Shamm copy-pasted his own post in order to earn merit

[Apocollapse]

What happened : Shamm copy-pasted his own topic content without adding the original source in order to earn merit of his long written post. Most of the thread starter were a newbie and asking similar questions. It looks odd, there's a chance those thread starter is Shamm alt and then he use his main account Shamm to answer with long written post

Original Shamm's post [Guide] for Newbies to Learn faster about This forum

Greetings to all the members of bitcointalk, am a new member here but a cryptocurrency lover and an investor for over a year now.
I have read all the rules guiding the forum and spent days getting myself familiar with how things work here, your advice and opinions on how to be a responsible member of bitcointalk are all am seeking.

Shamm's reply https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5360467.msg57973179#msg57973179 +1 merit

I am a brand new member. How can i increase my rank?

Shamm's reply https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5365933.msg58192777#msg58192777 +4 merits

Hello guyz I am Sunguko,

I found this forum through youtube. I just scrolling up then I accidentally found a video about this forum.
I want to learn about crypto can I  gather more knowledge about cryptocurrencies and especially Bitcoin.?

Thank you for those who want to help.

Shamm's reply https://ninjastic.space/post/58209518 +5 merits

Greetings. Am appealing for the best advise to guide newbies like me who just recently registered and this is my first post in the forum. The task to succeed in the forum the will be greatly appreciated if i can get some from the senior one's. I look forward to many of your advises. Thanks

Shamm's reply https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5367460.msg58264421#msg58264421 +1 merit

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[isaac_clarke22]

Cannot say yet that those are the user's alts.  It is still possible, but we got no leads yet since some of those accounts have little to no activity at all.
From Sunguko's post history, it seems that s/he is from India while Shamm is from the Philippines from some of her posts. User BARADAR was just created back in August 28, 2021, while the Shamm was created back in May 14, 2021. Others were just freshly created this month.

Wallet address connections would be a more viable evidence at these cases to prove their connection/s, imo.  
@Shamm
It would be better if she just links her own thread instead of copy-pasting her own thread while citing the source.

[lovesmayfamilis]

I think this topic can help Shamm not to copy the wall of his post in the future. He was already warned on another topic, but once again, showing mistakes is never harmful.
In addition, we cannot deny the possibility of the existence of opening new accounts for further posting tips and getting merits. We cannot prove anything.
But it is really getting noticeable, so I think Shamm will draw the right conclusions about the way he posts.

[Shamm]

Look Op every Newbies/newcomers here in forum posted in beginners and help, asking for guidances even me while I am in newbie. Its a common post that Every Newbies asking for help


.https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5352864.0
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5347161.0
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5357768.0
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5365933.0

Check that thread 1by 1 then tell me  what's the difference??

They are the same content  but different posting styles.

[Csmiami]

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Dude, what the hell are you even talking about, read the OP when it's the only message so far before you start signature spamming.


So what we "are dealing with" here is a self-plagiarazing accusation... I personally don't think he is doing this for the sake of fishing merits, but simply because this user believes the reply with the complete "guide" is the best possible option. The user himself says that he is a newbie still, and as such, there are some mistakes that are to be done in order to be able to learn. In this particular case, he simply copy-pastes the whole message instead of either redirecting the user to the actual guide, or trimming the "unnecessary" parts out of it.

There's some situations that simply require the same reply over and over again; an example that comes to mind is the typical workaround when something is not working the way it should with an Electrum wallet, and since the reply is appropriate and on point, it may earn a few of them merits. It's good that you've brought this up, but as a means to improve the posting etiquette of Shamms'.

[isaac_clarke22]

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Dude, what the hell are you even talking about, read the OP when it's the only message so far before you start signature spamming.

~

Chill there, bud.
OP mentioned that....

....there's a chance those thread starter is Shamm alt and then he use his main account Shamm to answer with long written post

I just put there that the possibility of an alt is nigh impossible, unless there is a proven connection from the wallet addresses used by those users mentioned in the OP.
I am aware of the "self-plagiarizing" situation.

[Shamm]

...

Yes sir that's the point here, every Newbies posted the same Thread so my reply is the same also I admit that my mistake is I Only copying my Post then paste it to other post. If you look at my thread  some of those are in beginners and help  also it's about tutorial and about guidance to Newbies.

