When are you sure someone was... inspired by your review & how do you deal?

Contributor: K101 K101
Someone had to ask, right? After dealing with this several times now, actually TWO blasted times just today (what can I say, I've a real eye for a damn plagiarizer, even if it is only "inspiration.")

Today, I noticed one of those reviews you see every so often -- vague, nothing different added to the review that didn't come from the other 2-3 reviews, no photos, but definitely some inspiration from others' reviews.

I have a trained eye for plagiarism, so I definitely know for sure when something is plagiarized or not. I also happen to know when someone hasn't actually plagiarized and stolen work from you, but has without a doubt gotten inspired by your review. It happened to me just tonight, but of course, if it's "inspiration" and not full-on plagiarism, well, it's not plagiarism so nothing can be done really.

Do you ever use a specific... way to describe a product and later see that another person said the exact same thing and you *just know* they got that inspiration from you? How did you deal with that? Care to share about the experience.

See, the thing is, you can tell if you look close enough, whether or not a person just happened to have the same thoughts as you or not. I mean if I have a pink vibrator with a realistic head and I say in my review "this is pink, with a realistic head and smiley face!" and another person says "the vibrator looks like it is smiling at me. It's pink too." That is a totally different story. It's not plagiarism or inspiration from my review, it's a person describing in their own words how a toy looks. Right?

Then you have something out of the ordinary like say, a massage candle. Say I'm reviewing a massage candle, and in the packaging section I mention how I thought it resembled a tin that icing from a cinnamon roll comes in.

Answer me this, please:

If you saw THAT (the icing tin thing) and later saw another review on the product that said the SAME thing, would you be a little suspicious or would you think, oh of course every person would describe a tin can as that!

Now, when a review has such a... distinct description like that and suddenly another review pops up and describes it that way and also offers nothing else at all that has not already been noted from others, would you be suspicious?

I am. And quite frankly, it's upsetting. Does this type of thing upset you or is it just me? Also, if this continued to happen really frequently, would you lose a little of the desire to continue reviewing? This question is especially for those of you who like me, work extremely hard and provide extensive information for every review you write. Would you guys feel less of a desire to continue on? Perhaps less passion if it happened over and over?

Not that it's happened over and over to me, only 3 times in my entire time of being here actually. But still. I'm starting to feel like what the F is the point in me trying SO hard and being my own unique self when someone will go behind me and steal that from me? Maybe this is a personal thing with me though.

Not to mention editing. Holy dangit! I remember my round of editing. Talk about mind blowing. I was so shocked at how many reviews came through that were copied word for word, and then some would just copy one paragraph from one review, another paragraph from a different review and so on. It's ridiculous. Thankfully though, I've had myself a little partner in crime you could say, who gives me advice when I need it, but I would like to address this. Either I am the only one noticing it (and yes, I've noticed it with other reviews, not just my own, like I said I noticed one totally copy/pasted section from a review today!) or I'm the only one annoyed enough to ask this.

Of course I know we should send plagiarized links to JR when we see them, but like I said, inspiration is a different story. Taking someone's personal thoughts from their review and not doing a lot of copy/pasting is not plagiarizing. So... what does everyone else think?
10/23/2012
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Contributor: js250 js250
Hey, Kendra--Huge hugs!! Take a deep breath and focus. There may be a chance you are getting a little bit too upset, Hun. I requested the candle as a student assignment for two of my students within 5 minutes of it showing up on the site. While checking it out I was wondering if one student would get caramel icing and the other would get cream cheese icing. I had just made some of those cheap little cinnamon rolls the night before. (And they were pretty good at the time--but not as good as my real cinnamon rolls!!) The other thing that ran through my mind was the tiny little individual travel citronella candles used to repel mosquitoes.

I do relate and understand where you are coming from, this has also happened to me. After really looking into it when it had happened quite a few times--with my reviews and other people's-- I noticed a trend. The majority of the reviewers that "absorbed" or were "inspired" by published reviews they read while or before writing their own.....are newer members who are looking for guidance, reassurance and to better their own reviews through example.

The ones I messaged to offer my unofficial help were happy to get the offer of help during the transition from brand newbie to new but trying to progress. When you pre-read another person's review, it triggers your own thoughts to relate to what you are reading. It is usually unintentional and also a very short phase in the beginner reviewer learning process.

When it is out and out plagiarism, copy and pasting--that is different!!! That is intentional and needs to be dealt with immediately. You are super good at catching those--I certainly am not.

Now--The fucking point of you trying so hard to write an informative, accurate and compelling review is NOT what others think, do during or after or the thoughts and inspiration afterwards!

The actual point of a review that is well written, researched and uniquely yours is self pride in a job well done. One you are proud to call your own and that you KNOW in your gut that you put in the time to make it worthwhile!!

There are many of us that appreciate and look forward to your insightful and interesting reviews!! Your work is appreciated and NO-you honestly should not let it affect your desire to review!!! Instead, offer to help the newbies to learn their own style for reviews.

You are very dear to me and I think of you as a very intelligent person and an honest friend. Remember that sometimes you need to back away a bit and look at the situation as a whole to find the solution.

