From: "Ian Lloyd" <ianlloyd@perth.igs.net>
To: "balloon twisters" <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Creationism vs. evolution Balloon related!
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 15:12:41 -0500

I was thinking about the recent posts about giving credit for designs and
the parallel invention of the Manioli twist and the vavoom snowman (made a
lot of those this week!) and the hook twist.
     Given that people all over the world are experimenting with essentially
the same matter (standard balloons) and especially on this list, information
is more or less freely exchanged, can anybody truly claim to be a Creator.
    I have sat down and "created" designs, but anything I created was based
on , or used techniques from, other peoples work. I have, on a number of
occasions, "created" a sculpture only to find it already described or
illustrated on the 'net.
    I have some instructional books and videos and I beleive all of them at
some point mention that they are using techniques they have learned from
other people.
    Case in point. There is a hockey player in the photo section at BHQ
which is a modification or perhaps a parallel invention of "my" hockey
player hat, also in the photo section. I call it my hat, but what it really
is, is a use of a power ranger described either on this list or at another
site a couple of years ago. I don't feel any ownership of the "my" hockey
player or think I should get credit for "their" hockey player. If I did a
video I would probably give credit for the power ranger if I found out whose
it was.
    I guess I'm saying I'm an evolutionist. The sculptures we produce now
are the sum of the sculptures we all have produced in the past.
    If someone makes a book or video giving instructions for a certain
sculpture which they feel they have created I don't think it is right for
someone else to make a video or book with the instructions for the same
sculpture, but if it is modified, then it has evolved into a new sculpture.
I think I'm saying that the value of an instructional video is in the
presentation and production, not always in the actual sculptures.

I wonder who would like to lay claim to, or give credit for, any of the
specific techniques or twists that we use. I've heard of "Lively eyes"
Manioli twist, hook twist, meatballs, raisin twist, loop, teddy bear and
split ear twists, lock twist, marriage twist, weaving and so on, not to
mention the plethora of tools, both patented and not.

Just some food for thought.
"Jess Kiddin"
Perth ON
 Canada
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