Original Lists vs. Copy-and-Pastes

sort of wondering, is there any way to tell if a list is original or just a copy of a list somewhere else on the internet?

if there isn't a way, i think it would be a great feature to distinguish original lists somehow, since they take a lot more effort to make and organize. basically giving credit to the original creators, reviews and lists.

my apologies if this has already been addressed. didn't end up searching every page of the feedback forum.

The rule is that you can post lists from other sites so long as you link and give credit to the original work. I'd think people would like Listal-ers giving their lists some extra limelight, though if someone were to start a war against Listal for someone porting their list even when credit was given, I guess they have a right to demand that the list be deleted. Hasn't happened yet from what I know.

But a way to officially distinguish a list as not one's own? I wouldn't mind either way, so I guess it depends on what the other users think.

Just spotted in Listal's home page Promoted lists,
another case of copied list with no credit given to the original:

www.listal.com/list/stars-without-makeup

Text and pics entirely copied from

www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/stars-makeup-real-face-fame-gallery-1.21019

That's such a very old topic... The bottom line is that almost everyone does it, copying direct lists from a different website and put it verbatim here on listal, usually without aknowledging that it is an actual copy. Then, almost everybody votes on those lists without checking if it is some original work or not and eventually, there is a rather marginal number of users actually complaining about this...

Basically, it is pretty much like the pics of pornstars. Until they put so much more strict rules, it was just a mess and everybody was pretty much doing what they wanted whenever they wanted. Here, it is just the same, you can complain as much as you want but if the rules are not modified, it will go on and on forever.

Personally, I can spot a copied list from a distance and then, I'm adult enough to know if I should vote or not. Honestly, most users don't check and seriously don't care but I don't think it is really such a big deal.

Just because "everyone" does it, that doesn't make it okay.
If you copy a list from elsewhere, you need to give credit and add some sort of minor originality to it and not copy it word for word.

Making the list your own includes but is not limited too: putting the info into your own words, summarizing, adding your own opinion/input, adding images/media that are not just copied from the original list.

Likewise, small quotes are okay - credit must be given for that specific quote and it must be clear to any reader that it has been quoted from another source.

Plagiarism is a big deal because it jeopardizes the integrity of this site.

Meanwhile, the """Author""" of that list has deleted my comment asking to at least give credit.

@Johan
I care for the good name of this site. Besides, not everybody realizes it's plagiarism before voting.

That user has been issued a warning. If they refuse to cooperate and give credit. I will ban them.

Nice to know that bans are now being given to those who choose to copy lists. At least the lists are now worth reporting. The one pointed out by The O.P. is particularly pathetic, they are just magazine articles turned into lists. Idiot.

I'm not saying it is a good thing, I was saying that if nothing is done, it will never change but if Tom and the moderators are willing to enforce such rules that would definitely make a difference.

It would be pretty neat to see this rule enforced on all the copied lists. I'm definitely for it.

I have nothing against making lists for stuff like rankings from other sites (especially notable legit ones), as long as credit is given and the entire text is not just copied and pasted onto listal.

...and on they go... still stealing material from the same source.

www.listal.com/list/inside-alcatraz-federal-penitentiary

www.nydailynews.com/news/alcatraz-federal-penitentiary-gallery-1.1295330?pmSlide=0

I see that the endless torrent of copied material from this user has led to a points exclusion, but that does nothing to remove all of the lists, surely an account removal is needed to instantly delete the lot. I've done all I can by reporting some pixelated nipples used on one of the lists, at least the list is spoiled that way.

I banned that user and their 2nd account for plagiarism for a week. I can't do much about the list itself though.

www.listal.com/list/23-last-second-changes-saved

is an uncredited copy and paste from
www.cracked.com/photoplasty_639_23-last-second-changes-that-saved-classic-movies/?view=article

He even copied "Our readers provided us"...! :-/

^ I asked Tom about that one and he said it's okay, since it's mostly just images and obvious that the user didn't create those images himself. However, it needs to be properly credited and the user has been asked to do so. If he does not comply, he will be given a formal warning asking him to properly credit his source.

I personally don't think that should be posted here because it is someone else's ideas but that's just my personal opinion.