[js1138]

That's a tough definition. I don't think many of us credit our non-original ideas. I don't even remember where I first read most of the stuff I know.

Am I mistaken, or has the exact post in question been made before on FR? I have a distinct visual memory of a post made a year or so ago that was several paragraphs long, mostly a quotation, but had an odd sentence or two added in.

[longshadow]

Am I mistaken, or has the exact post in question been made before on FR? I have a distinct visual memory of a post made a year or so ago that was several paragraphs long, mostly a quotation, but had an odd sentence or two added in.

An excellent question. It looked strangely familiar to me, which is why I initiated a Google search which led to the discovery of the referenced URL.

As far as having been used on FR before, I can't be sure; if it had, it should show up in a google search. It didn't on the phrase that I searched last night, but it might on others.

[VadeRetro]

Ideas are not subject to copyright. Words are. I want to say that it takes stringing a few of them together, but I think Nike copyrighted "Just do it!"

[general_re]

I don't think many of us credit our non-original ideas. I don't even remember where I first read most of the stuff I know.

There's a bit of a gray area in between ideas that need citations and background knowledge that "everyone knows". As a general rule, the more unique, novel, or specific the idea is, the more likely it is to require citation if it's not your own original thought.