Luv Ya, Friend!!!
Steff
10/23/2012
Contributor: AHubbyof2SexualMinds AHubbyof2SexualMinds
This is a really difficult and tricky thing. With family members who are professors in college I've seen plagiarism run rampant and it is an awful thing. I know exactly what Kendra is talking about with the "inspiration" on reviews and I've seen it plenty.

I also think js250 is hitting the nail on the head about people who do that being new to reviewing and using it for inspiration. For every product that I review I try and read as many of the reviews as possible. I know what my thoughts are about the product, but want to see what others think. Most of the time I see things, such as the cinnamon tin on your massage candle, and make a note not to describe it that way, even if I thought that same thing, because I am always conscious about plagiarism.

I know it's frustrating because we all put a lot of time and energy into our reviews. In a small way you could take it as a compliment because people like your reviews and your style so much, although I know that is probably little comfort. Just know that I appreciate your hard work and great reviews and lots of others do here on the site as well.
10/23/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; doesn't mean it makes one feel any less original, however.

Here's something I've noticed, especially with Eden members, is there is so much going on and they take in so much information at once that when it comes time to make their own contributions to the site there's a hint of flare from the other users they've encountered on the site.

I cannot count the number of times where I've been sitting with the other admins and discussing ideas for the community only to hit the forum and see twelve posts that are either directly hitting on something we decided to do or dance around the idea.

Here's the way I look at it (or try to, at least), we're all pretty much on the same wavelength when it comes to hanging out at Eden. There are only so many original thoughts, styles, and ideas out there and there are bound to be instances where people cross wires.

If it isn't direct plagiarism, then consider yourself as an influence over someone else's writing. Everyone, from the greatest writer to the best actors to the best directors to the best scientists and researchers have been influenced by others.

I'm sure if we looked hard enough we could find some of your previous mentors' styles in your writing or anyone else's for that matter. I know when I write my reviews, I still hear Kindred in my head and I would hope his influence shows.

The fact is, the massage candles do look like icing/schmear tins and it's really easy to make that connection between the two. I would be flattered, not offended.
10/23/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
Ahhh. All three of you are God-sends! Thank you. Each response was exactly what I needed.

Now, when it comes to looking closely at my own writing -- I have to say, I highly, highly doubt mine has been influenced by anyone's. Not even a mentor. If I'm going to review something I won't read reviews on it until I have reviewed it. However, I certainly have seen it happen where a product has given me and someone else the same impression, either positive or negative and a lot of our description was super similar. I kind of try and shut my brain off from taking too much from someone else's writing period, because I'm a writer in other areas as well, but I know it happens and does so subconsciously sometimes.

I will try and just take it as flattery in the future. I've struggled with this -- getting upset anytime this has happened -- more than once. Lol. I had a really bad case of plagiarism a couple of years ago, which was taken care of and was not on Eden, but I think ever since that happened, it sticks with me. Big time. Lol.

I am glad to hear I ain't the only one who's noticed this though. And Steff, you are so nice! Your words definitely brought back some of my passion to write. Also, one reason I probably got overly pissed was just earlier that day, yesterday, I had seen that review where an entire chunk was totally copy/pasted from someone else's. Had it not been two cases in one day, I'd have been less mad.

I know what you mean, Stormy. I have had Kindred as an editor on my last two articles, and just yesterday when submitting a new one, I was thinking "what would Kindred say!" LOL. That is a good thing though, and it has been helpful for me. I have an editor for my fiction writing at school and it's the same way when I'm writing fiction, I'll hear her comments every single time! Lol.
10/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by K101
Ahhh. All three of you are God-sends! Thank you. Each response was exactly what I needed.

Now, when it comes to looking closely at my own writing -- I have to say, I highly, highly doubt mine has been influenced by anyone's. Not even a ... more
Hahaha, Kindred is awesome as an editor and a mentor.

I'm glad that our responses helped you. I know I tend to cut to the chase in my responses, so I'm equally glad you took them in the nature they were intended.

If you ever see someone outright plagiarizing your review, just let JR know and if the wording seems a little too close to yours, you can also have JR look into it. We're dead set against allowing that kind of behavior around here.
10/24/2012
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
WWKD?

You're seriously making me blush!
10/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
WWKD?

You're seriously making me blush!
I like that, I think we need silicone bracelets that say that!

Fire engine red looks good on you, dontcha think?
10/24/2012
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
I like that, I think we need silicone bracelets that say that!

Fire engine red looks good on you, dontcha think?
Wouldn't "nude" be a more appropriate color?
10/24/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
Wouldn't "nude" be a more appropriate color?
I was thinking about all of that blushing you're doing...

The bracelet would be nude in color with little pink dicks and vaginas all over it.
10/24/2012
Contributor: K101 K101
LOL! I loved coming back and getting some laughs here. You guys are funny.

And thank you, Stormy. I'll definitely keep that in mind, just in case. It is great to know it's not accepted here. I remember seeing a few cases and they were definitely cleared up, so that's a very comforting thing to know.
10/25/2012
Contributor: Kenneth Fort Kenneth Fort
I'm too lazy to care whether anyone plagiarized a review from me, lol.
11/05/2012