Stuck on a scene? Just plagiarize!

[Kumquatqueen]

Google seems to ignore Lit in their search results as of late. I've tried to search for my author name and story snippets (to see where my stuff may have ended up) and Lit doesn't show up in my search results. Try Bing or DuckDuckGo for these kinds of searches instead.

And yeah, if I catch someone spare-parting my stories like that...

If I put the word 'literotica' in the search, it works for me.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Integrity move.

A bit late.

Back to Star Wars.

 

[Euphony]

I was not familiar with these creatures. I don't think my life missed anything with that...

Doubtful you did.

Your word choice and the monster in Jedi being the same was too funny to ignore.

 

[jsmiam]

Google seems to ignore Lit in their search results as of late. I've tried to search for my author name and story snippets (to see where my stuff may have ended up) and Lit doesn't show up in my search results. Try Bing or DuckDuckGo for these kinds of searches instead.

And yeah, if I catch someone spare-parting my stories like that...

Two things:

Thing one: Google (others too) allows a parameter “site”, so for example “r2d2 site:literotica.com” would only search for posts at Literotica. It works with subdomains too, so “r2d2 site:forum.Literotica.com” would only search the forums.

Thing two, play with Google’s “safe search” option. Turn it off and try again.

 

[lovecraft68]

Well, Tilan, if you pop back in?
That's how to troll. Attack the wielders of self righteous identity politics.
Amazing how horrible terms like Nazi and racist are always on the tip of THEIR tongues.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Two things:

Thing one: Google (others too) allows a parameter “site”, so for example “r2d2 site:literotica.com” would only search for posts at Literotica. It works with subdomains too, so “r2d2 site:forum.Literotica.com” would only search the forums.

Thing two, play with Google’s “safe search” option. Turn it off and try again.

I have SafeSearch turned off by default. Thanks for the extra google-fu moves though.

 

[SimonDoom]

I was not familiar with these creatures. I don't think my life missed anything with that...

It was a highlight of episode 6, so it should have been part of your Christmas routine. That was the monster in the pit that Luke was dropped into.

 

[Bramblethorn]

By that ethical logic, it would be inappropriate to reference a thesaurus in an attempt to find descriptors or words that you might be searching for as a writer.

What you quoted: "I'm not sure it's a good idea for a writer to be leaning on somebody else's strengths this way."

The full sentence, before you edited it: "But, ethics aside, I'm not sure it's a good idea for a writer to be leaning on somebody else's strengths this way."

Why on earth are you characterising this as "ethical logic" when I made it very clear that this particular statement wasn't about ethics?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Two things:

Thing one: Google (others too) allows a parameter “site”, so for example “r2d2 site:literotica.com” would only search for posts at Literotica. It works with subdomains too, so “r2d2 site:forum.Literotica.com” would only search the forums.

Thing two, play with Google’s “safe search” option. Turn it off and try again.

FWIW, I was doing both these, but it was still missing content that I know to be on Lit.

 

[Bramblethorn]

If I put the word 'literotica' in the search, it works for me.

It varies for me. As a test, I tried searching on two different phrases from page 1 of your story Gas Station Guy. This one worked:



But this one didn't.



Same settings, same browser, just a few seconds apart - the only difference is which phrase I searched for.

 

[jsmiam]

FWIW, I was doing both these, but it was still missing content that I know to be on Lit.

It’s definitely not perfect. Try also telling it to “show similar results” if you get that warning about combining similar results.

But you’re correct, it won’t always be perfect.

I get the impression it’s better with newer posts than old, and/or good as of a point in time, whenever they crawled it or added to their indexes. But google intentionally keeps some of their methods obfuscated.

It wouldn’t hurt to experiment with DuckDuckGo and bing too, they have similar features. I’m not as on top of the search engine intricacies as I used to be. In the very old days duckduckgo was an anonymizer for google searches. I’m not sure if it’s the same now or if they have their own search archive now.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I don't know what it's like to have sex from a female perspective. That story had a female narrator, and, as much as possible, I wanted to use a woman's words to describe what sex with another woman is like.

I made a bad decision on how much to take from "A Girl Named Mitch". I rewrote the vast majority of a FF sex scene into a MFF threesome. If you look at the comparison, what's from "A Girl Named Mitch" is 10-20% of the whole sex scene. To me, the sex scene is very much an 8letters' sex scene. And the sex scene is just a half a page of a seven page story, which is in a different category from "A Girl Name Mitch".

