#AskEden - Plagiarizing reviews--what is an appropriate response?

Contributor: oldman oldman
I recently came across a writer who plagiarized 4 reviews within 2 weeks. I reported these and they were pulled. Today, I found 2 more from this reviewer that I again reported. I am sure they will be pulled and the reviewer banned. My question is: how much should be tolerated before the reviewer is banned?

Some of the reviews contained very unique phrases, but the most recent 2 were 99% word for word. Amazing, or should I say, "Awesome"??!!

I am interested in how the community feels about this.
07/01/2012
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Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
Personally? I think if one is word for word copied then that's permaban worthy. Stealing someone's work is unethical and the sign of a shitty person, if you ask me. Even if their reviews don't look "copied" anymore, I can almost promise they go through other reviews before writing theirs for "inspiration" and such after the first ones are pulled. Considering plagiarizing is a serious offense, I have zero tolerance for it. I know Eden likes to give people second chances and all, but I think that's one thing a second change shouldn't be given on.
07/01/2012
Contributor: TheirPet TheirPet
In college plagiarism is a zero tolerance offense. That stuff doesn't fly in the real world it shouldn't fly here.
07/01/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
It's unfortunate when people miss the point of the community and the program, isn't it?

If you've reported the situation, thank you. It's now in JR's hands and he will do what is best.
07/01/2012
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
Quote:
Originally posted by oldman
I recently came across a writer who plagiarized 4 reviews within 2 weeks. I reported these and they were pulled. Today, I found 2 more from this reviewer that I again reported. I am sure they will be pulled and the reviewer banned. My question ... more
"My question is: how much should be tolerated before the reviewer is banned?"

That's completely up to management. All contributors can do is report them when they find them, and move on.
07/01/2012
Contributor: arewehavingfun? arewehavingfun?
I agree with the zero tolerance policy in cases where there is no doubt. If it is "iffy" I'd give someone a second chance. I also think that plagerizers, if banned or warned, should have their screen names published in a monthly format.
07/01/2012
Contributor: g- g-
I agree with a second chance! But if they screw up again then...
07/01/2012
Contributor: Zombirella Zombirella
I do NOT think ANYONE deserves a second a chance if they steal a review, or even just part of it. That isn't fair to those of us that actually do HONEST work. I am shocked that this person has had what sounds like more than just ONE chance. So here they are getting points and probably placed an order and got something for free that they didn't deserve.

I know which person this pertains to and people have suggested numerous times that they go through the mentor program, yet they REFUSE to. They got voted in. I really think a major change needs to be done about the voting in of people. I've been seeing less than useful reviews from people and see they have 10 or more reviews and suggestions for the mentor program and how to do better reviews, yet they don't improve and won't get a mentor and keep pumping out bad reviews.
07/01/2012
Contributor: lilly555 lilly555
I think it should depend. In the case of this person, who wrote several reviews before being caught and then did it again, they should have been pulled when they wrote more than one even if they didn't have a warning for the first three. Obviously someone who does it four times before getting caught it establishing a pattern. This isn't someone who 'just doesn't know better'. I would say that lienancy for one review and a warning is okay but if they do it a second time they should be banned. But an individual like this who did it four times then got caught and continued? I don't think that's fair to honest reviewers. As Zombirella pointed out they probably became advanced and got discounts/free assignments off of others people work. That isn't an honest contributor of this community. That's someone who makes others not want to be a part of the community.
07/01/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
Quote:
Originally posted by Zombirella
I do NOT think ANYONE deserves a second a chance if they steal a review, or even just part of it. That isn't fair to those of us that actually do HONEST work. I am shocked that this person has had what sounds like more than just ONE chance. So ... more
I agree about the change being needed on voting in. This has been brought up SO many times, but nothing happens. There are far too many contributors who do not care to take advice in the comments nor will they go through mentoring. They only want the points and free items and steady churn out useless drivel and are given those things in exchange. I see some that have 50+ AWFUL reviews. They get free assignments and push assignments just like those of us who bust our ass to turn in good work. Many days I get so upset I feel like posting a crap review just because it clearly doesn't matter what the quality is anyhow. UGH.

I think the voting is WAY too lenient. Everyone gets voted in. Two sentences on the material, no mention of what said material is? Voted in. Nothing in the review other than "THIS MADE ME CUM!11!!" Voted in. These people are taking the too few available assignments from those who would do justice to the product in question.

