The “perp” (or perve) on Långholmen was actually a voyeur so the “blottare” (Swedish slang for an exhibitionist) in the title employs a great deal of poetic license. Unfortunately, it still does not adequately achieve the ick level that accompanies the event today. Mostly because the “victims” (though I don’t think Sweden has any criminal voyeurism laws on the books ) were all pubescent girls.
Now Swedes, and especially Swedish children, are not particularly prudish and the flashes of public nudity (pretty much exclusively at places people swim/bathe) can ironically occasionally offend the unwilling non-Swedish observer. But it’s deeply unsettling when you witness, confront and confirm a voyeur of pubescent girls changing innocently (and relatively discretely) out of their swimsuits on a public beach in central Stockholm.
What also disturbs me (this was a real-life event for me and I’m not really thrilled to have it as a living memory) also takes into account how we (that’s all of us) are so unsure of how to evaluate and then confront someone we suspect (and the perves know it.) Also, how our prejudices want to discount anyone young and decent looking from being “icky”. This guy was in his early 20s and clean cut –so unassuming.
It was my friend who had noticed him setting himself up in spots on the grass to observe a changing girl. When she called my attention to it I saw that he even went so far as to stretch his neck to get a better view if a passing/shifting person obstructed his view.
My blood started to simmer. But how do you know? How can you be sure?
There’s a point of no return in me in these types of circumstances; the point where I’m in for the count and if I come out bloody it’s the risk I’m willing to take. That point occurred when I confronted him asking in Swedish “Vad gör du” –What are you doing? –And we quickly arrived at his arrogant response along the lines of “So what you (or the Police who I had threatened to call) gonna do about it?”
He couldn’t speak Swedish so this was all in English (Yay, I MUCH more aggressive and scary in English.) The arrogance faded fast when I told him that I would photograph him and show the police his picture. He didn’t like that and quickly covered his face.
I never did get a good shot of him, but I did run him off and planted the fear of a crazed American mom on him.
This is one shot I got of him. 
He’s in his early 20s, somewhat Asian looking, wears black wire glasses. He takes out his phone to take pictures and he targets pubescent girls.
Give ‘im hell if you spot him (or anyone for that matter)
Tags: långholmen
Well done! More people should be doing stuff like that. Although sadly I think it’s only us ex-pats who would dare.
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This is where I realise how Swedish I have become in the 10 years I’ve been here. The South African in me would be wanting to give him what for and beat the crap out of him, but the Swede in me would hesitate and say it’s not my problem. But I applaud you for scaring him and threatening to call the Police. Gives me courage to do the same!
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@spongepaddy. Perhaps. I know my Swedish husband would have reacted as well if he too could have got over our natural instinct to second guess ourselves.
@Sarah, it’s more about human nature not being sure what exactly is going on and giving what appears to be a very normal person in a very normal situation the benefit of the doubt.
BB
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Good job and way to go. These perverts out there need to be scared of us. It is a shame Sweden has no laws about this that is so scary. I hope Sweden will change the law and do something about this.
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Grow up and stop self promoting yourself as the queen of mediocrity. Sweden is a worse place for your presence.
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@Monica. I don’t think any nation can legislate something against taking photos or even leering in public even if your skin is crawling. I was trying to pull the guy’s sweater down from his face so I could get a shot in case I needed it for the police and in hindsight I realize that I was likely the only one doing something questionably illegal (some form of assault)
@Tommy. Wow, you think I’m a queen. Thanks for being a fan. Looking forward to your comments in the future too. Keep reading
BB
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@BB So why go out with the description/picture? Are you encouraging vigilantism against people who fit the description?
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@Malcolm. Not even close. Why? To understand that the youngish looking guys sitting/standing behind/beside you could be getting his rocks off and sneaking shots of your children. All it takes is confident confrontation to get him to move off. And sadly it’s the confident element that we lack especially when wondering if that unassuming young man that seems to be just minding his business is really doing what you think he might be doing.
