Imitation Isn't Always Flattery. Unless You're Doing The Imitating, That Is.

So I was wondering about what to post about today.
I've been waking up several times at night the past 2 or 3 days,
and now I'm exhausted.

But I've got to keep posting,
got to keep trying to express myself.
Articulate my thoughts and all that.

I didn't want to post about 'heavy' topics like the goddamn Prism Programme.
No. Something lighter for me today.

So fortunately,
I stumbled upon this little morsel of passive-aggressive cuntery: http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130612005100-1291685-i-think-i-m-being-stalked?trk=tod-home-art-medium_0

A lovely little write-up about
how a business owner is being ruthlessly, relentlessly, shamelessly plagiarized!
Oh wait. No.
IMITATED.
OH MY GOD.
Another business is imitating your model??
HOLY SHIT.
Better stop the presses and get the president on the line!

Anyway, I have a few issues with this lovely, sweet-as-candy-floss, completely innocent article.
Just a few.

The article starts off with the author implying that she is being stalked.
Sure, she doesn't state that exactly.
But the frame has been set.
Someone out there is doing something bad to her.
She is the victim.

Then, she goes on and on about all the nice things she'd done...
Look at how much good I've done for all of you! Look! Come on! LOOK GODDAMMIT!

Now let me point out that this woman
has 150,000 followers.

Ooooh I just feel the call-to-action coming.
Not too long now.

Now she talks about how a mysterious woman
is copying EVERYTHING she does.
EVERYTHING.

Giving herself the same title,
sending experience gifts with balloons (HOW DARE SHE! I STARTED IT FIRST! IT'S MY THING AND MINE ALONE GODDAMN YOU)...
you get the idea.

Of course this is swiftly followed by criticism "I cannot see any inspirational thought, innovation, or anything new."

Oh and by the way, up to this point,
and throughout the rest of the article,
she never specifies who this mysterious person is.

Although I'm willing to bet she already knows
her followers are going to try (and will) find out.

"So how should I respond? Do I stop writing, stop my public speaking, leave twitter alone? I have to say it is really disturbing to see such a blatant copy. "

I can just see her hands in that 'What can I possible do?' position.

Right. She was definitely considering quitting the things that
have been and are critical to her success.

Oh yeah.
For sure.

What can she possibly do, right?

Besides the fact that I seriously doubt she herself hasn't copied elements
from others (sending unique gifts for example)...
and that we've only got one side of the story so far...

What's wrong with it?

What, you're gonna sue in court for sending gifts with balloons too?
Man, that's like Burger King suing McDonald's for running a similar promotion.
Or Nike asking their followers if they should stop making sports shoes
just because Adidas started doing the same...

And you can bet your ass if she'd committed any kind of copyright infringement,
she would've received a shitload of notices from a lawyer.

No.

Since I'm out of time,
I'll need to wrap this shit up.
Staying back in the office for a blog post is not my idea of time well spent, you know what I mean?
Shut up.

So it's a sort of call-to-arms.
Passive aggressive bullshit.

The lady had done nothing illegal.
So what's the best thing to do?
Fuck up her reputation by getting your minions all riled up.

Already the comments section is filled with blind-as-fuck dumbasses
making suggestions on what she ought to do...
'Take legal action!'
'She sucks! You rule!'

... all without even hearing the other side of the story.

So yea.
Generate publicity, while rubbing a budding competitor's name in the mud.

Mission accomplished, eh?


Well enough of that