In today's world, Tall poppy syndrome has become a topic of great relevance and interest to a wide variety of people. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical relevance, or its influence on everyday aspects, Tall poppy syndrome has managed to attract attention and spark debate in different areas. That is why it is essential to delve deeper into this topic, analyze its implications and understand its importance in the current context. Throughout this article, we will explore various facets of Tall poppy syndrome, from its origin and evolution to its impact on modern society, with the aim of offering a complete and enriching overview of this fascinating topic.
In Australia and New Zealand, tall poppy syndrome refers to successful people being criticised. This occurs when their peers believe they are too successful, or are bragging about their success. Intense scrutiny and criticism of such a person is termed as "cutting down the tall poppy".
In Australia and New Zealand, "cutting down the tall poppy" is sometimes used by business entrepreneurs to describe those who deliberately criticise other people for their success and achievements. It has been described as being the by-product of the Australian and New Zealand cultural value of egalitarianism.
In Japan, a similar common expression is "the nail that sticks up gets hammered down". In the Netherlands, this expression is "don't put your head above ground level" (boven het maaiveld uitsteken), with the cultural phenomenon being named maaiveldcultuur.[citation needed]
In Chile, this expression is known as chaquetear ('pull the jacket'). In Scandinavia, this expression is known as the Law of Jante. The Law of Jante originates from a 1933 novel by Aksel Sandemose. It contains rules and stipulations such as "you're not to think you are anything special" and "perhaps you don't think we know a few things about you?".