Copy and paste all you want but you’re wasting your time. A View of ActiveRain’s Community Guidelines.
As part of Lynn Friedman’s 2014 BIG Blog Jumpstart at AR Challenge Yourself 
for Your Own Success, she has asked us to read the Community Guidelines and post our thoughts.
If you haven’t read them, or it’s been many years since you have (that would be me) then you can find them here.
One topic that hit a chord with me was that of plagiarism.
I’m not going to elaborate here about how wrong, and oh yes, illegal it is. I’m sure you know that by now. Should you need a refresher, however, then I encourage you to read Lenn Harley’s blog. And, should you be under the misconception that no one will do or say anything, may I direct you to Kathleen Daniels.
No.. I’m just going to tell you why copying/copyright infringement, plagiarism are all a waste of time.
Here’s why copying is a waste of time:
1. We’ll find out!
Oh yes, there are ways to tell if it’s been lifted from another source.
If you highlight a few sentences in an AR post, right click, you’ll seen an option to “Search Google for……” and it will take you to a Google search page that will show posts, pages, etc with those words. Often you can see the person’s post in the #1 spot. Or…. as in the case of some you’ll see that the words were lifted from another source. You can do the same for a photo.
If some of you leave to run and Google your post, I’ll understand.
2. Readers will get wise and bypass any post with your name on it.
Think not?
I know that I do. Every week when I seek out posts to highlight, I strongly dislike wasting my time when I find posts that have been copied.
I feel insulted.
Trust me, I’m “Switzerland” on most matters … live and let live… but I do take a stand here. If copied material is all you’re serving at your buffet, I’ll pass.
3. If your goal is to establish relationships and network with others, this is not the way to do it.
From my observations, members here want to work and refer to people they feel they can trust and who are professional.
Clearly I’m not going to change anyone’s mind about copying but if you do, then at least you’ve been forewarned.
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