I love seeing new vicers trying to better this site by making the database more in depth. I love seeing old vicers do this also. It brightens my day to see a well thought-out, well-written submission that needs my, or any other mod's or staff's, approval. However, it really "grinds my gears" to find a well though-out, well-written submission that is plagiarized, especially when I find it's on like 500 different sites. One of the things Whiskey Media prides itself on (at least, I hope they do) is the fact that the databases on these sites are user written, original work. That being said (are you still reading?), let's discuss the finer points of plagiarism...
What is allowed?
Original, user-created submissions that have correct grammar, spelling, and that don't get too in depth (for a little more on this, check out another boring piece of writing I wrote). Leave out your opinions, only the facts should be in a submission. And please... please... don't leave a moderator a comment that says anything like, "I want points". The moderator comment area should help the mod figure out your changes. On larger pages, such as Batman for example, there is a lot to look through. Leaving the mod a quick note about what section you changed, i.e. Early Years, will make the mods job quicker, and a little easier.
What should I do?
The first thing I recommend is owning the comic or comics the storyline, characters, or issue you are trying to update. This allows you to have the source material on-hand to make sure that the information you're typing in is factual. Again, check out the piece I wrote about summarizing in order to get just the just the main points of an issue, storyline, or character plot-point into the submission page.
Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this. Most of you know all of these things by now, but there are new members (maybe a couple older vicers new to submitting) who need a little bit of a refresher.
Inferiorego popped this up over on Comic Vine and after talking with him I thought it would be a good addition over here on Vice, So thanks to Ego for doing this and I hope you all take the time to read over it.
What is plagiarism?
I could write a book on this. Essentially, it's taking other people's work and not giving them credit for it. In addition, it is also using misrepresenting someone else's material. Say you read a book on "Why math is great" and in your summary, you come to the conclusion that the author hates math. That's also considered plagiarism since you misinterpreted the author's writing (assuming that the person who wrote that book concludes that math is great at the end of the super-fun book). Depending on what style you use in your writing, whether it be MLA, APA, or Chicago Manual (CM), the in-text citations, or credit, are different. Usually, after you're done quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing someone's work (for MLA and APA mainly), you use a parenthesis and put at least the Author's name to show credit. However, things as such do not apply here.What is not allowed?
Simple, copying and pasting of someone else's work into a submission for the database section of this site, even if it's just one sentence. In fact, copying and pasting someone else's work anywhere onto this site is not a great idea, even when it comes to the forums. Even if you see an article online that you really like, please refrain from copying and pasting it in to the forums. Why? Simply put, people get angry about it. It's essentially stealing someone's work and trying to take credit for it. Your submission will be denied, and you'll be warned for the action. If it continues, you will eventually be banned from the database section of the site.What is allowed?
Original, user-created submissions that have correct grammar, spelling, and that don't get too in depth (for a little more on this, check out another boring piece of writing I wrote). Leave out your opinions, only the facts should be in a submission. And please... please... don't leave a moderator a comment that says anything like, "I want points". The moderator comment area should help the mod figure out your changes. On larger pages, such as Batman for example, there is a lot to look through. Leaving the mod a quick note about what section you changed, i.e. Early Years, will make the mods job quicker, and a little easier. What should I do?
The first thing I recommend is owning the comic or comics the storyline, characters, or issue you are trying to update. This allows you to have the source material on-hand to make sure that the information you're typing in is factual. Again, check out the piece I wrote about summarizing in order to get just the just the main points of an issue, storyline, or character plot-point into the submission page. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this. Most of you know all of these things by now, but there are new members (maybe a couple older vicers new to submitting) who need a little bit of a refresher.
Inferiorego popped this up over on Comic Vine and after talking with him I thought it would be a good addition over here on Vice, So thanks to Ego for doing this and I hope you all take the time to read over it.
