I am always really nervous that I am unintentionally plagairizing someone, or I come up with the same idea as someone else, and they think I copied them.

But see, that's not plagiarism. Using HELK and the like is how the language evolves. Now if you lifted actual paragraphs from someone's blog, there'd be reason for kicking a. :D

Bloggers should be flattered that something they did is moving into the bloggy vernacular.

I agree with all of it. I can't seem to be cool and witty on my own, but if I steal someone else's word, voila! I'm cool!

And an accidental plagiarist. Oops.

Kristina, just keep reading only the first sentence of every post as you do which will allow you to claim total innocence. :) Annette--I know, I'm stretching the literal meaning of the word plagiarism. It's what I do. Sorry if it makes you crazy! But, alas, not sorry enough to stop. I totally agree about the flattered thing. So why hasn't my word "bloggist" taken off yet? (jk--I know why not). Erin, try not to worry. As Annette says, it isn't really plagiarism. The sincerest form of flattery is imitation. Regarding finding your own voice, when writing, it doesn't have to be truly all your own. Writing voices are like anything else--faddish.

Wow. That some impressive emoting going on there!

I actually went back this morning and re-wrote a comment because the word "helk" slipped in there unawares and I worried... Ahh... I'm feeling so much freedom now that I can snag a few fun words :)

Hey, Shakespeare invented words - and they were adopted into usage... Pretty sure there's no fee I have to pay every time I say "prithee" (like, really - when was the last time I said THAT?)

And with the b'zillion blogs out there, ideas are flyin' around right and left - I didn't imagine for two seconds that it was anything more than coincidence when 4 of us posted about phobias last week... (and if it was - yay, someone's maybe reading my blog!)

Unless the phrase is copy righted it is fair game. It's part of the natural evolution of the language.

Plagiarizing an idea . . . that's a little more complicated. But a phrase is not an idea. Especially not a swear-word substitute phrase.

How silly. I agree with Annette Lyon.

Funny post, Heidi! It was so kick-a! Seriously, you know how to write a kick-a post.

Oh, and I answered your question about my uncle in my comments.

I just wanted to let you know that I don't care if you ever steal anything from my blog. I would think it a great compliment. (I myself stole my sister's song of the week idea.)

I like reading your blog and you make me laugh. Keep up the great work!

imitation is the finest form of flattery... or something like that... I just made that up....oh, wait...no, no, I didn't.

Jami--that is some impressive J you've got there! T--yah, well, Shakespeare is dead, so . . . no, really, anything that old and that completely in the everyday usage of everday man is totally fair game. In fact, I quote quite a bit of the ol' bard in Miss D. I did have to change the name from Darling Buds of May though (to Miss D) b/c it is used just a tad too often. Heatherlyn, I don't disagree with Annette at all. The post is satire. It's supposed to by funny. Alas and alack, methinks you missed the point. Alyson, however, did not. Thanks Alyson! Your uncle grew up in Pleasanton?!?! So did my nephew. And my parents were temple workers at the Oakland temple, too. I wonder if it was at the same time. My dad would have LOVED that--he loves Pickles! Just ADORES it! Spacey Chick--you rock! Thank you! Abra--bwwaahhaaahaaaa! You really ARE back, aren't you?

Where have I been? I've never even noticed the word "helk" used in a post.

Kinda makes me want to use it.

Someone just used helk in my comments. Ha! Bloggists are funny. ;)

My grandma's name was Helen Crane. You'll have to ask your parents if they knew her.

We tell kids that copying is a form of flattery and yet we don't see it ourselves, its "stealing". I get both sides, but more importantly I think you wrote this awesomely! (awesomely, hmmmmm, is that a word? Oh well.)

I must not read the cool blogs (except yours, of course) because I've never seen the word HELK in my entire existence. And I am forever annoyed because I have a great idea, and then someone else uses it before I do, and so I can't use it without them thinking I stole/copied/plagiarized/flattered them. Sigh.

I just noticed helk for the first time last week and I thoughts to meself, "I sure like heq better for the pure under-use of the letter Q." But that's just me.
I feel like I get plagiarized a lot, but since most of my great posts never left my actual mind I can't prove it. Bummer.

being a bloggist myself - my favorite blogger swear word is the original h-e-double-hockey-sticks. spelled just like that!

you have me addicted

Very funny post... I have never heard the word "helk" but must admit it does roll off the rongue easily doesnt it.. lol..

Hoping you do well with the awards.. =)

Hi Heidi. I just wanted to say that I'm the one who started the Helk word. Hee hee. I'm so glad you like it.

Now you owe me twenty bucks.

