jump to content
my subreddits
more »
Want to join? Log in or sign up in seconds.|
[-]
use the following search parameters to narrow your results:
subreddit:subreddit
find submissions in "subreddit"
author:username
find submissions by "username"
site:example.com
find submissions from "example.com"
url:text
search for "text" in url
selftext:text
search for "text" in self post contents
self:yes (or self:no)
include (or exclude) self posts
nsfw:yes (or nsfw:no)
include (or exclude) results marked as NSFW
e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
this post was submitted on
2,475 points (84% upvoted)
shortlink:
reset password

europe

unsubscribesubscribe576,665 Europeans readers
959 Europeans users here now
50 (+6) countries, 230 languages, 743M people… 1 subreddit.

Important

What are /r/Europe's rules?
New to reddit?

Events

Topic Schedule
The news in your country Every sunday
Interested in doing an AMA or know someone who is? Message the mods!

Social

Want to web-chat with other /r/Europe users? Join us on our IRC chatroom! #Europe on irc.snoonet.org

Meta

For discussion about this subreddit or its moderation please head over to /r/EuropeMeta
Meta discussion will be removed if posted in /r/Europe

Goodies and Titbits

Other subreddits about europe
Docs and Vids /r/EuroDocs
Curated Discussion /r/EuropeS
Q&A /r/AskEurope
Interrail /r/EuroPics
In-Depth /r/Europeans
Culture /r/EuropeanCulture
EU Parliament /r/EuropeanParliament
Federal Europe /r/EuropeanFederalists
Eurosceptics /r/Eurosceptics
EUROPE YEAH! /r/YUROP
EU Law /r/EUlaw
Interesting threads from the past
European English-language news sources
All European location subreddits

Flairs

Is the flag of your region not available? Message the moderation team so we can add it!

Some local European subreddits

a community for
No problem. We won't show you that ad again. Why didn't you like it?
Oops! I didn't mean to do this.
discuss this ad on reddit
message the moderators

