This is a topic that strikes a nerve in me like very few can. It bugs me so much, I think, because no individual with even a modicum of intelligence, honesty or experience should ever, ever, think plagiarism or copyright is an outmoded philosophy or protection. In fact, it shouldn't even be a question. People should leave their grubby little mitts off of other people's stuff unless they've been given express written consent to use it and only use it within those parameters and for absolutely nothing else.

All that needs to happen to turn this argument on its head is this. How would you feel if, after all your hard work creating something, someone else made money off of it and you didn't? What if that happened multiple times a week over the course of your working lifetime? How would that make you feel? Would you be okay with that? Would you be okay with it if it meant you couldn't make ends meet, you were destitute and begging for food on the streets?

Anyone who makes a pro-plagiarism argument must have no talent of their own, and only wants to enrich themselves off the work of others. Period. That person is all but admitting that they are incapable of original thought or how to execute it. They are saying that the only way they can make money or compete or be cool or whatever they're attempting to do, is by leeching off the abilities of others.

The digital age shouldn't be the time for this to become a free-for-all. This is when all creativity protections should be doubled down on, because there are no other protections, such as geographical distances, means, security or any other obstacle. Anyone from anywhere, if it's living on the net, can simply appropriate someone else's work. There is no other security without these protections in place.

This is exactly the same mentality that causes people to walk through other people's property to get to a river or some other type of public by way, instead of taking their lazy rear end the long way around. This is exactly the same disregard that anyone has for anyone else's property of any kind.

And, if I could be so bold and actually do some stereotyping, it's usually, not always, but mostly, people who don't have whatever it is they're wanting. It's an, "I breathe, therefore I deserve it" mentality. It's the "I belong to the world" scenario.

I think I'd better stop. Not doing anything here to lose your interpretation of my comments being novels, am I? :) However, this one is a bit longer than most.