# athelas is a habitual plagiarizing git **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733 "2011-07-03T17:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/1 "2011-07-03T17:23:15Z")
It was mid-February 2010 and **athelas** started a thread called: [People’s mate preferences are racist. Do we care?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=553002) It was a cynically flawed, but detailed argument for the government to regulate romances by race (because the US government also regulates some businesses to be racially diverse). Of course it provided fodder for debate. Fast forward to April. [I run into a blog post that is an exact copy of **athelas** ’s OP.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12320873&postcount=139). I bring it up in the zombie thread, taunt him a bit… no response. I drift back to forgetting **athelas** exists. Fast forward to today. I open up the [Straus-Kahn case falling apart. Duke lacrosse, etc.?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=614615) thread and start reading. I encounter this post: > [@Straus-Kahn case falling apart. Duke lacrosse, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straus-kahn-case-falling-apart-duke-lacrosse-etc/587476/8): > > You know, as we saw with the Duke lacrosse case, on a personal level, it’s generally a good idea to stay away from strippers and hookers. Yeah, it’s unfair when they make up accusations against you, but, you’re safest from phony rape charges when they haven’t ever met you. You have a better chance of avoiding folks like this lady who seem skilled only at working the system. > > This is not going down in the history books as an impressive performance by either the prestige or tabloid presses. Back in May, there quickly emerged questions about why this woman was living in an apartment building for AIDS sufferers (I read it in the Daily Telegraph – the Brits tend to be better at scandal than us), but then those questions just went away because … I guess everybody really, really wants to find the real life Great White Defendant like we’ve seen on Law & Order for 20 years. > > (By the way, the prosecutors say they haven’t found any evidence that a political conspiracy was behind it.) [ [QUOTE=Original Author] You know, as we saw with the Duke lacrosse case, on a personal level, it’s generally a good idea to stay away from strippers and hookers. Yeah, it’s unfair when they make up accusations against you, but, you’re safest from phony rape charges when they haven’t ever met you. On a national level, it’s generally not a good idea to let in to your country foreigners like this lady who seem only skilled at working the system…(snip) This is not going down in the history books as an impressive performance by either the prestige or tabloid presses. Back in May, there quickly emerged questions about why this woman was living in an apartment building for AIDS sufferers (I read it in the Daily Telegraph – the Brits tend to be better at scandal than us), but then those questions just went away because … I guess everybody really, really wants to find the real life Great White Defendant like we’ve seen on Law & Order for 20 years…(snip) By the way, the prosecutors say they haven’t found any evidence that a political conspiracy was behind it. [/QUOTE] ]([Steve Sailer: iSteve: DSK accuser not proving credible](http://isteve.blogspot.com/2011/06/dsk-accuser-not-proving-credible.html))and this post > [@Straus-Kahn case falling apart. Duke lacrosse, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straus-kahn-case-falling-apart-duke-lacrosse-etc/587476/22): > > Yes. This is a symptom of a huge \*systemic \*failure on the part of our nation’s law enforcement. We arrested a guy who was possibly the future leader of France because of some lying woman’s story. The people of France have every right to be pissed at us. [ [QUOTE=Original Author] This is a huge failure on the part of our nation’s law enforcement. We arrested a guy who was possibly the future leader of France because of some lying woman’s story. The people of France have every right to be pissed at us. [/QUOTE] ](http://www.halfsigma.com/2011/06/half-sigma-was-right-about-dominique-strauss-kahn.html)Both are mere cut & paste jobs. However by now (with two random comments stolen from various racist blogs) **athelas** gets a few bites from **[Marley23](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13977098&postcount=24)**, **[DS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13977120&postcount=26)[eid](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13977216&postcount=28)**, and **[outlierrn](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13978035&postcount=44)**. To which **athelas** replies: > [@Straus-Kahn case falling apart. Duke lacrosse, etc.?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straus-kahn-case-falling-apart-duke-lacrosse-etc/587476/90): > > Why are we letting these scumbags, like the con-artist who first immigrated through asylum fraud and then falsely accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of rape, into the country? You’d think we would have a better screening process in place to weed out bad apples. Or is that racist? [ [QUOTE=Orignal Author] Why are we letting these scumbag immigrants, like the “con-artist” who falsely accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of rape, into the country? [/QUOTE] ](http://www.halfsigma.com/2011/07/immigration-and-the-dsk-case.html)To which triggers more calm (and utterly confused) responses from [Marley23](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13980199&postcount=92), [wmfellows](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13980248&postcount=93), and [clairobscur](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13981324&postcount=109). Little does anyone know that they are not communicating with a human, but a robot. Someone who doesn’t engages in debate, responds to criticism, nor forms their own opinions; but a simple mailman, who takes/copies the arguments of others and delivers/pastes them elsewhere. Nary a single attribution and always disguised as his own informed comments. He’s probably been doing this for years. I’m not going to go through his entire history but if theirs anyone else who wants to check [his other threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=6764502) it’s simple. Just [copy some text from any OP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=528035) and [paste it into google search](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=paying+mailman#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=Designing+an+effective+and+credible+obstacle+to+taking+the+next+step+beyond+Obamacare+towards+%22NHS-style+'socialized+medicine'%22+is+a+nontrivial+task.+Maybe+it's+possible.+But+until+somebody+proves+to+me+that+is+possible%2C+I+for+one+intend+to+continue+opposing+taking+the+first+step.&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=4f37cbe91d5f4aec&biw=1280&bih=685). Most likely you’ll find that [it’s been plagiarized word-for-word](http://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2009/08/obamacare-on-a-slippery-slope-to-where.html) (there I found another one). ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/2 "2011-07-03T17:37:53Z")
