Swedish Etiquette
Sweden is the only country in the world where I have seen more public spitting than in China. When I was in Beijing, I remember thinking, ‘wow – the Chinese spit a lot’. Well I’ve got news for you Beijing, you’ve got nothing on the Swedes. The Swedes will out-spit the Chinese any day of the week. Walking around Stockholm in the winter on a Friday or Saturday night is especially treacherous.
Sweden Etiquette
The guys and girls (yes girls) chew snus (a tobacco product similar to snuff), which elicits a spitting reaction. The grade school kids like to imitate the older folks, so they join in on the spitting. The result is nothing less than a veritable minefield of spit checkering the sidewalks that must be danced around on your way down Kungsgatan to Stureplan. Yes, that’s what shoes are for, but still, it’s disgusting. The Swedes abide by a universal custom: Never wear your shoes indoors. Now you know why.
Harmless disgusting habits are one thing, but downright rudeness is another. And the Swedes are, hands down, the rudest people I have ever met. I assure you, you will experience more civility in a back alley in The Bronx, New York than in Stockholm.
Somewhere in history, when the Swedish Kings were breeding blond hair, blue eyes, and broad shoulders into their minions, they forgot to include social awareness, empathy, and common courtesy. Even the bartenders in Tijuana have the munificence to give you free shots of tequila, a pat on the back, and a big smile before they attempt to swindle you. The Swedes do it with a straight face and without a hint of sympathy. But the Swedes aren’t after your money; they’re after your space. If you happen to be occupying a space they want, be that in line for the bathroom, coat check, bar, or even at McDonalds, you’ll get boxed out quicker than you can say Shaquille O’Neal. In Sweden, its ‘first come, first served’, regardless of who’s in front of you.
Read on for Merry Christmas, from Stockholm…
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
you need to go there in the summer. the swedes are cranky and depressed during the winter. there are no nicer folk than drunk swedes at the beach over the summer…
December 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
i spent some time up there over the summer and i didn’t see any spitting
December 26th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Too bad you had such an unpleasant experience here in Sweden. I don’t live in Stockholm though, and I do agree that the people there can be unfriendly, especially in the winter.
And don’t tell them that you’re American if you would ever come back here, we Swedes really don’t like people from the states, and that might be one of the reasons why you got threated so unpleasant.
/Grim
February 16th, 2009 at 6:07 am
“we Swedes really don’t like people from the states”
I’m sorry but that is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. Sweden is a small country but there are still 9 million people living here. How can you possibly know that Swedish people dislikes American people?
February 16th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
That also goes for giving directions on the street. The tourist guide book Lonely Planet’s Stockholm edition (of 2001) actually warned people against asking for directions. People will answer your question, and no more. If they don’t know they will say that they don’t know and continue walking.
April 20th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Dear anonymous,
Actually, it’s not that funny. While the statement might be a generalisation, American unpopularity has been growing all around the world and mocking statements like “I’m sorry but that is the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time” haven’t helped to counter the reputation for American arrogance.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Here in Mexico, people loves Americans, and swedish and all that people coming from northamerica or Europe or Argentina. That’s because of a sindrome called ‘Malinchismo’, where mexican thinks people from the outside are better. I work for an American company and I do agree with the last Anonymous: Americans are very arrogant.
May 23rd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Yes, the writer is correct..it is disgusting, I dread going out, once spring starts, because, you know you have to deal with the no mannered majority of Swedes, who yes, spit right in front of you, on the sidewalk, no discretion, it seems almost everyone smokes, because you cannot avoid smoke being puffed right up your nostril…i am the sensitive one, because I am allergic to smoke. Many days I just burst into tears, because there are sooo many infractions here….people here are just ignorant and totally oblvious! The gook on the street and sidewalks will make you baff, yes, it happened to me many times, germs, germs, the new swine flu, God help us if it comes here, because most people who sneeze do not even know that they should cover their mouths…that is another thing…they have absolutely no manners. I dont know why swedes get upset when the truth is spoken, a fact is a fact, there is so much more I could write, but the Swedish goverment need to fine people for spitting in the street, is is downright nasty and germsy!