MODERATORS

2474
2475
2476
top 200 commentsshow 500-
[–]Finlandhuman_bean_ 902 points903 points904 points  (41 children)
I don't see a nutshell. Just some random people at a bus stop. I have to say it's odd how close they are in the middle to one another. Very strange.
[–]SwedenmanInTheWoods 434 points435 points436 points  (17 children)
Yes, the shelter seems crowded.
[–][deleted] 300 points301 points302 points  (14 children)
Must be tourists... No sane North European wouldn't breath into other persons neck...
[–]SwedenmanInTheWoods 182 points183 points184 points  (12 children)
Mmm. Could be drunk also. Friday afternoon?
[–]Finlandhoundi 322 points323 points324 points  (11 children)
Or a tuesday noon. It's hard to tell.
[–]Estlandmatude 105 points106 points107 points  (5 children)
Or midnight. Equally dark really.
[–]Schnobbevom 24 points25 points26 points  (4 children)
It looks like they're all hoping the bus doors will stop right in front of them. I might be wrong, but I think some of them have passed the bike lane, because the bus is holding for red light. Then obviously they'll spread out because it's always a lottery where the bus doors will stop. Well, that's what I used to think..
I used to ride the bus every day, and every single day this woman would be there at the bus stop, waiting for the same bus as me. Every day. Nothing weird about that, but I can't say the same about her. She was very weird. The bus would come, and it would almost every time hold for red light. While it waited for the green light, the woman and I would cross the bike lane and wait on the other side. I would often be miles away from the bus door, when the bus came and stopped. But not her. Every single day, she would cross the bike lane and stand exactly where the bus doors would land. It was crazy. First I thought it was just pure luck, but then I started to notice she wouldn't be standing at the same place every time, yet the bus doors would come to her as she knew, and I was so confused how she could know, but she did. And I started to stand next to her. It was amazing. I was so impressed about how she knew where the doors would be every time, and I really wanted to ask her, but for some reason I never did. I suppose I was speechless, just witnessing her unnatural superhuman powers in silence. This went on for a year, but one day, the bus came, stopped for a red light, like it usually did. And this day the woman went further down the street before she crossed, than she has ever done. But I followed her anyways, because I trusted her. She's been far down the street before, and she was always right. Then green light. The bus came. But the woman kept walking! I started to worry, but I kept following closely behind her. Then the bus stopped. Fuck, it was nowhere near us, she had failed. Then the most confusing thing ever; she crossed the street. And that was it. I missed the bus, and she was gone. I never saw her again.
[–]Irish in Île-de-FranceDassinJoe 13 points14 points15 points  (0 children)
She was playing the long con. Lulled you into trusting her bus-whispering instincts over the course of the year, then WHAMMO! She led to a location from which you were sure to miss the bus.
Much respect.
[–]Maverickki 46 points47 points48 points  (4 children)
It took me way too long to figure out what is funny about this picture...
[–]DenmarkSolenstaarop 20 points21 points22 points  (2 children)
Yes, I didn't get it before I started reading the comments.
[–]smells fishygustavjohansen 134 points135 points136 points  (10 children)
See, people tend to think this is about social conventions, when it's really a basic safety issue. When people stand this close together, it takes just a little bit of ice underneath the snow to turn the whole scene into a human domino chain.
And then you have to make apologetic noise as you get up, without making eye contact. Fuck that.
[–]Portugalnaughtydismutase 26 points27 points28 points  (8 children)
A human domino chain sounds pretty hilarious to me.
[–]Estlandpmst 27 points28 points29 points  (4 children)
Clearly you don't have much ice on your roads.
[–]Finlandsissipaska 68 points69 points70 points  (0 children)
Yeah, the bus must be late due to weather. This is what it usually looks like.
[–]The Netherlandsfopmudpd 335 points336 points337 points  (37 children)
Posted this before, but I saw these "benches" in a park in Helsinki last year: http://i.imgur.com/MYA2lHO.jpg?1
[–]Finlandpunaisetpimpulat 178 points179 points180 points  (29 children)
There's a reason for benches/chairs like that and it's not antisocial behaviour. We don't like alcoholics sleeping on every bench. A few years ago we got benches with a metal bar sticking in the middle. Three people can sit on the bench, but sleeping woudln't work. That's the idea with these one man benches.
[–]The Netherlandsfopmudpd 88 points89 points90 points  (14 children)
Makes sense. We have these at most of our train stations.
[–]csababernath 53 points54 points55 points  (5 children)
You could sleep on this..if you're thin enough
[–]NorwayPoIiticallylncorrect 75 points76 points77 points  (0 children)
And you won't roll over in your sleep. Jokes on them!
[–]Finlandkynde 8 points9 points10 points  (0 children)
Or drunk enough, which is why you need extra measures in Finland.
[–]SwedenDahliboii 57 points58 points59 points  (8 children)
It's kind of sad in one way that we can't let the people that are worst of even sleep on a bench.
[–]Spainredlightsaber 75 points76 points77 points  (1 child)
In actuality, it's about proper places of sleeping. Nobody in Finland (or Sweden for that matter) who really wants to have a warm bed has to sleep on the street. Pretty much the o ly requirement is to ask to be let into the shelter, follow some basic norms (schedules and such), and like, not kill anyone, generally be violent or obnoxious, or consume drugs or alcohol while inside the shelter.
Considering anyone who has a drug/alcohol withdrawal problem can also simply walk into a hospital to get help (both immediate for the deprivation and an inclusion into an addictions programme), what we're left with are people who simply don't want the help, or are unwilling to pay the small price not to sleep on the streets, who'd sleep in benches.
