A couple of days ago, a New Zealand research company – one used by a huge array of big business here – gave a speech to a broad marketing audience and said the concept of ‘tall poppy’ was dead.
They had the audacity to say this the day after Jake Millar committed suicide. The arrogance to say this when they reside in a country that continues to have one of the worst – if not the worst – youth suicide rates per capita on earth.
There are many reasons that contribute to the terrible suicide rate, but ‘tall poppy’ is, without doubt, one of them.
A significant one of them.
The biggest open – yet oppressed – secret in the country.
So to that company, I want to say this.
You are not just complicit to the problem, you are playing an active role in it.
By making statements like that, you’re placing all the blame on the people who felt they had no other choice. You’re telling parents their kids situation & context didn’t exist. You’re telling NZ, they can continue to look the other way. You’re telling the friends, family and colleagues of 26 year old Jake Millar, pictured at the top of this post, that the media who revelled in getting the nation to celebrate his business failure – and then attached all manner of additional negative personal narratives to his name = are blameless.
Do you realise what you’ve done?
Do you understand the implications of your actions?
You’ve just told the nation they can carry on as they are. That their perpetual and persistent judgement and abuse is simply ‘banter’.
How fucking malicious of you.
Be grateful I’m not calling out your name because what you did is shameless.
But let me reassure you, we will be chatting and I’ll be reminding you of your responsibility to the truth, not to making money from reinforcing a cultural narrative of denial.
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what a bunch of evil motherfuckers.
Comment by andy@cynic December 2, 2021 @ 8:19 amhurt them campbell. hurt the fuckers hard.
Comment by andy@cynic December 2, 2021 @ 8:20 amEnvy just ceased to exist? Wow, that’s one hell of a research finding. Why does everybpdy think that we’re living in an age when evolution has sped up?
Tall Poppy syndrome pervades every country with connections to the British empire – presumably related to the class system. Sadly, it’s not going away any time soon.
Comment by John December 2, 2021 @ 8:25 amHow disgraceful. I am sure there are many factors that contribute to that shocking statistic but a quick search on the internet reveals how many people talk about the crisis of tall poppy. To deny its existence is to invite questions to their understanding of what is actually happening in NZ.
Comment by George December 2, 2021 @ 8:30 amIt goes without saying how much I love you speaking up about this. I hope you are not the only one. I am concerned you may be.
Comment by George December 2, 2021 @ 8:30 amcocksuckers.
Comment by Billy Whizz December 2, 2021 @ 8:57 amIt’s not just insensitive, it’s antagonistic. Good on you for calling it out Rob. Over the past few years I’ve seen research companies move from providing insight to instruction. It’s dangerous, especially if they dismiss the legitimacy of an issue that led to a young man committing suicide the day before.
Comment by Pete December 2, 2021 @ 9:04 amPerfectly put Peter.
Comment by Lee Hill December 2, 2021 @ 9:54 amHow dare those people erase the reality of that young mans life. They have just added to his parents despair and loss..
Comment by Mary Bryant December 2, 2021 @ 10:47 am