How-to: The Duplicate Content Myth

I came across a post earlier in the year by Panos over on Wordpress Blogger Tips exploding the myth about duplicate content, with particular reference to Wordpress.com serviced sites. "Duplicate content means substantive blocks of material that exist more than once in the web – in other words, substantive blocks of material that can be accessed via more than one URL. For example, if you write a lengthy reply in someone else’s blog or in a forum, and then publish this reply as a post in your own blog (with or without changes), that’s duplicate content." The myth in question, peddled by “SEO” (Search Engine Optimization) sites, being that duplicate content on their blog is a cardinal sin and the wrath of Google will fall upon them. Quoting the head of Wordpress Support: "I wouldn’t believe anything written on any SEO blog. Ever..."