#874. Having our ideas stolen by pop culture. (Finally!)

Despite being an early adopter of both Gavin DeGraw and Salt & Vinegar Pringles, people rarely call me a “visionary.” (Both of those things should be more famous by the way.)

No one looks at me as a shaper of culture, as a predictor of fads, as a trendsetter if you will. Until today. A few weeks ago I hinted at something that came to be. I joked about something that actually came to pass. I hate to exaggerate, but I kind of predicted the future.

How?

In a post I wrote on August 23, I asked the shoe company TOMS, if they would be OK if I “started a handkerchief company called, SMOT?”

I found the idea of starting a company so obviously inspired by TOMS to be humorous, dare I say rife with mirth. And I laughed, oh I laughed, until I saw the new shoe by Skechers. At first I thought they were teasing or pulling my leg or even joshing a little bit. But they are not. They recently developed a new shoe called “BOBS.”

Here is a photo of the BOBS (from digitalmomblog, check her out):

Here is a photo of TOMS:

Not only do they look alike, but they have the same program of giving a pair of shoes to someone in need every time you buy one, just like TOMS does.

Now clearly, this raises some questions:

1. Would it have been worse, or better if Skechers had named them the “TIMS,” and only changed one letter?

2. If changing TOMS to BOBS becomes a trend, would it be odd if I became a Christian musician named, “Chris Boblin,” instead of Chris Tomlin? My first song will be titled, “How Greater is our God.”

3. For some reason, “TOMS” sounds like a playful kid you went to elementary school with, and “BOBS” sounds like a gentleman who owns an Astrovan and has a thick mustache. The name Bob doesn’t sound that way to me, but making it plural is weird, am I wrong?

4. Is it wrong to want to make an Office Space joke right here?

5. Is this an “ends justify the means,” conversation? Is the bigger issue that kids are getting shoes they need and what’s originality anyway? Nothing is original.

6. Should someone who ripped off the Stuff White People Like site to create this one really be poking someone else for lack of originality?

7. Is it weird that I’m happy that for once, pop culture is copying Christianity? All our years of turning “Got Milk?,” into “Got God?” or “Got Destiny?” have been absolved.

8. Is it possible that TOMS gave Skechers permission? Soles4Souls is the one running the program and I’ve heard good things about those dudes and love what they do. Is this possibly all on the up and up?

9. If I made a running shoe called, “NOKES,” would Nike get all upset?

What’s your take? Huge flattery or imitation gone too far?

You in Team TOMS or Team BOBS?