[lbo-talk] plagiarism epidemic

[Jim Westrich]

I am not sure how it factors into the other reasons you mentioned but I think
that the increasing distancing between "authorship" and who actually does the
writing increases the chance of "plagiarism".  In the academic world, an
"author" may not to write a single word, or at least any of the first draft, of
a piece.  There then is a whole range of "authorship" options open to academics
which increases the possibility of unintended and plagirized text to enter in
(most do give "co-authorship" to junior colleagues but some get away with
simple acknowledgements).  I have no idea if there are non-academic writers
that do this.  Shepard blames his RA.

Peace,
Jim

A fox may steal your hens, Sir,
A Whore your health and Pence, Sir,
Your daughter rob your Chest, Sir,
Your Wife may steal your Rest, Sir,
A Thief your Goods and Plate,
A Thief your Goods and Plate.
But this is all but picking,
With Rest, Pence, Chest, and Chicken,
If ever was decreed, Sir,
If Lawyer's Hand is fee'd, Sir.
He steals your whole Estate,
He steals your whole Estate.

   -John Gay, The Beggar's Opera (1728)

Quoting Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>:


> [It sure seems that there's an epidemic of plagiarism afoot. Is that
> just one of those "news spasm" artifacts - or is it easier to detect
> now - or is it that people are under more pressure than ever, and
> more likely to steal others' words?]