History Main / OurBetterIsDifferent

* Literature/{{Discworld}}'s dwarfs & ''Literature/TalesOfMU''[='s=] dark elves, for whom lower is better.

Creative subversion of the [[OmnipresentTropes omnipresent trope]] that "higher is better" (e.g., "higher quality", "higher rank", "higher calling"). When this trope is in effect, lower is generally considered better. For example, instead of His Royal Highness talking to a lowly peasant, you might have His Royal Lowliness talking to a higher peasant.

!Examples:
* Literature/{{Discworld}}'s dwarfs & TalesOfMu's dark elves, for whom lower is better.

* In a variant of this trope, the song "Ain't Your Fairytale by SonataArctica, which is [[Xenofiction sung from the perspective of a wolf]], uses the phrase "the dawn of our way of life" to refer to an end (and the rise of Humankind), inverting the standard (human) symbolism of sunrise as a hopeful beginning and sunset as an end.

Creative subversion of the [[OmnipresentTropes omnipresent trope]] that "higher is better" (e.g., "higher quality", "higher rank", "higher calling"). Most common in constructed [[ConstructedWorld worlds]] and [[ConLang languages]], and especially among nonhumans.

* In a less height-inverted example, [[http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/ this website]] by the amusingly named "Doctor DOS Betamax" seems to be dedicated to demonstrating how the normally-held-to-be-technically-inferior DOS is a better operating system than Windows.

* In a less height-inverted example, [[http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/ this website]] by the amusingly named "Doctor DOS Betamax" sems to be dedicated to demonstrating how the normally-held-to-be-technically-inferior DOS is a better operating system than Windows.

* In a less height-inverted example,[[http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/ this website]] by the amusingly named "Doctor DOS Betamax" sems to be dedicated to demonstrating how the normally-held-to-be-technically-inferior DOS is a better operating system than Windows.

* The Skaven of ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' have their leaders at the back. It's a basic right of the leader to have the most meatshields between him and the enemy, after all.

* ''TheDispossessed'' by UrsulaKLeguin: In the ConLang Pravic, the term "more central" is used instead.
* ''{{Ringworld}}'' by LarryNiven: the Puppeteers value cowardice above all things, so their leader is called "The Hindmost".
* Used occasionally in ''InvaderZim'', as Zim's alien species has a hierarchy based off of height.

* The Skaven of ''{{Warhammer}}'' have their leaders at the back. It's a basic right of the leader to have the most meatshields between him and the enemy, after all.

* Used for a RunningGag in ''TimeBandits''. The BigBad's Mooks express sympathy when he says he's feeling good, and react cheerfully when he tells them YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness.

Creative subversion of the [[OmnipresentTropes omnipresent trope]] that "higher is better" (e.g., "higher quality", "higher rank", "higher calling"). Most common in constructed [[ConstructedWorld worlds]] and [[ConLang languages]], and especially among nonhumans.

* {{Discworld}}'s dwarfs & TalesOfMu's dark elves, for whom lower is better.
** Also to Discworld dwarfs, "enlightened" is seen as a negative term, as light makes your pupils contract and can therefore blind you.
** Also seen among the demons in ''{{Discworld/Eric}}'' and of ''TheScrewtapeLetters'', who do bad deeds in the hopes of being demoted through the lowerarchy.

* The Skaven of ''Warhammer'' have their leaders at the back. It's a basic right of the leader to have the most meatshields between him and the enemy, after all.

* ''TheAddamsFamily'' all the freakin' time. A major theme and source of humour is the clash between the family and outsiders and the way the family always reacts pleasantly to horrified reactions because to them their words are compliments.

** The humans in ''Above Ground'' are yet another example.