Nature of imitation determines if imitation brings positive or negative effect. In various cases, imitation can be good source of inspiration as well. Like learning how to play football like Beckham can be a lesson for Nepali players. Imitation of Lincoln’s theories can be an inspiration for many politicians. But if imitation is concerned with things like cheating during the examination, it can have negative impact. Though students may feel proud for a certain time because of the the marks s/he has obtained, in the long run s/he will definitely regret it.

Imitation can be a source of flattery but probably not the best source! Creativity, individual talents can bring real fame, though it may be difficult, time consuming and very difficult. If Pradeep Maharjan gets inspired by Ronaldo and tries to imitate him and become successful, he may just earn fame as the Nepali Ronaldo. But if he only learns a few tricks from him and can add to it and develop his own style through is creativity then he will earn real fame.

— Dwaipayan Regmi,

Biratnagar

It is annoying sometimes to find that you are being copied, but it feels great at the same time. To please someone, appreciate his/her style, his/her personality, even his/her way of talking. And if you want to please him/her even more, you start doing things just like him/her. There are many ways to flatter a person, however, imitating that person is letting him/her know know that they are important and what they do is worthy. Generally, good products in the market are imitated by fake brands. Especially, from sports and movies imitating ones idol’s performance is common. Imitating new skills by children to flatter their parents or imitating the act of loved ones to make him/her happy, all these are done with the sole purpose of flattery. But, sometimes it does not work at all. Imitation may cause annoyance and may even spoil one’s relation with the person. And, there is the problem of losing one’s self identity and remaining in the shadow of others.

— Dilip Dachhepati,

Pulchowk Campus

‘Extolling you at your face is flattery,’ is well known to everybody, but this method does not work nowadays. I think there can be no good alternative form of flattery than imitation. I think that if we imitate others instead of extolling then they will they will feel glorified to have been followed. It is so because they will feel that they have been doing something outstanding so others are emulating them. So, what are you thinking? Go and just imitate the ones whom you want to flatter.

— Bikram Neupane, Naikap

I believe that imitation and flattery are two alternative terms for hypocrisy. Practice of flattery is done by feckless hypocrites for whom it is almost a sine qua non. While practice of flattery has many forms, imitation is believed to be the best one by many, not by me. I don’t think that imitating others can flatter everyone. It may irritate them instead. Only models and film stars like to be imitated.

— Sparsh Dutta,

Biratnagar

No, I don’t think imitation is the best form of flattery. Imitation is one of the ways through which we can make improvement in our lives. We can strengthen our character by imitating our parents, teachers and elders. We can ourselves be directed on the right path of success if we emulate the character, achievements of great personalities. Lekhnath Poudel and Bhanubhakta Acharya would not have been

great poets if they had not started their career by positive imitation.

— Dev Raj Adhikary

I believe that imitation is the finest form of flattery. When we are done praising big names, we start to imitate them. Who wouldn’t like to emulate their role models? Consciously or otherwise everyone wishes to look like them; tries to wear what they wear or even to do what they do. Wearing sunglasses similar to that worn by a big star is a way of flattering him/her, in other words we are endorsing his/her acts. Because the life of actors, players, political leaders, or models life is not like ours. The celebrities represent larger than life images. We try to live similar life vicariously and sometimes our acts are not correctly warranted.

— Shailesh Kumar

Sharma

It is generally seen that people copy political leaders and high profile personalities. But all acts of imitations do not symbolise flattery, neither does it end on a positive note. After going through various aspects of imitation, I find it difficult to adjudge that it is the best form of flattery. Rather I would say it is the best form of criticism too.

— Ambika Pandey,

Chitwan

You imitate a person you admire and the biggest form of flattery would be when you are the source of inspiration. But when you copy each and everything it becomes more annoying than pleasing.

Everyone likes their thoughts, ideas, style, and performance to be original but the originality seems to lose some lustre to imitations. There is a fine line separating following a good example and plagiarism. Idols enjoy imitation, victims of plagiarism don’t — it depends on how you look to the person you copy from. But I firmly acknowledge that it’d be better to be a first version of yourself than a second version of someone else.

— Rhea Gurung

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but it is obviously not the most elegant. Imitation kills ones authenticity like a slow poison since it becomes a habit which can garner praise in the beginning but fails to gain attention later on.

Moreover, the person who imitates takes the second place to the original. The imitator lives in a constant fear of being projected as the perpetrator or plagiarism. Imitation

can’t be the best form of flattery since it is the killer of one’s ingenuity.

Analysing from the viewpoint of the one who has been copied or imitated, one who has tried to carve out his own niche and a unique style s/he is more likely to be annoyed and feel like a victim rather than be flattered. To such a person imitation can even amount to a personal offence. Thus, to flatter someone through imitation just because you consider it the sincerest form doesn’t mean flattery to one and all.

— Pramathesh Nandan

To imitate someone is to pay him a genuine compliment, often an unintended compliment. When a young girl copies a pop star’s hairstyle, she’s definitely doing that because she

admires her, which is nothing but flattery.

We can see many singers and movie actors being influenced by successful ones. Though they lose their identities in doing so the source of their inspiration is undoubtedly flattered.

— Atul Swarooop

To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment.So,imitation is the best form of flattery.

— Pooja Lama,

Acme College