Amusing and Sad

Perspicacity · May 2, 2013

A reader pointed out the striking similarities between this piece of mine, penned awhile ago:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4038774/10/

And this other story, posted a few days ago:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9240068/1/

Now that's what I call coincidence.

I get why some people would want to borrow the sage words of others in their misguided attempts to bootstrap themselves to fanfiction super-stardom. I do, really. Having lived the lifestyle, haunted the clubs, banged the groupies, snorted the coke, I see the attraction. I understand why someone would want to be me. I mean, it's like nonjon's talking penis story--you finish that and just say to yourself, "Yo, I gotta have that. Nay, I gotta be that guy."

But please, I've written better than this, stuff that any self-respecting plagiarist would be proud to steal. This is just sad and embarrassing--for the both of us.

While I'll eventually get around to reporting this (once I stop shaking my head), I was just curious what other DLP members would regard as the worst/most blatant/most idiotic copy-pasta jobs they've had suffered.

Ched · May 2, 2013

Heh, there was that dude who copy/pasted bits and pieces of Shezza's Denarian story into some writing of his own. About 50% (or more) of his chapters would be directly from Shezza and the rest would be really bad writing of his own. If I remember right the point seemed to be to add crappy drama/angst, but I might not remember very well.

I think he'd asked Shezza if he could write a story inspired by the Denarian Series or something and got permission, but what he wrote wasn't really "inspired by." Think it got fixed so that he wasn't copy/pasting anymore.

Joe · May 2, 2013

With well over a 1,000,000 words and the best part of a decade writing in the fandom, I've had my fair share of thefts. It doesn't bother me so much when someone swipes a concept - the wave upon wave of Indy!Harry stories following RossWrock back in the day, for example on writers just following a trend and building upon it. But lifting lines, entire scenes, can be a touch grating.

Had one pointed out to me a year ago, so I left him a review kindly asking he pull his head in. I wouldn't have bothered at all, but he had this arrogant author profile defending his stories against plagiarism and how he's suffered barrages of PM's/reviews for his stories. He'd report any review he didn't consider 'constructive'.

Here's what I left, actually:

Okay.

Hi there.

Let's have a talk about your story. I've read very little of it--and what I have read is very poor. You use too many words, your scene painting is sloppy and littered with horrendous, unnecessary adverbs.

Oh yeah, you've also plagiarised my story in at least one instance. I'd check for more, but I find wading through your oceans of text tedious. I have to thank one of my readers for pointing this out to me.

Okay, let's begin, shall we?

I read your long winded and ultimately egotistical, self-serving author profile, and it seems you're quite happy to mark any review without constructive criticism as a flame (seriously, you're posting Harry Potter fanfiction!), so here's the most constructive criticism I can offer, from one writer to another:

Plagiarism.

Noun: The practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. The "wrongful appropriation," "close imitation," or "purloining and publication" of another author's "language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions," and the representation of them as one's own

That's how you define plagiarism. Learn it, learn it well and you'll find all your writing - both here and in the real world - will improve.

Now I know we're all playing in the same world here, and fanfiction is just fanfiction, but this is not okay.

I don't know if you've taken anything else from my stories, or even from the work of others. Seeing it once was enough.

Here's what I wrote FOUR YEARS ago. This is Chapter 5 from my story Wastelands of Time:

*~*~*~*

"I'm just thinking about where to go from here," I said. "And that I look far too worn and scruffy to be sitting here with you."

Fleur gave me a dazzling smile – warm in that cold, indifferent way she could turn her head, and stunning in that cruel way she could make my heart race. "Oui, you are scruffy, 'Arry, especially your 'air, but it is cute."

"Cute?" I said, running a hand back through my unruly hair. "See, this is why I need you to come shopping with me this afternoon – if I'm going to fight Dark Lords and Death Eaters, then I need to pull off angry and intimidating, brooding and wise. I need to look older and scarier. You know, wizardly."

"Yet you are cute, 'Arry, and I'm not sure I want to help destroy that," Fleur said, laughing and taking a sip of her wine. "Looking as young and scruffy as you do adds to ze mystery, no. Surely this iz not a boy that defies Dark wizards, but a cute Quidditch player not five minutes off his broom."

I grinned, and tried to recall the last time I'd played a game of Quidditch. Last year? My real last year, my fifth-year at Hogwarts. Had I played Quidditch? I think Umbridge put a stop to it, didn't she? I certainly hadn't played it in those last unrealised years of the future – too much ash and fire in the sky. When was it? I honestly couldn't remember – and my headache felt all the worse for trying.

"So being a young, scruffy mess is something that works for you French girls then?"

Fleur laughed. "But of course, 'Arry. Older men can be controlling sometimes, in my experience, and assume far too much."

Oh, just what were we talking about now? I think I was flirting a little, damn my eager teenage hormones, whereas Fleur was just playing. I was enjoying myself, either way.

