The Tall Poppy Syndrome

The tall poppy syndrome is apparently alive and well in the United Kingdom, Australia and certainly in New Zealand. The meaning is well enough known – a propensity to chop down anyone who is doing well in any given field.

Before the advent of professional sport, New Zealand was known for fair play and fairness – giving people a fair go. These days, being paid to win has filtered through society so that being fair or ‘sporting’ is not so often encountered.

The tall poppy syndrome is boosted by the anonymous nature of social media were there is open slather for the use of vitriol.

As a Kiwi I rejoiced when Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker Prize for her work The Luminaries.

Being a nutter on history, her research impressed me.

When news of her win came through, we were told that she was the youngest person to receive the prize. In itself that is indeed an accomplishment but the term ‘youngest person’ has connotations of inexperience, which looking at her profile is unfair.

A Man Booker Prize winner rightly becomes a celebrity in the literary world and Ms Catton has been on the speaking circuit, most recently at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Within her speech she said that: ‘New Zealand is run by neo-liberal, profit obsessed, very shallow, very money-hungry politicians who do not care about culture.’

Obviously the New Zealand politicians were none too happy to hear that! But the job description of politicians is to have a rhinoceros hide and none of them should have been offended – raised eyebrows maybe.

Some radio jock though comes out and calls Ms Catton a ‘traitor’ and used another insult that was totally inappropriate.

This started a furore against Ms Catton that outstripped any misdemeanour she may have committed. Social media did its usual anonymous best to throw vitriol all over her!

Hang on though: wasn’t there an uproar about a magazine that printed a cartoon and everyone was standing up for their right to freedom of speech? The tall poppy syndrome seems to be denying Ms Catton of that right.

Of course she is perfectly capable of speaking up for herself (and more eloquently), but there is no harm in showing support.

Obviously Ms Catton has her own political point of view gleaned from her experience and what her eyes tell her, so she would be letting herself down if she did not express her views through a forum she has worked to establish. That’s a way to achieve change.

Her views will be different to mine because I’m an old bugger with different experiences. Still, I’m happy to listen to her point of view and as well prepared to debate with her.

About those politicians; she has right on her side.

The bottom line is that there is a right of free speech and equally the right of reply, but there is no right to insult or to cut our best and brightest off at the knees.

Go Ellie.