Although I don't report much in the way of advice, (I prefer to email the author if they are regularly online - or not an habitual offender), I am anal about advice being ORIGINAL, and REASONABLY FACTUAL (at least to the author's knowledge), not an email, and not a poem (with the exception of original ones that provide a message/moral/lesson).

Well, a while back in September I got to talking to another member about it, and I put together this list and emailed it to her.  I have been feeling guilty about it ever since, as I prefer to take the direct approach, and be honest - even if it annoys people.  So, even though it will probably annoy people - and confirm that I am too anal, here is that list. 

The list is no reflection of my opinion of any of the authors, it is just to show what sort of advice isn't advice in my opinion... However, I have since come to the conclusion, that I am too quick to judge in this area, and as everyone else thinks it's advice - then who am I to say it isn't.

However, have people had a really good look at what is being passed off as advice?  When is it alright to steal other peoples intellectual property and claim it as your own?  NEVER and why would you?!?  Well that is what plagiarism means, and there are a few instances of that below.  When is it ok to copyright other people's work?  NEVER ever!  There are also a couple of examples of that below.

Other than the comment feature, which I love, the other reason I think Minti stands out from it's peers is because it contains 'advice by parents, for parents'.  I define that as being advice written by parents, not advice cut and pasted by parents.

No offense to anyone who has posted a lovely email, or poem to share with us; I believe we need to start a group to showcase this email advice, on the following proviso:  It is deemed valid, and not a hoax; it does not breach copyright in any way; the sources are cited to avoid plagiarism.  When moving those advice postings, all the great comments that went along with them could also be cut and pasted.

Emails (presented as emails)

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4938/HousefiresGot-this-email-and-thought-it-important/ 

by Cookclan

Snopes says this is false, so does Hoaxslayer and a few other Minti members

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6204/What-it-means-to-be-a-Mean-Mum/

by Wolonfab

This is just a cut and paste of an email from Kidspot

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7361/Lock-your-car-doors-whle-driving-or-at-petrol-stations/

by angelicarose

Another hoax email – confirmed by hoax slayer and a few other Minti members

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6073/Signs-of-a-stroke/

D: by natelz1

Another email that does the rounds… Apparently the advice is true – though the story is somewhat embellished.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2953/Dusting-Can-Kill-You/

by LaRenae

Another email that does the rounds… Unfortunately this tragic advice is true – though the dust off is actually compressed gas – not compressed air.

www.minti.com/parenting-advice/3819/Stolen-Store-Cards/

by LaRenae

There is an element of truth to this email, however it only applies to cards that you can use for online or over the phone purchases.  See Snopes.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/1622/The-Price-of-Children/

by Tammy13

As it states, it is an email, the monetary figures are debatable, and it really belongs in a blog, not advice, even though it is nice - it is not original .

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5281/Memo-to-Mums--Dads/

by Gypsie

Nice sentiment, not parenting advice though.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5612/The-Price-of-Children/

R: by Kellzacar

As it states, it is an email, the monetary figures are debatable, and it really belongs in a blog, not advice - even though it is nice,  it is not original and it has already been posted by tammy13 in September 2006.
This email was voted not in breach, but has since been deleted by the member.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6746/WHY-WE-SHOULD-HAVE-A-GLASS-OF-WARM-WATER-WITH-DINNER/

R: by tassiebiarch

Snopes have this listed as false; urbanlegendsabout.com list it as false; hoaxslayer list it as false as well.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7758/SWEET-POISON-A-MUST-READ-this-could-be-making-your-children-sick/

by robynyum

Snopes list it as false; hoaxbusters list it as false; There are a few other sites that list this as a hoax, and if you look up more scientific sites, they will explain more about the levels of aspartame used in sweeteners and what is approved in different countries. 

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6073/Signs-of-a-stroke/

D: by natelz1

Another email that does the rounds… Apparently the advice is true – though the story is somewhat embellished.

