The Jante Law : The Bedrock of Democracy

[Claverhouse]

The basis of much of human judgement is Ressentiment, and that quality underlies every generous liberal impulse needed to create a healthy self-satisfied democratic community where even suspicion of believed superiority is derided and hated, and a happy imposed equality keeps everyone exactly the same.

This is partly Nordic, but although Latins may be prone to Fascismo and the cult of 'Our Great Man' --- locally or nationally --- even there the reverse is when the great men fall and the hidden impulses of jealous nature hold sway, giving in to rejoicing and turncoat rejection of the rejected giant.

Still, Nordic it remains, as evinced by the pure uncreativity and blandness of successful modern Scandinavia and Germany etc.; and apparently was set down in The Jante Law decades back. It applies to every type of community --- local or national --- from America to China though...

I'll copy it precisely from Wiki, since their sparse report cannot be abridged further...



The Jante Law (Danish and Norwegian: Janteloven; Swedish: Jantelagen; Finnish: Janten laki; Faroese: Jantulógin) is a concept created by the Norwegian/Danish author Aksel Sandemose in his novel A fugitive crosses his tracks (En flyktning krysser sitt spor, 1933, English translation published in the USA in 1936), where he portrays the small Danish town Jante, modelled upon his native town Nykøbing Mors as it was in the beginning of the 20th century, but typical of all very small towns, where nobody is anonymous.


It is used colloquially as a sociological term to describe an attitude towards individuality and success that is believed to be common in Scandinavia.




Definition



There are ten different rules in the law, but they are all variations on a single theme and are usually referred to as a homogeneous unit: Don't think you're anyone special or that you're better than us.





The ten rules are:

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone of us cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.

Further in the book:


11. Don't think that there is something we don't know about you.





Claverhouse

 

[Vrecknidj]

Don't want to live there.

Dave

 

[Tyria]

I had to laugh at number 8.

 

[Da Blob]

This is why I do not see Democracy as being the ultimate form of government. Votes to become elected are gathered by playing to myths made popular by the media and the masses of Deltas demanding their Soma cannot be denied, because their votes count as being equal to the Alphas' and Betas' votes......

 

[JUN]

This is why I do not see Democracy as being the ultimate form of government. Votes to become elected are gathered by playing to myths made popular by the media and the masses of Deltas demanding their Soma cannot be denied, because their votes count as being equal to the Alphas' and Betas' votes......

What he said.

 

[Ogion]

"Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the other forms we already tried." (Quote by memory from Churchill).
What he said as well

But yea, those ten laws above really are strange.

Ogion

 

[Polaris]

The Jante-law is very much prominent in any small European or American community, whether we like to admit to it or not. It is just that Aksel Sandemose defined it, put it into writing and published it. Global cities exist thanks to mass-escapism from this law, as far as I'm concerned. Freedom to be selfish, different and completely self-indulgent.

Whenever someone falls from grace in Scandinavia, we like to say: "Oh, yet another victim of the Jante-law..... *snigger-snigger*"

 

[Claverhouse]

Churchill was a fat little vulgarian who'd sacrifice anything to be regarded as a great leader. HIs views on most topics were wrong-headed and unimportant --- he and Hitler were made for each other, except that the latter's interference in strategy sometimes worked whilst Churchill's personal touch bungled everything from Gallipolli to Norway to Dieppe. In Britain only the right-wing populists admire him. Then again, they'd admire Hitler had he won.


Democracy is disgusting from it's vicious bases: that the majority should decide; that group-think is supreme; that people have a right to decide government.


If we're quoting...
Dannhauser summarized Nietzsche's judgment on popular government as "a response to the death of God of unusual stupidity."




Claverhouse

 

[Felan]

Democracy is only better than the rest because its more expensive to impress the number of votes needed to manifest law. Thus while it doesn't prevent corruption, it does tend to make it harder.

I would argue the problem is not that too many people have a vote, but that not enough people need to be bought to reach the desired conclusion.

The Jante Law is depressing and oppressive to me.

 

[Polaris]

Democracy only benefits those who are prone to the trampling of others. As with Marxism, the idea is good, but leave it to humans and their lobbying and it is only a matter of time before some boofhead is in charge.

 

[Reverse Transcriptase]

Woah! My mom is scandinavian. This kinda explains some things. Like, I've kinda always recognized that people are just kinda... well not the same, but that the "beautiful unique snowflake" is a load of trash, and that I need to work hard if I'm going to actually be better or know more than many other people. But I've also always recognized that there's going to be someone smarter, someone better...

 

[Cavallier]

The ten rules are:

1. Don't think that you are special.
2. Don't think that you are of the same standing as us.
3. Don't think that you are smarter than us.
4. Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.
5. Don't think that you know more than us.
6. Don't think that you are more important than us.
7. Don't think that you are good at anything.
8. Don't laugh at us.
9. Don't think that anyone of us cares about you.
10. Don't think that you can teach us anything.
11. Don't think that there is something we don't know about you.

Reminds me of a certain member of my family as well RT. I have a grandfather who rules his family with these kinds of guidelines. Quiet contemplation is even frowned on. At best it's seen as lazynes. At worst it's seen as self-centered. You are NEVER to be self-centered. No, you struggle, strive, and die.