BB
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Hej Boston,
The age for legal consentual sex in Sweden is 15. In Denmark 14 and in Holland 12. These young girls however in Sweden must be 18 to have their pictures taken in the nude. Tell me Boston, was your view as good as the view of this early 20s young asian looking person with black wire rim glasses ? Why exactly were you watching all of this and not swimming yourself ? Even if you were able to get a good picture of this person and were to furnish it to the Swedish Polis, they would just laugh at you and do nothing. You really have a lot to learn about Sweden………..but your learning process on this site is amusing.
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@Ray. You sure know a lot about how young girls need to be to have sex with them and take photos of them nude…legally. You do your research I guess.
BB
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Hej Boston,
The information about this subject is included in the handbook for Swedish Emigrants but apparently you are not planning to be a Swedish Citizen or you would not have put your ‘foot in your mouth……again. I am not defending this Asian looking person but perhaps the focus of your subject shouldn’t be about your superior fluency in Swedish (as opposed to the Asian looking guy), but rather about where the Swedish parents are- that should be looking out for their little innocent daughters.
This age (15) in Sweden was instituted and retained by the Swedish king and his legal councils from the 1500’s through to today. I am a descendant of these legal councils on both sides of my family as well as from Gustaf Eriksson Vasa I and Laurentius Petri- first Archbishop of the Swedish Evangelical Luthern church (on my mom’s side).
Why don’t we see your face on the picture up above, instead we see what looks like the back side of Jesus Christ trying to convince God the Father to save Stockholm from their sins !
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@ Ray. That’s some mighty impressive ancestry. You ought to blog about it.
BB
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Hej Boston,
Well, when are we all going to see what a ‘crazed American mom’ looks like ?
My point is simple, you don’t probably have the breeding to scare any Swede with your condescending American know it all attitude, and especially in Sweden. Show your face if you have the guts. I’ll put you on utube.
Lakers rule
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@Ray. Unfortunately my parents never applied for my pedigree papers after they bred me. Tis no matter, as I am the typical American mutt; lovable and loyal. If you have your pedigree pal, you ought to hire yourself out for studding.
And ’twas a great disappointment to have lost in game seven.
BB
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Hej Boston,
The reason for my condescending words on your blog was to give you an idea of just what it is like for a Swede to listen to all of your American toughtalking and crazed-mom bully talk. Do you think that because you are a typical American mutt that you can come over here and bully an Asian looking person who doesn’t probably understand that he is being observed by a threatning mutt from America ? Again, I am not defending his actions or even his ‘looking race’ – just trying to let you know how amusing your actions are.
My pedigree info was obtained from the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Chruch archives-as well as from Swedish history books.
Why are you avoiding the subject of you being afraid to show your face on this blog ? but being frustrated because you can’t get cooperation from someone that you have threatened and laid judgement upon to show his/her face ?
Where is your picture Mrs. American Jesus Christ come back from heaven (America) to Stockholm to preach (blog) the gospel ?
LAKERS RULE !!!!!
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@Ray. I’m glad your papers validate you. Fwiw, I’m Asian looking. Say hi when you see me
BB
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@ Ray
“My point is simple, you don’t probably have the breeding to scare any Swede with your condescending American know it all attitude”
Pot, meet kettle.
I know it’s a comment section on a blog and I shouldn’t expect too much out of people, but damn you’re an embarrasment to the nation, Ray.
Though it was a very fine display of swedish arrogance, I’ll give you that.
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I don’t know who’s embarassing their nation the most… While Ray is, well, arrogant, there’s a fair share of american know-it-all in Bostons posts aswell.
While it is important to stand up to voyeurs and the like one should avoid to cross the thin line that separates courage from vigilantism. There ARE laws against this kind of voyeurism, there has been a myriad of cases where people taking such pictures have been indicted. Usually this falls under Chapter 6, Section 10 of the Sw. Penal Code (BrB 6:10) – Sexual harassment (Sexuellt ofredande).
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@Suntiger. I don’t think Ray represents Swedes at all (in fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if he weren’t a Swede.)
@Anders. I guess I’ll have to try harder at not coming across as a know-it-all. As I get older, the more I appreciate it that most of us know almost nothing about pretty much everything. It’s a blog. I’m only rambling.
BB
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