Skip to main content

Give Credit...

Is there anything original anymore?

One of my recent favorite sayings from a chamber exec I know is using "R&D" or "rip off and duplicate." I'm fairly sure that this phrase was severely R&D'ed before I heard it and you know what? It's fine that it was. 
There are certain places where duplication and, more likely, improvement occur all the time and we applaud it! HD-TV, new drug regimes, and cell phone technology is improved all the time and we love it.
Cut-away cell phone
Image via Wikipedia
 In lab conditions, we want know that extensive use of "R&D" has occurred.
Where we don't want to see it? In pretty much any form of writing, most particularly, educational settings or even online.
It is EXTREMELY hard not to at least "R&D" most good ideas that are captured online. When you read as much as I do, you can easily see- people share the same thoughts, a lot.
With RSS feeders, Google alerts, and pretty much every coming at us immediately to our cellphones, is it even important to know where we got an idea that pushed us into doing what we want to do? 
Lately, I've been working on a project for a friend in a new niche, but I've had to apply many ideas from outside the niche in concert with what they know for their project. I've been ripping off and duplicating like a madman, but all in the cause of helping this friend out.
Are the ideas original? No. But do they appreciate the assistance? Yes!
More to the point, its perfectly fine to do some "R&D" in virtually any circumstance- just make sure you give credit where credit is due! Virtually all the information I've shared I learned elsewhere, had my thought confirmed, or found my idea written better elsewhere. Why wouldn't I use the other source and not reinvent the wheel?
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

  Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and  the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook.  There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin
Read more

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast  Such a fun time! 
Read more

New Life

  It's weird, sad and slightly freeing. I've been headed towards a completely different life for a lot longer than I even knew. It took me a while to catch up to realize it was happening.  Thankfully, I was cognizant enough to see it finally and mostly ready for it. It's amazing when you have the rug completely pulled out from underneath you. The adjustments are jarring.  I made mistakes, but like most I learned from them, adapted, and tried my best to do better. The reason you see that truck next to a storage place? That's the sum of my life right now.  Never take for granted that you will work hard for something or someone, and it will end up meaning very little. You are guaranteed nothing, owed nothing, promised nothing. Anything and everything can be taken away in a heartbeat.  I wrote this to my kids a while back: I tried to be the best father I could be based on what I knew when I knew it and how I could. One of the lessons for your life needs to be: you need to b
Read more