My latest word is bloggonit! But I've copy righted it, so you'll owe me twenty bucks if you use it.

Annette is right! That's evolutions, baby!

But I know what you mean. I couldn't stop saying lurve for a while.

Crash, I confess I knew it was you but it got around so darn fast I had to stop and wonder . .. I am often wrong about things so I question pretty much everything I am adamantly sure about. But, you heard it from the horse's mouth, everyone--it is Crash's word and it will cost you only $20 to use it! Yay!

There isn't ANYTHING out there that hasn't been done...so blog your heart out...I'm sure if we read everyone's journals from the 1800's that they would start to sound somewhat similar? don't you think?

And who the HELK cares if you steal a word of phrase because if sounds fun to say Gad Tamn it all!!!

What the freakin' what?

Anyway...Love ya

Helk is a fun term. I like it because it is kinda like swearing, but not really. It will be fun to see if it evolves into common usage beyond the bloggy world.

Word verification: pinge - sounds like a real word but isn't. Maybe I should assign one and make it my helk.

Thanks for the comment, I helk you! NO? Thats not the way you use it?! Bloggonit!! Crap, there goes $40 down the drain....

Oh, of course I voted for you! :)

I totally know what you mean. I must be very impressionable because I pick up things from others and repeat them. No chance of it not happening with me. But can't we just say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery and be happy about it?

What the helk.

So, you're saying I should totally expect to see something I posted show up here in a slightly re-worded post?? :)

And I totally steal IDEAS all the time. Like the one word thing. I don't know who started that one up -but I suppose if I clicked around enough I could.

And helk? That is a great word!!

Shelle--love ya, too! (has that been said too much? I don't know . . .maybe I should cut back on the lovin' . . . or the elipses . . .does anyone know the plural of elipse?) Randi--don't you read Crash? She of the "helk" usage de jour? Alyson--love your use of the word "bloggist". Love it! Love it love it love it! It sounds even better when you say it then when I do. Lassen fam--you can say "awesomely" as often as you like, esp when referring to moi! thanks! Lara--you crack me up! You don't read Crash either? Oh me, oh my! And btw, you don't need to worry --your post today was pretty fresh! In more ways than one! Megz--bwaahhaahaaaaaa! That's too funny and so true, ain't it? Messy Jess--I am all for addiction when I am the product being consumed. I'm evil that way. Not messy Jess--thank you! You are a dear! Becky--but impinge is a word so one could pretend pinge is a form of that. I would. I think I even have. Love words! Lassen fam--wait! I recognize your mug! Melinda? Right? No? I'll get it. Eventually. Thanks for voting for me!! Nutty, in a word--yes.

Heather, yes, b/c you have goodly posts worth stealing big time!

What the helk are you talkin' about?

Hee hee, I love this post! And Annette's right. You're not plagiarizing. If you want you can say "What the Halifax!" I think I ripped that off one of the Anne of Avonlea books.

"Oh, crepe paper" instead of "oh crap" is my own invention. I won't come after you if you use that either!

I can't believe it took me this long of seeing Kristina P.'s picture to realize that she's kissing Twilight, not a medal she won.

Boy, am I observant!

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=helk
It's fair game, my friends!

Word Verification kenpoote: This one requires no explaination.

Keri--you are a funny one! Hey, I've seen your blog before! You are the one with the little hero guy who has CP. Me too. Only mine is a big hero guy, now. Rebecca, oh nertzy! (stole that one from my mom who does NOT blog) now I will have what the crepe paper in my brain! Jami--I saw your helk definition on Crash's blog. Way to spoil all the fun, Jami! I do adore your Kenpoote definition, though.

My wife won't let me use frak.

She doesn't appreciate the culture of the twelve colonies.

Reed--what about frick? I won't ask about the 12 colonies as it will reveal my ignorance. Oops! Too late. . .

The funniest plagiarism I have witnessed was when we were with a group of people and my husband told this whole story about this funny thing that had happened to him! When he was done I pulled him aside and told him that it was something that had happened to me a long time ago and I had told him about it. He was pretty embarrassed because we had laughed so much about it initially and retold it so often that somehow he really felt that it was a real thing HE had experienced.

OMG!! What the helk are you talking about?? This was a kick-a post!!! I must spread some lurve to you! Tamn-it just when I think you've written your best you go beyond that!

Look at you go!!! :)

Kazzy--so funny! That happens with me and my twin sister all the time! At least we were both there when it happened originally. April--you are too kind! Thanks!

You are such a plagiarist! I don't know if I can allow you to read my blog anymore!

My sister wrote in the comments to a recent post that she loved your "absotively" and that she is going to steal it.

