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What’s Yours Is Mine

Mar 09, 2015
by Caroline Miller
homage, Michael Kinsley, plagarism, The Imitation Game
4 Comments

“Somewhere between plagiarism and homage,” writes Michael Kinsely, “there is a line.” (The Imitation Game,” by Michael Kinsley, Vanity Fair, March 2015, pg. 197)  He raises an important point, and as a blogger who works from source material, I regularly question whether what I write is a sharing of facts or the stealing an idea.

 My blogs are terse, 400-500 words at most.  In order to give credit to an author’s thought or turn of phrase, I  salt my page with ibids  — a device that can be a distraction in pieces as short as mine, particularly as I’m not offering scholarship but a little entertainment.  Nonetheless, citing a source is simply good manners.

But are there limits to these credits?  A few years ago, a reader objected to a quote I’d used which described a woman’s role in the Catholic Church.  He was so offended,  he demanded I footnote the author’s sources as well as her comments.   I could have done so as the woman’s material was heavily annotated.  Still, I decided one footnote was enough and doubted any more would placate the offended reader.   Since that experience, my decision has been to quote a single source and leave additional scholarship to the curious.      

 Stealing content isn’t where I’m likely to error, in any case.  I’m tempted by a clever phrasing or an image that delights me.  Not long ago, I referred to an article in which an established actress was described as being “old as dirt.” (Blog 6/2/14) The analogy tickled me and I confess I’ve used variations of that analogy where it suits me: dull as dirt, ubiquitous as dirt, enduring as dirt, silent as dirt…   Am I guilty of plagiarism?  Perhaps so in the eyes of the meticulous.  But if I am guilty, I take pleasure in knowing that the special place in hell reserved for plagiarists  will be populated by some of the world’s greatest writers, including Shakespeare. 

 The line between plagiarism and homage is, indeed, a fine one and  easy to shift like dirt.  Let the writer beware.

In a few days, I begin my 6th year as a daily blogger, and so it’s a good time to renew my pledge that I will continue to write  with integrity —  to record what I believe is true and to give credit where it is due.   But because the difference between plagiarism and homage may reside in opinion, I’m obliged to borrow Kinsely’s defense:  I will leave it to my… readers to make their own decisions.  I’m fully focused on putting out the best work I can.  (Ibid pg. 197)

cartoon on plagarism

Courtesy of stopshootininc.com

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4 Comments
  1. Emily McKinnon March 9, 2015 at 7:23 am Reply
    Apparently I am still a student of yours. In reading this latest entry I questioned your use of "to error" as opposed to using "to err". I immediately thought it must have been a "spell check" situation but, after a little research on my part, it was determined that you had it correct. There is a difference, and now I have a little bit more knowledge that I can attribute directly to being your student. Not bad after 43 years. But my use of commas is probably still excessive.
    • Caroline Miller March 9, 2015 at 7:58 am Reply
      Emily, how delighted I am to welcome you back into my life. And to think I still had something to teach? I amaze myself. As for the use of commas, the rules keep changing and I have given up hope of staying current. You have my permission to use them as you will, though as in most things, less is more. Thank you for stopping by today and making a comment.
  2. Emily McKinnon March 9, 2015 at 10:54 am Reply
    I imagine that blogging is somewhat akin to teaching. You are never quite sure if anyone is listening. :) Although I am new to your blog, in poking around in the various subjects you have shared your thoughts on, I am enjoying the prospect of catching up on your journey.
    • Caroline Miller March 9, 2015 at 12:28 pm Reply
      You are welcome aboard, Emily.

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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