They are saying imitation is the sincerest type of flattery. For some cause, although, they normally chop off the tip of that Oscar Wilde quote. Right here’s the total quote: “Imitation is the sincerest type of flattery that mediocrity will pay to greatness.”
I used to be in highschool the primary time somebody introduced that quote to my consideration. I used to be the assistant sofa for the center faculty flag soccer workforce. One Halloween, a dozen gamers got here to highschool dressed like me. The Michael Estrin costume was straightforward to tug off. On a regular basis, I wore denims and a gray t-shirt — kind of like Steve Jobs along with his black turtlenecks. What can I say? Nice minds…
Final week, I caught somebody pretending to be me on Substack Notes. I wasn’t flattered, although. Regardless of the apparent typos, I used to be apprehensive that somebody who likes my tales may mistakenly imagine that I used to be endorsing some scammer’s get-rich-quick scheme. For the report, I imagine one of the best ways to get wealthy is slowly, and no I’m not wealthy but.
A bunch of individuals reported the scammer, and Substack eliminated the account. A reader named Amy had the most effective response: “I suppose imitation is the sincerest type of bottery.” I in all probability ought to’ve stolen that joke and handed it off as my very own. Good artists copy, nice artists steal — which is a line everybody steals from Steve Jobs, who stole it from Pablo Picasso.
Talking of stealing, one other scammer claiming to be Michael Estrin tried to steal my paycheck final week. No joke. They emailed my employer, however fortunately an eagle-eyed staffer noticed the issue.
When shit like this occurs, my father would at all times say, “That’s life within the large metropolis.” I don’t know why large communities are extra inclined to scammers than small communities, however so far as communities go, it doesn’t get a lot greater than the web. In response to the FBI, on-line scammers stole a report $16.6 billion in 2024. A part of the issue, I believe, is that it’s straightforward to impersonate somebody on-line, and new AI instruments make it even simpler. After all, many people noticed this downside coming, particularly these of us who learn the New Yorker within the Nineties.
I’m not a canine, nor have I pretended to be one on the web. I’m glad being Michael Estrin. However I’ll admit that typically I want I used to be the opposite Michael Estrin, aka the baller software program engineer who routinely will get high-paying job provides despatched to his my inbox.
If I might simply be that Michael Estrin, I might get wealthy fast. I wouldn’t even should be taught to code, as a result of from what I hear, AI codes higher than it writes. However how might I sleep at evening, figuring out that I used to be an imposter? Actually, I believe I’d go to items. As Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett stated, “I’ve gotta be me.” Hassle is, far too many individuals wanna be like Mike.
Scenario Regular is free, however a handful of scenario normies pay so I can preserve my Substack bestseller badge, which is in reality, our bestseller badge. Huge shout out to
for upgrading to a paid subscription! Erika, good vibes are headed your means, thanks!
Huge thanks to the scenario normies who’ve bought & learn my novel, Not Protected for Work. I really like listening to from you, whether or not you permit a assessment, or drop me a line. And in case you haven’t purchased the purchased, you must! As a result of in case you love Scenario Regular, there’s an 11 in 10 probability you’ll snort your butt off studying my slacker noir set within the porn trade on the daybreak of Internet 2.0.
Not Protected for Work is offered at Amazon and all the opposite ebook locations.
*The e-book is .99, so you may’t go too far flawed. Simply sayin’.
-
Are you an imposter? Spill it!
-
Do you’ve a piece / faculty / life uniform like Steve Jobs or highschool Michael Estrin? Dish!
-
How do you get wealthy? Clarify.
-
Aren’t there higher, extra honest methods to flatter somebody? Go deep!
The information is bizarre, and I imagine that when the going will get bizarre, the bizarre flip semi-pro. To wit: I’ve eaten a burrito from the center, discovered the braveness to inform the reality about Braveness Bagels, and carried out yoga with goats. Most not too long ago, I rode in a robo taxi and lived to write down about it.
Now, it’s time for my subsequent act of absurdist journalism: Consuming at The Munch Field, a historic (and poorly named) Chatsworth burger joint frequented by Charles Manson. Is that this a narrative that must be advised? No. Will or not it’s advised? That’s as much as you. I estimate that this story will price round $20 for a burger, fries, and a drink. To make this story occur, ship any quantity through PayPal.