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:04 pm
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! And yes, I too have experienced the spitting thing, it is digusting, how is it that people can do this, without even thinking about ethics, is beyond me, its embarassing, but if you have to, just step to the side and do it discreetly. As for the smoking, ohh yes, we went to this drotningholm park, people were everywhere, having picnic and catching the sun, but boy the smoking was unbearable, we had to get up 4 times to find a spot where smoking was minimal….for people who claim they are environmentally conscious, boy whats with the smoking people! I saw kids actually smoking, could not be any more than 14, 15, but I understand they start very young in sweden doing many things…..also heard how wild the kids are, drinking, smoking, sleeping out at early age at boyfriend or girlfriend house….heard they call this independency! So what does the parents do, when the kids roam the street all day..hmmmm interesting!
May 27th, 2009 at 9:23 am
snus doesnt cause spitting. thats the whole point of it.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
If you don’t like it, why don’t you move home? Very few Swedish women uses “snus”, perhaps 1 in 10,000. No Swedes chew tobacco, Americans do. Swedes put it under their upper lip.
June 14th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
thats not true. swedish girls are the friendliest. my girlfriend is swedish. as far as spitting thats also unheard off.
July 12th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Yeah they do spit quite alot mainly due to the snus, and yes the customer service is frankly the worst I have ever experienced and yes they are pretty cold and stand offish, and i do find it strange that they think its fine to shoulder charge you out of the way – but if you can get past that there are plenty of nice people here. In stockholm in particularly there are plenty of very vain and fairly stupid and blinkered people around and in defense of americans while they can be pretty arrogant see what happens if you say something even slightly less than complementary about sweden to a swede. There is a belief amongst swedes that sweden is simply the best country in the world, everything in sweden is apparently perfect and the bits that aren’t are down to the immigrants who are spoiling everything by have dark complexions and have ambition…
However getting back to my point – if you meet average everyday swedes they are good company and nice people – just not the most welcoming people in the world. Given that there are plently of other places in europe where the people are nicer to strangers (including crazily germany) I would suggest possibly not going on holidays here… even denmark or norway are actually more welcoming places…
November 16th, 2009 at 9:56 am
@To the author of this article – Yes, all Swedes are rude and all Americans are arrogant. Because I’ve met Americans who are, both on the Internet (e.g. you) and in real life and that means I have enough insight to know that all Americans are like that. Right? At least according to your logic (if you have any).
However, luckily enough, I’m not as arrogant, narcissistic, self-centered and judgmental as you, so I don’t see it that way. I think you should try to understand the Swedish culture rather than judging it. Try to understand why it is in a certain way and accept and even embrace it’s differences, rather than dismissing it because of it’s differences.
Yes, there may be certain things you don’t like but cultures are different from each other and just because something is different than to what you’re used to doesn’t mean it’s worse. I’m not asking you to love everything about the Swedish culture, there will always be things you like and things you don’t, but you could at least accept it.
P.S Having been in Stockholm does not give you enough cultural insight of Sweden to understand and know the whole country and it’s population. If you want to know Sweden and Swedes go outside of the capital, as well! You will be surprised at how different it is from Stockholm.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I’m from the States and my boyfriend is from Sweden, whom, by the way, has plenty of etiquette. I’m flying to Sweden for the first time to meet his family and friends in a few days, but your post scares me! I hope your incorrect about all Swedes hating people from the states, because I’d be in pretty big trouble if it was true.. I’m a little Californian girl that knows close to no Swedish and will be under harsh scrutiny next week, so I hope they’re nicer than you say.
I do, on the other hand, have some racist and arrogant Stockholm-Swedish friends in Los Angeles.. what assholes they are.. but I don’t think you can generalize on the entire Swedish population. We so often fail to see the good in people, and the bad seems to consequentially become accentuated. Have a little faith in people and respect for cultural differences – maybe if people didn’t feel so judged, they might be nicer
February 14th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
You haven’t been to India then. They spit everywhere. Swedes have nothing on them.
March 13th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Open and Reserved People - World - Page 2 - City-Data Forum says:[...] was just reminded of the word "standoffish" by a comment in this blog entry: Swedish Etiquette – Stockholm Swedes are actually very rude | Stockholm Sucks Perhaps "standoffish" is a better to word to use in this [...]
March 19th, 2010 at 6:04 am
Met a few swedes in Thailand, some are ok, girls not to bad to look at, but most were as dull as dish water.
