My mother’s younger cousin had not committed anything that offensive. She had simply given the same nickname as mine to her daughter who was born a few years after me. Most kids are endowed with some dose of meanness along with the innocence that largely defines them. Perhaps I was one of those because I had complained on and on that Aunty had copied my name. Every time my mother snubbed me, saying that it was not right to say so.
Just recently, a relative of mine was terribly upset by what her colleague had resorted to. After passing snide comments about her home decor to the core, she ended up replicating an almost similar setting in her house. This was when a beautification project was taken up to change the furniture and other things around. Isn’t this shamelessness at its height?
Stories related to allegations of copying are endless. Be it mundane matters in our personal lives or issues of importance in the public domain, we constantly hear incidents of people copying one another. Used light-heartedly but carrying with it a negative connotation, we even have a term for such people. They are called copycats!
Now how does the cat come into the picture?
Slyness, mimicry, and imitation have been associated with cats in folklore. Also, down the ages, a belief has been passed on that domestic cats seem to imitate each other’s actions. That somehow led to the term “copycat” for someone who imitates the words, actions, or behavior of another person.
Inspired or copied? The need for a clear line
More often than not, one gets away by conveniently presenting an explanation. Ethics is forgotten. When criticized for copying, the accused invariably goes on the defensive and never admits to having committed the act.
There are musical scores and films worldwide that have won the hearts of millions, and the product may not have been hundred percent original. In what light we perceive these works of art is up to us.
A film which was India’s entry to the Oscars a decade ago received critical acclaim for a unique love story that was indeed heartwarming. The film however had lifted moments from quite a few Hollywood movies including Charlie Chapin’s silent era films, Singin’ In The Rain, and The Notebook. The scenes did not look out of place and blended beautifully with the subject matter and the Indian scenario. Were the scenes “copied”, or did the makers simply draw “inspiration” from films that were masterpieces? There will be schools of thought contradicting one another’s views.
Looking around for inspiration is in no way wrong. We grow and evolve by learning from people who have set better examples. The process enhances creativity.
The ethical aspect arises when an individual passes off someone else’s work or ideas as his or her own. Can we wish that honesty and integrity exist to acknowledge the original source?
Looking at life with a mature perspective
Leave the bigger world of art, academics, culture, and professional settings. The bickering about copying goes on and that too on a constant basis in day-to-day ordinary lives.
We are human, and irritation is natural. It is not easy to stay without being bothered if what you do is constantly copied by someone. No one enjoys their ideas being stolen.
Having said that, it is not justified that you get into a frame of mind that makes you feel that everyone has their eyes on you and is ready to copy every single thing you do. That is a very narcissistic attitude. Quit thinking that you own the copyright for everything.
Let’s also not overlook the fact that coincidences happen. I remember an incident from several years ago. One day there were three teachers, including me, in school wearing black tops paired with white pants. During lunch we looked at each other and laughed.
Now who was copying whom? Nobody! Since it was a lovely fall day, that color combo was appropriate, and it was sheer coincidence that we happened to wear similar outfits.
There’s an answer to the situation
You need to calm your nerves every time you find you are being copied. Assess the magnitude of the issue. Unless it’s a grave situation of plagiarism that really needs to be sorted out and demands serious action, you cannot raise a hue and cry about the trivialest of matters that have not caused you any harm. Life is too big to be wasting your focus on petty things.
Yes, you may be irked to the zenith upon discovering that your home decor ideas or fashion statement are being constantly eyed by some copycat, yet you should relax. Find comfort (and consolation) in the fact that you are perhaps someone extraordinary to be followed.
You are not sinning with a bit of self-praise. After all, some wise soul had penned these words: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”.
rashmi writes 