Been there, done that! Or have we?
@missykrissy85 (58)
United States
August 21, 2008 3:47pm CST
I have been reading a lot of posts that are questioning the discussions on myLot. The majority of the complaints I've encountered are about posts that don't provoke much thinking or that are being posted purely for the numbers. Some have arugued that these people may be finding it hard to come up with new topics and fresh ideas. Well, here is a question I've been pondering for quite some time that kind of ties in nicely here, so I figured I would finally post it:
Hasn't everything already been done? I mean, every thought we have, every word we speak, each conversation we hold -- don't you think someone, somewhere has already done it? Clearly, we didn't develop the majority of the words we use, so we aren't the first to speak them. The discussions we hold (here on myLot and in our every-day use) have probably been held before, right? Or do you think otherwise? --
This, I think, could be argued against in a couple of areas - science/medicine/technology, where genuinely original ideas are pushing us forward. But even in music and movies --- it's all been done already, in one way or another....
This made more sense in my head than it does here! But let me know what you think.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@boofie75 (8)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I think there are still plenty of ideas yet to be discovered. I think that many ideas feed from previous ideas, like a "domino effect". For instance, say they create a material that will allow a scientist to create a suit that will allow someone to walk on a planet previously uninhabitable. We can now reach that planet and find even more things that inspire ideas - maybe a new plant that could cure cancer on Earth.
As far as movies and music go, I think it seems like it's all been done before because so many bands/directors make what people want to see. People love a comedy, every director's going to want to make comedy. People love a rap song on the radio featuring 50 Cent, every rapper's going to want 50 Cent on their album. It's all because of what makes money. I blame the audiences in these cases. Few people are willing to bring new ideas to the table because, while practical, it might not be the most profitable.
@missykrissy85 (58)
• United States
22 Aug 08
As for the first part of your comment, I agree with the science part. That's why I had said that science was an exception... like the chemicals and molecules and different formulas. Clearly, if everything had been thought of, we'd have a cure for all cancer, a way to end poverty, medicines for all ailments, a way to prevent ever getting harm, a genuine fountain of youth, etc. That's why I said science doesn't count.
As for music and movies, well whether people want to see it or not, it's been done before, which is the point of this discussion. Some of the things done today are EXACTLY the same as prior products. The music beats are the same, the story lines are the same... I'm talking even more generally than that because we've established a change in wording doesn't constitute a change in idea. For instance, there is a comedy about talking dogs or a romance about someone who breaks up with their spouse, goes through a life changing phenomenon and in the end meets their soulmate... this sort of thing. Have we run out of original ideas? Or is it that no more exist? How do we know the audience won't like it if it hasn't been done?
@boofie75 (8)
• United States
22 Aug 08
My point about the music and movies was Hollywood/the music industry is stuck in a rut based around money and the new ideas don't always have a place there. First example that comes to mind - look at The Sixth Sense when that came out. That was new. If it wasn't a new idea, so many people wouldn't have been caught off guard by the ending. Every so often someone gets bold and tries something different.
Music, too. So someone played "Ave Maria" on a piano. Have they ever played it on a Theramin? Maybe the song isn't a new idea anymore, but how it's played is. There are so many different instruments and different ways to interpret things that we'll be long, LONG gone before the world's run out of ideas.
That's why I don't think it HAS all been done before.
@boofie75 (8)
• United States
22 Aug 08
And as for not knowing if people will like it because it hasn't been done before...well, that's why lots of people with original ideas make the money. That's why Ron Popeil's a millionaire, lol. People are brave enough to push their idea onto millions of others who never would have thought of it before. Matter of fact, perfect example - turn on the TV Saturday morning and watch the infomercials. Plenty of people have new ideas. Many of them just suck.
@MyLinnsLynn (292)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I think you make perfect sense. I was just trying to look up discussions with the search bar to see if anyone had posted about whether they are judgmental about people and their outward appearance...and I came up with squat, but I'm sure that someone has posted about that very subject before, but I'm just not wording it exactly as they did. I don't want to come across as a poser poster, sooo...what to do? I might decide to take my chances, then again, maybe not, because I'm a bit of a procrastinator.
Have you ever thought up an invention that you thought was absolutely unique, only to find that it's just come out on the market? I have. So, yes, I'd say that almost everything is of the been there and done that category when it comes to thoughts and ideas....but like you've said, technology and such is a whole other subject with a different standard(?). Now I'm wondering if I'm making any sense...lol
I really like this thought provoking subject that you've brought to us! Keep 'em comin'!
@missykrissy85 (58)
• United States
22 Aug 08
You're right -- wording it differently doesn't mean that it's a different idea. It boggles my mind when I sit and think about how many people there are out there, how many thoughts they've had before us, how many experiences they've had that are different -- and that's just the people now. Think about for the past 2000 years! And before that!
No, I've never experienced the new invention thing but I can understand where you are coming from. Don't worry, you make sense to me!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
21 Aug 08
I actually have thought about this when it comes to music because you would think that there are only so many combinations of notes and tunes, that eventually the well would run dry, but it hasn't in all the years that people have been making music. Some songs are redone, yes, but most of them are unique. I think the same holds for thoughts and ideas...they are forming and reforming, ever changing, so I don't think every conversation has already been done, no. I don't recall seeing this one before. 
@missykrissy85 (58)
• United States
22 Aug 08
That's definitely a point of view I hadn't considered... that they are the same thoughts/songs/stories/movies just changed. But, in essence, though they are not formed exactly the same it's still the same basic "idea" meaning it has been done before. Like this conversation, for instance. No, you've never seen it before - but I've had this conversation with friends before. Who's to say that someone else, somewhere else hasn't had it before? You see?