[nakamura12]

Self-plagiarism is not illegal but it is frowned upon doing it many times even if the content in that thread is not the same or the questions asked is not the same.  We may assume that it's Shamm's alt but we can't be so sure of that unless we can provide proof that we can tell that it is shamm's alt.

@shamm Even though it's not against the rule since it is your own post. My suggestion is that if you want to help newbies as I noticed that you always reply first to the threads created by newbies then you should quote the original post or provide the link. Just always remember everyone's warning and guidance.

[RapTarX]

every Newbies posted the same Thread so my reply is the same also I admit that my mistake is I Only copying my Post then paste it to other post.

In theory, it's nothing wrong I guess as you didn't steal anyone else's work & claimed it as yours; that's none of the offensive IMO & should not be. But posting the same times & times doesn't look good either; instead, you can quote yourself. That would serve both purposes; avoiding posting the same every time & helping the newbie as well.
I don't think these accounts are alt of Shamm. If they were, it would be cheating but as I said, these are not probably alt & newbies often post such threads.

[YOSHIE]

What happened : Shamm copy-pasted his own topic content without adding the original source in order to earn merit of his long written post. Most of the thread starter were a newbie and asking similar questions. It looks odd, there's a chance those thread starter is Shamm alt and then he use his main account Shamm to answer with long written post

You mean @Shamm, create an Alt account and create a similar topic, then: @Shamm answer with the same post method over and over, to get (Merit), from that answer, Uh, uh, what's he doing that for, @Shamm no other way to get (merit), other than that kind of trick, I think it's too low and despicable to do it.

He could do it in other, more unique ways.

We may assume that it's Shamm's alt,

No, it's not Alt @Shamm.

but we can't be so sure of that unless we can provide proof that we can tell that it is shamm's alt.

I can prove it's the real @Shamm, there are exceptions. if you allow it.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Self-plagiarism

I am aware of the "self-plagiarizing" situation.

So what we "are dealing with" here is a self-plagiarazing accusation

Just to clarify something: There is no such thing as "self-plagiarism" just like there's no such thing as "self-escrowing".  If you copy/paste or repost something that you, yourself, have written it is by definition not plagiarism.  So please, let's stop repeating this meaningless phrase.

I've got Shamm on ignore, so as far as I'm concerned he can keep doing whatever he likes until he gets punished by the moderators, though I think he'll probably learn his lesson from this thread.  I can also see where OP is coming from, because that kind of behavior is exactly what you'd expect from somebody desperately trying to earn merits.  

The only problem is that Shamm has a point, i.e., those kinds of requests for help are posted all the time and there's no hard evidence linking Shamm with any of those other accounts.  So without such evidence, there's really nothing to do but to give him the benefit of the doubt in this case.

[Csmiami]

Just to clarify something: There is no such thing as "self-plagiarism" just like there's no such thing as "self-escrowing".  If you copy/paste or repost something that you, yourself, have written it is by definition not plagiarism.  So please, let's stop repeating this meaningless phrase.

Although I'd love to agree with you, my university sees it otherwise, and if I ever want to get my MD, I do have to dance to their tune.

However, even if we call it a different thing, the definition would fit just right in this context: "Quoting you own work over and over again in order to get more citations" (or in this case, merits).

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Although I'd love to agree with you, my university sees it otherwise, and if I ever want to get my MD, I do have to dance to their tune.

If you're going for a medical degree, props to you (and I mean that).  But do they ever use the phrase "self-plagiarism"?  It's not my intent to bicker about semantics, even though I started this by doing exactly that, but I'm just tired of people repeating things other people have said or written without thinking, just parroting.  Maybe I'm in a pissy mood, maybe I'm being an intolerant jerk, but I see that behavior a lot online and it drives me nuts.

However, even if we call it a different thing, the definition would fit just right in this context: "Quoting you own work over and over again in order to get more citations" (or in this case, merits).

Yeah, I get what we're talking about here and I agree that Shamm shouldn't be reposting old posts of his as answers to other members' questions.  I also think he understands that now, so hopefully this won't be an ongoing thing with him. 

At the same time, there's this little pissy-mooded, intolerant jerk that's sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear that he is indeed trying very hard to earn merits and that it isn't outside the realm of possibility that he would employ alt accounts to ask questions that he could then post what look like high-quality, thoughtful answers to.

