Bugs (c) Warner Bros
No man is ever great by imitation.
-- Samuel Johnson
i had an unusual experience last saturday. of course on a weekend, the sts are usually swarmed by holidayers. trolleys were crowding the sidewalk when, a guy came out of nowhere and without much ado, rolled the trolleys in the middle of the st that caused confusion. everybody was in shock, one trolley after another was pushed right in the middle of the road... cars honked, people cussed, but nobody did anything. the guy eventually left, none of us knew where he came from, what possessed him to do the unthinkable and if he was ever coming back to undo it. minutes ticked by and the guy was a no-show... i wondered who'd be willing to sacrifice standing in the middle of the already chaotic st just to push the trolleys back to their place. nobody moved! it seemed as if everyone was in the twilight zone, staring at the monstrous trolleys that wouldn't budge! i couldn't take it anymore, i thought, might as well end our misery -- i crossed the st and stood right in the middle, gathered the trolleys and pushed them back to where they originally were. i giggled letting out the stress i've been feeling lately. when i turned back, people were cheering, finally relieved of the burden -- a girl said she could've done it herself, only she couldn't leave her shopping bags. i tried to keep a straight face. anyway, i thought about how other people would be willing to take your place when they see you basking in the light.
forging someone else's identity can make one an overnight success but, to what extent and for how long? no, i'm not talking about the girl who couldn't leave her shopping bags, it was her prerogative to stay behind. i'm talking about a more vicious nature... some bloggers turn apoplectic at the mere mention of 'copycat' -- i can understand what all the fuss is about.
take for instance, the producers of the movie, "mr and mrs smith". they could've gotten the idea from a 1943 classic, "beyond suspicion." however, it wasn't a reproduction of the original work, they must be wise enough to know that the original's always the best. sadly, a lot of movies these days are remakes, even the music and fashion were once the 'latest fad' of yesteryear. just ask mom and dad and you'll find yourself screaming, "it can't be true." pitiful. well sure, it's good to emulate someone/something if they're worth emulating but to take someone else's credit is downright crooked. if you ever encounter copycats, my advice is, to stay away from them. they're like leaches that would suck your life force out of you. now, if you're a copycat -- first, breathe in... so far, so good? then be yourself once and for all! geez. anyhoo, you may have something 'original' hidden up your sleeves (probably device a plan on how to live in mars with fellow clones) or, better consult a therapist. uh uh, no more wagging of tongues (and jumping on couches), mr tom.
since 2004.10