Are you noticing the "Tall Poppy Syndrome"?

Question

I'm not a huge swimming fan, in fact I don't watch it in any form. However I am finding it interesting to see all of the negative questions being posted on here about Phelps. The guy has won 8 gold medals in this Olympics. I personally thought this was a great feat. (My personal opinion, not fact nor judgement on others opinions).

Is this a case of the "Tall Poppy Syndrome", or are there facts about Phelps that the rest of the world doesn't know about that warrants such negativity? This by the way is a serious question, I am interested to know...not to judge, but pure curiosity.

Answer 1

I honestly don't think people think he cheats its just a bit of reflex action for all those stupid Q&A about China cheating in the gymnastics.

Shame really because sour grapes is the one thing that has really tarnished these games and look at the way that poor girl Alicia was treated because she made a mistake in the old days they would of tarred and feathered her.

Answer 2

you are right, and it happens all the time, ignore it he did great, and whats more he doesn't seem to be arrogant about it.  

Answer 3

Anyone who over achieves to the extent Phelps has is going to draw out detractors and suspicion of performance enhancing drug use.

Humans are naturally skeptical and jealous and will always try to drag outstanding individuals back down to the level of the pack.

Answer 4

It's a very sad phenomenon. It seems that anyone who is successful ends up being the object of bitter, jealous derision - but maybe it's human nature, a lot of people can't bear to see someone else's success - and the critics quite conveniently forget the years of struggle and sacrifice it's taken for someone like Phelps to get to where he is now.

The "Tall Poppy Syndrome" is rife here in Australia, too - I remember when our own "super-fish" Ian Thorpe won all his gold medals in Athens, and plenty of "fellow Australians" delighted in criticising him - later topped off by the media-generated allegation that Thorpe took performance-enhancing drugs. His critics were positively salivating  - yes, even his own countrymen (though it turned out that Thorpe was clean.)

It's strange how this phenomenon exists - I myself was a victim of it years ago when I succeeded in music. I've thought a lot about it over the years, wondering why Aussies are generally so intent on lopping everyone else down to size - maybe it has something to do with our convict heritage...

Interesting question, Nat!

Hafwen :o)

Answer 5

Agreed it is tall poppy syndrome though i would defiantly have loved Phelps be an Australian. People would probbale be less inclined to be negative about Phelps if he wasn't a feature of the montages which waste important coverage time on seven.

Answer 6

Its just Human nature for people to cut down others. Some people are unhappy about themselves so they try to bring down others to try and make themselves feel less pathetic

Answer 7

You are so right ... it is the Tall Poppy Syndrome in action, and it's really a very sad phenomenon. Phelps did wonderfully well and has every right to feel proud of the fantastic achievements he has worked so hard for. It's sad that people see that and yearn to pull him to pieces and look for what they can criticise. It happens to a lot of people who achieve so highly though - there are those lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce to mar the purity of the happiness they should be able to feel.

I think it's a sad lesson for our kids to see too, that no matter how highly they achieve, it seems it will never be good enough for some people, who would readily belittle their accomplishments and magnify their flaws.