Cheers
April 5th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
hi. I’m a swede who left that country 30 years ago, reluctantly visited family in 2002, could not wait to get on the plane OUT OF THERE. Sweden is a Godless spirituall desert, due to decades of socialism, people are totally empty and conformists, taking on personas and behaviours in line with the “unseen, unspoken, code of “the socialistic correctness” they don’t know it themselves, they are indoctrinated to believe they are free, democratic and right in every way, to the point where they tell other countrys how to run their business. The zionist influence, through socialism and communism which the jews invented, has quietly , slowly, but deliberate and methodically eroded what was once sweden, and the swedish “way”, strong, upright, with a strong sense loyalty to there own, nationalism. The swedish narcissism, so well known, is a subcontious rebellion against the control and surpression of individuality, and freedom of choice. Corruption nepotism and the secret love of money and status, is really at the core of swedish society, but try to tell them that!!! Narcissists can’t be told, that is the primary symptom, pathological denial, The Zionists, under the guise of socialism, have got them just where they want, ready to be exploited, for the zionist plan of world dominance, if anyone can see what I can see, in sweden or elsewhere please contact me, EM. thorvonoden@yahoo.com Regards Thor
May 4th, 2010 at 6:11 am
Hi…. I’m a swede, been living here my whole life. We don’t greet customers because we see privacy as an important thing. We don’t give pats on the back to strangers, due to privacy. We don’t ask customers in a store if they want help, because that is, yet again, breaking the privacy.
We do spit a little, but no where near as bad as the original poster write.
We don’t smoke more than any other country, I’d probably say quite the opposite considering most smokers here in sweden switch to snus.
We might be seen as cold, but we are just very concerned about privacy. If you ever befriend a swede, you’ll see that we are more relaxed.
May 30th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Thanks to everybody to all of these very interesting informations about the swedes – it is a good preparation for our journey through Sweden. As I read in a german book, the swedes seem to be quite reserved, don’t like conflicts and if you like to talk to them, ask better for a hammer and nail, don’t ask for personal opinions. You must not show your talents and it is a virtue to be modest. Privacy is very important and the real face you may only see with very close friends and in the family. Many of the behaviors are developed during centuries and not meant as a offense. But it seems sometimes very difficult to see it this way – specially for extrovert people. How really it is – we will see soon (hopefully).
June 26th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I am of Swedish decent and was shocked to visit at how slutty the girls were- they acted worse than spring breakers in cancun. Just sleeeping around, no self respect and throwing themselves at anyone with a fat wallet. Really you would want to get an STD check before marrying a Swedish girl!
June 29th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Wow, I wish I was in Sweden. Sexy to see blondes spitting
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:16 am
I have a Swedish SIL and assumed that she just didn’t like to me as she never replies to letters, e-mails etc or even cards. On brief visit to Uppsala can’t say was made very welcome – I am a Scottish person and not into hugging acquantances but felt very out of it.
July 31st, 2010 at 4:52 am
Sooooooo Trueeeeee, so rude and ugly to see that, no manners at alllllllll.
Pathetic easily
August 19th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Hey! I’ve had many of the same experiences here. I’m from Norway, so I haven’t travelled as far as you, and Norwegians and Swedes are quite similar. Still I was shocked when I moved here. It’s very hard to get to know people, even the ones you feel you have a lot in common with. They seem to separate work/school from private life very much and they’re always in a social group. They seem to never time for you. Maybe it’s about me, but I have talked to MANY others who have experienced the same here.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Dude. Go geek somewhere with your world of warcraft which u guys seem to love hell a lot in USA, and maybe the only thing you’re good at.
I was living in chicago for a couple of months. And gosh, stupid and boring people.
September 13th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Jonathan – no world of warcraft here. you’ve got the wrong guy. I’m the social, outgoing, athletic type that plays a lot of sports and has always been very involved with extracurriculars in school, work, clubs, etc.
Chicago is actually a great city full of friendly people. I think you’re wrong there too.
September 16th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I would like to visit in the summer. I have a friend and his brother has a Swedish girl friend that chews tobacco or snuff. He said that many girls use that stuff there. Is that right?
