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Procrustean Rule for Dummies

noun


What does Procrustean Rule really mean?

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Procrustean Rule is a phrase that might sound complicated at first, but fear not! We can break it down into simple pieces to help you understand it better. So, imagine you're in a world where everyone has to fit into a specific mold. Some people are tall, some are short, some are skinny, and some are not-so-skinny. But here's the thing — in this peculiar world, there's a person called Procrustes who believes that everyone should be exactly the same size.

Now, Procrustes doesn't care if you're comfortable or happy being who you are. All he cares about is making everyone fit into his rigid idea of how things should be. So, if you're too tall, he'll chop off parts of your legs to make you shorter. And if you're too short, he'll stretch you out on a rack to make you taller. Can you imagine how painful and unfair that would be?

In simpler terms, Procrustean Rule refers to a strict and inflexible way of making everything conform to a particular standard, regardless of the variations and differences that naturally exist among people or things. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, forcing something to be something it's not.

This term can be used in different contexts. For example, in a classroom setting, a teacher who follows a Procrustean Rule might expect all students to learn in the same exact way, without considering that some students may have their own unique styles of learning. Or, in a workplace, a Procrustean Rule might mean that everyone has to follow the exact same process, even if there are more efficient ways of doing things.

In summary, the Procrustean Rule is about trying to make everything conform and fit into a specific mold, without acknowledging or appreciating the natural variations and differences that make each individual unique. It's like trying to force a puzzle piece into the wrong spot, even if it doesn't belong there. So remember, it's important to embrace and celebrate our differences rather than conforming to a rigid set of rules.

Revised and Fact checked by Alex Johnson on 2023-10-28 16:51:29

Procrustean Rule In a sentece

Learn how to use Procrustean Rule inside a sentece

  • A procrustean rule would be if a teacher said that all students must write their essays exactly in 500 words, no more and no less, even if some students have finished their ideas in fewer words or need a little extra space to fully express themselves.
  • If a coach enforces a procrustean rule in a sports team and demands that all players must conform to the same style of play, without considering their individual strengths and skills, it can limit the team's potential for success.
  • In a cooking class, if the teacher follows a procrustean rule and insists that all cakes must be baked in the exact same pan size, even though some recipes may require larger pans for better results, it could lead to imperfect and unsatisfactory cakes.
  • If a company implements a procrustean rule requiring all employees to work from 9 am to 5 pm, regardless of their productivity levels or personal circumstances, it may prevent some employees from performing at their highest potential.
  • Imagine a library with a procrustean rule that states all books must be exactly 300 pages long, causing some authors to unnecessarily stretch their stories or cut out important details to fit this arbitrary requirement.

Procrustean Rule Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Procrustean Rule Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.