It doesn't matter. If people feel I crossed a line, I crossed a line. It wouldn't be hard to rewrite what little is from "A Girl Name Mitch", but I'll take the story down instead.

This feels like you're trying to have it both ways. If your story depends on the material pasted from JCMcNeilly, then no, it's not purely an 8letters story. If it doesn't, then you didn't need to take it.

There's a vast difference between reading other authors to get a feel for things outside one's own personal experience, and copying whole sentences of their descriptions.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Nah - Mike Godwin's confirmed he's quite content with his law being invoked when describing actual fascists. The corrollary that whoever calls Nazi first has lost the argument is often but not always true.

 

[ElectricBlue]

This feels like you're trying to have it both ways. If your story depends on the material pasted from JCMcNeilly, then no, it's not purely an 8letters story. If it doesn't, then you didn't need to take it.

There's a vast difference between reading other authors to get a feel for things outside one's own personal experience, and copying whole sentences of their descriptions.

I don't think 8letters is acknowledging in any way that what he's done is wrong.

If people feel I crossed a line, I crossed a line. It wouldn't be hard to rewrite what little is from "A Girl Name Mitch", but I'll take the story down instead.

It's the classic cop out - in his mind he's quite justified In what he did, because he "doesn't know what it feels like to have sex from a female perspective" (neither do I, but with imagination, I can have a go at writing it); and it's only if we feel he's crossed a line that it's a problem. He then effectively belittles his stolen source, "it wouldn't be hard to rewrite what little is from..." and still tries to say, it was only a little bit, what's the crime?

He's a fake, and should be kicked off the site. How many more stories have stolen content?

 

[SimonDoom]

It's the classic cop out - in his mind he's quite justified In what he did, because he "doesn't know what it feels like to have sex from a female perspective" (neither do I, but with imagination, I can have a go at writing it); and it's only if we feel he's crossed a line that it's a problem. He then effectively belittles his stolen source, "it wouldn't be hard to rewrite what little is from..." and still tries to say, it was only a little bit, what's the crime?

He's a fake, and should be kicked off the site. How many more stories have stolen content?

I think this goes too far. He should remove the story, and remove all the plagiarism before resubmitting it. If I were the Site and found out about this, I'd remove the story with a warning to the author. Without proof we can't make assumptions about what's in other stories.

I don't think it matters in cases like this whether an offending author is contrite, or what their state of mind is. That's not something the Site is in any position to police, or wants to get involved in. Better to make it clear that this is forbidden, with a warning about future violations. That gets the message across, both to the author and to everyone else.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think this goes too far. He should remove the story, and remove all the plagiarism before resubmitting it. If I were the Site and found out about this, I'd remove the story with a warning to the author. Without proof we can't make assumptions about what's in other stories.

I don't think it matters in cases like this whether an offending author is contrite, or what their state of mind is. That's not something the Site is in any position to police, or wants to get involved in. Better to make it clear that this is forbidden, with a warning about future violations. That gets the message across, both to the author and to everyone else.

I agree, let's not get carried away with talking about kicking someone off the site.
I did find it interesting though that when Bramble went into his thread he responded to her with a link to his story and the one he 'ripped' pieces out of....so to me it seems as if he doesn't feel he did anything wrong. Not sure how he could feel that way, but worse things have been done on this site than this.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I think this goes too far. He should remove the story, and remove all the plagiarism before resubmitting it. If I were the Site and found out about this, I'd remove the story with a warning to the author. Without proof we can't make assumptions about what's in other stories.

I agree your last sentence, but where there's smoke there's fire. As I say, how many more stories are cut and paste compiled from someone else's content? You said yourself he's methodical, with a well declared modus operandi. Well yes, we can see that in operation, very clearly.

The site boots people for trolling and shit behaviour in the Forums. Blatant plagiarism such as this is the worst writer's offence there is, so why should he get a day pass?

You're also suggesting some kind of honesty system from a guy who doesn't appear to be contrite at all. At the very least, the story should be taken down (by the site, not as a mea culpa from the author), and not be allowed back up.

He could, I suppose, apologise to his fans on his profile page, but somehow, I can't see that happening.

EDIT - the Feedback Forum Moderator has closed the perpetrator's thread, and made clear the site's position. Happy with that.

