LOL. Thanks for the laugh.

Eric

It was Eric, not me 🙂

Do you want to sue him? I’ll testify!

J.D.

I am the original coiner of the phrase:

“get over it”

I first used this expression in 1983 (prior to the widespread use of irony in network television) in a conversation, the last, I think, with my ex-wife.

Please cease and desist in using this phrase without crediting me, the originator.

Mannie (“there’s plenty of crazy people to go around”)Gentile

This fellow DEFINITELY picked the two wrong guys to throw a pile of plagiarism BS at. Our letter back to him is to the point and very strong. As Eric says, if he just would have taken 30 seconds to as the folks at the Historical Society whether either of us, or anyone else, ever looked at his manuscript, he would have avoided all this embarassment.

J.D.

I’m so glad that you all understand that you all can appreciate why this bothers us so much. All this clown had to do was to ask the folks at the Carroll County Historical Society, and they would have told him that we were not provided with a copy o fhis manuscript, and that would have been the end of it. Insteadd, he had handle things this way, and I take this as seriously as a heart attack.

And Scott, you’re absolutely correct. I guess we will see how this plays out, but I sincerely hope that when JD sends out the letter, that’s the last we ever hear of this.

Eric

Unbelievable. And as Eric says, we never heard of this guy’s manuscript prior to this. And he admits that the Carroll County Historical Society did not publish it, so that’s a hint there’s probably a good reason – maybe it was poorly written or unworthy for whatever reason.

I was steaming when I read the letter in Friday’s mail. The gall of this guy was astonishing. He implies that he’s let people know about our “theft” of his monopoly on Westminster – so in our response, Eric and I let him know that if we ever hear of any accusations by this guy from anyone else, we’ll take any and all action necessary to set the record straight. He better get the message and take it seriously. He’ll learn one way or the other – the easy way or the hard way – that flippant and unfounded charges can get you in very serious, and regrettable, hot water.

J.D.

First of all, thanks for a plagiarism charge that doesn’t involve those pesky academics. After that brouhaha last fall we needed a break. 😉

In all seriousness now, you’re on solid ground. The “[noun] of [some other battle or theater]” formula is common, especially when you get out west. I bet many fights have a John Burns figure. If that’s all he’s got, the charge clearly is capricious and should be ignored by all. I won’t take it seriously. At worst, the Carroll County group should be able to establish that you never saw the manuscript there or that they never mailed it to you. That is one reason why archives keep records of who is accessing what.

Paul’s comments also seem particularly on target. He’s sure right about territorrialism, and I speak from unpleasant personal experience. I also encourage my students to give talks or publish long before they complete a dissertation precisely to establish “dibs,” or at least to inform people of what they’re working on.

This too shall pass.

Ken