Are Swedes really that horrible ?

I came across this site from another blog about Sweden. This guy (I presume it is a guy), is livid with the Swedes. Hates them. He thinks Swedes are rude, self centered, boring, etc etc. When I read the blog, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’s ever visited other major metro cities (he claims to have). Last I checked, Parisians are rude, Upper East Side New Yorkers are extremely snobby, Beverly Hills folks are bitchy. So why are you getting your panties in a knot with Swedes? Especially Stockholm Swedes. And especially Stockholm Swedes in Stureplan. That’s like bitching that people from Monaco are snobby; of course they are!

Anyway his blog is called http://swedenson.com/. I tried to make a comment on it, but I guess I am not approved to have dissenting opinions. Most people who commented on the site were pretty big Swedish haters.
Some quotes:

What heartless fucking assholes have you Swedes become?

Ouch.

Face it, Swedes are the rudest, lowest class folks on the planet.

Swedes are slime now?

But swedish people does not understand very simple things, because that would require some kind of self-reflection and critical thinking. Swedish people lack self.

That’s pretty funny.

Yes, quite a bit of Swedes are rude, cold and callous! You only need to come and visit and see what kind of service you will get, as a tourist in this town. I mean they do not even greet you when you walk into the shops, its like you are dong them a big favour!

I think we all know customer service is not big here. But it’s not big in France either. And according to many Swedes, they find American customer service intrusive. So when did Americans get the right to push our values onto culture?

Sweden is the only country in the world where I have seen more public spitting than in China.

Fail, go to India idiot. You will get spit on there.

The question is, Do you hate Swedes? Is Stockholm a tourist friendly city or do they all suck?

May 27, 2009 | Tags: , | 29 Comments »

The Stockholm Syndrome and the Socialist Nightmare

Socialism! Ahhhhhhh, you said the S word! Don’t say
such terrible words to us, we’re capitalists, we’re Americans, we don’t believe in socialism. And not the Stockholm syndrome either, whatever that is.

I’m not sure what it is about that word that makes people hid beneath the covers and pray to Jesus for absolution, but Americans, especially those neo-conservative ones, think socialism is akin to the devil. Maybe an exaggeration but according to our friends at Fox News, not really.

Bill O’Reilly: Do we really want to change America into Sweden?
My answer: No, because then we’d lose all those beautiful blond girls and tall Swedish boys.

The Road to Socialism

Did you hear that? Nazi Germany had National Socialism, ergo if we have socialism, the world will end!

And that’s why I love the pundits over at the Daily Show. They are a hodgepodge of completely insane people who have completely rational thoughts. Without further ado, and it’s a month late so you better see it now before it becomes so outdated, Sweden’s Socialist Nightmares.

The Daily Show’s Socialist Nightmare, Part I

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M – Th 11p / 10c
The Stockholm Syndrome
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes		 Economic Crisis Political Humor


The Daily Show’s Socialist Nightmare, Part II

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M – Th 11p / 10c
The Stockholm Syndrome Pt. 2
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes		 Economic Crisis Political Humor

* If you are wondering what is the Stockholm Syndrome, it is a real phrase. In 1974, bank robbers took control of the Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm for five days. The hostages, while victims of the ordeal, became enamored by their hostage takers. When released at the end of the standoff, many tried to protect the robbers. Psychologists call it the Stockholm Syndrome when a victim supports the victimizer because they empathize with their problems.

Truly, Swedes are crazy; hostages falling for hostage takers? Only in Sweden can you do that.

May 15, 2009 | Tags: , | 5 Comments »

Check out The Stockholm Players

It is rare that I post information about events and happenings in Stockholm and it’s about time I do. Because the Swedes will be chasing after the sun all summer long there are many cultural events around the country. I was contacted by someone through Facebook to publicize a play for their group. While I am not a fan of this kind of shameless publicity, I am a sucker for artsy things.