At this point I don't even bother reading a review unless I know the name attached to it and that's sad because I may well be missing out on new talent that's come into the community that way. Reading through the new reviews is just asking for me to blow my lid. Especially when I scroll down a terrible review and see "advanced reviewer" next to the name.

/rant
07/01/2012
Contributor: freud13 freud13
I have read some very disappointing reviews that seemed to not have any effort at all put into them. I have not read any plagiarized reviews. It is frustrating that there are so many great reviewer on the site and those like myself, who are using the mentor program to improve their reviews, and then people who just don't seem to care at all. I feel like there should be a way to catch that within the system. I don't feel it's fair to the amazing reviewers on the site that take time to not only research their reviews but mentor those who need the extra help and pointers.
It just seems like an abuse of the community and site.
07/01/2012
Contributor: Breas Breas
Like others have mentioned, I think it should be an immediate ban. I think it's obvious that you shouldn't plagiarize, so one time is enough times.
07/02/2012
Contributor: Moniqua Moniqua
They should get banned.
07/02/2012
Contributor: Mistress Dragon Mistress Dragon
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
I agree about the change being needed on voting in. This has been brought up SO many times, but nothing happens. There are far too many contributors who do not care to take advice in the comments nor will they go through mentoring. They only want ... more
Kira I think you are missing out on some very good new reviewers here at EF. I am one of the new ones and agree that it is not fair to have people taking others work and getting the stuff to review of free or discounted prices. They should be put on probation and made to take the mentor program and if they choose not to then no reviews should be posted from them and no product sold at discounted prices or free review products given until they do so.
This is only a voice just starting out here and learning that this is a great comunity to read and learn from. I hope that you find a way to read some of the new reviewers work since I have seen some great reviews come from us. I also hope that there becomes a way to make these things not happen here any longer and allow the people who work so very hard to become the voices to be heard on the great product sold by EF.
07/02/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by oldman
I recently came across a writer who plagiarized 4 reviews within 2 weeks. I reported these and they were pulled. Today, I found 2 more from this reviewer that I again reported. I am sure they will be pulled and the reviewer banned. My question ... more
Beheading...seriously. Probably not going to be the actual punishment but it should be! We work hard for our reviews but then again someone is ALWAYS gonna try to cheat. The staff usually handle this sort of thing with severity, this was one of the reasons the editing pool was set up. Report them to the proper authorities and watch as you never hear from these people again....sounds really threatening and I think there's a story here somewhere. "The day JR went postal!"
07/02/2012
Contributor: Airen Wolf Airen Wolf
Quote:
Originally posted by arewehavingfun?
I agree with the zero tolerance policy in cases where there is no doubt. If it is "iffy" I'd give someone a second chance. I also think that plagerizers, if banned or warned, should have their screen names published in a monthly format.
Naw I don't think that would serve the community at all just prurient interest. Best it be handled swiftly, mercilessly and quietly.
07/02/2012
Contributor: SexyStuff SexyStuff
Personally, I'd ban on the first offense for a blatantly plagiarized review.
07/02/2012
Contributor: MistressDandelion MistressDandelion
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
Personally? I think if one is word for word copied then that's permaban worthy. Stealing someone's work is unethical and the sign of a shitty person, if you ask me. Even if their reviews don't look "copied" anymore, I can ... more
Even not word for word, some reviewers will drown copied paragraphs in their reviews, and that is not ok. It is ok for me to look at other review to see "oh, I didn't talk about this issue" or "oh, they had this issue that I didn't have", but that's it.

Otherwise, yes, zero tolerance.
07/02/2012
Contributor: - Kira - - Kira -
Quote:
Originally posted by Mistress Dragon
Kira I think you are missing out on some very good new reviewers here at EF. I am one of the new ones and agree that it is not fair to have people taking others work and getting the stuff to review of free or discounted prices. They should be put on ... more
I agree! I know I'm missing out on new talent. That's what makes me sad. I used to really enjoy finding new reviewers that wrote well, but now it's such a task to wade them out between the junk that I don't bother. I do have a friend on Eden who reads most of the new reviews, so she'll tell me if there's someone I should be on the lookout for. I still miss going through and finding them myself and NOT getting pissed off doing so. Between plagiarism and junk, it just takes too much time.