"Tell me about it," I said, thinking of Albus Dumbledore and his good intentions. Merlin keep the old man safe, but damn it all, this war was a young man's game now. Fleur quirked an eyebrow at me. "Er… I'll be sixteen in just over a fortnight, you know." Plus however many years spent time-travelling between Then and Now…

"Ah, I am just over two years older than you – any plans for your sixteenth?"

"Well… no. I don't get out much back home, especially during the summer. Too risky, according to Dumbledore and his Order."

*~*~*~*

And here is your attempt written ONE year ago. This is from Chapter 28: Trunks, Truths and Promises in your story Years at War, Part 2: The Legion Born.

*~*~*~*

Harry glanced at his watch, and then raised an eyebrow, "I suppose I could do with some new clothes."

"Why? You are cute enough as it is," she retorted, as she offered him her arm.

He took it, linking hers with his as he snorted, "Cute?" he was seriously, deadly serious for a moment, as he ran a hand through his untamable hair. "That is precisely the reason I need a new wardrobe. I have a Dark Lord and his Death Eater minions to exterminate. I can't do that looking cute. I need to pull off angry and brooding, intimidating even."

"You've changed, Harry," she said quietly, almost whispering to him, "Cute you are. And I'm not sure I want to help destroy that." He tensed when she flicked the braided length of hair behind his ear, "you just don't look like the boy who defies Dark wizards, more like a Quidditch player just off the pitch."

They were standing on the sidewalk, somewhere in muggle London. Harry had no idea where, but he did not care as he looked up in to the sky for a moment. He was gone, she realized. She had seen it, so many times during the long nights after the third task. He was staring at something only he could see, some memory – more likely some nightmare – which he would not share with anyone. Though with Voldemort, Hermione, and Cedric, she thought bitterly, she could guess.

They walked in silence, Fleur leading them through the streets she was somewhat familiar with, heading towards the bright lights of the London shopping scene that kept going until the latter hours of the evening. They walked through the city together, not saying anything at all. She knew what he was like, when living through the nightmares while awake. She wondered sometimes, if things would have been different if it had been her, instead of Hermione that had captivated him and taken his heart so thoroughly. She knew it was a non-starter. Harry Potter was still in love with his Hermione, and nothing she could do could change that and she was part Veela. She would never, could never settle for second place.

They stopped for a light snack, and he picked up the thread of their conversation as if ten minutes of silence had not passed between them, "So, young and cute is something that works for French girls?" he raised his eyebrow suggestively

Fleur laughed, "But of course! Older men assume too much, are too set in their ways to change. They want a certain thing and they try to change women to meet those expectations, instead of accepting us as who, or what we are." Her hair trailed out behind in a gentle breeze. Harry was not sure if she was being honest or teasing him, and he found himself wondering about it, "But I am just under two years older than you."

She laughed as they walked. Fleur played tour guide a little, as they walked along the streets. The sun had set and the lighting gave everything a somewhat peaceful, slightly magical feel to everything. Maybe there was something in the air, "teenage hormones," mused Harry, and the people were friendly. They stopped along half a dozen stores including muggle specialties stores, all of which were there to cater to tourists. Harry and Fleur definitely fit the bill. More than one couple, a number of men and a few women paused as Fleur walked by; arms linked with Harry, laughing at something he had said, all to admire her undeniable, magical beauty.

With the contents of his vault at his fingertips, he let Fleur pick out some pieces of clothing from several pricy stores, including Harrods, holding him to his promise to start a new wardrobe, all paid for by the Gringotts credit card. There was no sign of the magical world in London, and in a quiet store at the higher end of the high street that smelled of new leather, Fleur upped the game, getting him to stand while they fitted him for a dark suit, matching shoes and overcoat. The inside pocket read Armani. There was several thousand pounds of extravagance and Fleur insisted. He did not mind, spending the money or the time. It was worth it to him. "You are sure about this?" asked Fleur, "I know muggle fashion is a century ahead of the wizarding world and that suit does look magnificent on you."

"Look more like a dark mysterious brooding gentleman than cutesy Quidditch player?" He asked with a smile. She nodded and Fleur's reflection in the mirror gave him a subtle smile, "Guess I'll take it."

*~*~*~*

Wow, don't you look silly.

It took you nearly 800 words to steal what I did in 400. You need to work on that.

So there we go - well done on your persistence, I guess, but I'd appreciate it if you could cut this nonsense out, take it down and try again, using your own talent this time.

I hope this has been constructive.

Have a great day,

Joe
Click to expand...

Amusing and sad is a good title for this thread.

Striker · May 2, 2013

I once lifted the general plot outline for a Naruto fic I really dug when I was ten. >_>

Zombie · May 2, 2013

Had someone copy Morning Glory, but made it a naruto fic. Jokes on them.

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Amusing and Sad

Perspicacity Destroyer of Worlds ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

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DLP Flash Christmas Competition + Writing Marathon 2024!

Hi there, Guest

Amusing and Sad

Perspicacity Destroyer of Worlds ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

Striker What's up demons?

Zombie Black Philip Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐

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