Current mood:

Gobsmacked

Heidi's Homages or, "I Can't Believe It's Not Plagiarism!"

Welcome back, my friends
to the show that never ends.
We're so glad you could attend!
Come inside! Come inside!

-- Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Part 2

This is -- hopefully -- the last post on BNF plagiarists in the Harry Potter fandom. I make no promises of its ability to keep the reader fascinated: I'm not

charlottelennox and I don't have her skill. I can't promise any Funneh. I'm still rather gobsmacked about all this. I'm not a psychologist or psychiatrist, nor do I play one on ~~the internet~~ TV, but I am a Pushy Bitch of the Midwest, and I 've got this bad habit of stating my opinions. Which I do, herein.

If hearing opinions that are not nicely worded offend you, turn back now.

Many hands helped pulled the evidence for this post together. Thank you, all.

Putting My Cards on the Table:

I don't like Heidi.

There's no deep-seated, personal reason for this. We've never interacted, in fandom or out, except for a few random, unpleasant exchanges on

fandom_wank and LiveJournal. Over the last four years, that's not enough to build up a deep-seated personal dislike, at least for me.

And those exchanges were unpleasant because they were about the reason why I don't like Heidi: her behavior.

I didn't like her playing on the attitude "fandom takes care of its own" when Cassie's laptop was stolen, and then "it was just among Cassie's friends" backpeddling that followed. I didn't like her "but I can't stop them!" attitude during Charitywank when her journal readers -- including msscribe -- went over to Christina's LJ and flamed her. I didn't like her put-upon "why do I have to do it?" whining when asked to take ten seconds and host a link to Christina's charity.

I didn't like her threatening people with libel whenever Cassie Claire was accused of plagiarism. I didn't like her Heidipatrol popping up whenever someone dared to say the Draco Trilogy or anything else Cassie wrote wasn't the best thing since JKR had an idea about a boy wizard.

I didn't like her calling

charlottelennox's posts on msscribe libelous and lies. I didn't like her lame excuses. I didn't like her sacrificing

ari_o to save her own skin.

"But,

pyratejenni," I can hear someone ask, "that's just her online behavior. Is that really enough to dislike someone?"

Of course it is, considering the only way we interact at all is online.

And I hear, "So why are you writing this? Why not someone impartial?"

At this point, I don't think I could find someone impartial to write this. I showed excerpts of it someone not even in HP fandom, and her response was frothing outrage.

white_serpent didn't want to. So I offered.

Besides, it's my community. Why shouldn't I write it?

"But why? This is so old!"

Because I think it helps explain why Heidi was vigilantly defending Cassie from the plagiarism accusations.

The Evidence

A Surfeit of Curses, Chapter 6
He perched in the window seat at the front of the Lemur, so far away from the bustle that it was not agreeable to be dragged back suddenly by a shout from Lucius as he entered the room. Never did Draco find anything so difficult as to keeping himself from losing his temper when he was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. "It makes me feel as if someone had hit me," he had said once. "And as if I want to hit back. I have to remember things quickly to keep from saying something ill-tempered." The temptation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage, but around Lucius, it had to be done.

He returned to reality as quickly as he could, and took a few subtle yet deep breaths to calm himself down.

Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess, Chapter 6
Sara curled herself up in the window-seat, opened a book, and began to read.
...
She was so far away from the schoolroom that it was not agreeable to be dragged back suddenly by a howl from Lottie. Never did she find anything so difficult as to keep herself from losing her temper when she was suddenly disturbed while absorbed in a book. People who are fond of books know the feeling of irritation which sweeps over them at such a moment. The temptation to be unreasonable and snappish is one not easy to manage.

"It makes me feel as if someone had hit me," Sara had told Ermengarde once in confidence. "And as if I want to hit back. I have to remember things quickly to keep from saying something ill- tempered."

She had to remember things quickly when she laid her book on the window-seat and jumped down from her comfortable corner.

But wait! There's more!

A Surfeit of Curses,Chapter 9
"At school, Alexi had such a sharp, delicate face, and was so pale - the color of ivory. His eyes were too big for him, and he had a lot of hair which tumbled over his forehead and made his thin face seem smaller. He always looked as if he had been ill, and was prone to fits of crying, more as if he were tired and cross than in pain. When I saw him in the corridors, especially at night, he looked like a ghost, and like he had as much substance as a ghost as well. But afterwards, he looked and moved and spoke exactly like Lucius did - he would say things after Lucius, almost word for word the same. It was uncanny. He wasn't even a shadow of himself. He was a shadow of Lucius."</i>

Francis Hodgson Burnett,The Secret Garden Chapter 13:

The boy had a sharp, delicate face the color of ivory and he seemed to have eyes too big for it. He had also a lot of hair which tumbled over his forehead in heavy locks and made his thin face seem smaller. He looked like a boy who had been ill, but he was crying more as if he were tired and cross than as if he were in pain.

Mary stood near the door with her candle in her hand, holding her breath. Then she crept across the room, and, as she drew nearer, the light attracted the boy's attention and he turned his head on his pillow and stared at her, his gray eyes opening so wide that they seemed immense.

