Happens all over the net, especially on forums like this.
I've just got used to it and laugh it off, otherwise you'll end up in the funny farm ;)

K thanks guys LOL :p

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Originally Posted by orange

This might be slightly off the topic, but what annoys me is when I give a thorough answer to a question, and then a while later (not simultaneously), someone else gives an almost identical answer, without commenting that they agree with me or even acknowledging that I've posted. Is it that they don't see my reply for some reason? Because it almost seems like copying... this has happened to me quite a few times.

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Yes, there are a couple of people very much like that here. They are more interested in their rep (point totals) then they are in helping. I always review all previous answers to a question. If I feel the question has already been answered, then I skip it. I would have to be able to add something substantitive to the previous answers for me to add a post.

That being said, there are some questions where the force of opinion does matter. So it does make sense for people to add their 2 cents to increase the numbers. However, the Rating system does allow people to do that.

As for plagiarism, with technical questions especially, there isn't always a lot of different ways to answer. So unless the person does a copy and paste job (as has happened to me), I would say it was plagiarism. But its certainly not a practice I condone. As I said, I would not add my 2 cents unless I can contribute something that adds to the previous replies.

On the other hand, people can usually see when someone is doing this. I've received feedback about one of the prime offenders showing that people recognize the pattern very quickly. They really don't fool people and generally damage their own reps by their actions.