Emails (not cited as emails)

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/8296/Strokes--Do-you-know-what-to-do-or-look-out-for/

R: by kellzacar

The first half of this advice is from personal experience, however the 2nd part is basically cut and paste from an email (see Signs of Stroke, listed below in the email section).  The information within the email part is factual - however the source is not cited.  The email in question was posted in May 2007 by natelz01.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7552/ICE-Campaign-In-Case-of-Emergency/

by Kellzacar

The first 1/3 is the authors personal forenote, the remaining 2/3s are basically cut and paste directly from an email.  This email contains factual information, as the ICE campaign was started in the UK in 2005, and many versions have circulated since around the net and in blogs etc.  It is not credited as an email, and it is not original advice.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7031/A-Once-In-A-Lifetime-Opportunity------/

R: by Kellzacar

This email is a hoax as pointed out by other minti members, and an admin member also commented that it should be in a blog... It is not cited as an email (which it is), and is not  original advice.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/5236/Email-Safety-Advice-SO-VERY-VERY-IMPORTANT/

R: by Kellzacar

With the exception of the introduction, about 80% of this advice is actually a direct copy and paste from an email that circulates, and is also posted in various blogs on the internet.  While it is good advice, it is not original advice.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6591/Australian-Police-MUST-READ-a-must-for-all-parents/

by Kellzacar

While the information about the alternative emergency number 112 is correct in Australia - it is not some big secret as advised.  The rest of the story is an urban myth that originated in the USA.  There are various versions of it that have been making the rounds for a couple of years.  This has been pointed out by 3 other Minti members also, and is listed on hoaxslayer, snopes and family.com.au.  It is not original advice and the source is not cited.

Poems

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6732/Poem-Shadows-of-Loss/

by LisaPetrarca

This is touching and original, it is a good bye to her little brother… It doesn’t contain advice, however it could help other people who are grieving - blackwidowkate recommended putting it on the Minti Memorial Wall (group), a good idea.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6738/Parenthood/

by Kellzacar

An original poem, very nice, but not really advisory in anyway... Should be in a personal blog, or the poems group.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6161/MUMS-THE-WORD/

R: by jd2

This poem is on Jo’s mug – the author is unknown.  It is nice, but it doesn’t contain any advice and isn’t original, even though it is nice.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7205/Babys-Words-another-poem-/

R: by belinda03

This poem is by Frank Greg – you can email it to friends, however if you wish to use the poem on your web page you are meant to contact the author – he would probably want to be given credit for his work too.  I think this advice posting breaches copyright.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/6171/A-freindship-poem-for-minti-friends/

R: by anonymous

Original posting was from jd2; she wanted everything deleted, however this didn't get voted off?  This is the link to the site of poems by Jean Kyler McManus - I think this advice posting breaches copyright.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/7178/For-All-Mothers-/

by belinda03

This poem has been passed around by email for a few years and is now appearing on plenty of other blogs and websites online.  It isn’t original and it isn’t advice – not sure who the author is.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/2648/A-woman-should-know/

by mrsbrown4701

This poem has been passed around by email for a few years and is now appearing on plenty of other blogs and websites online – the uncredited author is Maya Angelou.

http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4362/A-must-read-for-ever-parent/

R: by skylee

This poem was written by Samantha Reynolds in 2000. At the time her daughter was 7years old and neither she nor her daughter had ever used crystal meth which is the original version of the poem (not tick).  It could be construed as advice, however it is just another one of those email poems that go around and is obviously not original.

Do you think that it is harsh, or that it is ok to do now and then?  Well think of it this way, would you like it if it was YOUR intellectual property being posted without your permission, and someone else took credit for YOUR work?  How would you feel?  What would you think of that person? 

Do you think that it is targeting people to single out their advice postings?  No it doesn't, it is about the advice articles, not the authors.  There are advice postings and blogs all over this site in regard to copyright, plagiarism and citing your sources - ignorance is not an excuse.