Regarding Ben Domenech

March 27th, 2006

Plenty has already been said regarding the circumstances that have led to Ben’s resignation from the Washington Post, and the soon demise of the Red America blog (for reasons other than Ben’s transgressions).

Plagarism is never acceptable. It is theft, plain and simple.

I believe Ben understands that he did wrong, and he is suffering the consequences of his actions. Journalists and both blogging houses on the right and the left have denounced what he did (though some on the extreme left also resorted to gutter-lever ad hominem directed towards the WaPo, as well as toward Ben and his family. Such expressions of hatred and nastiness are reprehensible).

A majority of bloggers, who are not necessarily journalists in the traditional sense, understand the importance of citing sources, lest they be also be accused of theft. A violation of that simple rule by one affects us all.

Ben has expressed sincere remorse, apologized, and is making amends. I will only say this and be done with the matter: Go and sin no more. To quote Jim Rose:

[Ben will] deal with this the way good men do and his friends and allies in the blogosphere will keep up the good fight for the truth. That’s what separates us from them.

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Filed under Commentary |

5 Responses to “Regarding Ben Domenech”

  1. DarkStar on March 27, 2006 March 27, 2006 - 5:50 pm

    Sorry, but did people say that for Jayson Blair?

  2. D.C. Thornton on March 27, 2006 March 27, 2006 - 7:13 pm

    I don’t speak for other people here; I only speak for myself.

    Jayson Blair has offered plenty of reasons and excuses for what he did, but he has not offered one sincere apology. To date, he has blamed everybody and everything but himself — following the “victim” route along with Stephen Glass.

    I personally forgave Jayson some time ago, but I’m unable to forget how he handled the matter. He should have shown contrition and accepted full responsibility, which Ben has done.

  3. DarkStar on March 27, 2006 March 27, 2006 - 9:19 pm

    But if your life is making a living on the accuracy of your words, once you get caught misusing your craft, you should get no second chances.

  4. D.C. Thornton on March 28, 2006 March 28, 2006 - 5:58 am

    Agreed.

    To my understanding, none of Ben’s former employers are giving him him a second chance, just as none were freely given to Jayson.

    Showing remorse and accepting responsibility are two steps in making amends, even with the justifiable penalty of being shunned professionally as a plagarist and never being allowed to work in journalism or publishing again.

  5. michael bernstein on March 28, 2006 March 28, 2006 - 11:54 am

    “the justifiable penalty of being shunned professionally as a plagarist and never being allowed to work in journalism or publishing again.”

    Do keep in mind that (thank goodness) there is no professional licensing requirement for journalists. So, while he’ll certainly suffer from reduced career opportunities, there is little chance he will stop working in the industry except voluntarily.

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