And from that perspective, expecting these people not to use up useful urban furniture seems far more reasonable.
[–]DenmarkDefenestraight 6 points7 points8 points  (1 child)
Wouldn't it also discourage people who would normally find a nice bench to sleep on when they are drunk as hell and it's -20C outside?
[–]Jelni 32 points33 points34 points  (0 children)
I think the correct word for a bench sitting only one person is a chair.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 687 points688 points689 points  (183 children)
As a Swede, I feel inner peace when I see this. I wouldn't want it any other way.
[–]Scotland - Civic NationalistQyuBurt_ 96 points97 points98 points  (43 children)
Scotsman here, I want to stand there and take part in the majesty.
[–]SwedenmanInTheWoods 65 points66 points67 points  (34 children)
Welcome into Nordic!
[–]FinlandArttuH5N1 71 points72 points73 points  (30 children)
If Scotland gets in, I want Estonia to get in too!
[–]DenmarkSolenstaarop 63 points64 points65 points  (8 children)
I have a good idea. How about we change Sweden for Estonia! Everybody wins.
[–]samuraiju-dono 62 points63 points64 points  (0 children)
Käft, danskjävel.
[–]FinlandAnttiV 20 points21 points22 points  (5 children)
I wholly support this.
But don't let Sweden go far, what would we do without them. They are OUR enemy after all, perkele! :D
[–]JustAsIgnorantAsYou 10 points11 points12 points  (0 children)
Hey what you fuckers were on our side :/
Finlands sak är vår! Nej? :(
Okej då :,(
[–]Scotlandpoliticsnotporn 13 points14 points15 points  (12 children)
Estonia was there first and is a cool wee place, if they're not in, we don't want in (don't want in anyway, just let Estonia in!)
[–]Annex belgium?Usmarine33 20 points21 points22 points  (6 children)
There is no denying the nordics. If they want you in, you'd better.
surprise Vikingr raid
[–]Skabbkatt 214 points215 points216 points  (108 children)
I agree. If you're not interested in any social interaction at the moment, then why stand closer? If you're interested in listening to breathing noises, detect sneak farts or snooping at phone screens, then by all means stand closer.
[–]Swedencapable_duck 141 points142 points143 points  (15 children)
I got put off snooping at phone screens forever when one time I saw a cute girl next to me on the bus sending a text to someone asking if he had been a bad boy and wanted to be punished. Followed by suggesting that she poops on him once she gets home.
I mean I know people are into that, but as someone that's not, yeah not gonna read any further.
[–]FinlandImZephyr 148 points149 points150 points  (2 children)
You were a bad boy and you should be pooped on.
[–]FinlandJojje22 256 points257 points258 points  (8 children)
"WTF this creep behind me keeps staring at my phone, let's see what he thinks about this..."
[–]Bucharestsloboznia 77 points78 points79 points  (32 children)
I don't think that most people from any given country actually wants strangers to breathe on their necks. It's just that we don't have much of a choice in a crowded metropolis. Take for instance the city I live in, Bucharest. This is how a tram station looks like on a good day. None of those people have a fetish to smell construction workers' armpits after a day of work. But such is life.
[–]LatviaRisiki 18 points19 points20 points  (15 children)
This is how a tram station looks like on a good day.
That makes me anxious just by looking at it. Also reminds me this poorly designed Estonian bus stop... I think I might have PTSD
[–]Postius 36 points37 points38 points  (10 children)
that seems like aperfectly fine busstop?
[–]Middle FranconiaKraden 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
what's the problem with that bus stop?
[–]Irelandptar86 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
What's wrong with it?
[–]FinlandImZephyr 32 points33 points34 points  (1 child)
This. It's just that we Finns have lots of space so we also use lots of it.
[–]Germanyallerhand 36 points37 points38 points  (0 children)
It's just nice to see people being mindful of each other's desire for calm.
[–]Jounas 16 points17 points18 points  (1 child)
Why whould you clump up with a bunch of starngers if there is no need to? I don't get it either
[–]katzentatzentanze 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
As a German I feel the same.
[–]Orc_ 29 points30 points31 points  (9 children)
But deep down you don't want it that way, well, maybe you do, but 5 years in Norway taught me norwegians, deep down, hate that shit, they always tell me how much they love their time in [insert friendly country here] because "People treat me like I matter" or "People treat me like family".
There's a reason swedes/norwegians act like that when wasted, that's their true self, that the version of themselves they want to be all the time... Forgive me when I say this, but both countries look like a gigantic clustefuck of anxiety disorders.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 23 points24 points25 points  (3 children)
Except I really do like this. I really, genuinely do. I hope to God our culture never changes because I don't know what I'd do with myself.
[–]SwedenPlatypuskeeper 26 points27 points28 points  (2 children)
I recently made a big grin when looking at a Swedish 19th century book of woodworking patterns (back when snickarglädje was all the rage). It suggested the projects in it would be good work for the idle farm workers during the long winter evenings that "might otherwise be used for a lot of unnecessary talk."
Most Nordic thing ever, and I like it. Not that people shouldn't be allowed to be social, but just the set of values that respects doing stuff over idle talk.
[–]50% Sardinia 50% PiedmontElvishCopter 176 points177 points178 points  (2 children)
Finnish people each one in a separate individually wrapped nutshell.
[–]SneakyNinjaMann[S] 27 points28 points29 points  (0 children)
Could not put it better myself
[–]Hellenic RepublicPetros557 295 points296 points297 points  (46 children)
in greece we would be trying all to fit under the porch and we would be talking to each other how the buss can be so fucking late again
[–]Ελλάδα σε λέωmitsigan 101 points102 points103 points  (5 children)
in greece there are no buses coming with that much snow
