I would like to propose that specific disciplinary actions be enacted for plagiarism.
EDIT, Several Days Later: I need to amend what I posted before, mostly to answer comments I've seen.
My concern here is not with correctly-attributed work. My concern is with users taking text or images that are either not released under Creative Commons or not properly attributed.
Therefore, I amend my proposal as follows:
- That we more properly define plagiarism in the Site Rules.
- That we establish a more robust punishment for plagiarism.
1)
- The definition of Plagiarism in the Site Rules is pretty much the dictionary definition.
- I believe that we need to put in the definition as it applies to the SCP Foundation,which operates under a CC-BY-SA license, allowing for remixes or reposts without the permission of the author so long as the content is properly attributed.
- "Plagiarism" for the purposes of my proposal, is: (1) The intentional use or re-use of specific wording or phrasing not released under a Creative Commons License, or (2) The intentional use or re-use of specific wording or phrasing released under a Creative Commons License and not properly attributed. Plagiarism specifically is not the use of a concept from popular culture in an article unless the article violates the above definition.
2)
- Plagiarism is a serious offense against creative integrity.
- On Staff confirmation that all or part of a Main List work is plagiarized, the work in question should be blanked. The source text should be saved and the slot held for {some period of time to be determined}.
- The author should be contacted to determine if the plagiarism was intentional. It is possible to (once) not understand the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 license, and the benefit of a doubt should be extended.
- If the plagiarism is found to be intentional, the piece shall be deleted and the author shall be banned for a period of no less than one year and no more than the lifespan of the universe.
- If the plagiarism is found to be unintentional (mistakes happen), the author shall have {aforementioned time period} to revise the piece to eliminate the offending section(s) or properly attribute the piece. The incident shall be logged on 05command for record-keeping purposes, and no second offense shall be tolerated.
EDIT 6/6: Removed "or concepts" from the definitions. The law of unintended consequences would've bit hard.