Paging Lynn Hoppes ...

We're dealing with someone's sock puppet here -- either that or a total ignoramus -- if you are a) going to play the race card; and b) if you think plagarism is a minor sin.

 

That's kooky. The outrage is because he's not supposed to be some loose-cannon inexperienced blogger who doesn't know any better. He was an experienced manager at a major newspaper and he knows the rules. He knew he was stealing.

 

I don't think plagiarism is a minor sin, and I certainly wouldn't do what Hoppes did in any of my own stories.

However, plagiarism is not black and white.

It's like jaywalking. There's crossing an empty residential street in the middle of the day, and there's crossing a 4-lane freeway in the middle of rush hour. Both are technically jaywalking and illegal.

The offense here is analogous to the former form of jaywalking, but the reaction here is analogous to the latter. Both forms are technically prosecutable, but come on...

As for the "race card", we all know this board has a history of coming down harder on our non-white colleagues.

 

It's a sham to me because I've been in the business for 13 years and I have no idea what it does except host a yearly drinking party where awards are handed out. I think it could have far more influence and power than it chooses to have.

It's a resume line. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Coming down harder on our non-white colleagues? Like Lupica and Albom?

 

APSE should step up where ESPN hasn't. Then again, Mitch Albom received APSE's highest honor in 2010.

 

Here's yer sign...

 

You also could say that the only reason Hoppes hasn't been fired is that he is of Asian descent. If he was a white man, he would have been fired after the Sarah Phillips episode.

It's a bullshit argument, but no more ridiculous than PE's contention. Over-the-top racist horseshit stinks no matter which side you take.

 

Just thinking about SFExpress and this subject, would anyone give their left arm and a toe to hear what he would have said?

 

Pretty sure spnited would tee off on this one.

 

1. How in holy hell do you know some of those down on Hoppes aren't Asian? Or black? Or Native American?

2. Even if all the posters coming down on him are white as snow, there are no shades of gray when it comes to this. He violated one of the major ethical guidelines in this business. He should be fired.