Just wanted everyone to know about a great new site called “Digital Railroader” - it provides resources for modelers and railfans. The URL is…
http:/www.digitalrailroader.com.
One of the reasons the site may be so “great” is that it would appear that they lift articles published in MR and RMC, rewrite them, and then republi***hem as their own.
Kind of makes the whole site a bit suspect in my eyes…
-Gerry
author of the “bobber caboose project” article in the 11/01 RMC
Don’t know about them using reprints, but I do know that it takes two of the “/” thingies in the URL!
The site could be useful if they keep expanding their resources - kinda sparse for now.
I would be leary as well website, that would ask for “donations” in the model RR spectrum.
Mike
Santa Clarita, CA
Ok, in the interest of fairness, let me add this note:
After I confronted digital railroader by email with the issue of lifting and rewriting material, they were cordial enough to list both myself and RMC as sources/inspirations for their article.
While this is a step in the right direction, I can’t say that the practice of re-hashing articles that others have paid for (by newsstand or subscription prices)is entirely fair to everyone. And here I speak only for myself; I don’t know how RMC feels about the issue.
-Gerry
If I were Carstens and Schaumberg, I’d be goin’ after 'em. Plagiarism is plagiarism; the format, whether a school kid’s book report or information posted on a web site, is irrelevant. The very act itself is dishonest, and it does a gross dishonor to both the original author and the subsequent reader. At the very least, it says to the secondary audience, “I think you’re so stupid and uninformed that you’ll never know I lifted this from somewhere else.!”
Thanks for letting us know, Gerry. That’s one website I’ll never patronize.
Gerry,Thanks for the heads up! I will not even think about going to that site.
MikeC Thanks for your information also.