September 18th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
How can u say that privacy is important to Swedes when they flaunt themselves in their homes by avoiding to use curtains/blinds in the windows. One of the most narcissistic countries in the world. Anyway, it’s a primitive country with no class, you can’t buy class
September 26th, 2010 at 12:05 am
When I was living in Sweden, I was very surprised about the fact that there are so many fake blonds among Swedish women. Why do Swedish women want to give the impression that they are blonds and spend so much money on colouring??
And unfortunately the majority of the world belive that Swedish women are real blonds
:) In fact their hair colour is brown/light brown, as the Swedes themselves call it “ratcoloured.”
October 11th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Swedes are rude, very very rude and they go out of they’re way to be rude. Oh sure they play the it’s part of our culture card when they are really just awful miserable people. I’ve never encountered such unpleasant miserable people in my life. I moved here 10 months ago from NYC and can’t wait to get out of here. Just last weekend this Swedish girl knocked over two full pints of beer onto my friends lap, pretended that she received a call then proceeded to go outside and pretend to talk on her phone. Never said sorry or anything and waited outside until my friend left. He had to leave with that amount of beer on him. Pretty typical behavior. BTW, Swedish girls being hot is a myth. Most of them have a weird orange tint to them like Oompa Loompas and never learned to walk in they’re heels. Look out for them in the subway on Friday and Saturday nights falling down and puking in trash cans. Real class!
October 13th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Why so much frustration? Sweden isnt your backyard. Adapt, dont try to change what its not yours. It’s your duty to adapt to this new world since you decided to come and live here. Maybe you dont like it, maybe you hate it , but its narrow minded to live like the whole world and all persons must be as you want.
October 19th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Well ‘rumenska kvinna’ the purpose of our comments and this blog is to warn others about Swedes in case they are deciding to come here. So you want us all to adapt and become nasty people like all of you? We don’t expect every country and everyone around the world to be just like us but I think everyone can agree that there is a big level of common decency that Swedes lack for they’re fellow man. You people are just so damm nasty to each other it’s truly amazing. Honestly, you really can’t deny how bad it is in Sweden… And if anyone out there is thinking of traveling to Sweden don’t bother. Save your money and go elsewhere in Europe!
October 23rd, 2010 at 4:23 am
It is not only Stockholm. I have lived in Sweden for twenty years and am married to a Swede. There are people who we know and visit, but no real friends who…Are there when you need them and true real friends. Not even my husbands family. It is not to get used to or to compare Sweden with —say the rest of the world. They are just this way. A social defect or whatever, it is not even to put them down, but if you want loving, loyal long meaningful, warm caring relationships with open, honest and genuine people go to Latin America, Italy or anywhere else because here in Sweden you won’t find it!
December 19th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
hey Judy and everyone else
I do not find swedes as rude as people say! I have been there tons of times…been to stockholm, malmo, gothenburgh, umea, kalmar, vastervik, norrkoping, lynkoping, soderkoping, wisby, vastervik… and none of them have ever been rude with me! I do feel weird sometimes (im not white and there are still some feelings against immigrants, altho i have been only a traveller in non touristy places). But they have been polite people to me.
maybe it is because I am not American nor an American judging them?
and I do agree with rumenska kvinna! she is not being rude just for saying something that’s true!
if you live in a place YOU need to adapt to the culture of that place not the place to you, many americans are so used to have everything adapted to them!!
now, if you cant adapt and do not want to live in a country full of rude, shallow people… go away then!!
One thing for sure is that many swedes are melancholic and Im sure they try to always look good not because they love themselves, but because this is the way how their self esteem grows, just like in any other part in the world.
some can be very insecure people but that does not mean they are rude nor self centred.
but you will never get to know them if you are always complaining about them, instead of reading and watching their literature, trying to learn their language and actually trying to get to know them without prejudices!!! in other words, you need to open your narrow mind
If they are so nasty, cold and rude why is it so easy for me to get along with them?
@Thor you clearly hate communism (which is totally different than socialism), but do not blame it just on the fact that sweden was socialist (thanks to that there is no misery like in other capitalist places, now wait and see how the gap between the rich and poor extends in Sweden and the UK).
when sweden was Svea Rike (a guy whose nickname is Thor should know more about this topic than me) it was already like that…or how can you explain that they lost part of denmark and the whole norway? but it does not stop there, these two have also become, economically speaking, bigger (under the same socialist system).
sorry but, Corruption and nepotism, if we are to compare sweden and the US, there is more in the US…the only difference is that their love for money is not hidden.
