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Ferris Bueller You're My Hero
By Josh Board | Posted February 8, 2008, 8:13 a.m.
I got a call from someone that said CityBeat had a column that was stolen from one of my blogs. I went and checked it out, and I don't think that's what happened.
I had done a blog about some religious nuts that think Heath Ledger died because of his part in Brokeback Mountain. Their columnist covered that same topic, but it was different than my blog, other than the idea.
Sure, I've seen CityBeat put artists on the cover of their paper after I had talked about them at parties or in other stories, but what can I do?
I doubt the columnist that wrote this piece on Ledger, did that. He has way too many good ideas, and often times, people come up with similar things to write about. It happens with stand-up comedians all the time.
One thing he brought up in his column, that I brought up in my piece on Ledger, is why other Hollywood actors that have played gay people, didn't suffer the wrath of God.
He talks at great length about Mathew Broderick, for his appearance in Torch Song Trilogy. A very good point.
I would've added, the countless movies in which Broderick condones pre-marital sex, which I believe the religious folks consider a sin. There have also been movies in which he sleeps with a prostitute (Cable Guy), and with his neighbors wife (Election). I think that last one even condones rigging elections if it's for a greater good. With super Tuesday just passing, a perfect time to bring that up.
But more important, Broderick actually killed someone.
And not in the movies! He was driving, I believe in Ireland, and on the wrong side of the road. He hit someone that died.
And, like singer Brandy, he didn't serve time in jail.
So, tack on vehicular manslaughter, as yet another reason for God to strike him down. And, proof that shows, that's why people are silly if they think that's how God operates.
Well, since I’m the author of the CityBeat column in question, I just have to chime in and say there was no way I stole this idea from your blog. I stole it from some other blogger, somewhere out in the Midwest, whose name I don’t remember, but who probably would’ve been angry about it, if he hadn’t stolen the idea from somebody else, who, in turn, pulled it from yet another writer.
Josh, please tell the caller that I never saw your article about the subject, and maybe also mention that I’m not so stupid as to plagiarize from columnists in the same market.
One more thing: The insinuation that CityBeat editors take their cover ideas from the things you talk about “at parties or in other stories” is ludicrous. I like you man, but you have some serious delusions of grandeur if you really believe that.
Respectfully,
Edwin Decker
By edwin_decker 10:33 p.m., Feb 10, 2008 > Report it
Well Ed, in my first two paragrarphs, I state that that IS NOT what you did. What I do find odd, is that you state here "I'm not so stupid as to plagiarize from columnists in the same market." Does that mean you plagarize from columnists? Just not ones locally?
I also mention, if you read again, that I think you have many great ideas. I've been reading your column for years. And, to be honest, even if you did get an idea for a column from a blog or something I wrote...to the person that called me: THAT IS NOT STEALING. If anyone stole in this case, it was me, from Ed. I hadn't thought about Broderick until he brought him up. And, it gave me the idea to go more indepth on him specifically.
Regarding the other thing I mention about CityBeat, I just know that different times, I covered an artist, and a month later, there was a big story on them in CityBeat. And, I remember a few other subjects I covered, then appearing in the magazine. Probably a coincidence. Also mixed with a bit of my delusions of grandeur.
By JoshBoard 12:50 a.m., Feb 12, 2008 > Report it
I think the comparison to writers writing the same topics to comdians writing the same schticks is right on point.
By towelheadedcameljockey 10:54 p.m., Feb 12, 2008 > Report it
Josh, yes, I know you said that you didn't think I had stolen your idea. That's why I wrote, "Please tell your caller..." etc, because it was the caller, according to your post, that made the accusation.
And yes, I saw that you wrote that I came up with many good ideas in your post, and I appreciate that. But again, most of my remarks were aimed at your caller.
Please don't confuse my post as an angry response to your blog. It really wasn't. I was just chiming in because I can't help myself. I harbor no ill will for you whatsoever, even if had you said that I wrote crappy columns and had crappy ideas.
I do stand by my comment about your having delusions of grandeur if you really believe that CityBeat takes it's cover ideas from you. Especially when you talk about how comedians and writers often come up with the same ideas simultaneously, why not editors and publishers too?
As for my saying that I don't steal from columnists in the same market, what I should've wrote was "if."
IF I was going to plagiarize, I wouldn't do it from a writer in the same market.
ED
By edwin_decker 12:20 p.m., Feb 13, 2008 > Report it