Ok so, there is something that I have been thinking about and I would love to hear some Steemit world input!
Being a relatively new resident of the great down under I get a lot of people asking me about the differences between Australian and Canadian culture. The discussion inevitably leads to the Australian self diagnosed "Tall Poppy Syndrome". Which Wikipedia describes as "an aversion to the success of one's peers." This syndrome is often credited as the reason for the chronic understatement which seems to be the Australian brand.
Now being that this is not my first cultural cross-over I realize that because culture is created by the people who are a part of it nothing is ever as cut and dried as a Wikipedia definition. So that being said...I have a theory.
My theory is that many Australian's have an aversion to conflict. I know that sounds a bit backwards, because knocking each other seems like it could cause conflict. But when I have observed interactions of ‘cutting some one down to size’ it is often followed by humour and avoidance of more difficult discussion. I think that the Australian culture actually uses both this negative humour as well as the above self diagnosis to avoid genuine conflict. It is a lot more comfortable to laugh things off.
So here is the question: Why is “tall poppy syndrome” and what motivates it?
Now I am not so concerned about this cultural trait being classified as right or wrong. I am more interested in what you think the motivations and realities of it are.
Let me know what you think! Are you Aussie True Blue or does your experience hold similarities from a different cultural context.
Chime in!