Post by Willow on Nov 21, 2012 17:59:52 GMT 9.5
BY: JAMES VALENTINE From: The Australian November 21, 2012 12:00AM 22 comments
IT is time to end an Australian myth that is outdated as the bunyip. Australians do not lop down to size anyone who succeeds and resent anyone who rises. Tall poppy syndrome is as true as the Min Min lights.
The only people who claim tall poppy victim status are those who are up themselves.
After all, what could be more up yourself than thinking we're having a go at you because of your success? "He's a bit up himself."
Isolating that human characteristic and naming it so graphically is one of Australia's great contributions to the world.
To be "a bit up yourself" is not to be the same as your English "tosser" or "wanker", both of which lack affection.
When one is "a bit up oneself", one is, after all, only a bit. This implies hope. Maybe next week one no longer will be in that position.
It's a brilliantly succinct phrase. In just a few words, "up him/her self ", we deliver clear meaning; this person's self-regard has gone a little too far.
And that meaning is wrapped in a hilarious albeit anatomically impossible image. You can't actually be "up yourself". But it's a terrifically funny idea that you might.
And if self-upping persists, the phrase changes. You are described as "right up yourself ".
I raise this as in recent weeks we have had several fine examples of Australians being up themselves. One was My Kitchen Rules chef Pete Evans, who revealed an extraordinary daily intake of food items unknown to most, including, but not limited to, activated almonds, alkalined water, sprouted millet and cacao nibs.
When some began to snigger at this, he erupted with indignation: "I find it so bizarre that people find my food choices so offensive."
Textbook example of being a bit up yourself. No one found it offensive, it's just no one outside of health food shop proprietors and the nutritionally anxious knew almonds could be activated or why they would need to be.
Being unaware that your own speciality is not widespread is an up yourself trait. Being unable to take a bit of stirring about your speciality is core up yourselfmanship.
Actress Melissa George had a meltdown on Seven's morning show after the hosts asked her about her time on Home and Away; she sneered at her home country and questioned why she should bother to come back here at all if this was all people wanted to talk about. Feeling as though you are above your past -- again textbook.
George reached core upyourselfness when she declared herself a victim of tall poppy syndrome. Tall poppy victim status is claimed only by people who are up themselves: Bond and Skase-type businessmen who think their financial success entitles them to do what they like and we should all be grateful; the middle-ranking rock or sports star who feels success slipping away and thinks we're trying to take it from them; those trying to sell a certain self-image to us who panic when we question it.
Evans can eat what he likes. All he had to do after we've all stood around and had a laugh at him is laugh along with us.
"Look, that's what I eat -- but you've no idea how much I crave a Chiko Roll." Good on yer!
George can be outraged no one wants to talk about her charity but instead a job she did 20 years ago -- but a day later ring up the show, go back on, talk about Home and Away, and her charity. Donate something and blame jet lag. Result? Legend!
Here's an off-the-top-of-the-head list of people yet to experience tall poppy lopping despite significant success.
Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Ian Thorpe, Shane Warne, Brian Schmidt, Barry Humphries, Rove McManus, Clive James, John Farnham, Frank Lowy, Lindsay Fox. We might disagree with or criticise any of these people at any time but we admire their success and we love the fact they're not up themselves.