Plagiarism, Copying, Stealing is not flattering, it is Identity theft.

When I grew up, I was told all the time that if someone copied me, it is a huge compliment. They look up to me, they draw inspiration from me, blah-blah-fucking-fishpaste. Well, I tried to be the better person and accept this lesson through the years, but it became more and more difficult.

You see, I am vain. I admit that openly and not always proudly. I like being unique, different, creative, artistic and what-not. And I like being the only one to look a certain way, or write a certain way, or paint, draw etc in a certain way – usually these are ways carefully chosen to compliment my mind, mood and emotional reflection of where I am at in my life.  It is to draw my identity, to share my personality, to give my opinion unintrusively [well, sometimes some of my styles do a lot of attention-whoring but that part is not purposely designed for the limelight stealer].

But the thing is, I re-invent myself constantly to update my expression for the betterment of my identity showcase. So when someone copy me, my work, my style … at first I smile and take the compliment. When they continue to do so, I become a little stand-offish and when it turns into a set for “Single White Female” [to borrow from my Homie]  syndrome, then I get a) pissed off and b)hurt. Especially if it is someone near and dear; someone whose creative mind I’ve admired for years; someone who made me reach for higher evaluations of my person.

You won’t get me right, like the picture in this article, it may LOOK the same, but eventually, anyone who pays some margin of attention, will see how you got ‘me’ wrong. You have stolen the ingredients that describe me, but you have not got them in the right order, to BE me. And that is something others need to know and understand. This should give me comfort, but it does not – because at a glance, it will be hard to tell the real from the copy – and I often end up having to defend my authenticity [even if only to myself]. I end up having to proove myself, my worth, while you are the one stealing from me. Guilty until proven otherwise … and you strut along…

This copy-and-paste culture we live in, is not new. As I said, I grew up with it – it was like a competition with myself to discover myself and keep it secret because… Someone may steal my identity. AND THAT is how I see this.

Plagiarism, Copying of work/art, styles, speech … Identity theft. All of it. It robs the individual from their personal expression. It gropes and probes into their lives and steals from their souls. It betrays their friendships, it muddles their expression, it hurts… It hurts because …

You took something that you didn’t understand, and you made a copy of it without having any thought of the deeper meaning to me, or to you.

You took something that did not belong to you, impersonating someone you are not.

You took something that was unique and individual to that person and mass-brand it a dime a dozen.

You took something and you are passing it off as your own idea, your own personality, your own thoughts — but you and I both know it isn’t, don’t we?

So I go away, I re-invent myself. I make you run a mile-long sprint to chase and catch up. I constantly update, create and express because you see… I want people to know who I am. The original me. I want people to know MY work. I want them to understand MY style, MY thoughts, MY interpretations.

Me me me much Adri?

You fucking bet your ass.

When work is plagiarised, when styles are copied, when art is ‘printed’, when dance or stage productions are mass pasted into the world … you’ve stolen an identity. The worst part for me about that is not the thievery anymore, but the sadness for you.

What was so innately flawed in your own personality, work, style, skill – that you had to carbon copy someone else’s? How can you reject your absolute uniqueness, your personal creativity, your god-given right to be you and substitute it with someone else’s?  Why?

Look, there will be a time we do copy, we do try out a new style or genre or even go back to a long-gone era for one. There are times we play ‘dress up’ — those things to me are perfectly fine because we discover a lot about ourselves along the way… But when that becomes all you do, when that is the only way you can express yourself, then that is the pinnacle low of your self-esteem because honestly … When will YOU shine? Are you learning about yourself or just trying to be something you think is cool, fun and NOT YOU? Don’t be lazy, find out who you are and what you are capable of.

If you do get inspired by a personality trait – If  you are trying out someone else’s shoes for a while – borrow them but then give it back. Create your personal blend of unique and historical to express YOU and YOUR soul. Add to your repertoire an arsenal of creativity, one you have always had and is yours in so many ways. My success won’t rub off on you because you ‘act’ like me; my failures won’t give you an edge to out-do anyone. It is an ‘act’ without passion, without truthful individual expression – so the shine will dull because the meaning is diluted. Do you not see that?

At minimum, give credit to the person/personality you’ve ‘borrowed’ from. You don’t even have to explain, just give credit.

“The original concept was created by Adri Sinclair.” – See, not hard right? Not even indepth.

Identity theft is against the law for a damn good reason – it is damaging on many levels.

It is scary, it is hurtful and it is aggravating. But call it what you like … It is NOT a compliment. 

It is NOT a compliment. 

My book has been plagiarised: Not a compliment.

My brand has been ripped off: Not a compliment.

My style has been copied so many times, I sometimes wonder if I’m talking to myself when I speak to a ‘friend’.

But I am not complaining, don’t get me wrong here. I am simply stating that you can find a different way to ‘compliment’ me.

“Nice work.” Would do. “Ugly outfit but so you” I can live with. “Lovely story, but fix the mistakes” I appreciate…. Not hard to do either.

And if I stop talking to you – it is because vanity refuses to be cock-blocked by a muse-less individual in a sheeple-box.

Be you, and I’ll be me.

Adri.