"Who are you?" he said at last in a half-frightened whisper. "Are you a ghost?"

And from another author:

A Surfeit of Curses,Chapter 3

March stood for a few minutes without switching on the lights, looking out at the broom traffic over the town. Then he went into the kitchen and Summoned a large glass of Ogden's Old Firewhisky. Monday's Daily Prophet was lying by the sink. He carried it back with him into the sitting room.

March had a routine for reading the paper. He stared at the back, which held the truth. If the Cannons were said to have beaten the Falcons 140 - 60 at Quidditch, the chances were it was true: even the Party had yet to devise a means of rewriting sports results. The sports news was a different matter. Countdown to Hogsmeade Olympics - Australia May Compete for First Time in 28 Years - British Magic Still Leads World. Then the advertisements: Families Love Vacations In Stonehenge, Riviera of Magical Britain. Births, marriages and deaths...

An editorial on the student pro-Muggle demonstrations in Godric's Corner, where there was still a rebel enclave: Traitors Must Be Smashed By Force! The Prophet always took a firm line.

Obituary: some old gent from the Ministry of Magic. "A lifetime's service to He Who Must Be Obeyed..."

Ministry news: Spring Thaw Brings Fresh Fighting on Siberian Front! British Troops Smash Ivan Terror Groups! In Normandy, five terrorist leaders had been executed for attempting to use a Portkey to bring a mudblood and her family to their hideout in the Pyrenees...

Robert Harris, Fatherland, page 39 and 40:

March stood for a few minutes without switching on the lights, looking down at the traffic heading south to Wittenberg-Platz. Then he went into the kitchen and poured himself a large whisky. Monday's Berliner Tageblatt was lying by the sink. He carried it back with him into the sitting room.

March had a routine for reading the paper. He started at the back, which held the truth. If Leipzig </b>was said to have beaten Cologne 4-0 at football, the chances were it was true: even the Party had yet to devise a means of rewriting the sports results. The sports news was a different matter. COUNTDOWN TO TOKYO OLYMPICS. U.S. MAY COMPETE FOR FIRST TIME IN 28 YEARS. GERMAN ATHLETES STILL LEAD WORLD. Then the advertisements: GERMAN FAMILIES! PLEASURE BECKONS IN GOTENLAND, RIVIERA OF THE REICH! French perfume, Italian silks, Scandinavian furs, Dutch cigars, Belgian coffee, Russian caviar, British televisions-- the cornucopia of Empire spilled across the pages. Births, marriages and deaths: TEBBE, Ernst and Ingrid; a son for the Fuhrer. WENZAL, Hans, aged 71; a true National Socialist, sadly missed.

...

Editorial on the student antiwar demonstrations in Heidelberg: TRAITORS MUST BE SMASHED BY FORCE! The Tageblatt always took a firm line.

Obituary: some old Bonze from the Ministry of the Interior. "A lifetime's service to the Reich . . ."

Reich news: SPRING THAW BRINGS FRESH FIGHTING ON SIBERIAN FRONT! GERMAN TROOPS SMASH IVAN TERROR GROUPS! In Rovno, capital of the Reichskommissariat Ukraine, five terrorist leaders had been executed for organizing the massacre of a family of German settlers.

And poetry

A Surfeit of Curses, Chapter 4

"Somebody said, "Let's all hold hands,"
So Lee held hands with Jean.

And Jean also held Helen's hand

While she held hands with Dean.

Dean's other hand held Sharma Joy's

While she held hands with Lee.

So tell me just how did I wind up

Holdin' hands with me?"

Shel Silverstein,Hand Holding,Falling Up

Somebody said, "Lets all hold hands,"
So Lee held hands with Jean
And Jean also held Helen's hand
While she held hands with Dean.
Dean's other hand helped Sharma Joy's
While she held hands with Lee.
So tell me just how did I wind up
Holdin' hands with me?

When I saw all this, I was dumbfounded. Because, to answer

bnfshavemorefun's comment,these works aren't cited.

Oh, there's disclaimers, all right:

Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 6. Chapter 8. Chapter 9 .

(And other, more interesting disclaimers found on the HP_Paradise mailing list: Chapter 1. Concern. Titanic.)

And there's citations: Chapter 3. Chapter 4. Chapter 6. Chapter 8 Chapter 9. Chapter 9 citation, part 2

To further answer Aja's comment, now that I can without using all-caps and blistering the air blue, these are not citations.

I will repeat: These are not citations. These are not the citations I had to use in high school. These are not the citations friends of mine had to use in college. These are not the MLA-style citaions we used when I helped proofread a small-press magazine, Cup of Wonder. These disclaimers aren't worth the pressure it took to hit the keys.

This isn't a pastiche. This isn't a homage. It doesn't matter that Frances Hogson Burnett's works are out of copyright. Silverstein's hasn't expired, and neither has Harris'.

This is plagiarism.

