What to do when someone steals your answer, word for word?

Question

I answered a Question (currently in voting) about Frederick the Great. My answer started as follows: -
“His greatest achievement – and that for which he deserves his nickname as ‘The Great’ – was as a brilliant general. Frequently fighting against great odds, he led his troops so skillfully that he won most of his many battles, and was the victor in two major wars.”

4 or 5 days later, another person answered the same Question with these words: -
“He was as a brilliant general. Frequently fighting against great odds, he led his troops so skillfully that he won most of his many battles, and was the victor in two wars.”

That plagiarized “Answer” is now leading the voting. But I guess that’s par for the course here on Yahoo! Answers.

Thanks for all the replies, Everyone. I won't post the link, because I am not seeking votes. I just wanted to know how others react to this sort of problem. Oh, and the words I used in my Answer were entirely my own creation, not lifted from any other source. So my "Echo" could only have borrowed them from me.

My plagiarist echo is now revealed. Nicola S. I see that she has tried this with me before too. Probably therefore with others.
Oh, and all of "her" answers always get at least 2 votes. And everyone else's answers always get at least 2 thumbs down.
That's an interesting pattern: maybe it explains her rocket speed ascent to lots of points and status.
So, be on your guard. There seems to be a thief here. Strange what turns some folks on, eh?

Answer 1

Hi Manx,

Wonderful to hear from you. Yes, that sort of thing happens to me all of the time. I try to give well thought out, detailed replies; and it IS a frustration when someone who posted a flippant response ahead of me comes back, re-edits, and steals my answer.

I'm reminded of a famous quote from Elizabeth I, "All writers are thieves." Perhaps. But in the fullness of time, I simply shrug my shoulders at the pathetically brain-dead, and content myself with the knowledge that "thievery" is the sincerest form of flattery.

PS... You should post a link to the question and tell us which is your response, so we can visit the site and strike a blow for intellectual integrity by voting for you.

Cheers, mate.

Answer 2

I think by posting your complaint, you have done the right thing. I don't suppose the Yahoo! team expected to deal with plagiarism when setting up this forum.

I do like this forum- imperfect as it is (much like the world we live in). So buck up, and remember the old adage about the sincerest form of flattery and all...you already have the esteemed "Top Contributor" tag on your avatar, so be proud someone thought enough of your answer to steal it and pass it off as their own.

Answer 3

I have been guilty of giving the same answer as someone else, BUT, I don't look at the other answers before I give my own... and it is usually a short answer when it comes out like someone elses... purely co-incidental.

A long answer like the our you gave, would be a clear plagerism... but some people are too stupid to realize they are stealing someone elses answer... or they don't care... it's how they live their life... like the people on here that want a full answer on something then give it in school as if it was THEIR own work.

Answer 4

right here is what I even have executed for between the "replica and paste" cheaters as of this element: Emailed the guy, thinking consistent with hazard it became into an trouble-free mistake (I as quickly as by twist of destiny placed a punctuation mark as my answer, so it is obtainable to snatch the incorrect factor) reported the respond Emailed the guy whose answer became into copied if it became into no longer me Emailed Yahoo! spoke back between the person's questions with a valid answer that lined the certainty that copying and pasting verbatim without credit is a contravention. All of this has been executed over a era of weeks, so it is unlike i'm inundating them in a short volume of time. regrettably, 2 of the cheater's money owed nevertheless stay, even in spite of the undeniable fact that they've moved to sections i do no longer general. on the least, report.

Answer 5

It may be outright plagiarism, or there is the possibility that you both used the same source in answering your question in which case you both plagiarized. I hope it was sheer coincidence, though.

Chow!!

Answer 6

Post your complaint here, and hope people go and vote for your answer, which is much better and more detailed. I know I did. Good luck.

Answer 7

report abuse!!!