Comments on: Should You Borrow Content For Your Site?

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:41:21 +0000

Hi Tag44,
Thanks for reading! I appreciate the comment!

By: Tag44

Tag44 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:40:17 +0000

Nice post Nick, even i agree with the editing of the articles, take the original idea of the article and rewrite it in your own words.

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:30:43 +0000

Hi Lorraine,
I agree with you re-writing so it is not recognizable and is truly your own writing, with your own spin on things…

By: Ajay Angre

Ajay Angre — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:34:58 +0000

I agree fully with John and the view point he has presented. I am myself into knowledge blogs publishing and I too feel very strongly that original content has a exceptional value. It can be your view point, opinions or thoughts pen down from scratch.

On the other hand, you may take the clue or reference matrerial and express your point of view with a credit to original source.

My another knowledge Blog is on Lifestyle and Health where I do take contents from other sources which are free to use from research associations and medical associations. But again with credit lines and their web links. I do write myself an initial intro about people and their professional standing in the subject matter. That is not only proffesional but ethical too, in my opinion.

Sometimes you do have to take contents from other sources where expert’s views are important to present a convincing argument. But this should be done with due credits and complete accessibility to original source.

Finally, originality will build your image and not copying. Your reputation is at stake with your audience when you are not original in your ideas.

By: Lorraine Grula

Lorraine Grula — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:26:18 +0000

One thing that is amazing is the number of internet marketing “gurus” who tell you to borrow content and re-write it.
That sure is tacky! Wikipaedia is their favorite borrowing vehicle. Good grief, I love wikipaedia but they are a flawed source to begin with so borrowing from them could leave you with inaccurate copy.
Having worked in the world of media for many years, I can tell you there is a lot of “borrowing” going on in newspapers, magazines, and tv news. Borrowing is often the major way information is spread. But you are supposed to re-write it so it is not recognizable, otherwise they call it plagerism.

By: Nick Stamoulis

Nick Stamoulis — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:06:06 +0000

Hi John – Thanks for reading and giving us your thoughts on the topic…you bring up excellent points and standards that everyone should follow…thanks again!

By: John Bobowicz

John Bobowicz — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:21:46 +0000

The question that you have to ask is “why are you borrowing” anything?

Are you doing research?
If you are aggregating thoughts, opinions, and trends and you are upfront about that and credit all of your references, that is fine.

Are you adding value to what you are borrowing?
If you are taking someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or opinions and providing analysis, or taking them further or applying them to a different context, that is also fine as long as you credit the sources.

The problem is that people look at “stealing” and “lying” in very convenient ways. If we lie and “it’s harmless” we are just “stretching the truth”. If we steal and perceiving it as harmless, we call it “borrowing”.

This is easy to figure out. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you are “borrowing from” and ask yourself if you’d be cool with someone taking credit for your ideas.

It’s funny because this topic goes right to the heart of credibility and professionalism. If you’re goal is to be credible and professional, you will always credit your sources.