And all I can say is what goes around comes around! :)

(FUNNY post) (and Kazzy's comment is funny, too)

Lisa--really? Cause now I'm totally flattered. I've been saying absotively for years but no doubt I stole it from someone long ago Oops! It's Tuesday. Going into duck and cover mode . .

Heidi,
Don't get too tense, after all concerning our conversation styles, aren't we all just the sum and pieces of things that we have heard or experienced. Okay, so deep down maybe we aren't, but when talking about something as superficial as chatting isn't that the case. For example; Sometimes if chatting with someone with a strong southern accent I tend to slip into one (the accent) and I am horrified that they may think I am making fun of them which is far from the truth. So don't sweat this particular type of plagiarism because if the truth be told they probably weren't the originators either. Whew, way too long and wordy.
Roxanne

Ok so maybe I lurk and stalk you lot but don't really remember if I've ever left any prints on ur blog so today I will comment, not so that you can come read my blog or follow me or anything like that {ok, so that too} but because I do like this post.
I don't think there is anything wrong with plagiarizing someone else's words, it's actually a compliment to be copied, don't u think? After all, this blogasphere is full of people spreading the love so why not share cute lil words.
Oh btw, just so u know, I voted for you last week, while I was lurking in the corner going through ur stuff..yikes, that sounds a lil creepy. Don't freak out though. LOL

tsk tsk! I was dropping by just to mention that I finally made it over to vote at MMB (holy cats - do I really want to get involved in that insanity?) and here I find Heidi breaking her Tuesday rule! (okay, maybe 7 a.m. can be forgivable since it's before the work day begins)

and Holy Helk, crash is going to be rich if we have to pay her for all her words... I need a dictionary for Christmas!

"Jubilad" - your verifier is telling me it's a very happy boy today :)

OK OK I'll vote for you. Plagiarism --what the helk can you do about it. We all try and be original - don't we?
We are not copy and pasting for the love of all that's holy (that's a comment I always use) Helk - cop this: my bro. in law says Gosh a Pickle Mik a Dikken. Copy that.

How can you be plagarizing if it's based on your own story or situation or experience? And as for helk? Give me a break. If I 'created' a word, I'd be flattered if people started using it. Duh. WHAT THE HELK? lol

Lisa--really? Cause now I'm totally flattered. I've been saying absotively for years but no doubt I stole it from someone long ago Oops! It's Tuesday. Going into duck and cover mode . .

I mean, um yeah! what you said

Isn't it absotively posilutely? We used to say that a lot. Don't know where it came from.

haha. I'm suddenly "like that"ing all the time. It even took me a while to figure out it came from all of this blasted blog-reading. The "plagiarism" that cracks me up is when a commenter uses an slightly uncommon phrase from my post in their comment on my post. I think, like you said, it just gets stuck in there, so those are the words they come up with to describe their thoughts.

I just wrote the exact same post. seriously, word for word. I haven't published it yet though, if I do you won't think I stole it or anything will you?

What the hell!? You are so kick ass sometimes!

I totally just avoided plagiarizing :)

I'll admit, I am sometimes an idea stealer. You know those blankety days, you can't come up with your topics, I'll read my family and friends and bang, come up with something to write.

Shhhhh........don't tell on me though, kay?

~snort~

I hate plagiarism, but, sadly, I just assume it's going to happen, especially in the blog world.

But the accidental kind? I'm all about that. I'd love for some word I made up to make the world rounds!

Hey, awesome post and very pretty layout! You're a really great writer and I love that your topics are not the same thing everyday. Christine came by my blog and used Mr. Linky to link up her favorite "small-ish" blog. You're Hers! So, I came by for a visit and I"m glad I did. Have a great day.

Oh, by the way, since I started blogging, my favorite little typed phrase is WTF? It's like cursing, but not really.

I so love all of your comments but I can't possibly keep up! I can't catch up on your blog posts and post responses to your comments from today's post and keep my kids in the land of the living AND make a personal response to each comment left on my day off . . ..so sorry . . . but I loved reading them!

Geez Heidi, you suck! What kind of horrible person are you anyway?

;-)

Rachel--you are so darn stinkin' funny!

Consider yourself lucky, Heidi! When I am around people I like, I begin to subconsciously adopt their expressions and mannerisms. It even happens with my accent. *SHRUG*

BTW, at least you didn't "plagiarize" the term "Oh my heck!". I would have had to stop following your blog had you done that.

James, you are so darn stinkin' funny, too! You and Rebecca would make a great pair! Oops, somebody already had that idea too? I'm just so darn unoriginal!