Conform 的奴性

果真是國情有別。同一個字﹐同一個解釋﹐兩地的字典用的例句顯示兩地的不同理解。

先看 Cambridge Dictionaries Online 對 conform 這個字的解釋和例句﹕

conform
verb [I]
to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour which are expected by a group or society:
At our school, you were required to conform, and there was no place for originality.

conformity
noun [U]
It's depressing how much conformity there is in such young children.

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接着看看雅虎香港字典的﹕

vi.
1. 遵照,遵守;適應[(+to/with)]
If you don't conform to the traffic laws, you might get hurt.
如果不遵守交通法規,則可能受傷。
Most people willingly conform to the customs of society.
大多數人都願意遵守社會習俗。

vt.
2. 使符合,使一致[(+to/with)]
Every student is required to conform his behavior to the rules.
每個學生都必須遵守校規。

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Cambridge 在說﹐雖然在某些機構內人一定要 conform ﹐但這是個不得已的順從。兒童 conform 更加叫人心痛。雅虎卻表示不 conform 是有害的﹐而 conform 是大家都願意做的事。每個學生都要 conform ！

Cambridge 的解釋偏向「順從」外在的規範﹐沒有說那個規範是不是好的﹐只是其他人對你的預期。而雅虎的解釋偏向「遵從」一些隱含着道德高度的規則。你不守的話﹐一是你不對﹐二也對你自己有害處。「順從」是接受﹔「遵從」是帶着敬意或畏意的接受。當中的分別﹐就如那個才子說的「奴隸」和「奴才」之別。

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