Indeed, a horrible crime was committed by pointing out that someone dishonestly claimed on a public forum someone else's work as her own. The fault is, of course, all mine. How could I have been so foolish to not have known the great personal tragedy I would bring upon this hapless individual.
Ah, yes, it was undoubtedly a tragic accident, much like when my classmate in high school trigonometry accidentally copied my answers in a test. If the teacher had simply asked him, he would've pointed out that he did indeed copy my test results, but that he did so accidentally, due to human error. If only my teacher would've given him the chance to confess his honest error before flunking him. True, my teacher did ask him repeatedly about his good score, and my classmate did on each occasion take credit for it, but that was all simply a human error-related accident as well.
Sometimes there just isn't any justice in the world. What a "holyer" than thou person my Trig teacher was!! What was the big deal? Why not just give my classmate an A and a pat on the back and perhaps even some humanitarian award?? I personally think my classmate was a saint...or at least a saint in making.
Dear heavens, if only people would become enlightened and mature enough to understand that it's not only no big deal when you take credit for other people's hard work - why, in fact, it's extraordinarily laudable!! Rather than saying that such actions are dishonest and unfair, we ought to applaud them and even consider worshiping them...if only from afar.
That was the question GG was responding to, V. Far from being "holyer" than thou, she was addressing an interesting question and supplying relevant knowledge (especially for those here who seem so fond of claiming other people's works as their own).
But one good thing, V, is that this inspired me to write a poem commemorating the difficulties in choosing the right and wrong paths in life...
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.
I'm glad she posted it, too. It makes some worthwhile points.
But as a writer and thinker, I appreciate when someone has devoted the time and hard work into creating something like that, and I think they deserve the credit for it. And I think of anyone who's done anything that required a lot of hard work and dedication - and then had it stolen out from under them.
By thanking everyone who complimented the writing/thinking in that post, she of course took credit for it implicitly (most of the compliments specifically referred to her).
You didn't answer my question, Demon. Is it ethical to take credit for someone else's work? That's aside from the question (for those who apparently didn't read the many congratulations aimed at her personally, and her thanks for them).
My answer: It is unethical and extremely dishonest.
It matters only if you object to someone lying...and stealing credit from a deserving writer, in this case.
To me, that's like saying: "Well, does it really matter that what I purchased from someone (say, a piece of art or something practical, like a car) was stolen? After all, it works, and I probably never would've seen or used it if the thief hadn't brought it to my attention."
A brilliant, compassionate, and all-around wonderful lady. She added so much to this list, and was a personal inspiration for me. I found some of her poems so delicious they seemed edible. Her death renewed my faith in atheism.
Just signed in to add my great respects for this unique and inspiring individual. I miss her.
RE: Your True Self!
Indeed, a horrible crime was committed by pointing out that someone dishonestly claimed on a public forum someone else's work as her own. The fault is, of course, all mine. How could I have been so foolish to not have known the great personal tragedy I would bring upon this hapless individual.