interests

[scottobear]

Honest question. Am I wrong to take interests form another person's listing, if it's something I enjoy too? I got the following letter today, and below is my reply.

Hello Scott.
I was looking at people who matched my interests today, and couldn't help
notice you have 84 of my 121 matching you. Now I put a lot of time and
thought into my interests, and while I'm flattered that you added some of
mine to your list, you kind of took away anything that made me original. I
put a great deal of thought into my into my interests page and made sure I
had a lot of things listed that no one else had. I felt that said something
about my creativity. Things like: Abbie Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg, beach glass,
blowing bubbles, criminal psychology, cult classics, comforters, flora,
forensics, hemp products, hugging and kissing, and soft fuzzy things. Those
were the ones that were just mine, I didn't copy down the ones that only had
one or two others.
Now if you wanted more things on your interests list, some ideas I'd give you
would be do a random search for people and look at their lists, or go through
your friends interests, and take one or two things from each of their lists.
But you did copy quite a lot of things from mine, and things that I phrased
so as I would be the only one, you now appear on to. I'm not mad, but maybe
if you rephrased them, it would make you just as happy, without you seeming
like a follower.


my response-

It wasn't my intent to detract from your originality or sense of being
unique, those are acutally things I enjoy. Honestly, No harm was meant. I
farmed around and picked up some higgledy piggledy. For what it's worth,
blowing bubbles, forensics, and numerous others were on my list well before
seeing yours. As the interests idea was primarily to find people of similar
'interests' I figured that keeping the wording the same would make the
search for like minds simpler...not trying to be a follower, but more of
keeping the index consistant. If you'd like something more along a 'one of a
kind' vein, perhaps the bio or the journal itself would be more expressive
for your needs?

If it causes you anger or any sort of stress, I'll be happy to remove like
entries on the list, or if you have some especially personal ones, I'll
remove just those.

Let me know, and I'll do what'll make you most comfortable.


So, was I wrong to bow in, or perhaps I'm not doing enough? I didn't see any kind of problem until it was brought to my attention.

::shrug:: I'm going to wait and see.

Comments

[cider.livejournal.com]

Honest opinion: I think it's OK, but maybe it'd be better if you told the person first. I know when I looked at my list after you'd added a few that were similar to mine, I was a bit uncomfortable at first. However, after talking to you, I was fine about it. It just catches you off-guard. *grin*

Besides, I now can use our common interests as yet another way to woo you. Feel free to insert evil laughter here. ;)

[(Anonymous)]

This other person doesn't seem to get the point of the "interests" section. As I can understand her/his need to be orignal, I don't believe the "interests" section is the place to do it ... in this case. The whole purpose of listing your "interests" is so that you can meet other people and share journal entries and talk about things you have in common ... maybe this person needs to just save his/her own journal to his/herself if they don't feel the need to be social! =)

Re:

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry if my response to the "Interests" dealy contradicted yours ... I just think that you would want to have some matching characteristics that you shared with some one else so you could chat and get to know each other ... just my feelings though ... you had a good point too! =)
Love ya darlin'!

[mintygirl.livejournal.com]

no, i don't think it's wrong. i have taken some interests from other ppls' lists b/c i realized i liked those things too. but i have come up with some original things and am glad when ppl add things like "trashy escapist romance novels" to their list! *wink*

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

a fair compromise... trust the lovely and talented cider to make the path clear.

I will assuredly ask before clipping from now on.

*hugster*

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thanks for validating my feelings on that... I agree with the sentiment, as you can see by my letter...

I don't feel bad at all, given the positive response I've gotten. On looking at the site of the person who sent me the letter, (where I posted my reply, too) it seems that they'd rather mope, whine, and call me names then let me know what they'd prefer I do. Kind of silly, thinking that they could be the only one who likes beach glass or abbie hoffman.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Yet another voice of reason. I, too have a number of unique things on the list, but I don't think I'll bleed from the eyes if someone matches up with me.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Woo away, kiddo! I've only thrived on it thus far... any gal who would wear gold boots for me is totally delish in my book. (*sigh*) So, when are you going to send me piccies of the WW in action, anyhow?

*pant pant*

Hey look! A pair of pants!

;)

Interests

[bloodymary.livejournal.com]

As far as interests go, I would have to agree with you -- you put them in to find other people, and so others can find you. You be original in the bio. Also, I notice you list "forensics" as an interest. Do you mean the actual science, as in what the cops do, or do you mean the competitive speaking and preforming, like I did in high school?

Re: Interests

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the input... I'm feeling more and more that they're confused as tot he application of interests. I have forensics primarily as the detective work one, but debate and such is a fascinating thing to me too.

Thanks for coming by!