(edit title) Are Swedes really all that different? The Scandinavians Options

[Mesost]

i have come to the conclusion that the Norwegians and Danes are much more fun than the Swedes. more natural, less fearful, more friendly, fun-loving, spontaneous, and full of life. is it just me , or is this really true?

[testUserName]

Well, its always fun reading this type of questions about Swedes. I am not Swede. I lived in Sweden for some year and I enjoyed. Answer to your questions. Swedes are just like Humans. They eat, they drink, they sleep, they talk, they have emotions, they have likings and dislikings too and they are just like any other human on this planet. No offense. and don't take these things seriously. Live your normal life and you will find Swedes around you and trust me, they are very funny too..

[skogsbo]

i have come to the conclusion that the Norwegians and Danes are much more fun than the Swedes. more natural, less fearful, more friendly, fun-loving, spontaneous, and full of ... (show full quote)

i have come to the conclusion that the Norwegians and Danes are much more fun than the Swedes. more natural, less fearful, more friendly, fun-loving, spontaneous, and full of life. is it just me , or is this really true? ... (hide full quote)

Unoriginal trolling

Well, its always fun reading this type of questions about Swedes. I am not Swede. I lived in Sweden for some year and I enjoyed. Answer to your questions. Swedes are just like ... (show full quote)

Well, its always fun reading this type of questions about Swedes. I am not Swede. I lived in Sweden for some year and I enjoyed. Answer to your questions. Swedes are just like Humans. They eat, they drink, they sleep, they talk, they have emotions, they have likings and dislikings too and they are just like any other human on this planet. No offense. and don't take these things seriously. Live your normal life and you will find Swedes around you and trust me, they are very funny too.. ... (hide full quote)

Not fun, done to death, dozens of threads, dozens of varieties of same topic. Just search for them on here if they are that much fun! But you are correct in your opinion of them.

[Svensksmith]

Swedes are like everybody else...only different.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Swedes are like...spectacular, vibrant and scintillating...lagom!

[cogito]

Swedes are witty and warm, courteous and courageous and, most of all, modest. Just ask them

To the OP: Scandies like to believe that they are different from one another, in the way you describe. But to non-Scandies, it's all shades of gray.

...done to death, dozens of threads, dozens of varieties of same topic. Just search...

If we eliminate same-old-same-old, then we should certainly ignore the dozens--no, hundreds--of posts asking, how can I move to Sweden and milk the system?
And only Trowbridge should be allowed to post. Each of his theories is at least original.

[*Trowbridge H. Ford*]

Thanks, cogito, as usual. And you are always independent and often original.

My oinly serious observation about Swedes is that they are a bit more reserved and secretive than other nationalities - a bit of the Law of Jamte, if you like.

But it also has its good side with people being more helpful, understanding, and less pushy than others.

[Dodgerman]

But it also has its good side with people being more helpful, understanding, and less pushy than others.

Except in the line at the pub

[cogito]

... independent and often original.

Thanks, Trow. And as you surely know better than most, it is a constant struggle to remain independent in group-think nation.

[oddsock]

Except in the line at the pub

And when a new counter opens at the supermarket checkout.

In Sweden, the last person in the queue runs to it as quick as possible. Where I'm from longest waiters get prioirty, and if you don't give it to them they'll tell you to get stuffed.

But nobody here in Sweden ever tells anybody to get lost, which paradoxically means that it's a queue-cutters heaven.

Sometimes you need to be rude to be polite.

[Boringsweden]

I lived in Sweden for over four years where I attended polytechnic school. I have never met a ruder, more boring, dreary,
and unlikeable people. I was constantly reminded that I was a foreigner which translated to inferior. I came in the top three in my class despite having the disadvantage of having to learn Swedish.

The other students in my class did not speak to me for over a year, going so far as to have a class party and not inviting me. They rarely discussed anything, and could only be referred to as anally retentive. The highlight of their week was getting completely drunk and wasted every weekend. One particularly intellectually challenged young lady in my class remarked that foreigners belonged behind a kitchen sink. I reminded her that at the turn of the century most of the domestic help standing behind kitchen sinks on the east coast of the United States were Swedes. I come from a third world country where I grew up with three helpers in my home.

