What's your opinion on MyLot members who Copy & Paste?
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
United States
April 29, 2007 12:09am CST
I've noticed some members that copy & paste email type "FWDs" or things you can find online into new discussions. What's your opinion on this? Do you think it's 'fair' or right for them to do this?
In case you're not sure of what I mean, let me explain.
Let's say I get a joke or something in my email from a family member or friend. I think start a NEW discussion here on MyLot by copying and pasting that joke or whatever. Then I post it without really adding my own opinion or view on what I just copy and pasted. Or what if I went to a site and saw some an article on the latest beauty routine or high tech gadget - and I proceeded to copy and paste that article into a new discussion here, again, without adding my own two cents or opinion or experience.
Personally, I think it's wrong. Any of us could go to other sites and copy/paste a ton of artcles into new discussions here just to have a better shot at making more money on MyLot. If I wanted to read the latest FWD or article without any input from the members here, I could open my email or read the newspaper or log into a news site or magazine site. I come here for personal interaction not just to read stuff and post 'great article' or 'nice joke'. There needs to be some sort of dialog taking place as well between the original poster and myself or other members.
Also, I might understand if it was a once in a blue moon type of thing but when you see a poster that does this on a regular basis - maybe starting a half dozen or so discussions like this per day, I think it's a bit annoying and personally - I'd love to put them on 'ignore' if could!
What about you? What's your opinion on this type of thing?
7 people like this
28 responses
@Talha22 (384)
• Pakistan
29 Apr 07
well you are right cause i have already noticed this thing before and also replied to topics just like this one that people of mylot or mylot advanced users are copying from Yahoo Answers and pasting discussion here on mylot and get earned more than usual with less work and more profit.
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
29 Apr 07
Very good discussion. I will be brief in my reply, I think there is no substitute of originality. One should be as original as possible. Copy and paste is an easy option and if one does it.... the other fellow easily understands this point that the matter has been take/lifted from somewhere else. I try to be original....may take a clue from somewhere else... but I believe copy and pasting...is not going to give me good reputation.
1 person likes this
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
29 Apr 07
Forwarded emails aside, I've seen a lot of copyrighted articles get copied and pasted onto MyLot discussions (not only new ones, but also as responses to already existing ones). There's one word that describes this: PLAGIARISM. These articles are posted online for viewing purposes and not for anyone else to profit from them, and in violating the authors' intellectual property rights, legal action can be taken.
And that's not the only point here. You are using someone else's work for your own benefit without his/her permission and without giving due credit. You are disrespecting someone else's ideas.
It's really frustrating to see people copying and pasting unoriginal space here while I try to come up with my own discussions. It kills the fun out of talking with people. it kills the fun of thinking creatively. It generally takes the fun away from MyLot.
@mosvph (97)
• Philippines
29 Apr 07
Using someone else's writing and passing it off as your own is PLAGIARISM and is a violation of intellectual property rights. It is a crime! It should never be done. Not here, not anywhere else. Intended or not.
We should be very careful about plagiarism. It could get us into real trouble. And it isn't just copying word for word someone's writing. Copying the sequencing of ideas, even if the words are different, is still plagiarism.
Maybe some people are impatient with the "penny for your thoughts" deal but do not like to do the work. But then they are no better than the pickpocket, the pilferer, the holdupper. Hahaha!
1 person likes this
@crislover (22)
• Romania
29 Apr 07
Like everything else and this `problem` has many faces: if somebody just copy and paste something to win time and to not write it`s almost right if he ataches some comentaries. Ofcourse it`s better to write "at the first hand", it`s better to write your opinions, feelings and to be sincerely with you first. It`s not correct to steal from somebody else and win money with it. But I think that myLot has an analize or something like that to not let the cheaters win money from "nowork". I played cards many years ago and I never cheated; not only because I could`nt but I thought that my cheated victory will not have any value. This is my opinion. Thank you all.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
29 Apr 07
What I hate is when someone copys and pastes a article and does it agian. I saw this twice tonight where someone copied someone elses disscussions. I had them on my friend list but I deleted that friend.I wish we could block people that does stuff like this.It is also aggerveting when I get a reply that is copied snd pasted. i hate that also so i understand where you are coming from.
@Strawberry_one (243)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I think you are absolutly right. It is annoying some people make money of someone elses origional post somewhere. I mean come on the least you could do is say something other then like here you go. I mean I love reading jokes and things people get but constantly over and over without saying anything about it or even replying to the people who post there is a bit on the rude and selfish side. I also wish there was an "ignore" button! I've only made one topic the whole time I've been on here and I took the time to think out what I was going to say on the matter because well I had learned some about it and I was trying to figure out how best to word what I had learned.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
30 Apr 07
I don't have a problem with it. I thought that was why we were give the ability to do that very thing. If I feel strongly about a news item I see or some other aticle that takes my interest I'll copy and paste and ask for other's opinions. Sometimes I'll state my opinion first then ask for others so I can get more ideas on the subject.
Same with jokes. If it's something I can share with my Mylot friends, I'll do so. I'm simply sharing it just as the friend did who sent it to everyone on her email list.
I try and state the source for news items and articles of interest, anything that may have a copyright I post a link.
I could always type it out myself but copying and pasting is much easier.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
30 Apr 07
I realised after I posted this that I only addressed my part in this practice.
I don't believe what I do is incorrect. I would never knowingly copy someone's work as if it was my own. I have no problem whatsoever naming my source or proclaiming the author of a quote, I go out of my way to do this as it is the correct thing to do.