But again, there's no hard evidence of that.

[Csmiami]

But do they ever use the phrase "self-plagiarism"? 

They indeed do (wouldn't have used it first place otherwise), it mostly comes up when they talk about research, papers and publishing, but "it's actually a thing"

At the same time, there's this little pissy-mooded, intolerant jerk that's sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear that he is indeed trying very hard to earn merits and that it isn't outside the realm of possibility that he would employ alt accounts to ask questions that he could then post what look like high-quality, thoughtful answers to.

My sleep and coffeine deprived mind wants to think that way too, and getting to read in a few places about this particular user, without not knowing about his existence before that has raised a few flags back in the morning. I however thought about raising a white flag and letting it go just for a change.

PS: I may want to pick your brain about a certain non-related thing in a few minutes
PS2: The M on the MD stands for Masters' in this particular case

[Tuesdaynight]

that Shamm shouldn't be reposting old posts of his as answers to other members' questions.  I also think he understands that now, so hopefully this won't be an ongoing thing with him. 

The Pharmacist - see this thread: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5367460.msg58264421#msg58264421
he repeats the same thing 

[PrimeNumber7]

Just to clarify something: There is no such thing as "self-plagiarism" just like there's no such thing as "self-escrowing".  If you copy/paste or repost something that you, yourself, have written it is by definition not plagiarism.  So please, let's stop repeating this meaningless phrase.

Although I'd love to agree with you, my university sees it otherwise, and if I ever want to get my MD, I do have to dance to their tune.

The forum does not come close to having the same requirements to cite sources as is required when writing an academic paper.

However, even if we call it a different thing, the definition would fit just right in this context: "Quoting you own work over and over again in order to get more citations" (or in this case, merits).

He writes content that people clearly find useful. I don't think the amount of merit he receives would be affected by him quoting or citing himself. I think he is probably trying to be helpful to new users.

I might compare your argument to someone saying that I write interesting, and helpful posts in order to get merit, and that the fact my posts are interesting and helpful is somehow a bad thing.

[nutildah]

It is a weird maneuver how a certain breed of new accounts rank up by explaining the dance of how to shitpost without getting banned. It's a pretty common theme these days, but not as offensive as some. I caught this account basically plagiarizing something months earlier but let them go with a warning.

I don't like the idea of preparing new accounts for this kind of long-term future on the forum, nor do I find it a meritable success, but oh well, the problem is easily resolved with the Ignore button:

This person is like, "Welp, guess I gotta crank out a post with everything I know about the Olympics." *cracks knuckles*

  Being an athlete you will take time in practice and sometimes they will attempt in accident an surgery before they under go in final stage. Their practice is not an easy and they always check thier physical vital if they are physical fit to perform in the stage. In Olympic game is not just a simple game to execute in the stage a lot of athlete that our opponent that came from  different countries an we can socialize them all an we can not assure if were be the luckiest winner can perform and compete the other opponent.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

Let him live, he did not commit a crime.

The after effect of merit phenomenon. We will discover more idea in the future for sure. So far we have like taking a job of translating whatever you get from any website and be a guide, stretch your post and topics longer so that you get attention, copy a part of your longer text again and again, be a scam buster full time. What is more that I am missing.

Anyway, this could be done just by giving a link as reference. But Shamm decided to give it a go the way he is doing to earn some extra merits. Let him but it would be nice if he don't do it again since there is a talk about it.

It is a weird maneuver how a certain breed of new accounts rank up by explaining the dance of how to shitpost without getting banned. It's a pretty common theme these days, but not as offensive as some.

It annoying but I'm ok, I'm ok LOL
I think I am used to it these days.

[LoyceV]

In theory, it's nothing wrong I guess

Apart from the small changes in each post, it more or less violates this rule:

12. No duplicate posting in multiple boards

There is no such thing as "self-plagiarism"

Finally! I'm amazed this took 11 posts.

@Shamm: It's best practice to use the quote-button if you have to copy your own text and use it elsewhere again. Using quote-tags makes it instantly clear you wrote it before, and gives the reader a chance to click it to read the original context.
You can still improve your previous posts by adding quote-tags when appropriate.

[Shamm]

You can still improve your previous posts by adding quote-tags when appropriate.

Thank you LoyceV,   I will improve my qouting skills  and Sorry also for my mistakes.