German minister denies plagiarism on PhD thesis

[Gerald]

Germany's defence minister has denied newspaper allegations that he committed plagiarism in his PhD thesis.

Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg got top marks for his 2006 law dissertation from the University of Bayreuth.

But the Suddeutsche Zeitung says several long passages in the thesis seem to have just been lifted from other people's work.

The telegenic minister has dismissed the accusations as "absurd".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12489762


Note: 17 February 2011 Last updated at 01:14 GMT

[Gerald]

Germany's defence minister has given up his doctoral title for good, after allegations that he had plagiarised sections of his thesis.

Last week Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said he would temporarily give up the title while his university investigated the charges.

The University of Bayreuth says he has now asked them to retract his doctorate in law, according to German TV.

Mr Guttenberg admitted that he had made "serious mistakes".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12532877

Note: Update Record,22 February 2011 Last updated at 00:27 GMT

[Gerald]

You knew very well what it's all about, who fabricated the paper that would benefit you :down:

[the_tyrant]

"lifted from other people's work"

With the new computer anti cheating software traditional plagiarism has almost no chance of success.
Why didn't he hire someone to help him form a thesis?

[Gammelpreusse]

"lifted from other people's work"

With the new computer anti cheating software traditional plagiarism has almost no chance of success.
Why didn't he hire someone to help him form a thesis?

lol, there even are rumors stating exactly that, somebody else got hired to write it for him.

Fun, but I doubt it will damage Guttenberg's political career beyond repair.

[Gerald]

lol, there even are rumors stating exactly that, somebody else got hired to write it for him.

Fun, but I doubt it will damage Guttenberg's political career beyond repair.Do not say it, a small bird can easily become larger,anyway, so it became problematic in view of trust.

[Skybird]

A PhD is not worth much anymore. That should not minimise those writing their dissertation with honest effort currently, but it is a simple truth. You can buy the title, you can paste and copy other author's work, you can can hire ghostwriters, and the inflationary presence of PhD titles in certain circles of power and influence is more than just smelling suspicious. Plus that the methodological standards in different achademic branches vary widely regarding what methodological competence must be shown in order to succeed with your PhD - in some branches, like medicine, it is a bad joke.

Guttenberg knows how to sell himself to the public, but he is just another poltiicians, and his top priority his himself. Whenever he is in danger of getting into troubled waters, he starts kicking other people and in a very haughty manner, and this has become a pattern with him from the very beginning of his days as defence minister.

So now he even has lost his claim to be honest and "playing by the rules". In other words, the noble man has lost his honour - and he still plays the media game from a high horse. Why the majority of Germans still support this blender just because he sells himself so well to the media, is beyond me. Once again I think people want to be deceived.

He is just another politician. He's just another blender .

[Gerald]

Although a PhD is not worth much as this harms him indirectly, even if he is how good any time of the "marketing effort" so of course I agree .... he is one of the crowd anyway right now

[NeonSamurai]

He is a numbskull for not doing what all good writers do... paraphrasing. Precious little that is written is at all original (heck its often frowned on, which is why most papers need to be rife with pretty much nothing but references).

Also of course the people want to be deceived, this is why stations like Fox news (and pretty much the rest of the media) exist. People don't want to think for themselves, thinking is hard and scary, and worst of all it makes you responsible for your own actions and everything. Nobody wants that... So much easier to have someone else spoon-feed it to you, that way you can blame them if you ever realize they got it wrong.

[the_tyrant]

He is a numbskull for not doing what all good writers do... paraphrasing. Precious little that is written is at all original (heck its often frowned on, which is why most papers need to be rife with pretty much nothing but references).

Also of course the people want to be deceived, this is why stations like Fox news (and pretty much the rest of the media) exist. People don't want to think for themselves, thinking is hard and scary, and worst of all it makes you responsible for your own actions and everything. Nobody wants that... So much easier to have someone else spoon-feed it to you, that way you can blame them if you ever realize they got it wrong.

Quoting from memory:
Lisa:"I don't think its such a good idea."
Homer:"you see honey, we have elected officials to prevent us from thinking"
Lisa:"I still think its not a good idea"
Homer:"tsk, tsk, tsk, theres the 't' word again"
:rotfl2:

[Schroeder]

@Skybird

Don't even get me started that his thesis got him a "Summa Cum Laude".:damn:
That's where it's really getting nasty for me. How can such junk get the best possible mark? I somehow have trouble to believe that Guttenberg's doctoral adviser wasn't bought or at the very least a fellow party member/sympathiser.

What pi**es me off to no end is that now all academics get the reputation of being copy cats and that it is awfully easy to get any degree. For someone like me who has sweat blood and water to get his own thesis finished in time and played by the rules this is really frustrating.:damn::damn::damn:

[Skybird]

@ Schroeder:

We worry too much about Guttenberg. The real important issue is this:

link (http://www.welt.de/debatte/henryk-m-broder/article12617887/Hella-von-Sinnen-als-Flugobjekt-ueber-Oberstdorf.html?print=true#reqdrucken)

:D

[Schroeder]

I'm still waiting for a debate like that...actually I expect the PC brigade to start one every minute now.:dead:

[Gerald]

This one,

http://www.welt.de/debatte/henryk-m-broder/article12617887/Hella-von-Sinnen-als-Flugobjekt-ueber-Oberstdorf.html?print=true#reqdrucken

[Schroeder]

That's the very same article that Skybird posted.;)

[Gerald]

That's the very same article that Skybird posted.;) Can you tell what it is about :hmmm: my German is not working for all word

[Schroeder]

It's just comedy.
The article makes fun of the political correctness and suggest to establish a female quota for ski jumping and a men quota for delivery rooms.

We've recently had a discussion in Germany about forcing a female quota for executive boards of big companies. Fortunately the thought was abandoned (or at least postponed for now).

P.S.
Guttenberg's doctor title has been sacked.:yeah:
That was the only right solution. Now he just needs to step down.

[Gerald]

Ok, thank you I have the picture clear, he will disappear voluntarily or....

[Penguin]

und tschüss:

Guttenberg resigns
http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20110301-33419.html

I am happy for all AC/DC fans who would like to hunt him through the streets for being a yuppie who listens to their music, it's now easier for you guys! :D

[Gerald]

und tschüss:

Guttenberg resigns
http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20110301-33419.html

I am happy for all AC/DC fans who would like to hunt him through the streets for being a yuppie who listens to their music, it's now easier for you guys! :D Thanks mate for the update,here is a link in English,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12608083

[Gerald]

German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg resigned after admitting copying large parts of his doctoral thesis. But why was he so keen to be a doctor in the first place?

You would think that Karl-Theodor Maria Nikolaus Johann Jacob Philipp Franz Joseph Sylvester Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg had enough titles.

In Germany, the "von" and "zu" denote aristocracy and he has both. And the word "Freiherr" means "Baron".

But if you want real clout in politics, being a doctor is desirable and that was his downfall. The title in front of even such a grand name is desirable, but not if it is the product of the work of others.

Royal fascination

Germans do set great store by the ornaments of status.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9410282.stm


Note; Update Record: Thursday, 3 March 2011

[Gerald]

Skybird,can I called you Von Skybird,is it OK, or do you prefer another title :DL

[Skybird]

My name is Bird. Sky von Bird. :D

[Gerald]

My name is Bird. Sky von Bird. :D Sky von Bird,great name :DL