Agreed - I'd be hard-pressed to give examples, but I know many scientific 
discoveries have been reached almost simultaneously by independent groups 
in different countries.  My discworld reference was more of a joke for 
people who have read the books.  The way you worded your original statement 
just reminded me of the way ideas are described in those books.  But I 
agree about different people getting similar ideas.  And I don't think its 
a bad thing to use someone elses work as inspiration for your own, as long 
as you give credit.  That's usually the first thing I do when I'm 
starting a new scene is search the web for photos or artwork I can use for 
reference and immitate.

Ken

Mr. Art wrote:

> Just a general observation that ideas become more
> obvious after other base concepts are established.
> It would be tough to imagine calculus before roman
> numerals, nets before weaving, boats before the
> floating log. After the establishment of a baseline
> technology, a whole new field of ideas is ready to be
> dreamed by receptive minds. And that could be dozens
> of people. How many people have invented the kite
> without ever knowing that others had done the same?
> How many tamers of fire are there? How many invented
> the rocket?
> In music, more that one person can come up with the
> same style, tune or beat. In art, the concept of
> perspective may well not have been had by only one
> artist.
> 
> Many story lines have been re-invented by many authors,
> many plots have been re-used.
> 
> But even after all that, seeing Robota makes me wonder
> if this is a source of H.E's inspiration.
> 
> Ken Cecka wrote:
>> 
>> That sounds a bit like something from Terry Pratchett's Discworld Books
>> :)
>> 
>> Mr. Art wrote:
>> 
>> > Good ideas are often spread around and not given to just one.
>

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