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Why do New people steal instructables?

After posting my instructable the other day, it didn't take long before someone copied it down the the exact words, and even went as far as to steal some of my pictures! Now I see another instructable posted today about making a pink eraser flash drive, that is almost exactly like fungus amungus's. Both of the perpetrators in question happened to be brand new to the site, as in they had only been members for a day or two. So my question is this:

Why do new people find it necessary, or think it's cool to steal/exactly copy peoples instructables?

27 comments
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Mar 29, 2008. 3:51 PMKiteman says:
Do you mean they publish copies here, or on other sites? If they are here, then flagging will mean rapid removal. Elsewhere, try emailing the webmaster of the site in question, including links to the original here. (We caught somebody selling copies of 'ibles on ebay, and I had to get all official on him to get him to stop)
Mar 30, 2008. 2:09 PMKiteman says:
Have you tried asked them?
Mar 30, 2008. 2:34 PMKiteman says:
>doh<

...asking them...
Mar 30, 2008. 3:01 PMLabot2001 says:
They'll probably cut & paste an answer LOL
Nov 13, 2008. 11:22 AMDerin says:
HA
Sep 5, 2008. 2:31 PMDJ Radio says:
this is a major problem with the knexers..............
Sep 2, 2008. 2:21 PMSunny124613 says:
I always check before I post and before I make an instructable
Mar 31, 2008. 2:39 AMDim-1 says:
I'd better do some research before I do my 1st instructable. Otherwise, I might look the fool.
Mar 29, 2008. 11:17 AMry25920 says:
Someone also copied the LED throwies instructable. YOU DON"T MESS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT. Moderators/Instructables staff, Could you please not allow this, or give the new people a warning?
Mar 30, 2008. 3:52 PMCameronSS says:
Are you saying that it is okay to copy a smaller, lesser-known Instructable than it is to copy a hugely famous one?
Mar 30, 2008. 6:08 PMCameronSS says:
*...is more okay...*

Whoops
Mar 29, 2008. 11:21 AMWeissensteinburg says:
They don't allow it. You'll notice they are unpublished promptly. The important thing for you to do is just flag any that you see.
Mar 30, 2008. 3:33 PMKentsOkay says:
I know what you mean, my "How to Re-energise" ible has had multiple off-site copies, I'm kinda proud of the fact it was good enough to copy : )
Mar 29, 2008. 10:15 AMDoctor What says:
Or identities! Someone has been stealing my name in the meebo room! I think it gets them off, the chain.
Mar 29, 2008. 11:16 AMtech-king says:
ohh yeah, i remeber that. is he really going to your place for dinner? probably because they want an instructable to their credit right away
Mar 29, 2008. 5:04 PMDoctor What says:
No. He's not coming to my house for dinner. It'd be nice though, I'm so lonely. *sniff*
Mar 30, 2008. 2:11 PMSunbanks says:
Just make sure they aren't bringing a chainsaw....
Mar 29, 2008. 6:29 PMLinuxH4x0r says:
I HATE THEM ALL! (sorry for caps) Flag them!!!!!
Mar 29, 2008. 10:25 AMWeissensteinburg says:
They don't think we'll notice?
Mar 29, 2008. 5:17 PMjessyratfink says:
I guess. But that doesn't make any sense! I've seen two very recently. The how to make your cat purr one, and the eraser drive cover. Very weird.
Mar 29, 2008. 2:57 PMSpl1nt3rC3ll says:
I knew it wasn't Deja Vu when I saw that eraser Instructable.
Mar 29, 2008. 11:16 AMBrennn10 says:
Do they really think we are that dumb?
Mar 29, 2008. 10:27 AMdsman195276 says:
they just do, they probely think we won't notice and people will think there great. we should probely just flag if that happens, just make sure that you tell them that you flagged them. if you don't tell them then they won't know that we don't like it when plagerisem happens(I know the feeling, it happened to my 5 pound gatling gun. one guy made 2 accounts, and made a Instructable for the 5 pound gatling on one of his accounts and made 2 Instructables on the second account.)

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