Imitation

[ThePerfectionist]

Normally when I start a thread, I go on for a paragraph or two about nothing before cutting to the chase. Today, not so.

Why is imitation no longer the sincerest form of flattery?

We've all heard the expression, and it makes a very good point. It's extremely flattering to have someone do something that you did, or say something that you said, because it suggests that they hold you in high regard (unless they do it sarcastically, but that's not the point here).

The problem is that it's getting so that a person can't DO this anymore without looking like nothing more than a cheap knock-off. It's hard for a good idea to catch on when everyone besides the first person who did it are regarded as copycats.

Yes, in case you are wondering, I do have an example in mind. Two, actually. Let's compare a situation that occurred six years ago to one that almost occurred a few weeks ago.

Six years ago, a girl I met online started presenting her 'display name' on MSN in the form of a song lyric, rather than just saying her name, or some nickname, or something like that. I, being a music lover, thought this was a brilliant idea. I started doing the same, currently still do so, and have actually caused at least two other people to start as well.

Conversely,

A few weeks ago I came across a fellow in these forums who posts a dual reply to every thread he comments on, one from himself and one from "Calumon". Presumably, this is a way for him to get his silliness or off-beat response out of the way while allowing himself to also be serious, but I don't know his reasoning for sure. Either way, I thought this was rather clever, and being that I'm also a Digimon fan (and am currently converting my girlfriend into one), the idea crossed my mind to do something in the same vein, but I was immediately deterred by the fact that anyone who had seen this other guy (whose name is escaping me) would immediately jump down my throat for copying him.

Well, yes, of course I would be copying him. He had a great idea. That's how ideas spread, by people picking them up. Someone figured out putting on a mask in hockey was a lot safer than not having one. It caught on. Someone white figured out what black people knew for generations; that slavery was wrong. Eventually, that also caught on. Ideas, both good and bad, spread like an infection, from one person to another.

What I don't see is why this is suddenly regarded as a bad thing.

Okay, yes, I could see the complaint if I somehow tried to take credit for this alter-ego idea, because it's not mine. It's whatever-his-name-is' idea. But I don't see why it should be regarded as anything other than a massive compliment to the fellow if I, or indeed anyone, should start doing the same.

 

[Aurgelmir]

Well the thing is that there is a difference between copying and imitating.

Imitation is doing the same but slightly different. Like iPhones and Androids, you could argue that Androind is an imitation of iOS.

But what you are suggesting is copying someone else's unique personality on a forum. People will consider this as you trying to "be like him" and "steal his thunder".

Imitation just dont work on everything and everyone sadly, and the internet is a cruel ***** that will criticizes your every move.

 

[Anjel]

I still think imitation is the highest form of flattery... copying, as your first replier said, is completely different.

Unfortunately the anonymity of the internet means if you copy or imitate another individual you can expect trolls to be out in their hundreds and before you know it you're the subject of another meme. I mean, look at that 40 year old Justin Bieber fella.

Be careful

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

I think you're speaking of Jack and Calumon.

And I think while copying him may not be "wrong", as such, it may well be in bad taste, as it is his idea, and his custom. Also, difference is the spice of life; if you need to stand out from the crowd, maybe it is better to do so in your own unique way, rather than by copying someone else?

 

[Anjel]

said nothing

I find someone acting like me to be very annoying; I cherish my uniqueness.

It is however still flattering to know someone wishes to be like me

 

[Casual Shinji]

Someone white figured out what black people knew for generations; that slavery was wrong.

Yeah, it's not like there weren't more than enough Africans ready to sell their countrymen into slavery back in those days.

No siree, not one.

I guess that was another idea that caught on; Sell your countrymen to rich white people.

 

[Anjel]

Well, aren't you just the flattering little annoying thing ever, lol.

I joke, I joke...

 

[Anjel]

So was I, lol.

Don't worry, I aint mean.

Your lies. I see through them

 

[Gregg Lonsdale]

There's an old saying, "Anything that's clever is only clever once".

 

[Anjel]

So was I, lol.

Don't worry, I aint mean.

Your lies. I see through them

I've no idea why that was so funny, but that made me lol pretty good.

I just realised we're talking to each other in at least two different threads... now either you're stalking me, I'm stalking you or it's coincidence... and Anjel doesn't believe in no coincidence, nor have I ever stalked anybody since yesterday. So, explain yourself!