And I chose suitable humorous items that are sent to me to share because the artcle has moved me to think that my friends here maybe interested in the topic at a humorous level.
I also appreciated your truly courteous comment to my response. I also enjoy your discussions. You're a good friend. :)
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
30 Apr 07
Hi MsTickle -
I want to clarify that I do not have a problem with people who use Copy & Paste in the manner for which it was intended on this site. People can copy & paste anything they want - what I have the problem with is when they do not add anything at all of their own. And even more so when they keep doing it over and over within a few minutes of each other. How can anyone really want to have a discussion or conversation with someone else here when all they are doing is copying things they've seen and not adding their own 2 cents as to WHY they are posting it here.
The way you are doing it is completely acceptable and the right way to use Copy & Paste but there are people who do not use it the right way.
If I was going to pass along something funny that someone sent me, I would at least inform the readers of what was so funny about it to me instead of just passing it along with no note on my part. I sure wouldn't do it on a rapid basis all within a matter of minutes. I think it would appear that I was just out to get credit for starting alot of discussions when really all I did was copy and paste stuff from the internet into MyLot.
Thank you for your response and I'm glad you are not using it the wrong way. I always enjoy your discussions and replies - so thank you again!
1 person likes this
@operationcwal (188)
• Malaysia
30 Apr 07
Well,I dont think there is problem from copying and pasting.May be they want us to knonw more about an issue rather than talking nonsence on their own.For instance,a discussion about pneumonia,do you have any idea about it?Surely you have to search online for the key info.
@wildhorse (1293)
• Egypt
29 Apr 07
yes it's unfair and annoying, especially with jokes that we can just open any jokes site and read hundreds of them.. It's good when someone include a forward type of post when they have some comments about it and welling to start real discussion where people can talk about it. I saw many people complaining about this (especially about jokes and recipe posts) but apparently there's no clear mylot rule against it so people just keep going on doing it. I think mylot admin should have more strict rules to stop this kind of posts.
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I'm ok with people using copy and paste for things like interesting news articles and stuff like that as long as they include their opinion along with it. That is really annoying when someone just copies something with no input. I agree with you. I'm here to interact with people. And their not exactly interacting if they don't say why they posted the article and how they feel about it.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I agree with you I do not like it. I also do not like ti when people copy and past the exact discussion someone else has started. I know one guy did it to one of my mylot friends. I think it is wrong.
If a person copies and pastes an aritcle from a newspaper he or she would cite the work because they are plagerizing. I also want so imput, why are you wirting about that subject.
If a person askes a question I would like to know why they want to know. Is it because they heard something or is it just to make money?
1 person likes this
@wonderful1 (2075)
• China
29 Apr 07
if he starts a new discussion,i think it is a good way to paste some things he found.so we can save time and energy to find the popular and moved stories here.but i dont think he is right if he responds someone's discussion. it is a cheating way.he not only cheats the site, friends, but also himself.you can paste some suitable proverbs and actor's lines in your discussion.notice,'suitalbe'.we are here is to share our real feeling .if you are a cheater here, then how about your real life.if you cant be yourself here, where can you find yourself.We all should leave our own real space.
1 person likes this
@crickethear (1417)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I don't mind if someone post a joke or something like that. It is nice when they post a note with it, but if I can get a laugh out of it, I don't mind. Sometimes we need a little humor. As far as copying articles, I think that putting the link and opinion is the best thing to do. That way you can read the source for yourself, and then come back and make your comment and or opinion. It is frustrating when you spend the time typing, and someone comes along and just paste a post. It takes time to type and compile your thoughts. Too bad MyLot doesn't have a way of knowing when a post has been made where it tells from the time you respond and or open a discussion, to when you post it, that they know by the time it took, that they can but a block on saying, the message appears to have been.........
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
29 Apr 07
I don't mind a joke here or there either. I enjoy a good laugh just as much as the next person.
I was meaning more .. (for example) let's say you have someone on your friends list and you have it set so that you get notices when they start new discussions. Let's say you notice this person is posting a bunch of new discussions, one right after another, of things you've seen before that were sent to you as FWDs in emails or whatever so you know they are just copy & pasting them into a new discussion. No biggie but you notice that the poster isn't even adding anything to the discussion except to post that FWD stuff. It's like they aren't trying to think of discussions that interest them - they are just posting a bunch of them back to back in hopes of gaining some money for doing so. That is what is bothersome to me.
Sometimes they even throw in a few discussions that are copy & pastes of articles from websites - again, without any input on their part.
I think that is cheating and shouldn't be allowed here but I'm not sure how they can stop it.
Thanks for your response!
@franxexces (1096)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
I'm okay with it as long as they are jokes or really informative and iteresting things but I prefer them to respond to my discussions according tot heir opinion.
@ajmccrary1986 (454)
• United States
3 May 07
I think they do it because they may not remember it when they type it.
@CoffeeAnyone (3210)
• Canada
29 Apr 07
You bring up an excellent point. I think it is most diffenitly wrong to be doing that. Now on the other hand I dont' think it is wrong if the want to talk about it and shed some light on the subject? Do you?
@luay673 (153)
• United Arab Emirates
30 Apr 07
i personally copy but typed it not paste some jokes. as long as it makes sense why not share it to others. but i do understand what you mean, that instead of creating topics for some discussions it ends up like cheating. just for the sake of posting a discussion that will add up their earnings. but what matters is that how the people react on the discussions they have posted can be on the positive or on a negative reaction or it can be ignored.
