Note from RJ Currie:
Some of you have asked why I haven't posted in a while. Last week I was stunned to learn someone had been stealing half a dozen jokes or more each week from Sports Deke and publishing them Thursdays - under his own name - in a Memphis magazine. This has been going on for some time. I stopped posting until I could follow up.
I discovered this while searching key words from one of my jokes. He had also appropriated several lines from my friend - and a dean of sports humour in Canada - Cam Hutchinson of the StarPhoenix. While he was at it, he stole the odd line from other contributors to Cam's Saturday column, including Janice Hough, Bill Littlejohn and Torben Rolfsen. Also from the American dean of sports humour (and friend), Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times.
I contacted the magazine's editor (who I believe knew nothing about this). He assured me they'd put a stop to it. Last Thursday, the column still ran, but without our jokes. My thanks to the editor for that. (My further hope was they'd fire the plagiarizing dude's ass.) Unfortunately, as of today, back-dated Thursday columns remain online with our stolen quips intact.
My fellow humourists and I are always pleased when someone runs one of our lines. But not when they try to pass it off as their own. The extent of this plagiarism - well, it's almost unbelievable. This may be in part why a friend suggested I post it here; a cautionary tale perhaps.
If any of you wish to comment, I welcome your thoughts on this.
If any of you wish to comment, I welcome your thoughts on this.
I googled memphis sports and part of one of your jokes from a couple weeks ago - memphis sports don't count on him for the reception. Found it right away. It's unbelievable! Word for word, RJ Currie jokes from the previous week here, and other jokes from I assume people you mention. I recognized a Dwight Perry too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, they fire that plagiarizer's ass!
Speaking as a blogger, I understand how upsetting this must be. I know you don't make any money from this (unless it's a few pennies a week should one of us click on an ad.) This lowlife stole something very personal from you. You've been paddling away at one end of the canoe, while this bum has had his feet up in the back stealing all your hard work.
Don't let it discourage you! For what its worth, your jokes give me a boost, no question.
Thanks Kelly. Your canoe analogy is a good one. It is still upsetting me - more than it should probably.
ReplyDeleteThat's really awful RJ! Awful! Also kinda pathetic really that the guy felt like he needed to do it.... Plus, if he'd done it legit and put everyone's names ... they'd still say hey! wasn't so-and-so's column a hoot today? Just like people like Cam's column.... . So this guy just looks bad stealing....
ReplyDeleteOne thing I don't get: why the mag can't go back and put everyone's names on their jokes.
BTW: whenever I comment, I have to hit the button 2 -3 times before I get the word clue thingy. Wtf is up with that?
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe someone could get away with something like this. I think your response was right on the mark. I hope this thief gets banned from ever publishing or posting again.
ReplyDeleteI just checked out the site and all the stolen jokes were still there on his previous posts. It was like reading your page, Janice's blog and Cam's column all over again. A low life bottom feeding plagiarizer. Who does he think he is, a Leno comedy writer?
ReplyDeleteI like Kelly J's canoe analogy. Suggests an image from a cartoon. But this isn't funny. I'm stunned that somebody would blatantly steal your humour -- and jokes from other people too -- and pass it off as his own! I don't even understand how anybody could get any satisfaction from doing that. And it must be deflating for you, Sportsdeke. . . I can understand why you haven't wanted to update your blog.
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