 

[jsmiam]

As one who initially defended, then felt a little embarrassed about that later, I will nonetheless say I don’t agree that there is no contrition. But 8letters should speak for himself more than he has.

 

[LegoHead]

I agree your last sentence, but where there's smoke there's fire. As I say, how many more stories are cut and paste compiled from someone else's content? You said yourself he's methodical, with a well declared modus operandi. Well yes, we can see that in operation, very clearly.

The site boots people for trolling and shit behaviour in the Forums. Blatant plagiarism such as this is the worst writer's offence there is, so why should he get a day pass?

You're also suggesting some kind of honesty system from a guy who doesn't appear to be contrite at all. At the very least, the story should be taken down (by the site, not as a mea culpa from the author), and not be allowed back up.

He could, I suppose, apologise to his fans on his profile page, but somehow, I can't see that happening.

electricblue66, The Dark Chronicles Ch. 00
Author's Note:

The Dark Chronicles is my version of one of the world's great myth cycles. I play fast and loose with the more established versions of the myth (of which there are many) by introducing new characters, changing names, changing events, and generally writing it my way. Commentary along the lines of, "but the stories don't tell it that way" will fall on deaf ears so please, don't even bother. Besides, it's all written.

You've admitted that you're not above rewriting another author's work.

Titles from electrucblue66's portfolio
In the Library - A poem written by Charles Simic 1938
Isabella - Strangers in the Night - "Strangers in the Night" is a title used many times before you co-opted it.
O'Malleys Bar - A song by the Australian Band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, though they use the possessive O'Malley's.
Song of Seduction - Fire and Ice - Possibly taken from "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin
The Floating World - translated in Japan as Ukiyo, used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of the Edo period of Japan. (The meaning taken from Wikipedia.)
The Hyacinth House - Which is the title of a song, "Hyacinth House," written and performed by the doors.

You're casting stones, but you have not been above the occasional rip. Those titles mentioned above are the most obvious titles you have stolen, but many of your titles are derivatives of works that don't belong to you. What would a deep dive reveal about your writing?

 

[KeithD]

Titles? Titles can't be owned (unless they have been trademarked for some reason). Titles get reused legitimately constantly.

And "rewrite/recast" and "plagiarize" are two entirely different actions.

 

[SimonDoom]

electricblue66, The Dark Chronicles Ch. 00
Author's Note:

The Dark Chronicles is my version of one of the world's great myth cycles. I play fast and loose with the more established versions of the myth (of which there are many) by introducing new characters, changing names, changing events, and generally writing it my way. Commentary along the lines of, "but the stories don't tell it that way" will fall on deaf ears so please, don't even bother. Besides, it's all written.

You've admitted that you're not above rewriting another author's work.

Titles from electrucblue66's portfolio
In the Library - A poem written by Charles Simic 1938
Isabella - Strangers in the Night - "Strangers in the Night" is a title used many times before you co-opted it.
O'Malleys Bar - A song by the Australian Band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, though they use the possessive O'Malley's.
Song of Seduction - Fire and Ice - Possibly taken from "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin
The Floating World - translated in Japan as Ukiyo, used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of the Edo period of Japan. (The meaning taken from Wikipedia.)
The Hyacinth House - Which is the title of a song, "Hyacinth House," written and performed by the doors.

You're casting stones, but you have not been above the occasional rip. Those titles mentioned above are the most obvious titles you have stolen, but many of your titles are derivatives of works that don't belong to you. What would a deep dive reveal about your writing?

This is a low blow, and it is completely unwarranted, legally and ethically.

There is nothing wrong with rewriting the Arthurian legends. They are in the public domain and are fair game. Moreover, he gave notice that his work was borrowed from them, so it's not plagiarism.

There is nothing wrong with using past song, poem, or story titles for one's own story. Titles, generally speaking, are not proprietary.

You have provided no evidence of anything that could be construed as copyright infringement or plagiarism. This is completely different from what 8Letters did: he recopied chunks of another author's text, verbatim, into his own story, without permission and without attribution.

 

[ElectricBlue]

electricblue66, The Dark Chronicles Ch. 00
Author's Note:

The Dark Chronicles is my version of one of the world's great myth cycles. I play fast and loose with the more established versions of the myth (of which there are many) by introducing new characters, changing names, changing events, and generally writing it my way. Commentary along the lines of, "but the stories don't tell it that way" will fall on deaf ears so please, don't even bother. Besides, it's all written.

