“Golden hands”, “steel nerves”, “platinum gray hair”, “flight of thought” - these expressions are figurative in nature, are used to enhance the expressiveness of speech. They do not mean at all that the imagination actually flies through the sky like a bird, and jewelry can be made from limbs or hair. There are other examples of the use of scientific and technical terms to characterize personal qualities. For example, the "standard". This concept means a role model, and the closer the evaluated object gets closer to it, the better. Is this always true? Let's try to figure it out.
Scientific standard as a prototype of a concept
In order to correctly and appropriately use any term, even in a figurative sense, it must be correctly understood. The initial meaning of the word “standard” can be defined as a certain subject that most closely matches the established weight, volume or geometric parameter.
Before the introduction of the metric system, various other units of measure were used (and in some places this is still the case) all over the world. Russian arshins, versts, fathoms were familiar to our ancestors; the British were quite happy with pints, inches, and yards; and in exotic countries there was confusion at all. There is a known case when an Englishwoman explained to a child the meaning of the word "liter". According to her, it turned out that this is the same as a kilogram, only in a wet form. And humanity decided to unify weights and measures. They decided that if we divide the equator into 40 thousand parts, it will be a meter, and the weight of a square decimeter of water will be called a kilogram. True, later it turned out that at the beginning of the nineteenth century, when the historical transition was mainly taking place, the measuring technique was not entirely perfect, therefore the initial premises were not ideal either. But by this time, the standards had settled, and decided to leave everything as it is. In addition, each of the units already had its own standard. This circumstance influenced the completion of further research and measurements.
Forward to unification
All this is true, but what does metal bars and cylinders, stored under glass caps in different laboratories of respected scientific institutions around the world, have to do with evaluating a person’s personality? “After all, they cannot be measured in numbers,” some say. “You can,” others object. The fact is that people based on thousands of years of civilizational and cultural experience have formed ideas about what a standard of appearance, behavior and even way of thinking is. Of course, the standards of different peoples, races and social classes are different. In addition, they change over time. And besides, everyone has their own idea of what is beautiful, smart and honest. But common features are still visible.
The standard of husband
Most women believe that the appearance of their future chosen one should be courageous. This means broad shoulders, regular facial features, expressing some (but moderate) brutality, and growth above average. Representatives of the beautiful half of the world's population brought up on visible television images are sure that if someone looks brave, then most likely this is. How many broken destinies the standard inspired by mass culture became the fault! This can be a fierce lesson for anyone who judges a book by its cover. However, matches also happen.
Model spouse
Men, too, do not for the most part strive for a deep knowledge of their future beloved. There are standards that most strive for, and they are expressed by the common formula 90-60-90 (again, numbers are a kind of standard). This is also not always true in relation to other, less “formatted" women, who sometimes have a much more meaningful inner world. The reason is that it is impossible to evaluate the soul by direct application, and other methods are not available to everyone. This is much more difficult than measuring the equator.
Cultural standards
The desire for formats is one of the reasons that modern culture is losing ground. Each time has its own standard. It can be Venus de Milo or Marilyn Monroe, Alain Delon or Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson or Madonna, Britney Spears or Lady Gaga. Determining for himself a pattern that one wants to strive for, a fan often pays attention to the idol's appearance more than his achievements in the main business of his life. True connoisseurs of creativity are more interested in the works that an outstanding artist managed to create in his life. The desire to become like often causes irony, and sometimes laughter. After all, everyone lives his own life, and no matter how you try to get closer to the standard, it is impossible to become one.