Maugli Syndrome, Stockholm Syndrome…whatever

So I called it Maugli Syndrome yesterday and today a reminder, there is a name for this already, it’s called Stockholm Syndrome. Paul Carr writes in the Telegraph – Stockholm Syndrome in Silicon Valley: or how I learned to stop worrying and love… whatever. First the etymological reference:

“Coined in 1973 by criminologist Nils Bejerot, Stockholm Syndrome, as I’m sure you know, describes the bond that some kidnap victims form with their captors as a survival instinct. ”

And here Paul writes about giving up to the Yanks in the matter of speaking:

“And yet, as an expat Brit, there are certain aspects of life in America that I swore blind I would never accept, no matter how long I stayed here. Certain fundamentals of Britishness that I would never surrender, no matter how expedient it might be to humour the colonials. Things like…

- Saying “you’re welcome” when someone thanks me. The Yanks have a hideous habit of simply saying “sure”, which to my ear is about as dismissive as saying ‘whatever’.

- Not saying “whatever”. Particularly when it’s because you can’t be bothered to form a proper argument.

- Not asking for food I’m unable to finish in a restaurant to be put into a box “for later”. I already have a box full of food for later. It’s call a fridge.

- Not asking “Can I get…” – as in, “Can I get a grande latte to go?”

- Not being served tea without milk.

- Not drinking and driving.

- Bitching constantly about 2am licencing laws.”

I actually sent an email to someone yesterday, cursing out this person bitterly and instead of being asked for a duel, I got “whatever” in reply…. This is the type of a person who fears confrontation, a wimp. But there is also the opposite personality. Some people take human speech scriptualy. I don’t know if this an occupational hazard of religious people or a personality trait. In any case, some people take everything you tell them as ten commandments. And everything you will ever say, the entire range of human emotions is than compared to a single quote. There is no possibility for change along the trail of thinking. You said A therefore B will never be possible. Whatever, both approaches suck!