(edit title) Swedish ppl not responding What is it the cold? Options

[Johno]

Swedes don't give other strangers a random 'hej' as it is not part of the way that they socialise

Folks out walking in rural Halland definitely do, in fact it is unusual when they don't say Hej! (but no more) to those they meet. It obviously depends where you are, town or country.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

I am beginning to think that you must look like Atilla The Hun in drag...indiscriminate uttering of the salutation known as "Hi" will most assuredly be responded by a "Hi" back...If you appear worthy of it...if you get my drift.

[Johno]

Oh, we are worthy though really we and they are just friendly folk. Country v town. As I said, Hej! but no more. I guess for you its respect when people speak to you, you being armed to the teeth.

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Post was for the OP.

But yes when I drive around in my tank...the respect I get is awesome and almost a deep religious experience...I mean might is right...

[blackswedishbloke]

Maybe it's the homeless person attire.

LMFAOOO ... oh sh*t

[Kn33grow]

My experience has been a little different. I live in a small village and when i moved there i was surprised how everybody was saying "hej" to me and was getting tired of it tbh.

After a while i got into the habit and was really pissed off when i realized most will not answer back. I couldnt comprehend it at all.

Now i have developed a policy,i look them straight in the eye and if they say "hej" i answer back,if not i just roll on.

[shira36]

You are saying that they just said Hej because you were new there and then they just stopped but you kept with the "habit"?

[Kn33grow]

Which part of your sentence is the question? I said they said hej when i was new (doesnt mean because i was new). They dont say hej now and most dont respond when i say hej first.

If you can read and comprehend you will know from my post that i didnt keep with the habit.

[nakedkatze]

I think you are all being a little harsh.

I come from Texas, and I too have noticed that small talk is not a normal practice here.
I wouldn't say hi to a passing person on the street, but I have said hi to people in the laundry room at my apartments, or made a comment about how long the line at the supermarket was, or generally tried to interact with the people around me, to no avail.

It's quite disheartening, and very lonely.

[Kegzmc]

I wouldn't bother my arse saying hello to them. Ignorant shower of cunts.

[Sun67]

I think that if we choose to live in a different country, we should respect their differences. I had often thought of Swedish people as cold and unfeeling, that was until I stopped trying to make them fit into my perception of what was acceptable/normal. I agree with the previos poster: people in large cities in the UK do not say hello to random people on the street and I would have been very wary of a stranger saying hello to me on the tube. However, when I have lived in smaller places, saying hello to someone walking past would have been entirely normal (and welcomed). We just need to stop expecting people to be something that they aren't!

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Well said! I'll drink to that...skoal!

[MetalforLife]

Skål to swedes being emotionless cold robots without simple human features

[Gamla Hälsingebock]

Hey!

Weren't you supposed to tell us how the secret powers were going to force their new world order on us...we are still waiting for you to expound on their nefarious plans and dreadful deeds...why haven't you?

[shira36]

[quote name='Kn33grow' date='17.Jan.2013, 01:55 PM' post='786660']
Which part of your sentence is the question? I said they said hej when i was new (doesnt mean because i was new). They dont say hej now and most dont respond when i say hej first.

I will ignore your way of responding, just cuz I realy want to understand (and I am not in favour of the swedes if that what you mistakely think): why do you think they were welcoming at the begining and then rude after some time? I mean what is Your explaination to that, if you ever reflected about it.