The author states we are copycats, agree or disagree?

Kaushiki Parihar · Post by **Kaushiki Parihar** » 04 Jun 2021, 02:48

It is true that “by nature we are copycats” but if we were not given this quality, humans would never be able to learn things at all. A baby learns by copying his parents and that’s how we all grow up. And the thing left about "seeing someone successful and obsessing over what he is doing" is true until the person doesn’t realize that copying others won't do him any good. Everyone has to build their own path to success and so he also has to work hard to become successful.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 04 Jun 2021, 11:55

Kaushiki Parihar wrote: ↑04 Jun 2021, 02:48 It is true that “by nature we are copycats” but if we were not given this quality, humans would never be able to learn things at all. A baby learns by copying his parents and that’s how we all grow up. And the thing left about "seeing someone successful and obsessing over what he is doing" is true until the person doesn’t realize that copying others won't do him any good. Everyone has to build their own path to success and so he also has to work hard to become successful.

I agree with you. We are by nature, copycats, until we realize that is what we are doing. Then we want to pave our own way, only looking to others when we need help. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

karineyn · Post by **karineyn** » 04 Jun 2021, 18:07

Even though I understand the gist of his statement, I find it a bit too simplistic. Personally, successful people inspire me to do a better job at whatever I am doing, not in the sense that I ‘copy’ them, but rather, I adopt their spirit maybe?

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 05 Jun 2021, 14:07

karineyn wrote: ↑04 Jun 2021, 18:07 Even though I understand the gist of his statement, I find it a bit too simplistic. Personally, successful people inspire me to do a better job at whatever I am doing, not in the sense that I ‘copy’ them, but rather, I adopt their spirit maybe?

I think you are saying you take inspiration from successful people, but not necessarily carry it out in the way that they do? I think we copy those that do things we want to do, or like to do. For me, it is more looking for inspiration than copying exactly what they are doing, and only when I need inspiration. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

tafta · Post by **tafta** » 05 Jun 2021, 17:30

Humans are definitely copycats. It is the way we perceive what we are copying that then produces the varied unique outcomes.

Fazzier · Post by **Fazzier** » 06 Jun 2021, 00:28

To large extent I agree that we are copycats or at least I can speak for myself. Take for example highachievers in the fields we know. One cannot fail to find YouTube videos on how to be so and so, and for sure, such kinds of videos have so much views, meaning they are in so much demand. I don't know if I can call that benchmarking, but the line that separate it from being a copycat is so thin.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 06 Jun 2021, 15:10

tafta wrote: ↑05 Jun 2021, 17:30 Humans are definitely copycats. It is the way we perceive what we are copying that then produces the varied unique outcomes.

I believe we start out learning to copy others. However, as we get older we have a choice, to continue to copy others, or to pave our own way. I really believe it depends on the person and situation as to what and who they are copying. I am not a fashion person so you will not see me copying another person's style. However, I write a book blog and will compare mine to others, and tweak mine if I think someone is doing something better than me. Thank you for sharing your opinions.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 06 Jun 2021, 15:12

Fazzier wrote: ↑06 Jun 2021, 00:28 To large extent I agree that we are copycats or at least I can speak for myself. Take for example highachievers in the fields we know. One cannot fail to find YouTube videos on how to be so and so, and for sure, such kinds of videos have so much views, meaning they are in so much demand. I don't know if I can call that benchmarking, but the line that separate it from being a copycat is so thin.

I agree with you. It definitely depends on the person and circumstances. I am not one to spend a lot of time on YouTube, so I will not copy people in that way, but I follow readers and copy them by reading the same books, or adding them to my to be read pile. We find inspiration from others with similar interests. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Laura Britos · Post by **Laura Britos** » 06 Jun 2021, 16:09

cd20 wrote: ↑15 May 2021, 09:00 Jeff Meyer states that "By nature we are copycats. We see someone else succeed and our focus shifts. We no longer pay attention to what WE are doing. we obsess over what the successful person is doing." Do you agree with this, or disagree? Why?

I agree with this quote. I particularly do not think that coping or imitating someone else's steps towards success makes us copycats, but when we internalize those actions as our own and not as a guideline we are pretending to be someone we are not. I associated this quote with one thing that Jorge Luis Borges once said: “I am all the books I have read, all the people I have loved, all the people I have known and all the things I have heard“.
This made me realize, aren't we all copycats?

Nancy Morara · Post by **Nancy Morara** » 07 Jun 2021, 10:40

I would agree that at some point we tend to copy the successful people and that's why we are even encouraged at an early age to have role models so that we can emulate something good from their character.

Sasha_100 · Post by **Sasha_100** » 07 Jun 2021, 13:50

Well it depends on each case. Some people use mimicry in tons of ways, to pay homage, to adop better habits, to try to get along with someone. But on the other hand some people will as the quote says 'lose focus in their own selves and their own work'

So while there is some truth in it, it's not completely correct either personally. Because anything can be as harmful as it is beneficial when it comes to how a person uses it.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 07 Jun 2021, 14:40

Ana Victoria2002 wrote: ↑06 Jun 2021, 16:09
cd20 wrote: ↑15 May 2021, 09:00 Jeff Meyer states that "By nature we are copycats. We see someone else succeed and our focus shifts. We no longer pay attention to what WE are doing. we obsess over what the successful person is doing." Do you agree with this, or disagree? Why?
I agree with this quote. I particularly do not think that coping or imitating someone else's steps towards success makes us copycats, but when we internalize those actions as our own and not as a guideline we are pretending to be someone we are not. I associated this quote with one thing that Jorge Luis Borges once said: “I am all the books I have read, all the people I have loved, all the people I have known and all the things I have heard“.
This made me realize, aren't we all copycats?

That's a good quote. I think in some ways we are all copycats. But, I do like to think that we add our own original thoughts and ideas as well. I think we are taught to be copycats at a young age, but maybe at an older age it is not as noticeable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 07 Jun 2021, 14:42

Nancy Morara wrote: ↑07 Jun 2021, 10:40 I would agree that at some point we tend to copy the successful people and that's why we are even encouraged at an early age to have role models so that we can emulate something good from their character.

Yes, we are taught at a young age to be copycats, or to mimic others. Yet, as we get older we are encouraged to "be ourselves." That can be hard because you don't always know who you are. I think also, that you tend to copy people in the areas that are most relevant to you. For example, I will not be copying people who are making fashion statements, it's just not my thing. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

cd20 · Post by **cd20** » 07 Jun 2021, 14:45

Sasha_100 wrote: ↑07 Jun 2021, 13:50 Well it depends on each case. Some people use mimicry in tons of ways, to pay homage, to adop better habits, to try to get along with someone. But on the other hand some people will as the quote says 'lose focus in their own selves and their own work'

So while there is some truth in it, it's not completely correct either personally. Because anything can be as harmful as it is beneficial when it comes to how a person uses it.

I think to an extent we are copycats. That is what we are taught when we are young, to mimic others. I think as you get older you get inspiration and ideas from others in the areas that you are most interested in, so that can be a form of "copycat." Some people will just plan and simply copy others, being an intentional copycat, if you will. I think some will do lose focus on their own selves, I have seen it happen, but not everyone will. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

angelap5467 · Post by **angelap5467** » 07 Jun 2021, 15:10

I think that to get away from that mindset you need practice. It's easier to focus on someone else's success, rather than to work for yours. The best solution for this, from my point of view, is to give time to soak up that information, be happy about someone else achievements, and go back focusing on yours. The grass is greener on the other side, only because you were focused so much on that grass, that you forgot to water your own.