Tall poppy syndrome

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Tall poppy syndrome (TPS) is a term used in Australasia for a levelling social attitude, pushed to the point of bad behaviour. Someone has tall poppy syndrome when they are envious, defamatory, or overly critical of someone because of their notionally higher economic, social or political position.

The term originates from an account in Livy's History of Rome, Book I. A Roman tyrant, Tarquinius Superbus, received a messenger from his son Sextus asking what he should do next in Gabii, since he had become all-powerful there. Rather than answering the messenger, Tarquinius went into his garden, took a stick, and symbolically swept it across his garden, thus cutting off the heads of the tallest poppies that were growing there. The messenger, tired of waiting for an answer, returned to Gabii and told Sextus what happened, who realised that his father wished him to put to death all the most eminent people of Gabii, which he then did.

In modern Australasia, tall poppy syndrome is frequently invoked as an explanation when a public figure is on the receiving end of negative publicity — even if such publicity can be seen as a result of that person's own misconduct.

Australians and New Zealanders have a reputation for resenting the success of others; whether this reputation is deserved is another question. Many Australasians have achieved success and wealth without attracting such hostility (e.g. Dick Smith). Apparent cases of tall poppy syndrome can often be explained as resentment not of success but of snobbery and arrogance, combined with an egalitarian attitude. Thus, Australians and New Zealanders are often self-deprecating, especially those in the public eye.

Belief in the strength of this cultural phenomenon, and the degree to which it represents a negative trait, is to some extent influenced by politics. Conservative commentators, particularly city-based ones, often criticise Australians for their desire to punish the successful. Sometimes, the tall poppy syndrome is claimed to be linked to the concept of 'The Politics of Envy'. Critics of the tall poppy syndrome sometimes compare Australia unfavourably to the United States in this respect, in the belief that Americans generally appreciate the successful as an example to admire and attempt to emulate.

However, this phenomenon is often misinterpreted by foreign observers. For the majority of the population, the targets are those who are seen as taking themselves too seriously or flaunting their success without humility.

Tall poppy syndrome may well be a universal phenomenon, accentuated in some cultures. The concept of janteloven, or "Jante law", in Scandinavia is very similar. Similar phenomena exist in Canada and the Netherlands where many commentators have also noticed a tendency to distrust or resent the successful. The Japanese proverb "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down" is particularly notorious. In the United States, public schools are periodically criticised for acting as a Handicapper General.

Tall poppy syndrome is also used to refer to the notion that when people feel small they believe it is due to the fact that other 'poppies' are taller than they. Therefore they seek to denigrate these individuals.

The tall poppy defence

The syndrome is often invoked by rich or powerful people to dismiss any public criticism of themselves. It is frequently invoked as a plea for sympathy when such figures are on the receiving end of negative publicity — even if such publicity can be seen as a result of that person's own misconduct. Many a wealthy corporate criminal has invoked it in that interesting period between arraignment and sentence.

Heath Ledger claims that this is the way Australians treat him and has renounced Sydney as his home