What does unoriginal mean ?

At what point does our conversation, our discussions or our efforts to be interesting become unoriginal ?

Talking about the same things repeatedly over time can be dull. That's understandable. Those around us grow fatigued when hearing the same repeated things. But where is the point of departure on this ? At what quantitative definitive point do we enter plagiarism?

I was having dinner with an old and dear friend I hadn't seen in while, and I decided to talk a little about some theories of time I am exploring. I know, old news to regular readers. {Btw- enjoy that small time joke on me}. As I broached the subject my internal voice that I am sure we all enjoy questioned the idea of speaking of something already laid out for all to see. I was intellectually aware I had crossed some threshold - invisible as it may be. Nonetheless I carried on and was later caught out on the matter. On one hand its absolutely recycling and on the other experts talk endlessly about the same topic not because they are monotonous, but rather because they continue to explore the boundaries of the subject. (I am not claiming to be an expert here).

So is full disclosure necessary ? Perhaps, but that also makes one come off as a poncy twit. "On my blog the other day I wrote about...". You don't want to be that person.

So the answer is "I don't know" but as usual dear audience (consisting of my
Mother only, probably) I offer up some brain-meat for you to chew on. What do you think - can we reference ourselves without citing it?

Oh- and be sure to mention that you read it here first Mom.