Google Translate of articles written in a different language must be the worst “text-spinner” yet invented.
This is explicitly prohibited by forum rules:
27. Using automated translation tools to post translated content in Local boards is not allowed.
I almost raised this exact rule in the Ratimov thread. However, #27 prohibits posting automated translations
“in Local boards”—not in Global.
Given how badly some users (including several untrustworthy DTs) are hairsplitting and rules-lawyering, I decided not to bring it up.
Anyway, I replied hereby to hilarious; and I should think that hilarious does not need more than one rule to cover Ratimov’s case. After all, hilarious is so
very strongly opposed to plagiarism that he was the one who suggested the explicit anti-plagiarism rule to mprep.
Added new rule with an explanation (as per hilariousandco's suggestion):
33. Posting plagiarized content is not allowed.[e]
<...>
33. This includes both copying parts or the entirety of other users' posts or threads and copying content from external sources (e.g. other websites) and passing it as your own.
There is also other staff precedent for banning plagiarists much earlier.
Also back 2015 no one gave a shit about the issue.
Actually, we did. Other mods and I have banned many a plagiarist even earlier than that (definitely as early as 2013).
As for Ratimov, his texts are clearly translations, not spinning. His attributions are questionable. He provides sources but also makes it sound like verbatim-translated words are his own and
claims that 90% of content on this forum is copy-pasta. I don't think this is helping his case but that has pretty much nothing to do with what mdayonliner is babbling about.
I don’t think that there is anything even the least bit questionable here. And as you well know, theymos despises plagiarism!
Plagiarism is one of very few things that theymos has zero tolerance for (except for account buyers).
If we find that you plagiarized, then you absolutely will be permanently banned, even if we find it years after you did it.