You've admitted that you're not above rewriting another author's work.

Titles from electrucblue66's portfolio
In the Library - A poem written by Charles Simic 1938
Isabella - Strangers in the Night - "Strangers in the Night" is a title used many times before you co-opted it.
O'Malleys Bar - A song by the Australian Band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, though they use the possessive O'Malley's.
Song of Seduction - Fire and Ice - Possibly taken from "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin
The Floating World - translated in Japan as Ukiyo, used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of the Edo period of Japan. (The meaning taken from Wikipedia.)
The Hyacinth House - Which is the title of a song, "Hyacinth House," written and performed by the doors.

You're casting stones, but you have not been above the occasional rip. Those titles mentioned above are the most obvious titles you have stolen, but many of your titles are derivatives of works that don't belong to you. What would a deep dive reveal about your writing?

Show me the plagiarism.

The Dark Chronicles. It's a fucking myth, for God's sake, part of anyone's cultural heritage. But I challenge you to find any of my content in any other version. For a start, I changed just about every name, as well as introduce characters and traits that are not in existing tellings - oh look, I told readers that.

I've never heard of Charles Simic, and besides, a title is expressedly not copyright.

Ditto, Strangers in the Night. Any number of songs, books, lines in movies.

O'Malley's Bar. Yes, and any number of Irish pubs and bars, including, I dare say, the one Nick Cave went to.

Title, Fire and Ice, which is an opposite concept to Ice and Fire.

The Floating World - any number of Google searches will give you a common definition for Ukiyo - and it's evident that those words are not mine, by its place in the story as a preface.

The Hyacinth House. Again, a title, and any number of Chinese Restaurants. Besides which, if you read the story, I acknowledge Jim Morrison as the singer, ditto Roadhouse Blues.

Plagiarism is the blatant lift and re-use of story content, without acknowledging the original author. Titles of anything are not copyright, as evidenced by their repeated use, and as evidenced by copyright law.

Good try, but did you not comprehend Bramblethorn's word for word analysis and understand what it meant? In any event, if you go read the Feedback Forum, you will see the Forum Mod's position in this case, which says the guy is lucky not to have his account cancelled. So my view is shared by the site.

This is not casting stones, it's addressing blatant plagiarism which, in case you didn't know, is a sackable offence in universities, and enough to cause a student to not get a degree. It the most serious writer's offence there is. It needs to be called out for what it is: theft of content. Ideas aren't content, nor are titles.

p.s.: thank you, Simon (our posts drafted at the same time).

 

[lovecraft68]

electricblue66, The Dark Chronicles Ch. 00
Author's Note:

The Dark Chronicles is my version of one of the world's great myth cycles. I play fast and loose with the more established versions of the myth (of which there are many) by introducing new characters, changing names, changing events, and generally writing it my way. Commentary along the lines of, "but the stories don't tell it that way" will fall on deaf ears so please, don't even bother. Besides, it's all written.

You've admitted that you're not above rewriting another author's work.

Titles from electrucblue66's portfolio
In the Library - A poem written by Charles Simic 1938
Isabella - Strangers in the Night - "Strangers in the Night" is a title used many times before you co-opted it.
O'Malleys Bar - A song by the Australian Band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, though they use the possessive O'Malley's.
Song of Seduction - Fire and Ice - Possibly taken from "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin
The Floating World - translated in Japan as Ukiyo, used to describe the urban lifestyle and culture, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of the Edo period of Japan. (The meaning taken from Wikipedia.)
The Hyacinth House - Which is the title of a song, "Hyacinth House," written and performed by the doors.

You're casting stones, but you have not been above the occasional rip. Those titles mentioned above are the most obvious titles you have stolen, but many of your titles are derivatives of works that don't belong to you. What would a deep dive reveal about your writing?

Did he credit any of the sources in an author's note? If he did, I don't see this as a big deal.

If he didn't, maybe he should cut out the fake outrage and get off his high horse about talking about others being banned.

 

[TadOverdon]

Are we still cool with "long, hard cock?"

If not, what's the attribution?

 

[lovecraft68]

Are we still cool with "long, hard cock?"

If not, what's the attribution?

Redundancy and homage to cheesy porn stories is the defense there against plagiarism.

Or, if not? They can't sue all of us! Muahahahahha