The Tall Poppy Syndrome
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:59 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_poppy_syndrome
The Tall Poppy Syndrome is carried to ridiculous extremes in New Zealand.
On my first of many long stays in New Zealand some 20 years ago, I attended a stage play. The play was well done and like all plays had someone that was the lead actor and actress. At the end of the play, all participants came out on stage holding hands and lined up in an even row. I kept waiting for the stars to take separate bows, but that was not to come. All were equal, all contributed their talents, and heaven forbid if one was to stand out above the other. That was my first introduction to the Tall Poppy Syndrome. I talked to my New Zealand born and raised wife after the play and she gave an example from her youth. She attended boarding school run by the Irish Catholic Merciless Sisters, sorry, Sisters of Mercy. She was a tennis player and is 5' 10" (definetely a Tall Poppy) and a pretty good player at that. The sisters were always after her to tone down her competive juices and allow the lesser talented girls to win as well.
My first entry in a New Zealand Golf competition I made the mistake of wearing a white short sleeve shirt. My partner said to me "Lon, are you going to play in that white shirt"? Yes I replied, why not? He said "well, you will sure stand out" I replied " Hell I am 6' 5" and will stand out no matter what". Most of the players were attired in brown, purple, black, dark green. This Tall Poppy thing is unique to NZ, OZ and maybe the UK. It's probably not as prevelent as it once was, but it's still there.
I acknowledge the fact that many of us Americans can be OVER THE TOP, as they say, but we grow up in a different culture where assertiveness, competiveness, and thinking well of one's self is not a sin.
New Zealanders are a kindly people and polite almost to a fault. I have stepped on someone's foot accidently and had them apologise to me by saying the famous Kiwi apology, SORRY, to which I reply "no, my fault and I'm sorry" to which they reply once again "SORRY" Oh well--------
Much of the world has adopted many of the American expressions, actions and dress I am sorry to say. The High Five, which I personally dislike, baseball caps on backwards and a host of other things that I wish had stayed in the U.S. I have grown to like both Rugby and Cricket and the reason is that they get on with the game. The bowler is not scratching his privates and constantly adjusting his cap or knocking imagineary dirt from his cleats. He gets on with it and throws the damn ball. Rugy??? Hey, 60 minutes and the game is over. American football is only 60 minutes as well, but drug out to 3 to four hours. Gotta have those commercials to pay the big bucks you know. I think there is a lot of fun to be had in acknowledging these differences and not taking ones self too seriously. There is a certain amout of hypocrisy with this Tall Poppy Syndrome, particularly when it comes to New Zealand atheletes. There is never a doubt who the heroes are, and they don't all come out and hold hands together. Even the Haka (famous Maori War Dance complete with one foot tongues), there will be those that stand out.
What are your thoughts on the Tall Poppy Syndrome??????????????
The Tall Poppy Syndrome is carried to ridiculous extremes in New Zealand.
On my first of many long stays in New Zealand some 20 years ago, I attended a stage play. The play was well done and like all plays had someone that was the lead actor and actress. At the end of the play, all participants came out on stage holding hands and lined up in an even row. I kept waiting for the stars to take separate bows, but that was not to come. All were equal, all contributed their talents, and heaven forbid if one was to stand out above the other. That was my first introduction to the Tall Poppy Syndrome. I talked to my New Zealand born and raised wife after the play and she gave an example from her youth. She attended boarding school run by the Irish Catholic Merciless Sisters, sorry, Sisters of Mercy. She was a tennis player and is 5' 10" (definetely a Tall Poppy) and a pretty good player at that. The sisters were always after her to tone down her competive juices and allow the lesser talented girls to win as well.
My first entry in a New Zealand Golf competition I made the mistake of wearing a white short sleeve shirt. My partner said to me "Lon, are you going to play in that white shirt"? Yes I replied, why not? He said "well, you will sure stand out" I replied " Hell I am 6' 5" and will stand out no matter what". Most of the players were attired in brown, purple, black, dark green. This Tall Poppy thing is unique to NZ, OZ and maybe the UK. It's probably not as prevelent as it once was, but it's still there.
I acknowledge the fact that many of us Americans can be OVER THE TOP, as they say, but we grow up in a different culture where assertiveness, competiveness, and thinking well of one's self is not a sin.
New Zealanders are a kindly people and polite almost to a fault. I have stepped on someone's foot accidently and had them apologise to me by saying the famous Kiwi apology, SORRY, to which I reply "no, my fault and I'm sorry" to which they reply once again "SORRY" Oh well--------
Much of the world has adopted many of the American expressions, actions and dress I am sorry to say. The High Five, which I personally dislike, baseball caps on backwards and a host of other things that I wish had stayed in the U.S. I have grown to like both Rugby and Cricket and the reason is that they get on with the game. The bowler is not scratching his privates and constantly adjusting his cap or knocking imagineary dirt from his cleats. He gets on with it and throws the damn ball. Rugy??? Hey, 60 minutes and the game is over. American football is only 60 minutes as well, but drug out to 3 to four hours. Gotta have those commercials to pay the big bucks you know. I think there is a lot of fun to be had in acknowledging these differences and not taking ones self too seriously. There is a certain amout of hypocrisy with this Tall Poppy Syndrome, particularly when it comes to New Zealand atheletes. There is never a doubt who the heroes are, and they don't all come out and hold hands together. Even the Haka (famous Maori War Dance complete with one foot tongues), there will be those that stand out.
What are your thoughts on the Tall Poppy Syndrome??????????????
) Its why the Brazillians are so successful at football. I want to have heros in sport and strong competitive captains of industry, vieing for that million dollar contract.