You can be inspired by someone else and do something similar and
people who are not in the "same group" as you - whatever that
may be, will lump you all together and say, "Oh you copycat". I
do that too, alas.
And really, it's NOT EASY to be an original. Not easy at all.
When you find something novel, or do something that's REALLY
new... NOBODY UNDERSTANDS YOU.
Believe me. It actually -sucks- to be an original when it
happens. People can't relate. I try to fit in as best I can most
of the time, although Im a chronic, "be yourself"er.
But if you are a "variation on a theme", people accept and
respect your originality that is within a particular subculture
that they understand.
In short, original but not too original seems to be the
acceptable norm.
[and I'm not defending norms... just.. the odd nature of
subcultures and surrounding culture]
