Google Buzz Case Study – Catching Criminals

Plagiarism is a way of life if you publish content online.  As difficult as it may be, stopping cyber-criminals from stealing your precious and original content is hard to do.  However, I recently observed something unfold before my eyes that was inspiring.  Nothing to do with police, rather a bit of a social scolding.  In the old days (ok, at least before my time), there was a hat that a troublemaker classmate would be required to wear as they say in front of the class.  On the hat was the word “Dunce”.  The point was to use peer humiliation to encourage a rogue student to think twice about mis-behaving.  While I’m not sure if this approach would fly in today’s public schools, it was effective.  The person wearing the hat was embarrassed, and on looking classmates, while laughing, knew their fate if they crossed the teacher.  It seems this social scolding has made a comeback.  This time it is with Google Buzz, and we are all the teacher.

Google Buzz Case Study – Catching Criminals

A popular blogger, Darren Rowse of Problogger.net re-posted an odd request he received from someone who was stealing his content, and republishing it as his own (more on content stealing here).  The thief had asked to guest post at Problogger.net as a form of apology for stealing his content.  The conversation unfolded right before my eyes in a matter of hours, and I thought it a good example of how a social community can go to bat for you, even righting some wrongs.

I turned on the camera as I reviewed this buzz stream, and thought I’d share it here.   If you cannot see the video for some reason, it’s on the MarketingProfessor YouTube Channel here.

Thanks to Darren Rowse for opening up his inbox on this and sharing an issue that impacts many who are publishing content online.

Thoughts? Experience with Google Buzz? Chime in with your own thoughts, ideas, and feedback below.
Image Credit: cogdogblog