ethical use of quotations in sigs - Page 2 - Writers Forum

Mike C · 07-16-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anne Lacey

I haven't been sleeping well...

A side effect of motherhood?

Anne Lacey · 07-16-2006, 04:42 PM

Quite possibly! lol! That on top of being pregnant and getting a new bed!

mammamaia · 07-16-2006, 09:13 PM

well, this sure got hot in a hurry!... and i'm happy to see that the majority of opinions expressed are on the 'ethical' side...

i'm sorry if any of those 'in charge' of the site may have felt personally offended, but i was merely stating the situation as it is now and as i [and others, obviously] feel it should be, and should be enforced by the folks 'in charge'...

everyone's input is appreciated... and special thanks go to all who support the citing of quotes... hugs, m

mammamaia · 07-16-2006, 09:15 PM

anne... congrats on your coming 4th!... email me whenever you need a friendly ear and soft virtual shoulder to cry on... i had 5 in less than 5 years, and can definitely empathize!

love and hugs, maia

Anne Lacey · 07-16-2006, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mammamaia

anne... congrats on your coming 4th!... email me whenever you need a friendly ear and soft virtual shoulder to cry on... i had 5 in less than 5 years, and can definitely empathize!

love and hugs, maia

Thanks! This will be our 4th in 3 years. Nothing like having a house full of toddlers! lol! And all boys at that! No wonder I'm tired...

gatoatigrado · 07-16-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kad barma

i agree wholeheartedly with mama, and disagree vehemently with the suggestion that it's up to a writer him or herself alone to protect their own work.

yeah same here.

selor.'s right though, the pm system is effective, and much more appropriate. there are more users than admins, and users should help them, not complain about their laziness. is there one god-admin on wikipedia doing all the vandalism reverts? obviously not, the most influential is undoubtedly a computer program. unless the admin refuses to deal with something should it be complained about in a thread.

gatoatigrado · 07-16-2006, 11:44 PM

the idea that it's up to the writer to protect their works is usually not supported. google books had the same problem, publishing things they thought were under a fair use or non-restrictive license without first contacting the author. i don't know how it turned out, they have a lot of things in the "labs". i hope it works, an online library would be useful.

Kane · 07-17-2006, 05:54 AM

I doubt that even half of those who use unattributed quotations in their sigs are trying to pass off the sayings as their own. I'd say it's even less than that. Frankly, unless someone is trying specifically to pass off someone else's work, then I don't think you could call it unethical or immoral, and certainly not illegal on a forum.

Maia, of all your self-righteous rants, I think this one is by far the most ridiculous, especially lambasting the staff, who already have plenty to take care of, for not cracking down on this apparent crisis like nazis.

Mike C · 07-17-2006, 06:53 AM

Whether it's by accident or design, it's incorrect.

Some here are quick to work themselves into a paranoid lather over the possibility of their writing or ideas being stolen, so I find it doubly suprising that other, more famous authors' works and words are considered fair game.

It's really not that hard to correctly attribute your quotes, whether they appear in signature lines or elsewhere.

strangedaze · 07-17-2006, 09:09 AM

on the original topic, id say just cite the author. its likely the ethical thing to do. there are times when its probably not necessary, but how much trouble is finding the original author and typing the name in? but im not prepared to go to war over it.

as for this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Maia, of all your self-righteous rants, I think this one is by far the most ridiculous, especially lambasting the staff, who already have plenty to take care of, for not cracking down on this apparent crisis like nazis.

im inclined to agree. the (unpaid) staff works hard and this site is free. suggestions are fine, hurrah, but taking shots at the staff over something that could have been solved with a PM is fucked.

as an aside, but still on the topic of blasting staff members, ive always wondered how much resentment self-dubbed writing gurus have over not being given official, say, 'mentor' status. maybe that accounts for itchy trigger fingers.

Anne Lacey · 07-17-2006, 10:08 AM

I don't think she was "taking a shot" at the staff. Just bringing a problem to their attention on their forum. I should think they'd be grateful. The only people I see taking shots are the ones attacking maia. Or perhaps you've forgotten all the invaluable and FREE advice she has given to everyone on this site.

Mike C · 07-17-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedaze

as an aside, but still on the topic of blasting staff members, ive always wondered how much resentment self-dubbed writing gurus have over not being given official, say, 'mentor' status. maybe that accounts for itchy trigger fingers.

I'm not sure who this is aimed at (possibly not me, but people seem to lump me and Maia together or, as the amusing JP Wagner called us, "a certain two posters who think they are gods around here"), or if I've ever dubbed myself a 'guru', but I've always made it my policy to politely decline offers of admin- and mentorship. In fact if memory seves me correctly I was asked if I'd like to be a mentor here when I first joined, due to my association with NFG Magazine.

My only resentment, currently, is that you seem to view this as a jealousy issue rather than just a fair observation of writers' rights.

As to admin's criticism of non-capitalised posts, or whatever, if we criticised every post for spelling or grammatical errors, there'd be no room for other posts. Similarly, if I was to waste my time running to admins via PM for every infraction of sig line rules, nobody would have much time for anything else.

strangedaze · 07-17-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

I'm not sure who this is aimed at, or if I've ever dubbed myself a 'guru', but I've always made it my policy to politely decline offers of admin- and mentorship.

your comment appeared halfway through a msg i was typing, so i couldnt clarify. and no, it wasnt you i was specifically referring to. to the next...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

My only resentment, currently, is that you seem to view this as a jealousy issue rather than just a fair observation of writers' rights.

nope. i think acknowledgment is the ethical thing to do. i agree with you. case closed on that. as for my comments on jealousy, that had little to do with the general issue at hand, and more to do with the way in which maia chose to address it (and the staff).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Similarly, if I was to waste my time running to admins via PM for every infraction of sig line rules, nobody would have much time for anything else.

i agree.

Selorian · 07-17-2006, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anne Lacey

Or perhaps you've forgotten all the invaluable and FREE advice she has given to everyone on this site.

This is what every member here tries to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

As to admin's criticism of non-capitalised posts, or whatever, if we criticised every post for spelling or grammatical errors, there'd be no room for other posts.

Maia made her personal rant, that was mine. I'm as justified posting mine as she is. And, after all, this is a writing site.

Quote:

Similarly, if I was to waste my time running to admins via PM for every infraction of sig line rules, nobody would have much time for anything else.

I agree, no one would have any time for anything else.

People have a hard time following the rules already posted, do you think adding that bit would magicly make it stop? No, we would still need to handle them the same way we do now...on a case-by-case basis as they are noticed or reported. It's a pipe-dream for anyone who thinks any different. So we then come back to that little button in the lower left hand corner of each and every post that is used to report post infractions to the staff.

I agree with the original sentiments, plagiarism isn't acceptable in any fashion here at WF. I still say, no matter the spin put on it, that there were intentional jabs made at the staff and admin of WF in how the post was worded. This would have been better handled via PM. Also, it was posted in the wrong forum, I've moved it to the suggestion box where it is more appropriate.

aliceedelweiss · 07-17-2006, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Anne Lacey
Or perhaps you've forgotten all the invaluable and FREE advice she has given to everyone on this site.

This is what every member here tries to do.

I agree with that, strongly. Its every member out here that gives advice, not just her. Look at all the critiques people give--for free even.

As for everything else...I'm hesitant to even get into this fight, so I'm staying back.

Alice