Can't help wondering what so many people on social media are doing just parroting others? Or copying and pasting. And what's worse that seems to account for part of what's called creativity today.
A copy is never as good as the original. No parroting in the world will turn you into Marilyn Monroe. So be yourself.
What happened to creativity?
Have a section of humanity stopped being creative? Or is it just that too many people are lazy and hence just copy others? Don't they realize that they will not impress the people they are trying to impress? Only ignorant people will buy what the parrots are doing. If you don't have anything new to contribute, to say a discussion, don't just re-write what someone else has already said. What's wrong with saying that you agree?
Original ideas
If imitating others were just a social media phenomena it would be one thing. But unfortunately you have an abundance of people selling services online that haven't got any ideas of their own. They just copy what others have done and charge for doing so. But a copy is never as good as the original. No parroting in the world will change that. It may work short term but long term it will work against you. Can't help wondering if that category of people have really stopped thinking for themselves?
Hard sell on social media
The amount of parroting on social media most likely boils down to people believing they have to sell themselves aggressively online. Can understand that to some degree. But don't they understand that it's obvious to others what they are doing? Am active on social media and almost every day someone re-writes what someone has already written to make it appear to be their new idea. One interesting phenomena are the people who are experts on all issues relating to all countries in the world, regardless of the fact that they have never even visited the country in question. But copying and pasting they certainly know how to do. Nobody, including myself, knows everything so what's the point in pretending you do? People only lose respect for you.
Current buzz words leader, expert, entrepreneurial & innovative
The fact that many people believe they have to portray themselves in what they consider to be the right way is a major reason for all the parroting. Wouldn't it be much better to have an honest look at yourself and decide what your strengths are? If you are not say, innovative, describing yourself so will work against you since you will be found out. Read in The New York Times that 70% of high school graduates in the US believe they have more than average leadership skills. Only 2% considered themselves below average. Truly wish their assessments were correct, but unfortunately 70% of them are not leaders and will never be leading anything. If this applied to the United States only, i.e. approximately 5% of the world's population, it wouldn't be too bad. But unfortunately it applies to the remaining 95% of mankind as well.
Use social media to portray the real you
What's wrong with having talents that are currently not in fashion? Whatever talents you have you can create a lucrative niche for yourself. Why does everyone feel they have to portray themselves as business tycoons? Looking at profiles on social media today you easily get the impression that the majority of people in this world are on par with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. It's normal for children to imitate, but grown ups really should give up that habit.
Social media is a wonderful thing and I have met many fantastic people online, mainly thanks to my blog and Linkedin. If the parrots were just themselves and stopped pretending to be what they are not they would also start reaping positive benefits of social media. To start with they would gain respect. We are all unique and can contribute to society in different ways. That's the beauty of humanity. Imagine how boring it would be if we were all parroting each other.
Photo credit: mseckington - Flickr