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

[cogito]

Why do "foreigners" continually judge the Swedish peoples by standards they have abandoned by seeking a life in Sweden?No wonder Swedish people are saying they are t ... (show full quote)

Why do "foreigners" continually judge the Swedish peoples by standards they have abandoned by seeking a life in Sweden?
No wonder Swedish people are saying they are tired of being judged by...non-Swedes, etc...Don't be so judgmental... ... (hide full quote)

GH: Your question could be turned around: why do Swedes constantly pass judgement on countries where they have never lived…or often even visited?

I love this notion that a person who doesn't live in Sweden they shouldn't be allowed to post on a forum relating to it ... yet anyone living in Sweden who doesn't ... (show full quote)

I love this notion that a person who doesn't live in Sweden they shouldn't be allowed to post on a forum relating to it ... yet anyone living in Sweden who doesn't like it shouldn't post negative views about sweden and instead should leave.
I think it says allot about the state and its supporters.
Now ... where can I find a stasi priest? ... (hide full quote)

byke: so happy someone else noticed the irony.

I never said he (or anyone else) should not be allowed to post. I am simply asking why he bothers to post. . Am I not allowed to ask that?

Said, no. Implied, yes.

Are Swedes boring? http://www.topix.com/forum/world/sweden/TJE289HLOU33D3BLQ

[drubb]

I doubt we could ever find out, but out of those 51,000 how many are migrants migrating back to their homeland because it did not work out for them or family reasons etc. I doubt that those 51,000 are born and raised swedes (so to speak)

[byke]

At the same time, if we worked on the equation of migrants ...
Then would it not also be fair to question how many Swedes are real Swedes?

That 9m population would soon become a much smaller number (along with its often self proclaimed value).

And if those 51,000 were not "born and raised" Swedes (with no evidence), would that not only help support other posters regarding their view of sweden in a critical manner?

[Megalagom]

Living in Sweden for 7 months now I have yet to encounter any miserable, negative, boring Swedes to the point that I have to complain about it. No matter where you are you are bound to run into people you don'tt like and don't like you, it's a two way street- and sometimes it IS personal. First try NOT taking it personal and work at building a bridge, if that fails with EVERYONE you meet...then its not "Sweden," you have to change your approach or adapt to the country you are now in.

Yes, Swedes are light on small talk and are a bit hard to get to know on a regularly friendly basis, you need to be persistent but not pushy. Show that you are friendly. Not being able to speak Swedish has always been a great way to start a conversation with many Swedes I meet, as they are eager to use and practice their English...of course there are those who are uncomfortable, but that's expected.

I have found the Swedes that I have met through different people to all be caring, funny, and generous. They are always looking to introduce me to more Swedish friends, invite me over for a glass of wine, go out for fika, or go to a party or bar. There will always be some anti social clusters, maybe you need to look elsewhere, but don't judge everyone the same.

Meg ~ SomethingSwedish.com

[Yorkshireman]

...If You had gone to Bruce Springsteen and talked with the 61.000 fans there, let's assume they were all Swedish for the sake of argument ... and thought ..jeez, they are boring... 61000 out of a population of 8 Million (estimated population minus 1 million non-native swedes) ... You still have only met 0.76% of the population!

Mind You... estimated number of Sweden's population that watched Eurovision 2012 was 3.2 Million peaking at 3.59 Million viewers ... Now that IS scary!

[Boringsweden]

To those of you who are obviously not the sharpest knife in the draw, I posted because the question 'Are Swedes really
all that different?' was posed. I have given an honest and veritable account of my four experience in Sweden.
I am quite capable of deciding where I want to live and really have no need for any advice regarding if I should live in Ireland or any other country.

I was told by an australian girl that she was thrown off a long distance train in Sweden for some nonsense.
I believed her.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Although I don't agree with what Mellwww wrote, he has a point. We Swedes are quite shy and conformist, and it will generally be harder for someone from a different culture to approach us or to be approached by us. It will be even harder for someone of a different skin colour.

[AW1]

The question is, if it is really such a narrow minded view as you claim ... then why would it need to justify such a response? Now tell me again, according to statistics ... S ... (show full quote)

The question is, if it is really such a narrow minded view as you claim ... then why would it need to justify such a response? Now tell me again, according to statistics ... Sweden has an ever growing amount of people leaving.

Do these 51,000 + who left in 2011 all share this "narrow minded" quality that you claim?
Strange because so far last year was the highest ever exodus in Sweden's history. ... (hide full quote)

Sorry, but your post makes very little sense in regards to my earlier comment.

[byke]

On a different note .... I must say that "Swedes" and those who inhabit such lands, are allot more open when the sun shines. (almost like shaking off the winter hibernation that lasts 8 months a year)

[Swingelina]

In the summer its easy to spot a real Swede - the one with the brightest red colour on a sunny day.

[Yorkshireman]

Nah... That's Us English ...Swedes either tan early, and/or very quickly, in my experience.

[Swingelina]

No no youre wrong, to spot an Englishman he better be red AND pissed.

Not liking heat enough to enjoy the summer myself, and having my Brit working outdoors for a month, we help out eachother. He is red/tanned and Im pissed ;D

[sometimesinsweden]

Nah... That's Us English ...Swedes either tan early, and/or very quickly, in my experience.

Plenty of time off relative to British people, more open space and access to it and the lack of the ginger Celtic genes causes this!

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

QUOTE (Gamla Hälsingebock @ 1.Aug.2012, 03:25 AM)
Why do "foreigners" continually judge the Swedish peoples by standards they have abandoned by seeking a life in Sweden?No wonder Swedish people are saying they are t ... (show full quote)

GH: Your question could be turned around: why do Swedes constantly pass judgement on countries where they have never lived…or often even visited?

@Cogito post #31

Please read my post again:

My meaning was that a person should not judge another by standards that they have left behind when moving to another country...they simply do not work in most cases...the old adage "you should walk a hundred miles in another man's shoes before you can understand him"... sort of fits this subject...not an exact quote but I am sure you get the idea.

This applies to all of us.

I was not addressing the thoughts of others not fitting this example.

[Mzungu]

The Noorlanders are considerably more rustic than us cultured and refined Swedes from the heartland and powerhouse of Småland!
Right Gamla? ::wink::

*plus we produce far superior HB*