Ah, this warms the cockles of my black little heart...

[wordinista]

Because I'm a geek like that, I've been following this story for a while. This article makes me a happy Bunneh.

I mean, really.  People bust their fucking asses to write something original, and a plagiarist gets a $500,000 two-novel book deal?  I don't think so.

I think the thing that bugs me most about plagiarists is that they seem to think everyone around them is dumber than a box of rocks.  They insult the intelligence of everyone around them.  I mean, all the way from my students (kids who could barely string together a coherent sentence for in-class writings suddenly compose papers worthy of publication -- riiiiiiiiight) to fanfic plagiarists (copying off other ficcers AND published works -- and they think no one will notice), and now this.

How in the HELL did she think no one would pick up on this?!?!

For that matter -- why hadn't anyone noticed SOONER?

(And, dude, if I were one of her professors, I'd be going through her assignments with a fine-toothed comb.  If you've got balls enough to plagiarize something like The Princess Diaries for a $500,000 book deal, you've got more than enough balls to plagiarize essays and research papers.)

Comments

[hyanan.livejournal.com]

*hehe* You said "cockles." XD

/Beavis n' Butthead moment

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

So this is what happens after exposure to "Bill & Ted's Adventures 2," is it? ;)

[hyanan.livejournal.com]

Yup. This is why I asked for help. Dude. ;)

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

If only the Vortex was a leeeetle closer. XD We could be sick and miserable together. And you'd be rescued from...

WYLD STALLIONNNNNSSSS!!!! *air guitar*

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I followed this one pretty closely myself.

For that matter -- why hadn't anyone noticed SOONER?

Probably because nobody in the production line at her publishing company had read the material she was ripping off. Given the amount that editors need to read just for work, it doesn't surprise me that they wouldn't be entirely familiar with their competitor's fluffy chick novels.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

True, true. I still can't believe she didn't think anyone reading it AFTER publication would notice.

Heh. The literary agency that signed her as a client is the same one that gave me a snooty "Not taking submissions" brush-off at the writers' festival I went to in September. That amuses me.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

The teenager + hubris combination is not unknown.

[somnambulicious.livejournal.com]

You know, I can almost - almost - work up some sympathy for a girl whose mistake at 17 years old will brand her for the rest of her life. Almost.

Well, okay, I'll admit to feeling a tiny bit of sympathy for her. But I hope that English teachers (and ethics teachers? Do those exist?) across America take this as an opportunity to open a discussion about what plagiarism is, to point out that yes, even rephrasing and changing the words is plagiarism, and yes, it can get you in a world of trouble. Because it needs to be emphasized - this isn't an isolated problem.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Almost.

But then -- she got into Harvard at 17. She's not stupid. ...Well, okay, maybe she's not the brightest bulb in the box for plagiarizing in the first place, but still. HARVARD.

I mean, if it's sympathy that's making me shake my head and say, "Oh, my god, you poor, stupid girl, you have fucked yourself over but good," then maybe I feel a tiny bit of sympathy. Or pity. I'm not sure if it's either, actually...

[somnambulicious.livejournal.com]

HARVARD.

*laughs* Oh, lord, you'll love this story.

My freshman-year roommate graduated from the most prestitious, most expensive private school in Oklahoma City. She'd been accepted to Columbia already, but her parents wanted her to stick around for a year so they could keep an eye on her (at 18 years old, she was already a recovering alcoholic.) Anyway, at the end of the year, she showed me this term paper she'd written for a class on poetry.

The thesis statement? "My favorite poem by X is Y." Used first person throughout. Didn't cite any sources; hell, she didn't even have a bibliography!

"Do you think I need a works cited page or something?"

I could only gape in horror. And yes, she did go on to graduate from Columbia.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

....

.........


....not......enough.....dots.......

That... I...

I do not even know what to say. I wish I could say I was surprised, but no... no, I'm really not. *sigh*

Stupidity burns.

[darkfrog24.livejournal.com]

Really? When? Maybe I know her.

(sigh) I hope that girl gets a pen name and some good sense and goes on to write more stories.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

Also, the intelligence + common sense combination is not as common as one might think.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

Very true. Kinda makes you wonder why they call it "common" sense.

[emrlddragon.livejournal.com]

Wishful thinking I suspect.

[miyun.livejournal.com]

Well there goes the rest of your life. -_-

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

...I hadn't heard about this, but I hope it gets a lot more public -- then maybe all the little fantwits would realise that, yes, plagiarism is a serious issue. -_-'

[katmorning.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Some might, but most will think "I'll never be caught. Consequences don't exist for me!"

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

Quit feeding my inner cynic ;_;

[katmorning.livejournal.com]

... But mine needs company ^_~

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

Mine's been snacking on the daily articles in the news and is getting a little overweight. It needs to do to Weight Watchers soon.

[queenofthecute.livejournal.com]

Holy goddamn, that's bad. Haha, oh, it makes me kinda laugh a little to imagine what all the people who interviewed her and pumped her up as the next big thing must be thinking right about now.

But, c'mon, the friggin' Princess Diaries? I mean, of all the books to plagiarize, why choose one as well-known as that? Ok, I'll admit that I've been known to give a certain amount of respect to unethical individuals, just because of their brains, talent, or finesse. (Hats off to Jack the Ripper, etc.) But if you're a stupid criminal, I've got nothing for you.

Well, maybe a little pity for this 17-year-old who is now facing a life of, I dunno, housework? Avon sales? Anything but writing, that's for damn sure. =Þ

[emrlddragon.livejournal.com]

I agree, it's good to watch a plagiarist get it so publicly. Lord knows anyone who has slaved over every word of an original piece is happy.

I can't help but wonder about the publishing industry lately though. Between James Fry's "Million Little Pieces," The two suits over the "De Vince Code," and now this, you'd think they would be a little bit more careful about what they put out there.