# I've seen the future, and this is it: **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486 "2009-02-26T05:57:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/301 "2009-03-01T16:46:55Z")
Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA). From the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/302 "2009-03-01T17:00:21Z")
Ahh, OK. Gee, funny how the original content of the OP has gotten lost in all this discussion, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/303 "2009-03-01T17:38:17Z")
> [@Jenaroph](#): > > Gee, funny how the original content of the OP has gotten lost in all this discussion, isn’t it? Well, it was never actually _original_ content. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/304 "2009-03-01T17:49:03Z")
According to **Starving Artist** , the original content was all about laziness. This was illustrated with an article that, it turns out, **SA** didn’t write and couldn’t be bothered to credit. So, depending on how you look at it, the discussion arguably hasn’t really strayed from the OP’s topic; but in fact has illustrated it at length, and indeed continues to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/305 "2009-03-01T18:52:36Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Well, it was never actually _original_ content. - ZING!\* ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/306 "2009-03-01T20:14:22Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > According to **Starving Artist** , the original content was all about laziness. This was illustrated with an article that, it turns out, **SA** didn’t write and couldn’t be bothered to credit. > > So, depending on how you look at it, the discussion arguably hasn’t really strayed from the OP’s topic; but in fact has illustrated it at length, and indeed continues to do so. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/307 "2009-03-01T20:50:55Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > God, you’re like my mother. Norman Bates? Is that you? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/308 "2009-03-01T21:08:16Z")
Okay, I’ve been staying away so as to let things settle in my mind and hopefully address this situation in a more objective way. My feeling throughout most of this thread has been that, number one, my error in posting the OP unattributed was unintentional and therefore I was not in the wrong in posting it that way; and number two, that since no one was harmed by it, no apology was really called for anyway. But today I began to recall an incident recently where another poster accused me of something I hadn’t done. I offered cite after cite to prove him wrong and requested that he retract and apologize. He refused because of longstanding animus between us, and said, IIRC, that I didn’t “deserve” one. Today I’ve become aware that my behavior and attitudes in this thread are very similar to his in that other thread. He didn’t know at the time he posted it that he was in error, I didn’t know at the time I posted the OP that I was in error; he refused to acknowledge that error, I have refused to acknowledge my errors; he felt that because I was a jerk I didn’t deserve an apology, I felt that because many of my opponents here were jerks, that they didn’t deserve an apology. And finally, I realized that it didn’t matter whether someone was actually “harmed” by such an error, an apology was still in order anyway. Thus I have arrived at the point where I can sincerely and honestly see and acknowledge that a retraction and an apology are in order. So I do hereby recant the statements I’ve made here in my own defense and acknowledge the plagiarism that characterized my posting of the OP. I also sincerely and unreservedly apologize not only for my errors in posting the OP without attribution and my subsequent defense of it, but for failing to recognize that my behavior here has been just as wrong as that which I was so critical of in the other thread. One of the reasons I haven’t apologized earlier, even though it would have been an easy way out, was because I felt it wouldn’t have been honest for me to do have done so. I would have been lying just to get everyone off my back. It’s only been today, in light of the insight I gained in thinking back on that other thread, that I’ve truly able to see the error of my ways here and I hope that whether you are a friend or not you will be able to accept my apology as genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/309 "2009-03-01T21:32:09Z")
Where’d you steal that from? I’m kidding! I kid! Apology accepted for me. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/310 "2009-03-01T21:36:08Z")
Very well done. There are too many posters who never come to such a realization. I too accept your apology. Jack, that was very tacky, and totally unecessary, but still pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/311 "2009-03-01T22:09:43Z")
SA, good for you. I knew you had it in you. Long may you run. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_Turbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lance_turbo/32/6156_2.png) [@Lance\_Turbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_Turbo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/312 "2009-03-01T22:29:20Z")
Good man. Go forth and sin no more. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/313 "2009-03-01T22:47:13Z")
About time. Apology accepted. Now, don’t do it again. (Plagiarize, I mean. Not apologize.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/314 "2009-03-01T23:01:13Z")
Now, about this other matter of you being dumb enough to think it was even funny … how’s that coming along? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/315 "2009-03-02T00:00:31Z")
Gold claps, for my two bits. 'nuff sed. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/316 "2009-03-02T00:12:22Z")
Well, I have to say I am impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/317 "2009-03-02T02:45:20Z")
I’m out for the rest of the day (night?) but I wanted to thank those of you who’ve posted for your gracious (and occasionally funny) responses. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/318 "2009-03-02T03:36:52Z")
This seems as good a time as any to review our copyright policies: [QUOTE=registration agreement] You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by the operator of the SDMB, except as permitted by the “fair use” provisions of the U.S. copyright laws (in general this means brief excerpts only). You agree to abide by the wishes of the board moderators in interpreting and enforcing these rules. Refusal to cooperate with board moderators or to abide by these rules is grounds for revocation of your posting privileges. [/QUOTE] [SDMB registration agreement as of 12/29/2008 - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=423183) > [@](#): > > What’s the policy on copyrights? > > * * * > > Our sponsor, the Chicago READER, has a strict policy on respecting copyrights and copyrighted material. They don’t want their stuff used by others without permission, and so we don’t use stuff created by others without permission. Basically, The policy is : don’t do it. > > The rules of the Straight Dope Message Board are enforced by volunteer moderators who are not all legal experts in these matters. So we offer a set of guidelines that may be more conservative or stringent than the law in your jurisdiction, but that we think may help avoid the copyright violation issue. In this as in many other matters we depend not only on moderator enforcement, but also ask for the cooperation and goodwill of our posters. > > Suggested guidelines: > \*\*(1) If you are going to quote something from an article, quote less than 5% of the source. Include a link to the article if the article is available online. > > (2) Only quote directly in very rare circumstances. Instead of repeating a source word-for-word, read the article, attempt to understand it, and rephrase what it says in your own words. Again, include a link to the source if the source is available online. Otherwise indicate a reference to the source (e.g. Science News, issue x, pages yy-zz).\*\* > > (3) Minor changes in quoted text are permitted, as long as such changes are clearly identified (e.g., ellipses … for omitted material, square brackets for added material, etc.) Changes that alter the tenor or interject editorial comment are not permitted. If you want to comment on a quote, do it outside the quotation marks or quote tags. > > (4) If you’re quoting from short works – such as song lyrics, poems, short prose, etc: please quote only what is sufficient to make your point. Generally, that would be a few lines at most. If you want to refer to long passages, provide a hyperlink to a site that has rights to reproduce the material. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7696968#post7696968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=7696968#post7696968) (Emphasis added.) We don’t have a written plagiarism policy separate from our copyright policy, but the copyright policy covers this. If you are quoting something, cite the reference. If anybody wants to propose a plagiarism rule, I’ll gladly discuss it in ATMB. I think it’s probably time to close this thread. I’ll do it tomorrow morning if nobody objects. \*\* Gfactor\*\* Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/319 "2009-03-02T06:33:52Z")
I appreciate the opportunity to object, **Gfactor** , but please feel free to close it whenever you feel the time is right. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2009, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486/320 "2009-03-02T07:23:32Z")
Well done, **Starving Artist**. Hey, start a new thread about the “article” (with the attribution this time, of course), and we can have the conversaton that you had initially been desiring, ok? **'luci** made a valiant effort at jump-starting it, but he just couldn’t get any traction. And now **gfactor** ’s about to close it… ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-seen-the-future-and-this-is-it/487486.md?page=17)