[willio58]

This reads to me like one of those 90's articles over-simplifying and underestimating the internet. Not that what you're saying is completely wrong, and trust me I'm not saying TikTok == the Internet, but the belittling tone is off-putting.

[adventured]

I'd have to put a lot of effort into walking around the inevitable tone that is given off by calling the majority of people mimics. I know how that would have to come across. I don't think it's worth taking that long of a stroll to reach that outcome, the people that are going to disagree and instantly downvote due to outrage are never going to agree with the mimic premise no matter what I say or how I tone it.

I don't view the premise as bad at all, or negative. It makes sense, it's a very reasonable biological system of replicating/copying what works and passing it along; it's very energy efficient for a species, and historically we've had to conserve energy, our evolution would strongly favor a mimic what works system. As a concept it also doesn't elevate us above other biological systems that operate on this planet, we're not that special; whereas to pretend that everyone can be da Vinci is to falsify what humans are, to pretend every person is a creativity giant in waiting if only they got the right encouragement. It's just more of everyone gets a trophy culture in action.