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Jantelaw
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Re: Jantelaw
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Re: Jantelaw
No no no.Terrapin Station wrote: ↑September 5th, 2020, 9:51 amTo avoid that, it should also say, "We're not to think we're as good as you are, either."
Or it could just say, "No one should think they're better than someone else."
Not that that solves the problems of it amounting to a "participation trophy culture"--"No one won the race; you all get a trophy," which has obvious problems, but it would at least avoid the connotation that it's putting the reader down relative to whatever group is issuing the edicts.
The point of the Jantelaw is to see yourself as part of the "we", not as the "you". That's when acting by that law is successful. Always direct the criticism at others, not at yourself.
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Re: Jantelaw
One should always see oneself as part of a strong, coherent, successful group.
The "you" in the text of the Law is meant for those individuals who are outside of one's group.
People outside of one's group should be seen as individuals, not as (part of) other groups. It is those individuals who should be criticized, not members of one's own group.
- Terrapin Station
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- Favorite Philosopher: Bertrand Russell and WVO Quine
- Location: NYC Man
- Terrapin Station
- Posts: 6227
- Joined: August 23rd, 2016, 3:00 pm
- Favorite Philosopher: Bertrand Russell and WVO Quine
- Location: NYC Man
Re: Jantelaw
Because of what, though? What justifies the group being conceited?baker wrote: ↑December 14th, 2020, 10:25 am To add:
One should always see oneself as part of a strong, coherent, successful group.
The "you" in the text of the Law is meant for those individuals who are outside of one's group.
People outside of one's group should be seen as individuals, not as (part of) other groups. It is those individuals who should be criticized, not members of one's own group.
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Re: Jantelaw
No. Jantelaw isn't about democracy, isn't about egalitarianism, isn't about humility, isn't about empathy.Terrapin Station wrote: ↑December 14th, 2020, 1:13 pmRight, so it would have to be "We're not to think we're anything special, either."
It's about seeing oneself as an insider and a member of a strong group.
Entitlement to survival.Terrapin Station wrote: ↑December 14th, 2020, 1:27 pmBecause of what, though? What justifies the group being conceited?
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Re: Jantelaw
One language note: The "you" here is meant as a singular, not a plural. Look at it in German, Swedish, and other language that have different pronouns for 3rd person singular and plural.Angel Trismegistus wrote: ↑September 2nd, 2020, 6:09 am What is the Law of Jante?
You’re not to think you are anything special.
You’re not to think you are as good as we are.
You’re not to think you are smarter than we are.
You’re not to convince yourself that you are better than we are.
You’re not to think you know more than we do.
You’re not to think you are more important than we are.
You’re not to think you are good at anything.
You’re not to laugh at us.
You’re not to think anyone cares about you.
You’re not to think you can teach us anything.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante
- Terrapin Station
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- Favorite Philosopher: Bertrand Russell and WVO Quine
- Location: NYC Man
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Re: Jantelaw
Oops. That should read 2nd person!
In English, when you say "you", it's not clear without context whether this means singular or plural. In contrast, some languages have a different pronoun for each person and number, so that a confusion like the one in English is not possible.
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Re: Jantelaw
The group feels entitled to survive. The group members believe that they have more right to live than outsiders.baker wrote: ↑December 14th, 2020, 2:52 pmEntitlement to survival.Terrapin Station wrote: ↑December 14th, 2020, 1:27 pmBecause of what, though? What justifies the group being conceited?
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