DC Metro Moms

Plagiarism is Never Ok

“Plagiarism is never ok.  It is never ok to take someone else’s work and write their exact words down on your paper.  That is stealing.”

During the first week of school I found myself saying repeating those sentences over and over again as I conducted computer orientation to each class of 3-5^th grade students and went over the county’s rules and regulations for computer use. Orientation is required for every class and a prerequisite before students get their logins and passwords to use the school computers and certainly before they begin to word process, use interactive games to practice skills, and conducting research using online resources.

The irony of the situation was that while I was telling my students that it was never ok to copy what they read in World Book, Encyclopaedia Britannica, or any of the other online resources we use, my own work on my blog was being stolen and reposted on another blog. 

Unplugged

This weekend I did something I haven't done in three years. I went on vacation and I didn't take my computer.

Maybe for some of you it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I am somewhat of an addict. I write for eight different blogs, I get all of my news from the internet, I manage three (and a half) websites and my day job is for a blog ad network.

When I left the house without my laptop I think I almost had a panic attack.

Okay, that may be overstating the issue, but I was absolutely uncomfortable. If I have to be completely honest with myself I easily spend eight hours a day on the internet and probably another hour on e-mail.

It is so easy to forget that just because my job is mobile, sometimes it is important to take an actual vacation. I went to Florida in June and I spent every day working while my Mom took my kids to parks and movies. I went to BlogHer in Chicago and I missed all of the Friday sessions because I was working. (Ironically, for BlogHer.)

This vacation was amazing. I read a book on the airplane. I actually got to swim with my kids at the hotel. I hung out with family, I saw some old friends and I was able to finally give my children (and my husband) the attention that they really deserve.

Read at Your Own Risk

Many bloggers are introspective.  We tend to write about our inner lives, as well as our corporeal lives.  One day we'll share a funny poo anecdote, the next day our favorite shoes, a blurb about infertility, and wrap up the week with something about our childhood or a relationship with an old boyfriend.  There are those who prefer to forget the past, to pretend it never happened.  While I live far more in the moment than in my past, I subscribe to the belief that an unexamined life isn't much worth living.

What happens when the examination of your own life intersects with the privacy of another?

Admit it, most of us have written about people from our past in a way that makes us fervently hope they will never locate our blogs.  Some of us blog anonymously to prevent that from happening.  Some of us don't care and just let it all hang out.  Some of us straddle the line in between, only letting friends or those we think are friendly, know where our innermost thoughts can be found on the Internet.

Blog for your life!

Science is finally catching up to something that some of us have suspected for quite some time now: blogging can help you feel happier, sleep better, and work out issues.  This month's issue of Scientific American features upcoming studies on how blogging helps people with serious illnesses cope.  (Something about how complaining acts as a placebo treatment for those in pain; I'm not sure I buy that part of it, but I'm no neuroscientist.)  The feedback mechanism (comments) is huge, of course; I wonder if the scientists fully recognize the power of comments and friendship, in any form, in healing.  I hope they do.  I know for me, that's been incredibly important, and I've been speaking out lately about the power of blogging to help heal.  There's an article this month in Health magazine, and I'll be speaking at BlogHer, with Laurie K and Flutter, about the power of blogging communities as a healing force. 

Of course, none of this is news to any of you.  You know what it means to blog.  You feel its power, its pull, and you come away from your computers more satisfied and fulfilled after a good blog writing and rerading session.  It connects us.  It heals.   

I knew I liked her

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that is.  Check it out.  Her very own blog post on keeping our kids safe from toxic toys.

Let’s help her out, by adding our names to the Moms Rising petition to tell Congress “We demand safe, lead-free toys for children. Congress must strengthen the agencies responsible for protecting kids from toxic products and remove the bureaucrats who are standing in the way.”  I just did.  If you’re a U.S. resident, maybe you’d like to sign it too.  Moms standing together for the kids.

I like the sound of that.