 

[Nikolaz72]

said nothing

I find someone acting like me to be very annoying; I cherish my uniqueness.

It is however still flattering to know someone wishes to be like me

Well, aren't you just the flattering little annoying thing ever, lol.

I cherish my uniqueness, it can be annoying when I find someone acting like me.

However, it is still flattering to know that there is someone who wishes to be like me.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

There's a difference between imitation and outright copying of someone else's idea.

To use the 'Jack and Calumon' example:
Imitation is present in the occasional threads that come out as 'wtf is Calumon and why?', in which pretty much every poster ends with a line from their avatar.
Copying would be ending all of your posts ever with a line from your avatar knowing full well someone else does the same.

Another example... The song lyric thing you mentioned.
Imitation is using another lyric from another song, copying would be using the same one.

 

[Anjel]

Stalk, me? No. Never.

*pulls out notepad and makes notes about time and place Anjel looked in my general direction*

*sighs heavily*

It's okay. I'm flattered because I cherish my uniqueness, it can be annoying when I find someone acting like me.

However, it is still flattering to know that there is someone who wishes to be like me.

 

[Ambi]

My friends and I used to have arguments about this kind of stuff all the time. It was utterly ridiculous because we used to ***** about things like favourite colours. I remember watching Lizzie McGuire as a kid and there was this episode where this younger girl started copying everything about her and the girl became really popular and Gordo started to like her instead of Lizzie. I guess people get jealous and feel cheated because not only are they trying to steal not only the idea, but the rewards reaped from it, and they become a rival. They feel whatever's being copied is more of an expressing of themselves than the other person and sometimes I hear young girls bitching about "fake people" and having this BS notion of individuality.

People "steal" from others all the time. People also mistake memory for imagination sometimes, or sometimes they genuinely think of something without knowing that other people who thought of it too. The thing is to know what aspects are acceptable to imitate and how you should go about it. Copying something as a whole is more pathetic than copying a few small aspects of it. It's okay as long as you can let parts of your own personality show through it, if you don't come across as vain, if you actually copy it in a way that incorporates it with something genuinely creative or merges it with something else in a creative way, and you give due credit and don't act all conceited as if you created it. I'll admit, some things are pathetic because they're copied.

Listen to this song. What do you think of the similarities?

 

[Erana]

And yet, if you were to say, befriend Jack and make it clear that you were sort of roleplaying along with him for the fun of it, few would frown upon it.
It would still be copying him, yes, but it would be alieviated of its stigma. What's happening here isn't a stigma for copying something, but our culture's obsession with plagiarism. Honestly, I think we condemn it far too harshly- forgetting to attribute a well-known quote in the wrong way has ended careers.

 

[Jonluw]

In the case of the entertainment industry:
Because what if the imitation gets some of the sales that would otherwise have went to the original!!!!

Moneyyyy!

Okay, okay, I read your entire post now. The reason why, if you copy, for example, Jack & Calumon, you'll be looked down upon is that you're not doing anything new.
Sure, imitating someone might be flattering to the person being imitated, but the person imitating is still just outright copying someone else. People can't, and shouldn't, give you credit for having a good and original idea, because you just took it from someone else. You're not creating anything new, you're not contributing anything, you're just blindly parroting someone else's good idea. You've demonstrated a complete lack of ability and/or willingess to make a sophisticated thought and produce something original. Of course we would look down upon you for doing nothing new, nothing that sets you out as an individual, instead opting for copying a popular person.
You don't have to admire the imitator to be flattered by his actions.
Sure, imitation is the highest form of flattering, but flatterers aren't normally looked up upon in society, are they?

A good imitation is one that does what Yahtzee says about sequels. It is one that uses the material it wants to imitate as a jumping off point. Takes the idea further, while giving a wink back to the original. But then it isn't an imitation. It's more of an homage.

In any case: The imitator may still be an admirable person, but he will always be looked upon as less than the person he's imitating. By imitating someone, you are automatically placing yourself below the one you're imitating in the hierarchy. You are saying you can never be as good or original as this other person by your own merits, so you will instead copy what he does.

There's an old saying, "Anything that's clever is only clever once".

And this is very very true.