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Reading comprehension test

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Reading comprehension test

Old 10-19-07, 12:12 PM
  #51  
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He copied the work of someone else (actually, two others in this case) and presented it in such a way as to imply that it was his own, even though it was obvious to the regulars on this forum that Serge may have written the second paragraph. We did not know that until he finally gave credit in his seventh reply, #24.
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Old 10-19-07, 12:35 PM
  #52  
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Originally Posted by CommuterRun
He copied the work of someone else (actually, two others in this case) and presented it in such a way as to imply that it was his own, even though it was obvious to the regulars on this forum that Serge may have written the second paragraph. We did not know that until he finally gave credit in his seventh reply, #24.
You are on a thin branch here. He placed the quotes between "quote"-"/quote"'s. When you place a paragraph between quotations, it means to imply that it is not your own work, or at least, you are not claiming it as your own work.

And, in this case, credit was given, back at post #24, like you said.

Regardless, the paragraphs should have been kept entact - paragraph structure influences the meaning of sentences. The rest of the formatting is not necessary.
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Old 10-19-07, 03:40 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
Formating is always secondary. What the OP was pointing out was that, in lue of good writing, HH was using formating as a crutch. "Originality to the writer" is in the words, not the formating.

Did you find the original formatting any better? I found that it directed my eyes better, but it still was very disorganized, shot through with extranious ideas. All the formatting did was direct my eyes to see the "edit:" remarks. It was no help though in understanding the original paragraph before all the edits were added. Good writting should be understandable in both the finished format and in the manuscript form.

EDIT: The OP should probably have kept the paragraph breaks. Though there is an argument that, in good writing, the structure of the paragraphs should be apparent solely though the wordings, with paragraph breaks indicated by the presence of a subject sentence.

EDIT2: Final verdict is that the paragraph formatting should have been retained for the second author. By mashing stuff all together, the second paragraph is not readable, but it is more readable in the original verson. The first paragraph had the advantage of being all one paragraph to begin with.

[/thread]
This is the Internet, if you want good writing I suggest you read something else. The OP was completely out of order rearranging the content of HH's post. The comparison was unjustified, unnecessary and unwarranted. To take such trouble, indicates a thinly veiled personal attack on HH - yet you seem to condone much of it (by not largely disagreeing with the obvious intent).

By the way, please stop making up words (entact).

I see only one voice of reason amongst a sea of ******* - and quit with all the hackneyed cliches!
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Old 10-19-07, 04:40 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by CommuterRun
He copied the work of someone else (actually, two others in this case) and presented it in such a way as to imply that it was his own, even though it was obvious to the regulars on this forum that Serge may have written the second paragraph. We did not know that until he finally gave credit in his seventh reply, #24.
Only a complete idiot would look at the original post and think there was any posibility that the original poster was claiming both paragraphs as his own. To think he was claiming one of them as his own would only require a partial idiot. A reasonable person might conjecture that one of the posts was the work of the original poster. What a reasonable reader would see was that the original poster wants a comparison of the works of two different writers.

There is no basis for anything even vaguely resembling plagerism.

Now the ethics of butchering the writing of one writer while leaving the other substancially as written is a different story.

BTW I've read quite a bit of the UniBomber. While I do not consider him sane he is really a pretty good writer, just the kind of dangerous nut that can get followers and do some real damage.
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Old 10-19-07, 04:52 PM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by HoustonB
This is the Internet, if you want good writing I suggest you read something else. The OP was completely out of order rearranging the content of HH's post. The comparison was unjustified, unnecessary and unwarranted. To take such trouble, indicates a thinly veiled personal attack on HH - yet you seem to condone much of it (by not largely disagreeing with the obvious intent).

By the way, please stop making up words (entact).

I see only one voice of reason amongst a sea of ******* - and quit with all the hackneyed cliches!
Who are you?
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Old 10-19-07, 04:53 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by HoustonB
By the way, please stop making up words (entact).

I see only one voice of reason amongst a sea of ******* - and quit with all the hackneyed cliches!
Originally Posted by HoustonB
This is the Internet, if you want good writing I suggest you read something else.
I suggest you follow your own advice.
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Old 10-19-07, 05:03 PM
  #57  
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since helemt head originally compared his writings to that of the unabomber, this reading comprehension test is valid, appropriate and relevant to this forum.
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Old 10-19-07, 10:54 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by CommuterRun
He didn't give credit,
Yes he did. Just not straight away.

Originally Posted by CommuterRun
he changed what was said
No he didn't.

Originally Posted by CommuterRun
so who else's ideas would they have been if not his own?
Just about anyone's
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Old 10-20-07, 01:01 AM
  #59  
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Lol, wow, I hadn't logged on in a little bit and was a little surprised at the commotion from CommuterRun.

Thanks everyone for defending me, lol.

For those that are arguing against my formatting, you have a valid point. I had decided what formatting to delete and how before I picked the quotes, however, seeing as HH often relies on paragraphs and formatting to clarify his message, the deck was stacked against him to begin with. While I stand by removing the font formatting, if I were doing it over, I would have left the paragraph markers in.

It might be fair to call it a "draw", or to do a retest. I would argue, though, that it might be unfair to the Unabomber to have a test between his generally format-light writing, and HHs format-heavy writing. I haven't figured out a way around this that is fair to both.

To CommuterRun, or anyone that is getting seriously bent out of shape, get a grip. It's just a silly internet thread. Go ride up some hills (sorry CommuterRun). Go watch the trains go by (sorry again). Take the missus to that new ethnic restaurant in town (still very sorry...).

Although somehow, CommuterRun managed to divine that I am Liberal, a weasel, and immature... that's spooky. Have fun y'all.

btw CommuterRun, re: the accusation of me implying that the two paragraphs were my composition, see posts 9-13, where it seems clear to everyone that we are comparing two anonymous authors, neither of which is me.

Last edited by zeytoun; 10-20-07 at 01:08 AM.
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