How not to plagiarize your Ph.D. thesis

[D.Turtle]

Oh, no doubt it is a short-term loss for them. The question remains how strong and how long that will be. It wouldn't surprise me a lot to see him still be active on the political scene as a "normal" citizen.

[Serafina]

Oh, no doubt it is a short-term loss for them. The question remains how strong and how long that will
be. It wouldn't surprise me a lot to see him still be active on the political scene as a "normal" citizen.

Really?
That would be quite a novelty - politicians around here generally do not pull a Palin and stay politicaly active (and having an impact) when out of office, party position and therefore power. Some do - but those are usually minor figures who never had much of either.

That being said, yes, it could happen. I was sadly mistaken, and while a lot of people do not LIKE what he did, many view it as unrelated to his office and not as some sort of inexcusable mistake. I tend to explain what he did as "it's like forging your report cards in school", which changes that opinon. I guess they don't understand the academic world well enough (and the media isn't really explaining it).

[FTeik]

Ask them how they would feel, if they'd applied for a job and the other guy only got selected, because his (forged) grades were better.

Because there is damage done, despite his fans thinking differently.

[Serafina]

Ask them how they would feel, if they'd applied for a job and the other guy only got selected, because his (forged) grades were better.

Because there is damage done, despite his fans thinking differently.

That's the purpose of my explanation - they are just more familiar with the importance of your report cards (or whatever the right word is, the sum of your grades that you get at the end of each year in school, especially important in your graduation year) than with the importance of a Ph.D thesis. I suppose the latter strikes them solely as reasearch work or something, not as something you need as an entry requirement for something.

[D.Turtle]

Really?
That would be quite a novelty - politicians around here generally do not pull a Palin and stay politicaly active (and having an impact) when out of office, party position and therefore power. Some do - but those are usually minor figures who never had much of either.

That being said, yes, it could happen. I was sadly mistaken, and while a lot of people do not LIKE what he did, many view it as unrelated to his office and not as some sort of inexcusable mistake. I tend to explain what he did as "it's like forging your report cards in school", which changes that opinon. I guess they don't understand the academic world well enough (and the media isn't really explaining it).

I was thinking in the vein of appearing in political rallies (Wahlkampfveranstaltungen), talk shows, etc. where you have lots of inactive politicians participate.

And yeah, I think most laypeople do not understand the importance of a doctoral thesis. Equating it with a final exam, or something similar seems to be the best way to describe it.

[Dahak]

Good riddance to bad rubbish, all around.
I was so very ashamed for my country (and still am, somewhat, given the support he still enjoys...)

[Thanas]

It is good that he is gone. However, I very much doubt it will have any long term impact. Just wait until Seehofer screws up again and guess who the CSU will look to. Heck, Gutenberg already did the spin in his farewell address.

[Aharon]

Yes, this farewell adress angered me. "Oh no, it's not actually about what I did wrong. It's just the media attacking me!"

SpiegelOnline already drew analogies to Strauss, who had to resign as defence minister in 1962 because of the Spiegel affair, but returned as minister of the treasury in 1966. I fear they may be right. In a few years, the whole thing will be forgotten.

[Serafina]

Yes, this farewell adress angered me. "Oh no, it's not actually about what I did wrong. It's just the media attacking me!"

SpiegelOnline already drew analogies to Strauss, who had to resign as defence minister in 1962 because of the Spiegel affair, but returned as minister of the treasury in 1966. I fear they may be right. In a few years, the whole thing will be forgotten.

Now that i can see happening. Well, at least he has SOME qualities, and he is certainly less of a jackass than Strauss (tough that's not hard), but i am not certain whether those should be enough to be a minister of anything.

[Skgoa]

Well, the internet doesn't forget, so I still have some hope in that regard.

The aftermath of the scandal: de Maizière is replacing him as Defense Minister, the now open Interior Ministry is given to a conservatard who has publicly stated his support for censorship and survaillance* and Guttenberg's fans are going to have a problem with the police if they really believe "lets meet in front of the Bundestag" is all it takes to organize a rally.
At least this disgusting level of abuse of wounded and fallen soldiers for political gain will hopefully end now.

* de Maizière has been a rather... inactive Interior Minister, lets see if this change in the cabinet boosts the PirateParty's election results as much as I think it will.

[Thanas]

Meh. Friedrich has been open to compromise in the past, so he might actually do a good job. And the FDP is much more active in opposing any measures that erode civil liberties like the ones the SPD and the CDU tried to enact over the following days.

However, de Maizière was definitely a good Interior Minister. Sad to see him go.