I hope some changes do get made so that the new reviewers with good work don't get passed up. It's a shame that good reviews by newcomers get buried in the mess and drama.
07/02/2012
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Naw I don't think that would serve the community at all just prurient interest. Best it be handled swiftly, mercilessly and quietly.
...you had me at "prurient interest"...

Anyway, if you do see one, send me an on-site or email (almon@edenfantasys.co m).

@Stormy: You make it sound like I recreate that scene from "Old Yeller" with that last line...
07/02/2012
Contributor: shySEXXaddict shySEXXaddict
Quote:
Originally posted by - Kira -
I agree about the change being needed on voting in. This has been brought up SO many times, but nothing happens. There are far too many contributors who do not care to take advice in the comments nor will they go through mentoring. They only want ... more
I agree completely.I realize in the beginning i wasnt the best at writing but think I have found it...I get so excited when I see a review on a product thats new that I wanted and go to read it and its not informative at all.I rate these reviews how I feel they should be...but i cant help but think dang! that person just got that awesome dress that everyone is interested in and they got it for free to write about it and they dont write anything useful at all when it could of went to someone that would of spent more time on it!
07/03/2012
Contributor: shySEXXaddict shySEXXaddict
I have seen acouple contributors that I read a review from them and its awesome so i check out their others and they start with and pretty much say the same things as the other review I read from them..just the name of the product and material is changed!Which is disapointing because I thought they had good writing skills and figured there other reviews would be just as good..incept they are the same! And personally I generally try not to read to many of reviews on the product I plan to write about(unless I read the review and that influences me on getting it)and I definitely dont read them right before i write them..otherwise even if you dont mean to people often write what they saw written already,not realizing that it wasnt from their head but someone elses!I understand like I had said that in the beginning you might not have it down what people want to know about a product(like myself) and thats why the mentor program should be required if they want free assignments if they dont catch on in the first couple reviews they do.I went through mentoring(she was awesome by the way!) and I think it has helped me drastically! o also..another thing that bothers me is yes pics are helpful but I see alot of people basing reviews on not having them ..instead of the info thats there.
07/03/2012
Contributor: Troubleinmyarms Troubleinmyarms
Quote:
Originally posted by Airen Wolf
Naw I don't think that would serve the community at all just prurient interest. Best it be handled swiftly, mercilessly and quietly.
I like what Airen has to say--the little red guy says it all.
07/06/2012
Contributor: Bex1331 Bex1331
I feel a zero tolerance policy is best, it's unacceptable and something everyone should know better than to do.
07/06/2012
Contributor: teachmetouchme teachmetouchme
I agree with the zero tolerance policy for stealingother people's work. What about people who pretty much write the same review for several items and they are all so vague it fits just about anything?
07/06/2012
Contributor: teachmetouchme teachmetouchme
Quote:
Originally posted by shySEXXaddict
I agree completely.I realize in the beginning i wasnt the best at writing but think I have found it...I get so excited when I see a review on a product thats new that I wanted and go to read it and its not informative at all.I rate these reviews how ... more
I agree--some items are really hard to get and the reviews that are posted, are not helpful.
07/06/2012
Contributor: Breas Breas
Quote:
Originally posted by shySEXXaddict
I have seen acouple contributors that I read a review from them and its awesome so i check out their others and they start with and pretty much say the same things as the other review I read from them..just the name of the product and material is ... more
That first thing you talk about isn't plagiarism. I know that I always start out my reviews the same. Actually, I follow my own little layout. First I'll tell you what the product is, what sizes it is available in, the variety of colours, and why I decided to purchase it. Then I'll tell you about the packaging. Then the toy/lingerie material composition, then measurements, then the functions/features, then the performance, then the rating and why I rated it this way.

Certain things like packaging information will sound repetitive, but that's because if you review many products from a specific company (like DreamGirl for example), all of their packagings are the same. I always will include the information about the packaging though even though someone else may have already read another review of mine that has basically the same information because a lot of people reading the reviews are not other reviewers- they're customers just shopping the site. There are only so many ways that a reviewer can say that it came in a rectangular cardboard box which is not ideal for storing the item when it's not being worn.
07/07/2012
Contributor: Troubleinmyarms Troubleinmyarms
What I have noticed isn't exactly copying other people's reviews, but writing many reviews in a short period of time, like 25 reviews in 2 or 3 weeks, and most of the reviews re so foggy that any of us could write those reviews without owning the toy.
07/08/2012