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In reply to the discussion: Chris Hedges: The Ghoulish Face of Empire [View all]merrily
(45,251 posts)71. I am still not sure anyone "busted him."
Someone noticed similarities, yes. But that is not the same as busting someone for plagiarism.
Lefty journalists have enough trouble trying to make a living without people trying to pass off their work as their own.
You're very kind to worry about Hedges harming "lefty" writers. I worry about all writers.. However, Hemingway is one of the sources cited. I don't think Hemingway's books will stop selling because some lines from them appeared in something Hedges wrote. If Hedges plagiarized and if someone gets hurt by that, it will be Hedges, not Hemingway.
Unless Hedges published the work of some writer, lefty or not, before the writer had a chance to sell it themselves, I don't know that Hedges; alleged plagiarism is interfering with anyone's ability to make a living. If the ournalists who were allegedly ripped off are upset, I haven't come across that yet. Still researching. If they're not, I don't care. I guess I'm just amoral, eh?
Regardless of intention, though, it's still theft.
I don't think that's true at all. Theft is based on intent. As best I know, all things for which we condemn someone are dependent on the fact that the person intended to do something wrong. If someone takes your lunch from the office fridge, genuinely believing it's his, that is a mistake, not a theft.
I guess teachers do a great job of convincing people that plagiarism is one of the most heinous things they can do. And, as students, that may be true. I am not at all sure it's the worst possible thing outside that context, though. Too bad teachers don't focus more on things like war and torture and indifference to human suffering.
As I said, I haven't finished looking into it. However, unless I see that Hedges is proven to have plagiarized and that caused some writer actual damage, not theoretical or imaginary, I don't know if I care, even a little.
And I still think that the totality of Hedges life outweighs this by a lot. Sorry, I just cannot get get all righteous about it. Maybe Mother Teresa could, but I've done worse things in my life. Then again, I doubt Mother Teresa would have condemned Hedges this much either.
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The NYT ran him off over his objections to the war. He was very vocal in opposition before and after
Skeeter Barnes
Jun 2014
#85
"the Frankenstein monster stitched together from the body parts we left scattered on the ground"
dixiegrrrrl
Jun 2014
#61
Interesting point. "Blinded by hubris" implies good intentions but failed due to arrogance. I don't
stevenleser
Jun 2014
#15
I do no think the definition of hubris includes genuine good intentions, ever.
Fred Sanders
Jun 2014
#20
The phrase is "blinded by hubris" not just plain hubris. Blinded by hubris implies there was good
stevenleser
Jun 2014
#22
That's correct. But what is being suggested is altered by the two words proceeding it. nt
stevenleser
Jun 2014
#28
It's not hubris. It's "blinded by hubris" were talking about a phrase, not a word. nt
stevenleser
Jun 2014
#44
Exactly. It always and always will be about the money. All the way down the chain.
raouldukelives
Jun 2014
#25
Hubris, imperialistic hubris, is what it was, and for many, still is; is it a good thing?
Fred Sanders
Jun 2014
#14
I think "hubris" gives the Bush admin too much credit. See my post above. nt
stevenleser
Jun 2014
#17
"But the dance of death is intoxicating. Once it begins you whirl in an ecstatic frenzy...
factsarenotfair
Jun 2014
#29
Was that privately addressed to frazzled or was it posted publicly on the internet..
truebrit71
Jun 2014
#65
That tends to happen when you get caught plagiarizing other people's work.
name not needed
Jun 2014
#33
I know...in today's world where everything tends to blend together it is very easy...
truebrit71
Jun 2014
#52