RE: Accusation Regarding Plagiarism

Originally posted by: -Ara-

Firstly I am way to busy to involve myself in cyber-fights. I have more on my plate than I can handle so please do not expect a long letter of my so proclaimed hate and targeting someone I don't know at all.

And in my defense the topic did get closed before any of us could post any proof' or views. Now that being said and the fact that I have major exam to study for and cannot waste my time arguing here I am just going to quote a message.

Neither do I consider myself to be a cyber bully and I certainly do not love you enough to proclaim my love for you or the lack of it and we did start on the wrong foot - let's end it now.

Originally the plan was to quote the similarities but it didn't work well due to time constraints.

I have been on the forum since 2011. I have seen people have their works plagiarized and even movie plots and published books ripped off and posted here. And the forums did nothing.

I am timing myself here; as I said earlier, I do not have the time to write a huge note (which I know I will some how end up with 😆). I believe I do owe you an explanation. And I am giving you that, like a nice person, without the snark and the self-targeting that you claim I do.

Self-publishing doesn't make you a writer and quoting your writing' accomplishments doesn't make you one too - that's what I believe in.

You claimed to be a medical student buried in course work - I appreciate and understand that. I do. That's not a reason enough to pull your work off.

You have seen me pull my work off. People have seen me pull my work off but the fact remains that the works I pulled off were plain synopsis'. I too am buried in course work, in piles of books I can not afford to study, but you do not see me complain about the same. I am using myself as an example because that is the best I have at the moment. You do not see me parade around with the fact that I'm a private school student, or that I refuse to get in to a university by paying capacitation fees, or my course work, or maybe the accomplishments' I have earned throughout my career.

You're a medical student - great - but I still do not see how an accusation leads you to pull your work off.

I am hurt. Truly; not because of the accusation you flung at me or how I was tagged to be this self-proclaimed hater in the matter of seconds but because you pulled your works off.

I know how it feels to be accused and I know the anger you feel, but at the same time I also do know that I would stand up for what I publish.

Somewhere in March, Laal Ishq and an excerpt posted as a stand alone lead me to be accused as someone who was obsessed with Ishita and Subbu's sex life. And that was vile, truly. I didn't pull my work off. I commented right back at her and asked her what made her accuse me of the same when though Meherbaan quotes Ishita - Subbu as a couple it does not have them follow a sexual relationship. And Laal Ishq provides a story where in it is important for them to have a sexual relationship - they were once a married couple who eloped to do the same. Celibacy in the given conditions wasn't really an option. And Laal Ishq was the only fiction that explored them as a legit couple. I, however, did end up pulling Laal Ishq off solely because I was dealing with so much in life and at the same time I had no characterization of Raman. And I posted it back once again with a promise that I would try to continue the story if I could characterize Raman in the future. It is still up.

My point is - I'm quoting here -

I'm not daring you. I'm not judging you. I'm not judging what you write because I honestly don't care.

It's not my duty to fight for someone nor am I anyone's spokes person.

I'm not saying I'm wrong and neither am I saying I'm right.

Amna has pulled off her works and has no intention of posting them back here. I cannot speak for her. Whatever it is, please clear it out with her without accusing me of being a bully. I would appreciate that.

Secondly, if you stand up for your stories do post it. If there are similarities, which there are and which are massive, people will see that and call you out on it. If there aren't, then they won't. But please do stand up for your work.

Pulling it off will be your first sign of acceptance. Over justifying yourself the next.

We don't realize half the things we do. No one sits up and makes a whole new universe, per se. Contrary to the belief, I do know what I stand up for and I do know that plagiarism isn't something that can be: Oh, I read Zara's book. Her male lead met a girl. He fell for her. He wooed her and he married her. That is so similar to Katie's book; she totally plagiarized it.

It isn't.

And I really do not want to be involved in this 'cat fight' which isn't really a fight because I'm no fighting.. It is not my battle and I choose not to be a part of it.

I am a busy person and I personally struggle to update my works.

I'm that person who needs to have a friend message me and be like, err.. Kiara, it's almost a month.. We are due an update.

And then I sit for hours planning the skeleton to that update and then another hour posting it.

So I do know the hard work that goes into it and as I previously said, I do believe that some one who spends time to read our musing and cares enough to let us know what they think - they are a huge part of our journey as people brave enough to speak out for what we believe in.

And I also do believe that building ourselves or our profile is a way of putting our best foot forward and being the people we want to be.

And I do not want to be known as this person evil enough to make someone pull of their works.

People may say it's sad that you pulled your works of and lend a shoulder to cry on.

I won't do that. It's pitiful. Being brave isn't about gaining sympathy. It isn't. They're going to be beside you for a moment and then judge you behind your back.

I don't want that.

If you claim to be what you claim to be - I don't want you to be judged or misjudged.

So please do your readers a favor and post your work up.

Not because you are brave.

Or you feel wronged but simply because you believe in what you stand up for.

Because if you don't, then you can't expect people to do so.

If it is of being accused plagiarism or of being plagiarized; I deal with that fear.. the latter.

I feel terrified of posting my work on IF given the lack of security. It's not because I am awesome or great but simply because I have put so much work into it. Meherbaan per chapter takes me ten hours of writing and I have spend numerous hours penning them down since November and people have spend hours reading it. I cannot deny them of the time, thought and effort they put into it and neither can I negate it. I feel terrified that someday some one is going to plagiarize Ghosts of Us and that is my baby. I could die if that happened. And it's a gripping fear that surrounds every artist out there.

Taylor Swift was accused of plagiarizing 2NE1, a k-pop girl band, with her video for Bad Blood. She did not delete Bad Blood.

So the basic point is, if you believe in what you write and what you claim put you work back on. If it's judged; let it be judged. If it's accused again; stand up for yourself. Don't cower and go away.

I mean, as you so called opponent I would love to have you off the site and your work deleted but as a person and as what I believe is a writer I would rather have you fight you claim.

The one with the last word does not always win and neither is the one with hordes of sympathy.

People are subjective and so are their views.

What matters is you and only you.

That's all I have to say.

That's it.

I believe in acting my age as pulling at someone's pigtails just because doesn't really go with me and though I was a 'high school' mean girl; I believe I've grown up now. Deal with this the way you want to, I honestly do not care. It's your work. Your time. And your life. Use it well.

And please do not try to instigate me into a fight. I refuse to be a part of it.

Thank you.