NOTE: Apparently, the article at the examiner has been updated to reflect the true source. Although the clarification only covers a part of the plagiarism. Here is a PDF of the edited article with the source pointed out. (11:40 am 08/07/2009)In case anyone missed it, over the past few days, Doug Bauknight, TravelPro, and the Atlanta Family Travel Examiner has been defending Candy May against my assertion that she was deceptive in her presentation and blog. I stand by my assertions and Doug can defend her all he likes.
But before I lend any credence to any of his assertions, I feel it only fair to bring up a little problem that was brought to my attention last night. For the past several months, Doug has been "writing" a column for The Examiner and passing himself off as The Atlanta Family Travel Examiner. Of course this is a great opportunity to get your name out there; and hey, he can promote his little pyramid scheme every now and then.
But how much trust can you put into an author, who plagiarizes someone's work and claims it as his own? Seems to me this would be a serious breach of trust to his readers, and it also calls into question his own moral compass. I dare to say that this is even a lot more serious than Candy's purposeful deception of traveling like a rock star. And in a tremendous twist of irony, his post yesterday was called The Lies Keep Growing... Read on!
In September of 2000, FamilyDoctor.org (The American Academy of Family Physicians) published an article entitled International Travel: Tips for Staying Healthy. It was updated in April 2008. Here is an excerpt from the article:
Before you goWhile you're traveling
- Plan ahead. If you need any immunizations or vaccinations, see your doctor at least 6 weeks before you leave. Some vaccines don't reach the highest protection until about 6 weeks after you get the shots.
- Have medical and dental check-ups before your trip, to be aware of problems and to find out about medicines you might need to take along.
- Be prepared. Find out what your health insurance will pay for if you see a doctor while you're in another country. Carry enough of your regular medicines in their original containers, along with extra prescriptions for them. Also bring your eyewear prescriptions. Wear a medical information bracelet if needed. Take along a first-aid kit (see suggestions below).
- Eat carefully if you're going to a country with an increased risk of traveler's diarrhea. Steaming-hot, well-cooked food is usually safest. Avoid eating foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products and raw or uncooked seafood. Peel fruits yourself. Drink water from commercially-sealed bottles or drink carbonated beverages. Avoid ice. Use bottled water when you brush your teeth.
- If you're going to a country with a risk of malaria, your doctor may prescribe preventive medicine for malaria. Remember to start taking your malaria medicine before you leave on your trip, take it during your travels and keep taking it for 4 weeks after you get home.
- Avoid swimming and other water activities in freshwater lakes and streams. Schistosomiasis (also called bilharziasis) is a disease you might be exposed to in some African streams and lakes.
- If you're going to a country with an increased risk of mosquito-borne disease, protect yourself against insects. Insect repellents that contain DEET work the best. Wear permethrin-coated clothing and use bed nets while you sleep.
- Try to avoid taking overcrowded transportation. Try not to ride in vehicles without safety belts. Wear a helmet if you'll be riding a motorcycle. Try to avoid driving at night or in unfamiliar areas without local help and directions.
Before you go:While Doug may not agree with some of the articles I have written, I can at least state that they are my own original work. Unfortunately, this simply further illustrates the lengths that some people will go to deceive. And no, because he removed bullets does not make it "his" work.
Plan ahead. If you need any immunizations or vaccinations, see your doctor at least 6 weeks before you leave. Some vaccines don't reach the highest protection until about 6 weeks after you get the shots.
Have medical and dental check-ups before your trip, to be aware of problems and to find out about medicines you might need to take along.
Be prepared. Find out what your health insurance will pay for if you see a doctor while you're in another country. Carry enough of your regular medicines in their original containers, along with extra prescriptions for them. Also bring your eyewear prescriptions. Wear a medical information bracelet if needed. Take along a first-aid kit.
While you're traveling:
Eat carefully if you're going to a country with an increased risk of traveler's diarrhea. Steaming-hot, well-cooked food is usually safest. Avoid eating foods from street vendors, unpasteurized dairy products and raw or uncooked seafood. Peel fruits yourself. Drink water from commercially-sealed bottles or drink carbonated beverages. Avoid ice. Use bottled water when you brush your teeth.
If you're going to a country with a risk of malaria, your doctor may prescribe preventive medicine for malaria. Remember to start taking your malaria medicine before you leave on your trip, take it during your travels and keep taking it for 4 weeks after you get home.
Avoid swimming and other water activities in freshwater lakes and streams. Schistosomiasis (also called bilharziasis) is a disease you might be exposed to in some African streams and lakes.
If you're going to a country with an increased risk of mosquito-borne disease, protect yourself against insects. Insect repellents that contain DEET work the best. Wear permethrin-coated clothing and use bed nets while you sleep.
Try to avoid taking overcrowded transportation. Try not to ride in vehicles without safety belts. Wear a helmet if you'll be riding a motorcycle. Try to avoid driving at night or in unfamiliar areas without local help and directions.
While these tips won't guarantee perfect health, they will certainly aid in protecting your most valuable possessions for you and your family while traveling.
For more info: You can follow Doug on Twitter for more updates or become a friend on Facebook. Doug and his family own BandBVacations.com, which hosts an online booking engine.
But as many assumed, it does not stop with a single column.
He posted this column July 30, 2009 (PDF Version). Most, not all, of the content was lifted from a Tip Diva column posted on April 25, 2008.
And take a look at his column of July 23, 2009 (PDF Version) where he lifted a full paragraph from this December 31, 2007 column from SmartMoney.
What does this say about the ethics of this "leader" in YTB? I wonder how the 30 people in his downline feel knowing that he steals other people's work and claims it to be his own. I wonder how the rightful owners of the content feel knowing their hard work and efforts were plundered by some self proclaimed TravelPro? How does The Examiner feel knowing that a person they are paying for his "expertise" is not really an expert at all and is simply a master of cut and paste? I wonder what Coach thinks? After all he is the one that says "if it ain't right don't do it." Is this right?
Kind of makes you think and puts a little more perspective into YTB and the people they claim to be "leaders".
