The joy of cheating

After finding out the WC's most infamous plagiarist is openly reviewing poems, it got me to thinking about the joy of cheating. http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/misterjingo/1414335/?&p=4

   Some people know I ran a marathon in October. I didn't do very well. I finished close to dead last, as they were picking up the pylons. Along the up and back course I noticed an interesting phenomenon. Twice, a man who was behind me suddenly came back down the hill ahead of me. I smiled, he ignored me. I knew he got tired, waited, and jumped back in not once, but twice during the race, just to say he made it ahead of people like me. I thought, "what's the joy in that?" I worked so hard to run the race, I wouldn't want to illegally shave one km off, let alone ten or so. A friend of mine told me about a woman who did the very same thing in Vancouver by cutting through city streets.
   Whether it is a marathon or stealing someone else's words and claiming them as one's own, the goal is glory for its own sake, false or not. Inside the cheater must be a miserable human being, lacking a sense of purpose and self worth, needing to lie to get false pats on the back.
    The person on Writer's Cafe who has claimed others' works as his own duped us in many other ways. He created false identities and generated interest in his profile by reviewing his own poems. Who knows how many of his works are actually his own, and if he has possibly published others' writing as his own? In addition, he gives false and serial reviews, and randomly spits venom at people whose work he considers beneath him. Pretty brave for a man who plagiarizes and posts. He is known through other poetry sites as well. If the administrators of the sites don't see him as a problem, I certainly do. Let's not welcome this charlatan back with open arms. Let's make it known he is not welcome back.
    When people asked me how well I did in my race, I told them I finished, but not well. But at least, I got over that line without shaving off a single metre of 42.2 kilometres, and that is a hell of a lot better than running back down the hill when you think no one is looking. And every word I write, imperfect as it may be, is mine, and if credit needs to be given to an author or an inspiration, I always make note of it. There is no joy in cheating your way to the top, in racing, or in writing.

Reviews

[charlie]

"Inside the cheater must be a miserable human being, lacking a sense of purpose and self worth..." maybe these words are very true, and this is exactly the profile of a false, deceptive character. Or maybe cheaters really don't care and are happy, after all, with their behaviour... Who knows? But one does wonder (if I may ponder out-loud in response to your post): what is the best way to respond to "a miserable human being, lacking a sense of purpose and self worth"? For those people who wish to be the best versions of themselves, I think it is an important question to consider...

Thanks for a thought provoking write, Goode

[Lyn Anderson]

I can realize someone is sick, and say "that's too bad" without letting him in to rob me blind. In addition, his actions were far more severe and twisted than simple copying of words. He personally messaged people, lied and manipulated, and ran 20 or more ids to dupe people. If people think that we should then say "that's okay, we feel sorry for you, come dupe us some more," I guess that is up to them. I lived with an abusive manipulator already. I came here in part to get away from him. Thank you for your words and your review, I appreciate the feedback. I will continue to feel strongly about this. He is openly sending read requests which people are responding to, I suppose, because they think it is the right thing to do.

[Wayne Rockmore]

Wow! I came to read this based on the title and didn't bother with the synopsis, but it was pretty amazing. I hadn't heard of this infamous plagiarist before. Its a shame that people like that can poison a community such as WC, and diminish the experience of sharing works. This is a wonderful exposition on cheating though. Terrific!

[Lyn Anderson]

He has been shut down. And I may have some stories you would like. Try distracted driving or rained out

[Tate Morgan]

I cannot understand nor can I abide a man who has no shame. I'm sorry but I feel absolutely no pity for this man he deserves the shunning he deserves the outing He is unlike any I have ever seen totally without redemption.

[Lyn Anderson]

I agree and continue to try to spread the word.

[Tate Morgan]

I for one cannot abide his rude disregard for the others here unable to follow the civil rules of society

[R Smith]

well said KL and i thought i had seen him back again but convinced myself it had to be a mistake, glad you ran your race without cheating and let's someone disappears soon :)

[Lyn Anderson]

Well, he has been closed by admin, but unfortunately without his IP blocked he is running several ids and infiltrating. If you want the names we know, PM me. At the moment I am accepting no new friends, and blocking people who seem suspicious. He is running a game he very much enjoys here.

[New Theory]

Plagiarism really discourages the writers, if someone takes everything away for which you have toiled so hard then it becomes really frustrating.

[Lyn Anderson]

I agree. Read the link and block him if you have not already. It is horrible admin does not consider scamming people with multiple ids, lies, and personal requests in addition to plagiarism is an offense worthy of an IP address ban. There are people on here who continue to review him, maybe because they don't like me. I don't care. It is personal when someone inboxes you with LIES and pretends to be someone they are not. No one told me. And I am determined that anyone who cares KNOWS.

[kassystiletto-mermalien]

I completely agree with this !

[Lyn Anderson]

Then read the link, and block the offender. There are dozens of people on this site who believe I am being overly cruel and he should be empathized with and supported and encouraged. They accept his read requests, and review "his" work which may or may not be his own.

[MsJewel]

First - congratulations on finishing the race - that is quite an accomplishment and one you should be proud of! Second - thank you for posting this. If the site administrators won't watch out for us, we need to watch out for each other.

Julie

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, I appreciate it. I really hope that people listen and just block and delete him. He still has hundreds of people who have not blocked him. WHY people? Wake up and smell the coffee. He is a scoundrel, on multiple levels. Plagiarism is just the worst of what he did. He did a lot of other nasty things too.

[Delmar Cooper]

I have nothing but contempt for those who steal word for word, comma intacta, the works of others. I have an approximately equal distain for any who falsely praise themselves via device or pseudonymn.

I forgive the shoplifting of ideas when this leads to new and interesting ways of telling a story. I will wink at fan fiction (when so labeled ) ,though I will not read it. I understand the use of noms de plume. Personally I would not want my name as a seventeen year old Nigerian girl bandied about on the internet. It would embarrass my father and damage his wire fraud business.

But we aren't talking about the retreading of ideas and the protection of privacy. We are talking about mental disease: a disease that needs praise as fuel and uses any means to achieve it.

[Lyn Anderson]

Absolutely. It is an illness for sure, and I for one don't care if people think I am overly alarmist or should leave it alone. I will continue to be the yowling cat every time he enters the feed.

[realmwriter]

Thank you KL because you have recognized him when he doers try to enter the feed you are better able to alarm others of his presence.

[wordman]

congratulations on the run,some people must be seen no matter
what they have to do they must always be a winner
they have no morals i guess

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, and yes, no morals, and a warped sense of what makes them feel good.

[wordman]

wen incident here last month in the chickamauga,chattanooga battlefield where they caught a woman cheating it was on the news,how degrading could that be

[icelandicblue]

Good for you. You finished! That is an accomplishment all in itself. As for he who shall not be named we will all have to be watchful for ourselves and each other. We used to say when we were kids, "Cheaters never win and winners never cheat."

[Lyn Anderson]

Bingo. As long as I am around I won't let it die. I don't think it's right, pretending he is just a nuisance. He hurt people, on here and other sites. His actions are deplorable.

[icelandicblue]

What's the point of it? False adulation is an empty existence.