Thursday, October 29, 2009 4:30pm, Tokyo:

[vicalis]

Sitting on the floor of the Tokyo/Narita Airport while my phone charges. I could be waiting for Gau, whose flight lands in half an hour, but given that he has to clear customs and find me after that, and that my next flight leaves in less than an hour and a half and I still have to go through security, I probably don’t actually have time to wait

Comments

Ghostwriting

[daid]

I woke up after not enough hours of sleep, and this topic floated into my mind and would not leave.

This is morally repugnant. I don't know what madness has driven you to the belief that a destruction of your own academic integrity might be amusing, not to mention a public declaration (in a passing comment, no less) of such.

I hope you can find some better way of spending your brief time on this Earth or making a dollar.

Re: Ghostwriting

[vicalis]

I guess I don't really have a problem with it, but I can explain why it seemed interesting to me.

The specific process, as described to me, is that you apply to work as a writer for a site, and then they have a list of projects/assignments that they need completed. Each is a short article on a topic that lists a desired length, some keywords to cover, and a number of cents that they pay per word for that article. The idea is that you choose a topic, research it, and write the desired piece.

I'm not an academic, and I don't like a lot of academia. This is writing as a craft, not an art, and I don't need people to know that I did it. I like the idea of looking at a list of topics, seeing something that looks interesting to me, and then getting to research it for money--it just seems like a good way to learn about random things.

Re: Ghostwriting

[daid]

So the way you write it makes it sound interesting because you frame it in a positive light I suppose.

But so I'm clear, this isn't actually much different than writing a paper for a lazy student who turns in your paper with their name on it, and then PayPals you, right?

It's not about knowing you wrote it as much as participating in such academic dishonesty that would bother me. I mean, I know a college education doesn't necessarily mean anything anymore, but I'd rather work towards making it better. I've been paid as a tutor before, and I think this can give similar effects (money, better paper/assignment quality) but in the right ways. I'm not saying you have an interest to tutor, of course, though math and physics tutoring does pay well, for the record.

Pursuit of knowledge is, of course, a noble and interesting endeavor, but I think research ethics are pretty important.

Re: Ghostwriting

[vicalis]

I haven't looked into it yet, bit the impression that I got from the guy who told me about it wasn't that it was for students. No real idea at this point though.

Re: Ghostwriting

[daid]

If it's not for students, then it seems more or less fine if you're okay with it. Personally I'd rather have things credited than be paid for research, but only my preference.

I guess I assumed it was for students since I couldn't figure out who would want semi-amateur, non-expert writing on a random subject.