Comments on: The Word on the Street (and why it isn’t “sorry”)

By: Streja

Streja — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:23:36 +0000

I have to say as a former G�teborgian that Stockholm is not full of impolite people at all.

By: Phlegmatic

Phlegmatic — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:34:04 +0000

This is a sthlm issue for sure. Sweden is a small place, we have no real city-culture. We are a little bit rough and unpolished perhaps. In smaller places ppl are more freindly, but still shy of ppl we dont know. The language is reflecting this very much: when u have visitors, u have “fr�mmande” (strangers), not guests! lol

Stockholm is very extreme in this unpoliteness, its a way to pretend ure not a jokel, a very failed plan. In G�teborg ud get a totally different treatment prolly!

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By: streja

streja — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:32:54 +0000

In my home village we alays say hello to eachother in the streets even if we don’t know eachother, because you might insult someone your parents know or whatever.

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By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:59:04 +0000

The “Barnvagnsmaffian” control the streets in this town!!!!

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By: askin ozcan

askin ozcan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:03:03 +0000

One point I missed to write about in my book “STOCKHOLM STORIES”.
Askin Ozcan
Author

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By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:44:57 +0000

Interesting perspective. BUT I think there is more to this than just the country of Sweden as a whole. One could visit New York city and say the same. Mabey it is just a LARGE city attitude in general.

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By: M

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:06:31 +0000

@Stacy: I see you didn’t both to read the article.

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By: Niall

Niall — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:33:54 +0000

Kentucky may be excruciatingly polite, but Los Angeles, where I live, is definitely not. It would never occur to someone here to say, “Sorry,” even if they just ran your child over in their SUV.

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By: Stacy

Stacy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:48:59 +0000

I moved to Sweden last April. I am most struck by two things of great difference between the USA as a culture and Sweden. One- “friendly” is a word which could describe most americans. The same cannot be said of Swedes. Two- EVERYONE in Sweden has a story about how some contractor did some work on their home and messed up the job or did not finish…. EVERYONE! Of the few television programs which originate in Sweden, SEVERAL of them are about Bad Building Contractors. Why?

I recently returned to New Mexico, USA, for the holidays and basked in the hospitality. People being cordial and polite – holding open doors and acknowledging your existence – especially in a place of business or restaurant. AND not just because it was Christmas, its THE WAY. Let me put it this way – I am shocked when, as a customer or stranger walking down the street in Sweden, I am treated with kindness…. the moment becomes a memorable event, reverie.

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By: Karin

Karin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:57:48 +0000

I just wanted to say that you should never use “ni”. I know from experience that especially old people are insulted by it. When they grew up only servants were called “ni”, equals were called by name or title only. I thought it was polite but an old lady was quite angry and corrected me.

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