I somewhat agree with what Stallybrass says about thoughts and where they come from. On the one hand, others do significantly influence our thoughts and behaviors. Our friends, siblings, and parents all play a part in our upbringing and development. Yet, if our thoughts aren’t our own, then who’s are they? People from Aristotle to Thomas Edison came up with their own ideas of how things operated, and in most cases proved them to be true. For instance, when Edison came up with the invention of the light bulb, who’s idea was that? Surely not his friend’s or his father’s. It may have come from years of education, but the invention itself was his.

This has revelance to a research topic because everyone comes up with their own ideas for a paper. They originate in us, not in our roommates or the guy down the hall.