What is Tall Poppy Effect?

I would love to read more about biggie members take on what this means.

I lived in Auckland for about 10 years and heard the term bantered around but it is long since forgotten in this new land I now live in....

(tidied up ya post!)

Tall Poppy Syndrome = world wied phenomenon, prevalent in NZ in particular.

example: "I want to do this, I think it could be real successful." Response is likely to be a mixture of "it will never work" and "it won't make money" or "why, its not gonna achieve anything."


the other example is when someone does achieve something, kiwis will cut them down, or look for them to fail.

NZ can just be a nation of negativity when it comes to other people's success, or desire to succeed.

I know that before I moved here, I had people saying I would be moving back by christmas (yes, I know who you are.) etc etc.

It can even extend to people encouraging others to enjoy mediocrity.

It does exist in aussie, just not to the same extent. I guess the lack of tall poppy here is aided by their national pride. The don't focus on the negative as much (except for politics, which is fuct in aussie anyway.)

Tall Poppy Syndrom I think is just giving shit to any person who has become succesful .... its a pretty old habit in NZ

Id imagine most of the nexus biggies have experianced this at some point, (maybe not.. ) with friends implying you wouldnt actually make anything of your trip overseas, i know i sure as hell did..!!

http://www.business.auckland.ac.nz/personal_webpages/mer/people/bfsmouly/tall%20poppy%20syndrome.doc

Its people imagining that someone who is successful thinks they are better than everyone and then hating them for that resentment when its the idiot who actually has the problem.

Does anyone ever feel like they dont want to tell their friends and family how good of a time they are having away in case they think you are rubbing it in and bragging???

What do you guys think about this?

<rant>

I know that whenever I tell people about the good times I've had over here it just feels like they think that you're rubbing it in, and it's almost like they don't even want to know. It's happened on a number of occasions to me now and I'm sick of it really, because basically I came here to have a good time and now it feels like I can't even tell anyone about the good times I've had! For me it's more friends than family. I think my family like to hear that I'm finally having a good time in life and are always asking what I've been up to and are genuinely interested in what I do.

I wouldn't call it tall poppy effect I dont think, because I don't think I'm very successful in anything to get on my high horse about. Maybe jealousy. Who knows

What do you Nexus guys think?

</rant>

Thats not tall poppy effect spike. Thats just a combination of jealousy and paranoia!

Although thats only semi-joking. Tall poppy is more the people back home who when you said "I'm gonna do xyz" said "nah, it'll never work" or "nah, you'll never succeed."

Whereas telling people back home how great a time you're having, and them saying "shut up you bastard" is just jealousy mixed with paranoia. Jealous of what you're getting up to, paranoia that they'll never do it.

I dont care if people dont want to hear about all the fun I'm having here. I'll tell them anyway! I came over here to have fun and adventures and they know that so why shouldnt I tell them about it.

Yeah, I know. I get that too. I do that too! And I ain't stopping in a hurry either!!!

excately dom. just tell them and who cares what they think, lol

we're here to have fun and enjoy life. if they dont want to know then let them get back under their rock with their fingers in their ears going "la la la...."

NZ = rock.

dont get me wrong, i think NZ is a wicked country. laid back as hell - just like me

i just wanted a change and see some more stuff, and i'm finally doing that and its great.

it's just the narrow mindedness of some people that cant see that i'm having fun and want to tell them that gets on my nervs.

I think its great that you peoples share ya adventures ... I esp. love Steveo's huge posts of what hes been up too. Too be honest I'm fully jealous that you peoples are over there having a blast, but I did it when I was 17 .. and am definately going again as soon as I learn how to save ..

Its wicked to read what crazy missions you are all up too, each one of you should have ya own thread, to tell the biggie massive what madness you have been doing, plus its way better reading that whats usually on biggie

it's definitely a jealousy thing... I just ignore it... I've noticed it a bit from people even now, just because I'm getting excited about going, and talking about it all the time.... (ok, maybe it's just because people wish I would shut up )

it takes a lot of guts to move to the other side of the world, and a lot of people aren't up to it... they're usually the jealous ones

Nice one Mutant! Too true! How many times have I heard....
"Yeah that's cool! I will be there soon too!..." It takes courage to up and leave your safety net of reality...

I think of it this way:

Would you rather be a big fish in a little pond or a little fish in a big pond?

It cracks me up how many fish in a little pond rate themselves yet get overseas and get smacked across the face with a wet fish and realise that they aren't the Superstars of the city they thought they were... ha ha
humble pie anyone?
Only courage and determination can turn that wet fish into a positive high five!
Makes it hard to determine whether returning home is worth it or not!
I am allergic to seafood of the huge variety.

Lovely last line ther but so apt....