The Baader-Meinhof Effect: Why Everything Feels More Original Than It Actually Is

In a world where everything has been done before, it's hard to find anything that feels truly original. Whether it's a new song on the radio or the latest Hollywood blockbuster, it can often feel like we've seen it all before. Even our own ideas can seem unoriginal, as if we're just regurgitating what others have said or done.

It's not just that we're living in an age of information overload, although that certainly contributes to the feeling that nothing is new under the sun. It's also because of something called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, otherwise known as frequency illusion or recency illusion. This is when you become aware of something after noticing it for the first time and then start seeing it everywhere. Suddenly everyone is talking about The Beatles (or whatever else you've noticed), even though they were always there – you just weren't paying attention to them until now.

The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon helps to explain why we often think things are more original than they actually are. We see something once and assume it must be new, when in reality it was probably always there – we just didn't notice it until recently. And with social media amplifying our awareness of what other people are thinking and doing at any given moment, we're more likely than ever before to spot trends and jump on them quickly – even if they're not really all that original.

So next time you feel like everything around you is unoriginal and derivative, remember that this feeling is probably due at least partially to Baader-Meinhof! And try to enjoy the familiar things in life instead of constantly chasing after novelty – sometimes comfort and familiarity can be nice to