"Just because Yahoo has a search box doesn't make it Google." Thoughts on inspiration vs imitation.

People borrow inspiration from their surroundings everywhere, everyday; it's so common that the line between inspiration and copying can't even really be defined as a thin one. There are only so many ideas, approaches, ways to word things, looks, products/tools of the trade available--especially in a niche fetish such as this. Crossing that chunky line with clear and repetitive mimicry puts you on the fast track to becoming an annoyance--it's not flattering.  When a Domme works hard and invests thought and personal flair into Her content and design, don't shadow it!  Why??

1. It's obvious...to everyone... sometimes blatantly so, to the point that I've seen full statuses copied, word for word, and posted five minutes following an originial post. Taking ideas, hitting the thesuarus, and rewording is just as bad. I'm not talking about the occasional lady with an ego problem who accuses *everyone* and their aunt of copying her *everything*--that business is just as ridiculous as blatant jockery. This is about the 'damnwell know a person is hot on a trail, for real, when we see it'. Mimicry bores subs, and frustrates/irritates other Dommes--if you want to be taken seriously, you have to stand out, and demonstrate you can do it on your own.

2. We've had this conversation a million times here--scroll the blogs and polls to recap. Originality is a much-valued and very attractive attribute!!!!

3.  If you're not able to whip up enticing content and concepts of your own, your bootlegging may be off, too. Get your own brand up and moving before worrying what others are doing!  No one wants to do your footwork, when they've done their own, themselves. You can pay a mentor, but don't try to run some kind of weird, one-sided mentorship without some discussion with the person you're admiring!

In the same way you appreciate another artists' craft--appreciate, don't impersonate!