PS. how can they love money and status if they “are totally empty and conformists”? that sounds like a contradiction to me (?)
Regards
December 25th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Hi, I have been living in Sweden for two years and I think swedish people are very polite and nice although of the spitting and all the disgusting habits! yes they have this very disgusting thing of cleaning their nose right infront of you making loud disgusting noise especially when they are eating, I do not know what is the secret about it, but to me this is very disgusting and rude and in my first days there I imediately loose my appetite! but I like swedes! they are a little bit cold but in a good way I think, this coldness protect them from being rude with others. the weather is strange but Interesting. And do not let me start talking about Swedish men, they are realy gentlemen! I like Swedes!
February 22nd, 2011 at 2:13 am
Swedish people are wierd, they tend to be serious and very sensitive. The men are okay and sometimes funny but the women are really difficult, their goodlooking so that makes them think their superior to the rest of the world. Swedish women get angry very easily and often will accuse a man of sexual harrasement when in reality he didn´t do anything wrong in the rest of the world that´s purgey and a crime. Be careful with Swedish women they can get you into trouble even if you´ve done nothing wrong their like the forbbiden apple in the garden of Adan and Eve eat it and hell will break loose, keep away from swedish women
April 5th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Hello!
Hmm. I’ve read all of these comments, and wow. Just… /wow/.
All of the anti-American feelings, and the idea that Americans are all very arrogant just really… I don’t know, you could probably sit back and negatively stereotype every country in the world.
Honestly, I know some very modest, wonderful people. They actually make up the majority of the people I know. I know a lot of Americans who definitely don’t think that the US is “all that,” or that they’re any better than anyone else.
It’s strange, really. I live in Minnesota, dubbed the friendlist state in the country. It’s also coincidentally the most Scandinavian state in the country. Sort of ironic, yeah? I don’t know, I don’t really find the “Leave everyone to their own,” bit appealing. I think it’s really nice when I look like I’m in trouble, and someone comes to help me. I also rather enjoy the feeling of helping someone else out when they’re in a bind. I don’t mean running around, hugging random strangers and butting into other people’s business, but just the comradeship that comes with doing small favors for other people, or how much more interesting the bus ride becomes when you spend it getting to know someone new.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that MN, USA is any better than Sweden, or that Sweden should change, it just means that Sweden really isn’t for me. I’d still like to visit, for sure! But maybe just for a day or two after visiting Spain and stopping in the UK on my way to Germany. ;D
April 18th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
That’s funny. If Swedens so unempathetic how come they have one of the best welfare systems in the world?
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:20 am
Ah, the classical city Swede. I thank you sincerely for including me in this group of — sub-humans. It feels great to know that the defender of prejudices towards America, is at the same time making sweeping generalizations about the entire Swedish population.
Yours truly.
June 2nd, 2011 at 8:20 am
I haven’t been to Sweden myself, but judging from online interactions alone, i must say that many Swedes i’ve “met” there really did end up behaving in some arrogant, ignorant or self-centered way to others.
They somehow seem to mistake being “easy going” for not having to care much about how your behaviour might phase others, or showing a basic form of respect.
Then again, maybe i’m just unlucky and end up meeting the asshole-swedes instead of the decent ones.
June 15th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
Can everyone piss off with the American generalizations because honestly not everyone in America is an arrogant prick. Going to Sweden, i made an effort to learn the language and was very polite to whomever i dealt with. The people will treat you nicely if you do so in return, just like everywhere else in the world. No nation should be entirely judged based on a few number of certain individuals.
June 22nd, 2011 at 7:15 am
Tbh, it’s Stockholm – the city of assholes.
Go to any mid-sized swedish city and you’ll see the difference.
Also: I don’t get the point of travelling, when you want all the places to be just like the US.
June 30th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
I love Sweden and I love Swedes. I don’t understand why you hate them so much?
They are a cool and modern people with beautiful nature…if you look around the country you’ll see how clean it is. Stockholm is a perfect city for shopping and party. The Swedish Economy is strong and wealthy. Swedes talk a fucking good english too, comparing to other countries around Europe.