Be sure to get tickets and check them out!

“Stepping Out Of A Dream + Us and Them”, the Spring production of 2009. A double bill of 2 one act plays.

Address:
Teater Replica
Hantverkargatan 78
Stockholm, SE
May 14th, 15th, 16th at 19.30
May 16th, 17th at 15.00


“Stepping Out of a Dream”
By Gary Clarke

Marty has finally plucked up the courage to have his neighbour Felicia ‘round for dinner. Guiding him on the bumpy road to love is Jack, a crazy Tom Cruise fanatic who knows all those sweet little nothings to whisper into a girl’s ear. However when Felicia’s alter ego, Faye, shows up, a femme fatale from the silver screen, the course of true love starts running all over the place. Two’s company, three’s a crowd, but four!? “Stepping Out of a Dream” by Gary Clarke is a cautious comedy in one act about the risky business of not only finding love but also finding yourself. And liking what you find.


“Us and Them”
By David Campton

Two groups of wanderers are looking for a place to settle. They agree to share an area of land and mark a line between their territories. The line becomes a small wall. With time, the wall is built higher and then still higher. Suspicion and mistrust grow to the point where the groups must inevitably explode in conflict. In “Us and Them”, we see how easily barriers can form, and how seemingly harmless decisions can have unexpected and destructive consequences.

Price:
Admission 150SEK
Reduced price (Stockholm Players members/ students/ pensioners) 100SEK

Tickets are out now at tickets@stockholmplayers.se and 070-993 49 50

Stockholm Players’ website: http://www.stockholmplayers.se

May 8, 2009 | Tags: | No Comments »

SVT Accidentally Publishes that The Pirate Bay Party Acquitted

Major fail! SVT, Sweden’s Television station publishes two articles: one that the Pirate Bay is guilty and the other that they are innocent.

Here is the image below. A translation will follow.

Pirate Bay articles states they were acquitted

Pirate Bay articles states they were acquitted

Original text:

Friande dom i Pirate Bay-målet
De åtalade männen bakom fildelningssajten The Pirate Bay friades i dag av Stockholms tingsrätt.
Männen åtalades för att ha främjat brott mot upphovsrättslagen eftersom användarna av sajten kunnat tillgå upphovsrättsskyddat material.
Bolag från musik- film- och dataspelsbranschen hade skadeståndskrav på männen på nära 117 miljoner kronor.
Männen hade enligt åtalet också tjänat flera miljoner kronor på sajten genom reklamintäkter, något åklagaren haft svårt att bevisa.

Source: http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1523194/friande_dom_i_pirate_bay-malet

April 17, 2009 | Tags: , | 4 Comments »

Rude Swedes are not an oxymoron

Yes it seems strange to call Swedes rude but it is true when certain conditions are met.

Condition one: In a bar. People will push throw the crowds without ever uttering the words förlåt (sorry). Even if you are lucky to find a place with a table to put your drink down, you can bet some girl or guy will push from behind to overtake your spot. I had the experience of having a jackass spill wine (thankfully white) on my Burberry coat while at the bar. I poked him in the side, since he stood at a whooping 190cm, and told him I wanted napkins because he spilled wine on me. He was annoyed and irritated and in a condescending manner, apologized.

Condition two: On the street. Cars will just stop for you, few inches shy of stripping your soul out. People will walk straight into you or push you to the side; no apologies needed.

Condition three: In a restaurant. Tipping? Does not exist; or in rare instances, there is tipping. With that in mind, don’t expect much in the way of service. I have not experienced bad service (maybe because I am foreign) but stellar service definitely is lacking.

Condition four: Alcohol. Need I say more?

Condition five: On the train. You will get smashed; just hope the people nearby are wearing decent deodorant. You do not need to talk to the people around you, ever. Until the train comes to a crashing halt, your train compartment neighbors are invisible.

May 26, 2008 | Tags: , , , | 41 Comments »