Mamatas)

Here (via SmartB*tches -- profanity involved. Just to warn you.)

Here (more Smart B ... with more story.)

And, straight from the victim, here.

Moral of the story: Just because something might be considered "Public Domain," does NOT give you the right to copy it word for word.

(Because, if that were not the case, I could just copy "Pride and Prejudice" or "Jane Eyre" word-for-word ... or sections thereof, and be completely done with NaNoWriMo ... which I am not. And, at this point, I won't ever be. And I'm okay with that.)

(Because it's better to be a quitter than a plagiarizing Cheaty McCheaterpants. ... Just saying.)

Still, Ms. Judith Griggs (it's so nice, I link it twice!) believes that she is in the right, that she has done nothing wrong, and that she's even done Monica Gaudio a favor by cleaning up the spelling (of words written in [correctly-spelled] medieval English.

Yes, she's done a favor by doing something that would get any college student expelled.

*sings* One of these things is not like the other ...


So, yes. Please remember that when you use someone else's words, you should either rewrite it, ask for permission, always cite your sources, ... and, if the person or his/her estate is still living and you DIDN'T ask for permission (ESPECIALLY for a paid publication), be aware that financial restitution and/or a formal apology may be required.

Update - 4:29 PM - There's quite a few articles out there about this scandal. HERE is one that shows that Cooks Source has plagiarized at least SIX other authors/publications. Not all of them were online. And a few of the online ones DID have copyright notices on their sites.


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In case you're wondering, I am just peeved that anyone (especially someone proclaiming that they have three decades in journalism) would flagrantly copy another person's work. Writing is not easy. Nor is finding a publisher. Plagiarism is intellectual theft. It just makes me upset. And very disappointed in people who do it.

(So don't do it. I don't want to be disappointed in you.)

Here's a video to help explain it. (Use captions. It's in Norwegian. But it's totally well done and worth it.)