One of the puzzles of the standard model is why the mass parameter m2, which determines the weak interaction scale, is closer to the quantum chromodynamics scale than to the grand unification or Planck scales. We consider a novel approach to this problem, based upon the idea that m2 takes different values in different domains of the Universe. The whole range of values for m2, from 1M2 P to 2M2 P, is explored, and it is found that only for values in a narrow window is life likely to be possible. The observed value of m2 is fairly typical of the values in this window. [