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Post by chrisu on Jan 1, 2010 6:25:10 GMT -5
I'm in the process of updating my website. I've put a lot of effort into researching the information I put on-line. Whenever possible if the information comes from another source I quote the original source on the site.
I've noticed that several of my nieces and nephews have scored well in assignments by quoting stuff from my site but without acknowledging the source/s.
Has anyone else encountered similar problems and how did/have you got around it?
Chris
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Post by myghaelangof on Jan 1, 2010 6:40:46 GMT -5
Hi Chris, I had a problem some years ago when I copied my entire file for someone researching a very 'peripheral' member of my ex-wifes family. Before I knew it she had my entire family tree online including all modern day personal data. Big mistake! Nowadays if anyone wants any asistance I write down the bare bones of what they're looking for. I also deleted all info on my own website to avoid further plagiarism. Thats the beauty of this site. We can all chat, and chip in our ten penny worth without telling you about Uncle Bob in Bulgaria. Mike
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Post by chrisu on Jan 1, 2010 6:42:42 GMT -5
You have an Uncle Bob in Bulgaria? ? (Just kidding)
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Post by myghaelangof on Jan 1, 2010 6:45:22 GMT -5
oops I slipped there didnt I. Now he will be all over the internet. lol! If my memory serves me well, and I'm not so sure having just passed another birthday hee hee, you put a lot of effort into your OPC site. Keep up the good work
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Post by chrisu on Jan 1, 2010 6:53:35 GMT -5
I should add that I'm not so worried about the information that I've 'dug up' - more about the data that's been sent to me by others.
Chris
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Post by sue on Jan 1, 2010 12:35:17 GMT -5
I think the only information I've taken as fairly gospel from others' trees on the internet has been the brilliantly researched and sources quoted Kathie/Ian's family information on this site for Glasson, Trewhella, Uren and others, who just happen to be some of my ancestors.. . But I've still checked PRS etc. for these myself where I can, for personal pride... Oh yes and of course some of the great answers I've had during 2009 from people here have been really helpful. I remember, once upon a time long ago, as a 12 year old having to write a school essay on some historical figure during the holidays, which did not amuse me. So I naively lifted fairly wholesale from a library book - obviously without naming the source. Instead of the usual lots of red pen, my favourite teacher simply wrote "I also find the National Dictionary of Biography a good starting point..." Don't think I've done the plagiarism thing since.... Chris I think your website is great - and thanks for the speedy email help you gave me re burials/churches in the summer, for my trip down to Lelant/St Ives/Towednack. A tricky one, trying to prevent unsubstantiated information getting replicated.... Congrats on Going Into Print! Sue
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Post by Cornish Terrier on Jan 2, 2010 13:29:17 GMT -5
In one form or another and at some time or another I think we can probably almost all say we have been guilty of some form of plagiarism in our lives. If a comedian at the local club tells a new joke and you then go off and tell your mates without quoting the source I guess that is a form of plagiarism. But generally speaking I have to agree with the comments and hence the reason why you will not find 'my' information on a website for all to see. Certain segments of information that have been supplied by me are 'out there' but those I have seen (e.g. the Hingston site) have acknowledged me as the source of a lot of the information. But I know that I still have 'errors' in some of my information and it is much easier to prevent perpetuation by simply not making it readily available. I am quite happy to help people with Trewhella research and I will tell them if I have doubts about information. And if someone presents me with a family tree for the Trewhella family, or some section of it, then I will look at it and advise them where there are errors. In most cases I can prove what is correct and what is not and can confidently quote reasons why something might be incorrect. Working this way saves me a lot of work I can tell you! I guess you could say that I am 'keeping the errors contained' at least until such time as I have been able to sort them out and make corrections. CT
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Post by donne on Jan 2, 2010 18:08:20 GMT -5
If someone takes your intellectual output - words and ideas - and quotes that without due acknowledgment that is certainly plagiarism. But with genealogy, most of the facts we deal with are out there in the public domain and we can't claim any right of ownership to them. If cousin Joe tells me that great uncle Fred was born in Penzance in 1880 I would certainly acknowledge his help, but then I would go off and check the information - now, is great uncle Fred's birth details mine or cousin Joe's? - neither of us can claim any ownership.
Personally I find that the contacts I have made with a published website outweigh the disadvantages of copying. However, if it bothers you might consider the 'deliberate mistake' - in the UK, it's said that the Ordnance Survey maps have insignificant errors, strategically placed, which can be used by the OS to prove when the maps have been copied!
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Post by Mal on Jan 3, 2010 11:34:40 GMT -5
It's a difficult subject, the proplem is much as stated above. The facts and stats are just that- don't see how it counts as plagiarism. On the other hand, stories and anecdotes are a different matter. I think it just boils down to plain old-fashioned manners. I try to acknowledge all my sources on the tribal pages.
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Post by Cornish Terrier on Jan 4, 2010 4:01:51 GMT -5
A valid point Roger and you are quite correct. I guess in my case it is not so much plagiarism that I am concerned about although I have put one helluva lot of work into finding the information I have. My problem is that, as stated, I know there are some errors in my database and most certainly some links that I am not totally confident of. For that reason I don't want all my information 'out there' where it will be taken as the gospel truth and these errors therefore perpetuated. Let's face it - it always comes back to me and I would rather fix the error or find the correct link prior to anything being made public. Otherwise I will spend forever trying to correct the same error over and over again as each new family historian decides they have the truth because 'everybody else' has the same thing. At this point in time I am more than happy to discuss the family with others and pass on relevant information and corrections as need be. This may change once I have completed the review of all information I have available and have worked through it and updated my database.
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