(edit title) It is cold in Sweden I am not talking about the weather Options

[curguy24]

I have been in Stockholm for a week now on my holidays. I would say it is very beautiful and green, with beautiful people everywhere. This is my first time in europe so i coudn' t compare it to any other European country. The only thing that is lacking is the warmth of the people. Its seems that people here are all walking in straight wires, they dont look arround, they don't scan and they dont smile.

i ws pAssing by a school and i see kids playing and laughing loudly, i feel more sad, why cant adult loosen up sometimes and be like them?

[byke]

Tell me about it.

But I will say that if you do try and make a happiness contact with another person and they acknowledge you are foreign, you have a greater chance of reciprocation.

# Lead by Example.

[Svensksmith]

Exactly. What's stopping you from playing and laughing loudly?

[Migga]

Is is somehow wrong or bad that Swedes don`t behave "happy" in your eyes?

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Swedes have a very purposeful aura about them, when walking on wires...they don't want to fall off...there are no nets in Sweden!

[Hamsterdam]

Plenty of countries have cold unfriendly zombies. Stockholm just does it better than most.

[Puffin]

even people in other parts of Sweden say this about 08:ers

[rtharper]

I've only been here since Tuesday, but so far everyone has been super friendly to me! I've had some slightly colder customer service experiences, but no less (and actually more) friendly than most of my experiences in the UK.

Where are you from? In general, I find that Northern Europeans are reserved. Many people take this for coldness, or rudeness. It's not necessarily that, and you do learn to read people a bit differently. Despite speaking the same language as Brits natively, it took me a long time to overcome the other cultural barriers when living there, and the way they interact with strangers (and even friends) was definitely one of them.

I have also found that Swedes are rather shy (have had many as friends over the years). They are often happy to appreciate your friendliness and warmth, but they are unlikely to be the ones to initiate it =)

This changes when they get drunk.

[rtharper]

even people in other parts of Sweden say this about 08:ers

I think that large city people are generally colder than the people in the countryside. Urban solitude, etc.

[AW1]

Plenty of countries have cold unfriendly zombies. Stockholm just does it better than most.

I think you'll find that zombies try to make contact.

[Gina88]

[byke]

While I have heard that Stockholm is the most unfriendly city in Sweden.
The larger majority of residents in Stockholm are Swedes from other towns.

So if you think Stockholm is unfriendly, its simply a greater reflection of Sweden and Swedes in general (rather than Stockholmers).

Personally I like that Stockholm has so many non Swedes in it.
It adds diversity and there is almost a secret handshake or understanding between the black sheep of friendliness in an attempt to not be dragged to far down.

[AW1]

It would be interesting to hear what people who settled outside Stockholm have to say about this last comment.

[mångk]

It would be interesting to see what a shrink would say!

[byke]

Its interesting to see such animosity from Swedes towards other Swedes in such scenarios.
And its interesting to see what causes it.

Especially since as pointed out that a large part of Stockholm is actually made up of non locals, but Swedes from other parts of the country. And having spoken to old 08ers, I have been constantly informed that there has been a significant difference in the past when stockholm was less "diluted" by other swedes and a place that was nicer in terms of social etiquette and manners. In fact Stockholm appeared to have quite a different outlook to that of smaller towns in sweden and has been ostracized because of it.

I can say that as a non native and looking through the window, so to speak.
I sense that from my conversations with swedes from all across the country over the years that the biggest issue seems to be yet again and underlying sense of insecurity and petty jealousy as part of the national psyche.

Its fun because when I have spoken to Swedes about Stockholm, in many senses they let rip as they feel they cant offend (which is true in many ways) As they see me as this British person. But what is always evidently clear is on one hand they talk about how rude people in Stockholm are .... and then on the other hand talk about how Stockholm has all the amenities and that its not fair. Often expecting that Stockholm should use taxes collected from that area and use it to pay for areas that are having difficulties as they see Stockholm an area of wealth and over abundance.

The saddest part is I have distant family from Darlarna that talk this way, yet they still chose to come down to stockholm to do things like visit the IKEA store as it has so much more selection LOL.

My opinion is that its a double edged sword based on Swedish ideology.
And no matter even if GBG became the capital tomorrow instead, I am sure we would see the same shift of hatred simply because of petty insecurities.

Stockholm is not great by a long shot compared to other countries.
But I could never imagine living in any other part of sweden.

#This is as low as I go