(Anonymous) @ :
If you want to stick with playing the same solo as someone else as a reason to disagree with #5, let's stretch that example. You play forte where he plays a few bars pianissimo...he gets rave reviews and you lose your next gig and called out as an unimaginative hack (we're PRETENDING). You guys played the same solo! What happened?
Some redundancy is not the same as a clone. Even clones have their issues (watch City of Lost Children for a good example of clone rivalry. Each clone is made from the same person, but each is told he is the original. Hijinks ensue. In the foreign language section in most rental places because it's French).
Making one or two things the same between two characters doesn't say anything about their personality which is where real conflict can come in.
And as for a plausible reason for connection...I'm currently studying in the UK in a program that's 94% international students. I'm the only American. There's one American in the undergrad program attached to my master's program, and yes, we talk every time we see each other. We were automatically friendly toward one another because of that shared intangible connection (we are not only from the same state, but weirdly, from the same part of it).
Sameness gives you a conversation starter, if nothing else.
Some redundancy is not the same as a clone. Even clones have their issues (watch City of Lost Children for a good example of clone rivalry. Each clone is made from the same person, but each is told he is the original. Hijinks ensue. In the foreign language section in most rental places because it's French).
Making one or two things the same between two characters doesn't say anything about their personality which is where real conflict can come in.
And as for a plausible reason for connection...I'm currently studying in the UK in a program that's 94% international students. I'm the only American. There's one American in the undergrad program attached to my master's program, and yes, we talk every time we see each other. We were automatically friendly toward one another because of that shared intangible connection (we are not only from the same state, but weirdly, from the same part of it).
Sameness gives you a conversation starter, if nothing else.