Thursday, March 24, 2011

Jante

I just can't get over this. I've been thinking about it for days, since Becky Anderson told me about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jante_Law

Or...

There are ten different rules in the law as defined by Sandemose, but they all express 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 state:

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

An eleventh rule recognized in the novel is:

11. Don't think there's anything we don't know about you.

In the book, those Janters who transgress this unwritten 'law' are regarded with suspicion and some hostility, as it goes against communal desire in the town to preserve social stability and uniformity.


How is this even a real cultural norm? It makes me sad. Just wicked sad. And as crazy as it may sound, last I checked, most of my family was incredibly Danish. As in, this is my culture. My family roots. I knew Europe was a dark place, but dang. What a horrible way to live.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Rant:

I get just a little tired of people telling me how wonderful and clever and talented their writer friends are. They have a blog and they're funny. Shocker.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Ever been on a treadmill and feel like you've been working super hard and burning loads of calories and then realize you've only been going for 20 minutes and burned like 4 calories?

Welcome to Maren and counseling.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Today's Statistics:

Typing: 87 wpm.

Story written this morning: 350 words in 20 minutes. bam.

New Starbucks cups: strange.

New Target, chocolate brown shoes: $30 and in the mail. FINALLY.

Urban Outfitters: Going tomorrow with Bekah

Money: Dwindling

Boys: Undecided

Phone: Like it

Sleep: Not enough

Number of times I hit snooze this morning: 3? 8?

10:30 and thinking about lunch? yes

Giving up for lent: Diet Soda. aka bullet to the brain

Room at home: Pig sty

Desk at work: Pig sty

Homework: I haven't even looked yet

In trouble: Almost undoubtedly

Looking forward to the weekend: walloping HELL YES

Desiring: cake