While I suppose it’s possible that he’s the author of each of those blogs, yikes. It does look like plagiarism occurred. If that’s the case, **athelas** , you should be ashamed of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/3 "2011-07-03T17:43:54Z")
It’s not always a clean “cut & paste” job (like the first example/OP and the two following quotes); however, sometimes he doesn’t even make an effort. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/4 "2011-07-03T17:50:46Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Fast forward to April. [I run into a blog post that is an exact copy of **athelas** ’s OP.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12320873&postcount=139). I bring it up in the zombie thread, taunt him a bit… no response. He’s a plagiarist, and you’re a troll. You make a great pair. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/5 "2011-07-03T17:52:36Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s a plagiarist, and you’re a troll. You make a great pair. Perhaps I was out of line? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/6 "2011-07-03T17:54:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s a plagiarist, and you’re a troll. You make a great pair. I thought that he was an Orc… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/7 "2011-07-03T18:04:57Z")
Good detective work. Maybe you could have just forwarded the info to the mods, but this is okay too. Looks like it warrants an immediate cease and desist warning. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/8 "2011-07-03T18:17:16Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Good detective work. Maybe you could have just forwarded the info to the mods, but this is okay too. Looks like it warrants an immediate cease and desist warning. I feel like I’m **Nancy Drew** in the story of the lazy internet polemicist. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/9 "2011-07-03T18:34:28Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Just copy some text from any OP and paste it into google search. Oh please, _dont do that to me_. I’ll give you anything. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/10 "2011-07-03T22:39:02Z")
Perhaps **athelas** is Chinese? Apologies. I just couldn’t resist. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/11 "2011-07-03T23:10:23Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Good detective work. Maybe you could have just forwarded the info to the mods, but this is okay too. Looks like it warrants an immediate cease and desist warning. I think a public reveal is appropriate for plagiarists. And I can’t imagine how the bottom line could be anything short of a ban. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/12 "2011-07-03T23:24:47Z")
While I suppose it’s possible that he’s the author of each of those blogs, yikes. It does look like plagiarism occurred. If that’s the case, **athelas** , you should be ashamed of yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/13 "2011-07-03T23:35:07Z")
You know what I think about athelas? I think he’s a habitual plagiarizing git. And you can quote me on that. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/14 "2011-07-03T23:58:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > He’s a plagiarist, and you’re a troll. You make a great pair. I thought that he was an Orc… ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/15 "2011-07-04T00:04:57Z")
He’s probably been doing this for years. I’m not going to go through his entire history but if theirs anyone else who wants to check [his other threads](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=6764502) it’s simple. Just [copy some text from any OP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=528035) and [paste it into google search](http://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=paying+mailman#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=Designing+an+effective+and+credible+obstacle+to+taking+the+next+step+beyond+Obamacare+towards+%22NHS-style+%27socialized+medicine%27%22+is+a+nontrivial+task.+Maybe+it%27s+possible.+But+until+somebody+proves+to+me+that+is+possible%2C+I+for+one+intend+to+continue+opposing+taking+the+first+step.&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=4f37cbe91d5f4aec&biw=1280&bih=685). Most likely you’ll find that [it’s been plagiarized word-for-word](http://www.professorbainbridge.com/professorbainbridgecom/2009/08/obamacare-on-a-slippery-slope-to-where.html) (there I found another one). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/16 "2011-07-04T00:08:20Z")
Guys, it’s not that clever. And it’s not funny after the first time or two. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/17 "2011-07-04T00:13:30Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Guys, it’s not that clever. And it’s not funny after the first time or two. Well, I found the second one a bit funny cuz he stole the words AND the joke. But it quickly grew stale… … _trying not to pull the same joke_ … _whew, I did it_ ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/18 "2011-07-04T00:14:47Z")
All kidding aside (for the moment…) I do remember a trend being reported in ATMB a long time ago about messages from SDMB’s being plagiarized and posted on other blogs. Are you sure it wasn’t the other way around? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/19 "2011-07-04T00:20:46Z")
I checked a couple; the **athelas** posts here show later dates than the various authors’ blog entries elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733/20 "2011-07-04T00:30:02Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I think a public reveal is appropriate for plagiarists. And I can’t imagine how the bottom line could be anything short of a ban. I can’t imagine a ban is even needed: wouldn’t anyone just slink away? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athelas-is-a-habitual-plagiarizing-git/587733.md?page=2)