Anthony Marciano
CMM 240 A – Spring ‘22
2/1/22
QCQ for Credit is always due
Quotation (with page number or paragraph number or timestamp if video/audio)
“Online, the most important form of attribution is a hyperlink pointing back to the website of the creator of the work. This sends people who come across the work back to the original source. The number one rule of the internet: People are lazy. If you don’t include a link, no one can click it”.
Comment (250-500 words)
This quote outlines the importance of avoiding plagiarism online, as well as some important ways to get yourself – or your work – publicized on the internet. Most social media sites have a built-in option nowadays to @ or tag a creator that they are posting for, however, permission is also usually required. Most likely, creators will often allow you to report and share their work because it’s in the end a win-win. You get to share the creation/post that inspires you and the creator gets free publicity. But be careful as social media sites are very careful with plagiarism and have strict rules on posting others’ work in their disclaimer contracts and regulations. Accounts can be suspended and even banned permanently for posting others’ work without permission, so be sure to tag and ask for access to share their content. Another thing that this quote mentions is how people on the internet are lazy, and they are. If you don’t make your page the most conveniently possible for them to navigate they WILL click off if given the chance. Of course design, aesthetics, and how well your content attracts attention come into play; but convenience is also key. Your audience will be interested in what you create, but if your site isn’t convenient they won’t stay. They’re not getting pay or an incentive, instead, they’re taking time out of their day to view your stuff. Therefore creating menus, hyperlinks, and other conveniences is paramount to garnering attention in the online world. If your website is a maze, your community won’t stay and will simply find a creator who makes similar content that is easier to access. This however isn’t guaranteed and special cases can hold audiences no matter what, for example, if you have a rare interesting talent or something of that sort. These are some of the important tips regarding plagiarism (my motto is to just treat your posts like scholarly articles and you’ll be fine, simply give credit when needed), and garnering publicity on the internet regarding your content type or platform.
Question
What would the internet look like today if we never used sources or gave credit, how would we know who originally created content?
Post-Class Reflection Space (5 minutes at end of Theory Tuesdays – use back/other page if needed)
