I'm sure a lot of you have come across something like this, weather it be some random person walking up to you and claiming that you have 'stolen' their markings or design, or perhaps you've been in a situation (one I'm about to delve into a little further) where you have designed what some other people must think is a good enough character to blatantly copy without any regard for the original design and then see them either running around flaunting their new look and soaking up any compliments they receive like a overpuffed sponge OR they'll try to become mates with your character.
I'm not quite sure what the mentality behind the latter option is. Why do people really think that making your character look like the alternate universe twin of the character you're trying to become mates with will make them even remotely like you back? If anything, I was very offended when the designs I had put a lot of thought into were ripped off and then used by 'illiterate' characters who were only interested in hooking up with said character.
I feel as though the thought going into this must be something like -
Copycat: We look the same, therefore it must be twu luveeee~
Me: >:C
Lemme show you some examples. The first time this happened, I wish I had taken a screenshot but basically I joined an 'elemental' wolf rp, in which my character Adonis was a sort of water spirit, with a very lovely shade of blue. One of the females in the group was sitting beside him for quite a while before she suddenly logged off, only to log back on several minutes later with the same design, same colouring and the insistent need to become Adonis's mate. She was called out about the copycat...ing, by the other members thankfully, and eventually left.
It was the second time this happened that I was lucky enough to document it for you enjoyment.
Here is my character. I was hanging around Bonfire with a friend of mine when I was suddenly approached by one of the female lions who had originally been hanging around the mate center.
(http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t457/genesis0099/screenshot_04122013_023351002_zps06077583.png)
She came back a few minutes later looking like this.
(http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t457/genesis0099/screenshot_04082013_004411588_zpsa86b18bb.png)
>:I
To make her leave I told her I was mates with my friend over there in the corner and that was enough to send her running away as though he was infected. (seriously there are a lot of people who seem to have problems with bi/homo sexual characters on here, I think that's a topic for another day though). A few minutes later we saw she had transformed, yet again, into Slender Woman and was trying to hit on Slender Man.
...what the heck.
And that's not all. No no. The SAME day, another Lioness wandered over to where my friend and I were chilling and just stared at the two of us for a verrrryyyy long time before running off. She was a pale cream colour when I first saw her. She came back looking like this.
(http://i1060.photobucket.com/albums/t457/genesis0099/screenshot_04122013_023412476_zps143623ab.png)
Thankfully enough this person didn't try the same routine as the first, but I still felt offended that that person had more or less 'stolen' my creative design. I don't know if I should feel this way, I mean, they're just markings, but I can't help but feel a bit annoyed when other players just rip off not only my own characters that had a lot of thought put into them, but other players designs as well. Perhaps these 'copycats' think that they're complimenting the person who's design they are stealing, but overall I think it's wrong and people should try to avoid doing this. Of course this doesn't go for all designs, I mean it's hard not to get a few look alikes when you're roleplaying as a real species like cheetahs, lions, or other realistic things, but when it comes to semi or unrealistic characters I really think that people should be more considerate (and rethink their dating strategy) when they try to pull of things like this.
So, what do you guys think? Have any look alike pics you want to share or stories to tell?
I've actually had that kind of situation happen to me when I was in Focho.
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag69/Youshallfearme2/682eb48b-a905-4794-9012-b84bcfde75e2_zps617df18b.jpg)
This is what one of my main fursona looks like. And when I was hanging out with my clan in Ficho, I get a random user saying this
Wolf: You look like my father
Baku DTEC: Oh do I?
Wolf: you must change your markings now, you can't look like that
Baku DTEC: nope, not going to change
Wolf: fine...ill be back for you later-walks off-
Baku DTEC: ok then, ill still be here.....in this spot....looking like this.
Is very unusual on what some kids think these days, from mate begging to just claiming looks :P
I absolutely adore the look of your character, Genesis9; those can't be down to mere coincidence-- it's so unique! Even so, I think everyone's come across this problem-- it happens on a near-daily basis to me, especially when I'm roleplaying. It really, really irritates me; thieves are one of the only things on FH that get me completely and utterly riled up sometimes! Whilst it's natural for some characters to look similar given the creator's limited set of markings, there's a distinct line between coincidence and a copy.
Can share a few stories from the past! Will need to root through my screenshots for more daft (and recent!) tales. :D
Was idly roleplaying in Ficho with my group and the very second someone found out I was the leader, this person began frantically changing their character to mine. I didn't get its final appearance, sadly! He didn't even bother to spell the name right. :P
(http://i.imgur.com/G75xXQ7.jpg)
Another copy! I think they ran up to me randomly, entirely out of the blue. Not entirely sure why they stole such a bog-standard, stereotypical wolf myself.
(http://i.imgur.com/ivVstUF.jpg)
This story's similar to yours, too. I was idly roleplaying on my gryphon, Vulta (now called Vultra), and within a matter of mere minutes, this began copying my character. They then began flirting with my poor, estranged gryphon, insinuating that we must be mates because we look similar!
(http://i.imgur.com/dRGQnRL.jpg)
This person claimed to have had this character for '10 years' when I declined their mate request after they'd blatantly logged out in front of me-- and copied Haru.
(http://i.imgur.com/DOsa5yz.jpg)
Blergh! I hate it!
(http://i.imgur.com/DOsa5yz.jpg)
Blergh! I hate it!
That is a common character look and I think I may have one like that too. There is a lot of Aricanes that look like that though I like mine with more orange.
I am happy to say I have not had this happen to me. Maybe because most of my characters are plain and most people have characters like mine just because it is common. But there was one person I saw copying the leader of a warrior cat group I was in. The leader was a very nice looking Siamese cat. This person kept logging on and off right next to him, each time changing the color a bit more. This person didn't even bother covering it up and might as well have asked him for his numbering for his pelt!