I was once asked if my country had ever won an Olympic gold medal when Sweden won the first gold medal in the Olympics of 1972. Well I understand that in Beijing, Sweden HAD NO GOLD MEDALS. My country Jamaica had SEVEN and produced Usain Bolt the fastest man ever in the history of the world. The Jamaican girls were 1, 2 and 2
in the hundred meters, another first in the history of the Olympics.

I have visited 14 other countries and have never encountered a people as arrogant, dour, and obnoxious. I could not wait to leave.

[Meliwww]

As a native swede, let me say firstly, don't let the door hit you on the way out, you sure won't be missed. Secondly, you seem just as arrogant and obnoxious as the people you are talking crap about. People are generally suspicious of black people because many of them (who hail from african countries) are troublesome and are not well liked in Sweden. I am just telling the truth here. The people in your class probably disliked you because you could not speak Swedish at that time, and let's face it, this happens in every country.

[axiom]

People are generally suspicious of black people because many of them (who hail from african countries) are troublesome and are not well liked in Sweden. I am just telling the truth here.

I am not sure why you assumed he was black, perhaps you could Google Jamaica and see rather than relying on your inate prejudices.
If he is black, then are you not just confirming what he just said. He can't then be so arrogrant as you are basically saying his experience is quite likely true based on what native Swedes think of black people. so I guess your reason offers an explanation to his experiences.

The people in your class probably disliked you because you could not speak Swedish at that time, and let's face it, this happens in every country.

Dislike the poor guy because he didn't speak Swedish, thats quite harsh. He made an effort, learn't Swedish and obviously to the point that he did very well at his studies and this doesn't at all sound so bad to me. I thought this was what even the extreme right wanted of people who moved to Sweden.

How many countries have you lived in where someone is disliked solely on the basis of his acquiring language skills. Certainly not in any English speaking countries I know of. We are generally more fascinated by people wanting to learn the English language and culture and more than happy to share it.

[Shibumi]

I lived in Sweden for over four years where I attended polytechnic school. I have never met a ruder, more boring, dreary,and unlikeable people. I was constantly reminded that ... (show full quote)

I lived in Sweden for over four years where I attended polytechnic school. I have never met a ruder, more boring, dreary,
and unlikeable people. I was constantly reminded that I was a foreigner which translated to inferior. I came in the top three in my class despite having the disadvantage of having to learn Swedish.

The other students in my class did not speak to me for over a year, going so far as to have a class party and not inviting me. They rarely discussed anything, and could only be referred to as anally retentive. The highlight of their week was getting completely drunk and wasted every weekend. One particularly intellectually challenged young lady in my class remarked that foreigners belonged behind a kitchen sink. I reminded her that at the turn of the century most of the domestic help standing behind kitchen sinks on the east coast of the United States were Swedes. I come from a third world country where I grew up with three helpers in my home.

I was once asked if my country had ever won an Olympic gold medal when Sweden won the first gold medal in the Olympics of 1972. Well I understand that in Beijing, Sweden HAD NO GOLD MEDALS. My country Jamaica had SEVEN and produced Usain Bolt the fastest man ever in the history of the world. The Jamaican girls were 1, 2 and 2
in the hundred meters, another first in the history of the Olympics.

I have visited 14 other countries and have never encountered a people as arrogant, dour, and obnoxious. I could not wait to leave. ... (hide full quote)

Boringsweden, I am curious to know why you signed up for this forum a few weeks ago. You don't live here anymore, and it does not appear that you enjoyed the time you spent here. You say that you "could not wait to leave". So why come on thelocal.se at all? Why sign up for this forum and bother to post? If you don't live in Sweden and you don't like Sweden, this is the one website/forum out of the millions out there that shouldn't interest you. So why bother?

[Svensksmith]

No one liked him because he (from his post) sounds like an arrogant arsehole.