# I have been plagiarized **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 18, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107 "2020-02-18T09:13:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/1 "2020-02-18T09:13:33Z")
I am not sure if I am upset or pleased. Many years ago, I posted a list (here on the Dope, I think) called “75 Ways to Be Unhappy.” For no good reason, I just googled that term. I got a [hit!](https://www.marcandangel.com/2010/11/29/75-ways-to-stay-unhappy-forever/) Some guy posted this on his blog (in a modified form) and claimed it as his own. Look at the comments! I am a genius. Now I am trying to find my original post. I have done a number of searches, but I cannot find it anywhere. Does anyone remember my post from more than ten years ago? Does our search function only go so far back? I am not sure if I am upset or pleased. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/2 "2020-02-18T09:23:51Z")
I find[this](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=16490677), probably not what you want. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/3 "2020-02-18T10:32:07Z")
Thank you for looking. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/4 "2020-02-18T11:08:14Z")
I did a site search on Google and got nothing. Perhaps your post was during the Winter of Missed Content? Either that or you’re remembering the key words wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/5 "2020-02-18T11:35:42Z")
[Moderating] Moving to ATMB. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/6 "2020-02-18T11:51:05Z")
You posted the list three years ago on reddit under a different username, but with the title “76 Keys to Being Unhappy.” The blog post you linked to was in 2010 and titled differently, yet you searched for the title the way the person in 2010 titled it? Maybe you mis-remeber being the author? If you were able to retrieve the list (I’m guessing through a Google search) three years ago to post on reddit, it should still be Googleable. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/7 "2020-02-18T15:47:16Z")
This may be one case where TPTB could be your friend. Reviewing this Board’s [Terms of Service](https://www.straightdope.com/terms-of-useprivacy-policy/) makes it pretty clear that The Straight Dope claims copyright for any original material posted on the Straight Dope Message Board. If you can track down the original posting, assuming you didn’t first post it somewhere else, you should immediately notify the Admins, who will rouse the legal wolves from their sleep to (at the very least) send a cease and desist letter. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/8 "2020-02-18T15:53:42Z")
Thank you all. Now that I am back at my personal computer, I found it on my hard drive. Last modified on 6 June 2016. Reddit? I may very well have posted it there. Since I wanted to share it, I can hardly be upset it is getting wider distribution. No, I most certainly wrote it over ten years ago. I have endlessly modified it since then. I use it with my students who like it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/9 "2020-02-18T16:26:26Z")
Marc Chernoff is a major name in the life guru biz. A blatant plagiarism, even if found anonymously on Reddit if not the Dope, is a scandal. This is worth pursuing. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/10 "2020-02-18T17:50:03Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Marc Chernoff is a major name in the life guru biz. That’s why I think the OP may be mistaken. Marc posted this article back in 2010 with “WRITTEN by MARC CHERNOFF” under the title. Would he have taken the risk of ruining his reputation and getting in trouble stealing something that would have very easily been found here on the Dope (or another website) with an earlier post date? That, and there are zero instances on the internet that can be found via search engines before Marc’s posting. The OP claims he searched for "75 Ways to Be Unhappy” so he could find his list, yet three years ago he posted on reddit with the title “76 Keys to Being Unhappy.” Where did he get that list to post it three years ago? This isn’t making sense. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/11 "2020-02-18T18:04:45Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > That, and there are zero instances on the internet that can be found via search engines before Marc’s posting. So OP, where are you claiming Marc Chernoff plagiarized this _from_? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/12 "2020-02-18T18:07:03Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Thank you all. Now that I am back at my personal computer, I found it on my hard drive. Last modified on 6 June 2016. How about the date created? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/13 "2020-02-18T18:48:43Z")
You have zero evidence that this is your work, and you’re going around claiming someone with credibility in the writing world plagiarized you almost ten tears ago. > **[76 Ways to be Unhappy • /s/Lists](https://saidit.net/s/Lists/comments/2tvy/76_ways_to_be_unhappy/)** > > 1. Dwell on things that happened in the past. 2. Obsess yourself with all the things that might happen in the future. 3. Complain about problems... This isn’t a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/14 "2020-02-18T19:08:26Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > That’s why I think the OP may be mistaken. > > Marc posted this article back in 2010 with “WRITTEN by MARC CHERNOFF” under the title. Shoot. I missed that. Paul needs to find some earlier proof. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/15 "2020-02-18T19:54:39Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > If you can track down the original posting, assuming you didn’t first post it somewhere else, you should immediately notify the Admins, who will rouse the legal wolves from their sleep to (at the very least) send a cease and desist letter. Since the Dope, itself, and many of Cecil’s columns are reproduced in whole all over the place, I doubt that any legal wolves are going to care. Especially since they know that the Dope does not own the copyright on our posts, inasfar as they’re copyrightable at all. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/16 "2020-02-18T20:13:56Z")
One more thing: > [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > No, I most certainly wrote it over ten years ago. I have endlessly modified it since then. I use it with my students who like it a lot. You _endlessly_ modified it since then, yet the list you posted on another website today from which you found on a hard drive last modified in 2016 is _exactly_ the same as the list as posted on a website by someone else in 2010 (except for you adding a #76)? Seriosuly…not adding up. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/17 "2020-02-18T20:16:55Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Since the Dope, itself, and many of Cecil’s columns are reproduced in whole all over the place, I doubt that any legal wolves are going to care. I doubt that they’ll care also, but not for the reason you claim. Cecil’s columns aren’t being passed off as someone else’s work, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/18 "2020-02-18T20:24:26Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I doubt that they’ll care also, but not for the reason you claim. Cecil’s columns aren’t being passed off as someone else’s work, as far as I know. Doesn’t really matter. Plagiarism isn’t against the law, only the copyright infringement (barring cases of fraud and such). ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/19 "2020-02-18T20:35:29Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Doesn’t really matter. Plagiarism isn’t against the law Yet lawyers still take legal action against plagiarism, which is why it could matter. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107/20 "2020-02-18T20:36:14Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Yet lawyers still take legal action against plagiarism, which is why it could matter. On what grounds? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-plagiarized/848107.md?page=2)