Their girls are not generally blonde, but they have a scandinavian look with trendy clothes and shoes. The boys are really handsome too. They look rich, clean and trendy – not like the people in Germany, French and other contries…
Maybee you never talked to a swede before? They usually don’t speak to foreigners they don’t know. They think ”I can look around myself, I don’t need your fucking help” if a seller starts to irritate them in a store. Ofcourse doesn’t a Swede tell their opinion, they don’t want to make an arguement out of a silly thing…
Swedes are in generally very private during the cold winter. They just don’t like the snow and do rather fly away to some warm land for vacation.
But in the summer..Oh dear..
EVERY SWEDE sits down in a restaurant, chilling with wine or bear, smokes, party, eat barbequed meat and fresh vegetables. They really loves to be outside and talk to everyone. At least if theres around 22-30 degrees celsius and sunny weather.
My tip: Take a look at the Swedish television comedy called ”Solsidan”. It’s a funny story about two families from the richer parts of Stockholms. The serie makes jokes about the swedes habits and cultur in a funny way.
Hope someone will agree with my opinions!
July 4th, 2011 at 8:37 pm
Well something has clearly gone wrong with Sweden. There is just too much that is wrong, judging from reading this thread and others. How did this happen? I was there about 15 years ago, and so were my friends, and we liked it. We were only there for a short time though, but the comments on this thread are fairly typical and paint a place that is very isolated and moving alone in a strange direction, very lost and surreal. What went wrong and why can’t it be corrected?
Girls using tobacco snus, vomiting from over drinking, sex at 10 years, rudeness, spitting, antisocial etc such a long list. This is a very wealthy country, why are they behaving as if they haven’t changed from their poor days in the 19th Century. They seem to have many backward and undeveloped hbits and manners.
July 31st, 2011 at 9:08 am
I m in stockholm for 3 days now and in holland i get allong with girls just fine.
My english is fluent and i look and talk nice but when i ask BUTT UGLY girls the way they say nothing and pretend to be supperior to me…
Here i ve found some of the ugliest girls i ve ever met , and their air is above the clouds…
A few days ago i was in kopenhagen and it was the nicest and friendliest city FULL of goodlooking and friendly girls i ve ever seen!
In a few days i ll be in oslo , i hope the girls there are more nice cuz stockholm is a real shitplace to go out if ur after the ladies!
We can t wait till tomorrow when we will leave these arrogants behind!
Greetings from holland , kevin , remco and xavier!
August 5th, 2011 at 1:21 am
Go to somewhere that is not Stockholm, for a starter. People there are considered more rude even by their fellow Swedes.
If you would get yourself out into the smaller regions you will find a whole different atmosphere.
People working in smaller shops will usually ask something along the lines of ‘Can I help you?’ and when told no; ‘Just ask if it’s something then’. Polite, smiling.
And people usually just mind their own business, or they don’t. It’s not that usual but while waiting in line or just standing around people come up talking to you.
For an example I visited a zoo a few years ago and one this one-meter-plush-wolf. I carried it on my back like a rucksack and this man walks up too me and asks if I really should steal the animals like that and if they liked it.
You just happened to meet the wrong kind of people.
September 4th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Yes, there´s something weird about swedes. I would be the first to agree, I’ve been living here for too long, stuck with family duties. I´m irish myself. The swedes are not easy to interact with, mostly because they are very uptight and distanced, a great few of them even snobbish(Stockholmers especially, it´s not a myth) and sometimes because they rather be talking to their own kind than you. You see, swedes are despite of their politically correct fear of being seen as patriots(that would be the same as being racist in sweden, not pride for their country) in fact eminently concerned with everything swedish and are not so oriented internationally as they like to think. Their big problem is that they are in denial on so many things. They don´t realize that they actually might be regarded as arrogant, because “Sweden is so acceptive and progressive, we are so clever and forwardthinking”(This could be the new national anthem)…and this is swedes last national pride. It´s a boring nation for sure, but that doesn’t go for the rest of Scandinavia. Norwegians for instance are much more easy-going and laid back, more charming and natural. Danes are also very friendly. It´s sad that the rest of Scandinavia too get associated with this weird disease. But Sweden is the biggest of the three, and the most aggressive self promotor.
