Sadly you are whitewashing here, and like you I do plagiarism analysis for a living and have been doing it since 1981 (I am a university professor). What Dowd has done here is a classic and egregious example of plagiarism, that would have seen her flunking the class, and hopefully learning the lesson. Also, there is no such animal as accidental plagiarism–it is all intentional and deliberate–and sloppiness is no excuse.

This is common in music, often, we see strings of notes used by other composers, are they thiefs?

The same with movies. Did Spielberg in Private Ryan, steal fthe opening scene rom Stones Platoon?

Did Dowd quote her 43 words from her friend, and if so should she have given her credit? It is entirely possible that her friend was her source. No. because, she context is changed because it was incorporated into her entire column with her bent on the issue. Just as her friend gave her verbatim line from the original writer. ( This is not implausable, when one hears a profound statement.)

Besides, Maureen is the princess of journalism and Dorthy Rabinowitz's the queen. No one could have written that column, except for Maureen.

What about actors… Marilyn Monroe, acting style has been plagerized by millions, and she I'm sure borrowed from many great actors in the past.

We are all thieves. I stole from all the great writers. I once heard a story about one writer asking another writer if he is angry that another writer “stole” his phrase. His answer… I am flattered. And that is my answer. For some reason, writers have this complex that every thing they say, is theirs… But I am sure, somewhere in their past, they likewise “stole it” form someone else.

Writers are too sensitive. All other artists tend to be flattered that they are copied. But writers for some reason, seem to have a massive inferiority complex.

Someone once said that there are a 100 plots in literature, and they are all in the BIBLE.

ron hansing

Sadly you are whitewashing here, and like you I do plagiarism analysis for a living and have been doing it since 1981 (I am a university professor). What Dowd has done here is a classic and egregious example of plagiarism, that would have seen her flunking the class, and hopefully learning the lesson. Also, there is no such animal as accidental plagiarism–it is all intentional and deliberate–and sloppiness is no excuse.

Sadly you are whitewashing here, and like you I do plagiarism analysis for a living and have been doing it since 1981 (I am a university professor). What Dowd has done here is a classic and egregious example of plagiarism, that would have seen her flunking the class, and hopefully learning the lesson. Also, there is no such animal as accidental plagiarism–it is all intentional and deliberate–and sloppiness is no excuse.

This is common in music, often, we see strings of notes used by other composers, are they thiefs?

The same with movies. Did Spielberg in Private Ryan, steal fthe opening scene rom Stones Platoon?

Did Dowd quote her 43 words from her friend, and if so should she have given her credit? It is entirely possible that her friend was her source. No. because, she context is changed because it was incorporated into her entire column with her bent on the issue. Just as her friend gave her verbatim line from the original writer. ( This is not implausable, when one hears a profound statement.)

Besides, Maureen is the princess of journalism and Dorthy Rabinowitz's the queen. No one could have written that column, except for Maureen.

What about actors… Marilyn Monroe, acting style has been plagerized by millions, and she I'm sure borrowed from many great actors in the past.

We are all thieves. I stole from all the great writers. I once heard a story about one writer asking another writer if he is angry that another writer “stole” his phrase. His answer… I am flattered. And that is my answer. For some reason, writers have this complex that every thing they say, is theirs… But I am sure, somewhere in their past, they likewise “stole it” form someone else.

Writers are too sensitive. All other artists tend to be flattered that they are copied. But writers for some reason, seem to have a massive inferiority complex.

Someone once said that there are a 100 plots in literature, and they are all in the BIBLE.

ron hansing

I have to be honest though, I think of my self as email savvy as just about anyone but I've never said I talked to people over email. Then again, maybe I just don't realize it.

Of course, there are other technologies including IM that it could be as well. Still, until we hear from Dowd exactly what she says happened, we're not going to really know.

As for the friend, if what Dowd says is right, then you are correct, poor form and very un-media savvy.

I think calling the explanation plausible doesn't make much sense nor does saying that she hasn't used it as an excuse. With one incident of relatively minor plagiarism, it could be many different things but I don't think it was what Dowd claimed it was and anyone who thinks it is has some form of blinders on.

However, even if her response had been perfect, I do think this would have warranted a deeper investigation into her writing just to make sure this was the only incident. I don't think that has happened yet, not officially at least.

I don't really have anything for or against Dowd, I'm just not ready to convict or drop prosecution either. There's more to this and anyone who can't see that probably isn't paying attention or is showing some bias.