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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?
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