I put some effort into writing. I mean you couldn’t tell by the result but trust me I strive to make my stuff marginally original. Apparently I’m the only one. I just read yet another press release filled article passing for news/analysis. Now I am tempted to name the author and article and call him or her out for basically pretending to write (this guy is the all time master of cut and paste) but I won’t. Let me tell you why: Everybody seems to be doing it.
First let me tell you why cut and pasting press releases is wrong: People think you actually wrote that stuff. No really, people believe that you, the supposed author, actually wrote:
Today supercool software re released bio timer 8000. This award winning program lets the Mac user know when the precise moment of ovulation occurs thereby enabling the user to propagate their genetic code”
See the verbiage is fairly glowing, heck if it didn’t present the product in a positive manner the writer wouldn’t be doing the job. When people read the unattributed press release they are liable to think that the author may actually have the same feelings as the press release writer. It is a shameful thing when the writer does not acknowledge the source of the work. Personally I don’t think shameful is a strong enough word, if you’re a cut and paster I find you disgusting. People might actually listen to what you say and when you’re merely a Xerox copier for some writer with a financial stake. You are doing your readers a grave disservice. So cut it out.
The reason I’m not calling out the individual is because a lot of people do it. I had copy and pasted long strings of text into to Google when I read the offending article because it wasn’t in the author’s style (well that is being generous, when stealing is a style I’ll be proved wrong) and I found that plenty of sites were merely parroting press releases. Look if you read the press release, mix in a little research and then write something original I’ve got no beef but until that happens more copying is bad.
Now I get my fair share of press releases so let’s take a look at how I use them:
Todd Thomas has released a new version of FootTrack, v 2.0. I’ll be the first to say that FootTrack isn’t for everybody but if you want to archive your digital footage on your Mac then FootTrack is the best solution I have seen. Plus the icon rocks. I’ve written about FootTrack before so call me a fan.
See Todd sent me an e-mail about FootTrack hitting version 2.0. and it is a program I like and use.
How hard was that? Not very. Let me leave you with some terms to use when you’re quoting press releases:
From their website:
According to the release:
Someone e-mailed this info to me:
Because I’m too lazy to rewrite:
Suckers:
eFF U, I ain’t writing sheet!:
Shilling for fun and profit:
Collected from various sources:
Collected from one source:
See any of those would alert readers to the fact that you’re about to launch into a bunch pre written material so they won’t think the glowing prose is some kind of endorsement. Sorry it just angers me.
Well that is enough of the negative stuff. Once again Nate Eaton has blessed me with one day alliteration pass. But first the necessary props:
Nate Eaton is the King of alliteration. I supplicate to his superior skills.
Prescient Pete’s Prequel of Pusillanimous Perturbations
The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft
Not my favorite author but very influential.
Motherload
I played this game until I won. A really compelling game if you have, say, two days to kill.
Trust me, the next election you’ll be hearing a lot about cat cruelty, get your sciency start now:
Uh cats like gravity
Got an AppleMatters article up:
Handicapping MWSF
It’s all you need to know about MacWorld SF
Klaus the Forklift Driver
Yeah it is a WMV but it is hilarious. No trust me, well worth your time.
Well back to the project (I’m nearly done). Side note: I think Hello Kitty is stalking me.
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