So...plagiarism and everyday life.

[old.Tohtori]

What's your take on this then?

IF you hear a good comedy bit, say a joke by the man loved by all, eddie izzard, wouldn't it be "ok", or even "suitable" to use that joke in an ordinary every day conversation, if it makes people laugh?

It's a bit of a controversial topic, as such that it causes many different opinions.

Some say, it's stealing stuff to make yourself look good. Stealing it from the original.

Some, like me, say it's just an homage of sorts to great comedy and if a comedy bit, you heard somewhere else, makes other people laugh, then the comedy bit done by the original, lives on and spreads laughter, as it should.

One might say, well just say "this and this comic had a great thing to say about this and that", but i'm talking about those quick punchlines that just fit perfectly somewhere. Saying "this comic said this and that (punchline)", kind of kills the comic value of it as it needs to be brought up rather quickly, for maximum effect.

So, any comments, ideas, discuss, freely, as we do

 

[Lamp]

What's your take on this then?

IF you hear a good comedy bit, say a joke by the man loved by all, eddie izzard, wouldn't it be "ok", or even "suitable" to use that joke in an ordinary every day conversation, if it makes people laugh?

Absolutely

Can't get enough laughter

 

[Tasslehoff]

It's very hard this particular subject.

If someone has already heard the joke from the comic, they will merely get irritated. If they haven't, it'll be a good laugh. Very hard!

 

[Roalith]

As long as you don't try to pass it off as your own, no reason why you shouldn't quote the greats I say.

 

[Rubric]

Talking of Eddie, has anyone been watching Riches on Virgin 1. Quite a good easy watching bit of com/dram on a monday night.

 

[Nate]

It's difficult to get it right, although I do like talking to people about a comedian I've seen and like, recommending by telling a few bits he came up with. If you get it wrong, it will sound aweful..so I mainly leave it to the professionals, thats what they get paid for!

 

[Sparx]

its fine to mimick so long as you dont try to pass it off as your own creation or try to make money from it

As a photographer i've seen my pics appear on peoples flyers for their events before and as the artist that created them it really annoys me when people use my images without permission/payment

 

[Levin]

You can solve the problem by giving credit a bit afterwards.. once people are done laughing. Like...

"And I heard those with big feet are... bla bla"
*Laughter*
Once laughter has quieted: "Hehe, it had to be said - but it was really Bla-andBlah who said it first.. I thought it fitted nicely!"

That way the joke was still a success, you get to shine for being quick of wit (not for first for coming up with the punch line but for using it at the right moment) and the "author" gets credit too which makes you look humble.

 

[old.Tohtori]

and the "author" gets credit too which makes you look humble.

And people like to have sex with people who are humble

That was all Eddie Izzard, even if a bit paraphrased.

Yeah, that's the way i usually do it if i use clearly someone elses line.

Though i don't plagiarize that much, i more...get influenced? Especially with the different language thing, i have the modify things anyway. I take influences from a ton of comics, do my own thing, word things different, but use similar "haha" tactics. But that's nothing new really in comedy.

 

[Dukat]

I plagarise like a bitch on heat!


If its funny, insightful or generally fitting for a situation I'll say it tbh, if everyone gave credit for everything they'd heard somewhere else you'd find most convosations double in length and life would be so so boring.

I might say where I heard it if the question is asked, but I might not, depending on the mood/setting

I dont class it as plagarism as such, because I rarely explicitly "carry it off as my own material" - I'm just saying a phrase, the words arent copyrighted, so theres no real obligation imo. If I was a comedian on stage and doing it, yes, that would be bad, but in every day life I wouldnt bother with it.