And to my mind, that's why Heidi came down so hard on anyone who said the P-word about Cassie. Much like the banker who's really just borrowing the money, not embezzling, and the stock broker who's really just using a friendly tip, not insider trading at all, I think Heidi convinced herself she wasn't plagiarizing, really. All her friends were doing it, so it had to be okay. This is Standard Operating Procedure for fandom, too, right?

I've been in fandom since 1983, and theft -- lying -- of this kind has never been Standard Operating Procedure. Never.

And for all the lurkers and mice who want to blow this off with, "So what, Heidi doesn't have a book contract, it's just fandom!" --

Let me hear you say that the next time your work gets "homaged", sugar.

God, I wish I could drink. At this point, I need one.

Remember reading in

white_serpent's write-up, about how Heidi's friends were leaving FF.net, because they didn't want what happened to Cassie to happen to them?

One of them was AngieJ, aka Ebony:

Trouble in Paradise,Chapter 7

"Darling, your pregnancy is the least of your concerns right now," her father said quickly. Theodore Granger was a distinguished-looking man, with salt-and-pepper brown hair and a noble carriage. He always reminded me of Hermione, especially around the eyes. "Your priority is to land back on your feet soon as possible, isn’t it?"

She shook her head. "Dad, I can feel something isn’t right. You know I’m not keen on pretending things. Tell me, Ron, and tell me now. Did our baby make it?" The twins and Malinda were already gone. I closed the door, leaving the couple alone with Hermione’s parents. Hermione’s voice was already full of anguish, and we already knew the sad truth that she would soon find out.

The minute the door closed behind me, I heard a pitiful, heartbroken moan. It was Hermione... she’d just been told about her loss.

In all of recorded Weasley history, nothing like this had ever happened before. When a Weasley wife got pregnant, she always carried to term. Plain and simple. Even if the woman herself came from a family with a history of miscarriage, like Penelope’s, it didn’t seem to matter much. A case in point was when I’d developed a rather nasty blood infection while carrying Malinda... she was none the worse for the wear. Fred even told me that Arthur’s sister had fallen down two flights of stairs while five months pregnant. The woman broke both legs and a collarbone, but delivered a healthy baby boy four months later.

Needless to say, Hermione’s miscarriage came as a shock to all.

"Oh, the poor lamb--the poor lamb!" Molly was trying to stifle her sobs in the folds of Arthur’s robes. "I feel horrible for criticizing her... the poor, poor lamb! How can she bear it?"

Arthur put his arms around his wife and patted her head. "There, there, Molly. Hermione’s strong. She’ll make it through this. And so will Ron."

L.M. Montgomery,Anne's House of Dreams,Chapter 19, Dawn and Dusk

At first she was too weak and too happy to notice that Gilbert and the nurse looked grave and Marilla sorrowful. Then, as subtly, and coldly, and remorselessly as a sea-fog stealing landward, fear crept into her heart. Why was not Gilbert gladder? Why would he not talk about the baby? Why would they not let her have it with her after that first heavenly--happy hour? Was--was there anything wrong?

Gilbert," whispered Anne imploringly, "the baby--is all right--isn't she? Tell me--tell me."

Gilbert was a long while in turning round; then he bent over Anne and looked in her eyes. Marilla, listening fearfully outside the door, heard a pitiful, heartbroken moan, and fled to the kitchen where Susan was weeping.

"Oh, the poor lamb--the poor lamb! How can she bear it, Miss Cuthbert? I am afraid it will kill her. She has been that built up and happy, longing for that baby, and planning for it. Cannot anything be done nohow, Miss Cuthbert?"

"I'm afraid not, Susan. Gilbert says there is no hope. He knew from the first the little thing couldn't live."

There's citations. Christ on a cracker, are there citations:
One ,two,three, four. I've seen album liner notes that didn't go on that long.

Oh, yeah -- and a disclaimer.

Again, not citations, boys and girls.

Wonder if the two-year-old beer in the fridge is still good ...

ETA: Corrected FHB's name, Robert Harris' name, removed Heidi's last name, did a touch-up on one of the sections refering to Aja. Thanks to

white_serpent and

kijikun for the heads-up on the authors!

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(Post a new comment)

	breecita 2006-08-10 02:30 am UTC (link)
	That explains so much. I mean... it really does. (Reply to this)

limyaael
2006-08-10 02:32 am UTC (link)

You know, I am now ashamed on Heidi's behalf.

This is just fucking lazy. On both levels.

On the "I am ethical, and this was a mistake!" level, how much effort would it have taken to type in the citation for the poem? (And if she didn't cite Shel Silverstein at all, even if just to say he was somewhere in there, I find myself less inclined to believe it was a mistake).

On the "I know I am actually plagiarizing, and want to get away with it!" level, the wording is not changed nearly enough to escape notice.

And, granted, I haven't been in fandom nearly as long, but I've been in several different ones, both TV and book, and I've never seen anything to compare to this. I read a few X-Files fics that were anal about citing the episode very well-known lines came from, even though just by having Scully and Mulder say lines they'd said in the show and then in a hundred other fics, readers would know the author wasn't claiming credit for them. Do you think HP fandom just draws the crazy, or was there something in the water in 2000-2001?