Divergent
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Why do they call the abnegation 'stiff?'
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Summer
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Apr 16, 2012 05:32PM
I recently stated DIVERGENT and was wondering why they call abnegation 'stiff.' it's starting to annoy me because they say it so much. I thought they say stiff because they are unselfish and don't care about themselves that much and they carry on a stiff and rather boring life. Do you know what "stiff" means?
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stiff[stif] stiff·er, stiff·est, noun, adverb, verb
adjective
1.rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex: a stiff collar.
2.not moving or working easily: The motor was a little stiff from the cold weather.
3.(of a person or animal) not supple; moving with difficulty, as from cold, age, exhaustion, or injury.
4.strong; forceful; powerful: stiff winds; The fighter threw a stiff right to his opponent's jaw.
5.strong or potent to the taste or system, as a beverage or medicine: He was cold and wanted a good stiff drink.
I believe they were referring to the way the members of Abnegation don't indulge, like Tris hadn't had a hamburger before. They could also be talking about how the council won't change.
adjective
1.rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex: a stiff collar.
2.not moving or working easily: The motor was a little stiff from the cold weather.
3.(of a person or animal) not supple; moving with difficulty, as from cold, age, exhaustion, or injury.
4.strong; forceful; powerful: stiff winds; The fighter threw a stiff right to his opponent's jaw.
5.strong or potent to the taste or system, as a beverage or medicine: He was cold and wanted a good stiff drink.
I believe they were referring to the way the members of Abnegation don't indulge, like Tris hadn't had a hamburger before. They could also be talking about how the council won't change.
I noticed that to! I just read it yesterday and finished at like 1 am and then picked it up again and completley re-read it because I liked it so much!
Sam wrote: "stiff[stif] stiff·er, stiff·est, noun, adverb, verbadjective
1.rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex: a stiff collar.
2.not moving or working easily: The motor was a little stiff ..."
all these definitions make sense for why theyr'e called stiff. And all the Abnegation are particularly hard to bend out of their ways. they never indulge or say no.
I find it interesting that there's a derogatory term for Abnegation but not one for the others, unless I missed it.
Maybe because they are boring and goody-goodies:D
maybe. it's telling, though.
I Loved this book! I have to admit people compared it to Hunger Games and I can see why, but this was amazing. I feel guilty for saying I liked the Hunger Games 49% and this like 51% :D
Barbara wrote: "I find it interesting that there's a derogatory term for Abnegation but not one for the others, unless I missed it."I find it interesting too... it seems like most of the other factions mustually look down on the abnegation for some reason. I have a feeling there was a small mention of a term for another faction though... i'll have to have a look cause I might be wrong.
I think to the other factions, Abnegation would be considered boring since they're all for others and not themselves. The Dauntless are daredevils who indulge in all sorts of thrill seeking activities, Erudite love the pursuit of knowledge, Amity are almost always having a good time and Candor seek the truth in everything. Compared to the others, Abnegation's interest in serving is downright dreary.
I think it's a really cruel way of saying they're frigid. Like, they only do what the absolutely MUST for themselves. Or their attitude is 'stiff' toward others because they keep their head down and rarely engage in self-acknowledgement.
Am I the only one who was irritated that Tris's fellow initiates kept calling her "stiff"? They were all coming in from other factions--you'd think there'd be at least some feeling of "we've chosen Dauntless; no matter what our old factions were, we're on our way to becoming Dauntless." With all the prejudices the factions all seem to have for all of the other factions, it's kind of surprising anyone chooses to change factions and that it's even permitted.
I think it's because they don't show affection or emotion. After all, one of Tris's fears is intimacy.
It's all of the above. They don't induldge in anything, from food to fun activities. They don't show affection publicly. They all blur together in grey clothing and houses and they don't even talk about themselves. Compared to all of the other factions, they act dull. This is an intentional strategy on the part of Abnegation to help them forget all about themselves. In recent times, Erudite has been working on a smear campaign about Abnegation, which made the "stiff" name calling worse, it seems.
There is a sentance or two in the 2nd book in direct reference to this.
I think that they are called stiffs because the Euridite gave them that name because they are helpful. And by the way Tris is going to die and I made a 100% on the AR Test.
im on the 3rd book and i noticed that in the first book they was using the word stiff a lot and in the 3rd book i found out why they was using that word. they was using that book because the abnegation is the selflessness and that begins with a "s" and stiff begins with a "s", and by the way tris is going to die the last be allegiant.
Heather wrote: "I think it's because they don't show affection or emotion. After all, one of Tris's fears is intimacy."I agree with all that you said because they don't show emotions orintimacy. I agree.
well ketchup i just explained why and im not going to explain agin ok so READ MY LAST POST thank you
Barbara wrote: "I find it interesting that there's a derogatory term for Abnegation but not one for the others, unless I missed it."I think it's because there's a lot of hostility towards the Abnegation in particular, most of which is incited by Jeanine/Erudite. They're scapegoated for a lot of problems in the city since they're the governing faction, and I think that's why there are derogatory slurs against them in particular.
In alliegiant it shows that there is a slang word for erudite, its nose
Raynebow wrote: "In alliegiant it shows that there is a slang word for erudite, its nose"yes in alliegiant the erudite is nose because of there knowledge
Emily wrote: "Barbara wrote: "I find it interesting that there's a derogatory term for Abnegation but not one for the others, unless I missed it."I think it's because there's a lot of hostility towards the Abn..."
yes there is a lot of hostility towards abnegation but you should listen to me because i wrote the book. i changed my name on here because i did not want a lot of people writing me so only you know keep it a secret please.
how many times have you guys read this book
im actual both slow and stupied
I think the term 'stiff' actually refers to the slang for a dead person. As in they're so boring, they're basically a corpse. There's also the element of them being unyielding, but that wouldn't be a huge insult to people who've basically dedicated themselves to living self-denying, strict lives. That part of it would probably be more of a compliment to them since it pretty much tells them that they're doing a good job.
ummm first if the term stiff was a slang word for dead person then why is they calling tris "stiff"? not to be rude.
It's meant to be an insult - a comment on how boring they view Abnegation in the way they live, dress, eat, and everything else. To someone from Dauntless, it wouldn't seem like living at all.
Also, that definition fits more with the way they use the term. Like the part when they're talking about Tris at the beginning of initiation: 'A Stiff was the first one to jump.' or whatever the line is. They say "a Stiff" not "a stiff person" as would fit if they only meant rigid or unyielding as suggested above.
The term 'stiff' was an expression invented and popularized by the Erudite in their campaign to usurp Abnegation. Kristen ^^ is right, but they took it to the point of despising the Abnegates.
Well, I wouldn't say they invented it. The term's been around for a long time. But they definitely used it to encourage animosity toward Abnegation.
The Abnegations are called 'Stiffs' because married couples only touch hands in front of others. They don't hug each other, so whenever someone tries to hug them, they become stiff.
I guess it's because of their nature, living a simple and to the point life
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