September 29th, 2011 at 7:40 am
I’m enjoying Sweden so far. It is a bit of a culture shock for an American but the Swedes seem to be nice people once you get to know them. They are very shy and quiet. That might be some of the tension you’re seeing.
However, the spitting is just out right gross. Right on about that!
October 1st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Planes, Trains and Buses | Florida Travel Gal says:[...] of Stockholm is pretty clean with the exception of cigarette butts, dog poop and spit. The public transportation is no different (Clean). I haven’t seen any trash on the subway or [...]
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:29 am
Well, I don’t disagree with the spitting and even being a French man, I believe that streets are very dirty. There are rats e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e, it’s a bit crazy.
On the other hand I find that people pretty well educated when it comes to wait inline, what is a national sport here.
December 12th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
I come from Sweden and I can say that many swedes are shy and quiet, especially if they are talking to someone that doesn’t speak swedish. Swedes are generally afraid to say something that is wrong or not understandable.
People often say that swedes are very good english speakers, but it isn’t really true, the english that most swedes know is pretty basic, but the things they know, they are often very good at, for instance if they want to order a meal at a restaurant they will probably wont have any gramatical errors, but it will be in basic english.
The “Spitters” are not common in my opinion, there might be some people that spit a lot, but that is often only a few people. I have a friend of mine that usually spits where ever he goes, if he’s sitting on a bench he will spit probably around 100 times. When we leave there is always a big puddle of spit there.
Sweden and Stockholm is a very nice country to go to, but if you go here, go to the nicer places in sweden, and preferably one of the big cities, where they are better at speaking english. I can recommend Gothenburg and Stockholm. If you go to Sweden in the summer the people are often more kind, then in the winter, but if you want to go to Sweden in the Winter, you should visit Åre in the north of Sweden. There is some good skiing there, but it’s rather expensive.
December 14th, 2011 at 3:17 am
I have read this thread with a certain degree of delight and a feeling of vindication. I have been living in Sweden for 12 years, half the time in Stockholm and half in Gothenburg. Here is my take:
I find the Swedes to be on the whole kind and friendly and very welcoming. However their manners are non-existent.I have read it here and I will repeat it: the Swedes are a thoughtless, arrogant bunch who are so self-involved. Anyone that has walked the streets of Sweden will find themselves being try not to get mown down by other people who no doubt believe this is MY pavement and I will not move for anyone. Expect people to step aside whilst you alight from an elevator? Forget it, push your way past everyone trying to come in or you will never get out. Same with the trains. Standing on an empty 5 meter wide platform with a book in your hand you can find yourself having the book almost knocked from your hands by a passer by! There are only 2 people on the platform! Why?
I could go on and on about this personal space issue and common courtesy or lack thereof.
I have come to the conclusion that swedes are brought up to believe in the value of the individual to the extent that they now have their heads so far up their own rectums they cannot see the people around them.
Other than that they are really quite decent. Oh except for the spitting.. but let’s leave that for another day.
December 14th, 2011 at 11:16 am
When I see how you all described Sweden and Swedes, I thought you all area talking about Malaysia. Which is where I am from. It is pretty the same on the bad habits side, maybe just worst. And none of the cleanliness mentioned, plastic bags in the river, or everywhere.
December 24th, 2011 at 11:57 am
Spot on. I’ve lived in Sweden for nearly 10 years and know a lot of Swedes. They’re not shy, they are just uncultured. What would be good for them to go along with all the wannabe fashions that they buy is to invest some cash into an etiquette course. The Swedes love taking evening courses, so why not one on etiquette? And I agree, they do spit a lot in Sweden
January 24th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
On the spitting thing, it must be a “big city thing” or they must have had rabies, or you have the facts all wrong…. Smokers use snus indoors (no one smokes inside their houses, besides it’s illegal in public buildings), no spitting indoors, right ?
You don’t spit when you use snus, you’re thinking of “American Hill Billy chewing tobacco” (which we don’t use in Sweden). I work all day without spitting once having a snus under my lip.
On the rude thing, you’re quite right, that’s why I never go to Stockholm (except Arlanda airport twice a year). Last time I was to Stockholm was some twenty years ago.
Stick to the country side, where people are much more friendly and don’t like Stockholmers anymore than you do