we were talking about how you had to cite sources, otherwise it was plagiarism
immediately a train of thought swept me, and another student at the same time
(I have great respect for this being, and the class, it truly brought many personalities together that used to be in conflict, and got us all interested in learning, I loved it dearly)
the thought was this
Since everyone has already thought of everything, how can you not plagiarize ?
I think plagiarism can be a bit tricky… two people can invent the exact same thing without knowing about the other one’s invention… also, where’s the line between inspiration and plagiarism?
And have we all thought of everything yet? How would we know?
To my understanding, plagiarism is stealing, plagiarism is disrespectful, it’s fully intending to copy somebody else’s work and not give them credit. That what’s trying to be prevented.
You shouldn’t be able to expel someone for having a similar idea, because it takes work to get something concretized from an abstract thing like an idea, and so from one idea no two results should be the same. But, if it’s word-for-word or stroke-for-stroke identical, then it gets suspicious (and the target audience gets bored of a rehash, besides.)
If you’re inspired, and then produce something, then you’ve worked, you’ve run it through your unique perspective and… it’s yours. You own it.
True, we have so much influence that it’s difficult to be wholly original, and in that case, we owe it to the people who have influenced and inspired us, to name them.
if you heard a phrase from just another guy in the street that completely changed your view of life and inspired you in many ways.
Isn’t it worth giving him the credit just as much as giving the credit to someone you read his book?
We are influenced from everything that passes through our awareness.
Therefore, to record your influences, you have to record every moment of your life…
No one can own any idea or thought, everything is out there and it is very likely for every idea you come up with that it was already created (consciously) by another human mind.
Every creator is using all of his database, trying to create something new.
The people that really made a significant change will probably reap the benefits from it.
So, in conclusion, I think that using whatever it is you are using, as long as you are talking from your own point of view, its not stealing.
And still, naming a few people that influenced you can’t hurt… and as you should and probably do thank them for their work, it is appropriate, yet not necessary to give them thanks.
Do what’s right for you.
I agree with relV. It never hurts to give credit and thank others.
it seems “appropriate” . And thank you Eyelids for posting this . It makes me realize that giving credit only makes you appreciative and even more loving!
How would we know? 
