and the winner is...
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
This is yet another post dealing with talent. Or the lack thereof.
A few weeks ago, MJC's library committee sent out an invitation to all budding poets to submit love poems for Valentine's Day. When I heard of it, the first thing I instinctively thought of was Joel. Had he been in MJC and joined the competition, I'm sure he would have felt proud and elated that he's got an authoritative source describing his work as one with depth, meaning and character, but as it is, he isn't in MJ.
Nevertheless, I submitted the works for him after he seemed enthusiastic about it, (and with his approval, of course.) and I guaranteed I would deny having any part of the poem and the potential Kinokuniya voucher.
As I happened to mention earlier, one of his entries did indeed win a prize. Thing is, to check for plagarism, the judges went online checking for it, and found one entry on Joel's blog. They didn't know it was his blog though, just a stranger's. In addition, for some wierd reason, they didn't find the other poems, so they assumed I did the three and submitted a plagarised one. At least, thats what I could gather from the way they said it, but what I didn't understand is why they didn't think of asking me if the rest were plagarised either. I mean, I did it for one, or so they though, so wouldn't it be logical to make sure?
Still, by no means did I plagarise any works, and if you think I did you need to check up the definition of the word. Going on, I decided that while what I did was all within rules and regulations, and thus by no means any form of cheating, there was obviously the moral factor to consider, after this classmate of mine came to discuss with me (in an overly serious tone I feel) the wrongness of it all.
He contended that I was exploiting a loophole and denying other MJCians of a chance to win a competition and showcase their works, whether or not what I was doing was within the rules. He also added that I mentioned before about this girl who used her flash work for two competitions, violating the rules but still getting credit for it, and that if I found her actions detesting, then I shouldn't be doing it either.
His analogy had some flaws. Firstly, the girl did flout the rules. I didn't. Secondly, this is a different form of disputed entry of one's works. Joel never submitted his peoms before, he just happens to be a person with impactful muses and a really neat talent to put them into words. I played by the rules, I acknowledged that it wasn't mine, (whereas the b!tch of a girl didn't declare squat) so the moral standpoint is very grey.
No matter how you see the issue, the decision lies with the judges with full knowledge of what circumstances I submitted the poems under. I'll jot down their decision here soon. If it still goes through, apparently I have to do a recital tomorrow. Trust me, I have no clue at all on how to do a poetry recital.
posted by joseph at 6:13 PM