[–]Hellenic RepublicPetros557 55 points56 points57 points  (4 children)
there is not that much snow either
[–]FinlandArttuH5N1 145 points146 points147 points  (1 child)
That sounds awful. How can you even hear your own gloominess over all that ruckus?
[–]Nationality is an accident of birthsamuel79s 96 points97 points98 points  (19 children)
The same in would happen Spain... including the fckng smokers!!
[–]FREEVODKA 17 points18 points19 points  (12 children)
And Portugal.
[–]munk_e_man[🍰] 15 points16 points17 points  (11 children)
And pretty much all of Europe except for Scandinavia...
[–]FREEVODKA 22 points23 points24 points  (8 children)
I have lived in netherlands and germany, definitely not the case. This mainly happens in southern/mediterranean countries.
[–]munk_e_man[🍰] 7 points8 points9 points  (7 children)
Well, I've lived in Eastern Europe, Canada, The US and have traveled to central and South America... you guys are the exceptions, not the rule.
[–]_bdsm 14 points15 points16 points  (1 child)
I was traveling to Spain from Holland and I had to take a bus filled with Dutch people from the airport parking and not a single person was talking. When we arrived in Barcelona I was in a bus filled with Spanish people to the terminal and everyone was talking. I had to laugh at how different it was.
[–]Job Stealing GuiriLupineChemist 8 points9 points10 points  (0 children)
My favorite is the flights to Madrid from Heathrow. When they first try to call the flight all the Spanish people form an agglomeration that is basically queue of the fittest while the British people just look on aghast.
[–]Greecejohnnytifosi 32 points33 points34 points  (0 children)
Recently, we had a Finnish girl in a Friday night out with 20-25 Greeks. You could see the cultural shock in her eyes with all that chatting, noise and laughter :D She was a nice person though and tried her best to fit in.
[–]FinlandHaayoaie 26 points27 points28 points  (0 children)
That would be a good thing. I was waiting and waiting for a train and there was only one person in addition to me on that train station, which was also getting closed permanently in March, but we could not talk neither about the train that is late nor the station that will be closed.
[–]Sweden - Norway Union Foreverneutralinostar 22 points23 points24 points  (2 children)
What happens is that people will eventually start cooperating and talking if something unusual happens. For example, when the bus was very late, about 1 hour into the waiting, people started to talk to each other, like coming together to solve the problem. Not that we could do anything but complain. The bus finally showed up after 2,5 hours.
It was also winter and cold.
[–]DrazV2 18 points19 points20 points  (1 child)
Finnish people come together only when the topic is complaining
[–]MoldovaPokymonn 16 points17 points18 points  (0 children)
or memes
[–]VälfärdShike01 4 points5 points6 points  (1 child)
I love how this is the number one conversiation at every bus stop ever. If the bus is one minute you will have to talk about it to the nearest person.
[–]though I don't like to admit it much.Theon 136 points137 points138 points  (120 children)
Wait, is it normal elsewhere that people talk to strangers at bus stops?
[–]SwedenmanInTheWoods 322 points323 points324 points  (28 children)
I once had a woman talking to me while waiting for the bus, in the middle of Swedish nowhere. First, I thought she was drunk, but turned out she was an American.
[–]FinlandImZephyr 324 points325 points326 points  (4 children)
Even worse!
[–]DerLoladin 69 points70 points71 points  (16 children)
Typical. In germany the only ones screaming into their phones when on the bus are americans and immigrants
[–]Dinkelbert 70 points71 points72 points  (7 children)
Don't forget about Erasmus students from Southern Europe.
[–]flabberguested 16 points17 points18 points  (5 children)
The Spaniards make so much fucking noise having normal conversations it's unbelievable. It makes the beautiful Spanish chicks unattractive to me.
[–]2nd Spanish RepublicNoobsessed 9 points10 points11 points  (1 child)
ISN'T THIS HOW EVERYBODY TALKS?!
[–]doc_frankenfurter 31 points32 points33 points  (6 children)
Heard a German answer a call, apologize that he was on public transport and it wasn't convenient to speak.
[–]DerLoladin 31 points32 points33 points  (5 children)
Yep, that's how it works
[–]doc_frankenfurter 10 points11 points12 points  (4 children)
Except when it is a teenage German girl who can be as annoying as any when using a mobile on public transport.
[–]DerLoladin 11 points12 points13 points  (1 child)
Well, yes. But that's teenage girls everywhere
[–]Finlandjarvis400 19 points20 points21 points  (1 child)
They don't even have to be drunk: https://youtu.be/cB2NCQFppsY?t=1m32s (Harry and Paul)
[–]Czech Republickrhick 31 points32 points33 points  (1 child)
Yeah, I don't understand. We stand much closer to each other, but it doesn't mean we have to talk to each other...
[–]United KingdomMartianDreams 58 points59 points60 points  (11 children)
Here lies the key distinction between Southern and Northern Europe
[–]though I don't like to admit it much.Theon 7 points8 points9 points  (2 children)
Well it's not like we're particularly north either.
[–]slettebak 9 points10 points11 points  (1 child)
I think he means the difference between the south and the rest of Europe.
[–]CatalunyaQvar 19 points20 points21 points  (2 children)
Mostly bored 60+ yo ladies, but yeah, it's not strange.
[–]IcelandMrPuffin 38 points39 points40 points  (6 children)
As someone who has lived in Spain for over 10 years, yes.
Oh God...the horrors I've witnessed...so many strangers talking to each other.
[–]SwitzerlandP1r4nha 17 points18 points19 points  (5 children)
In Switzerland people look at you like you're going to stab them in a second if you start a conversation, in Australia you're going to have the best chat in your life right there at the bus stop.
[–]Irelandbamdastard 23 points24 points25 points  (28 children)
I've never met someone at a bus stop that I haven't regretted talking to within 5 min.
[–]Job Stealing GuiriLupineChemist 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
I'm originally from the US where you can just walk up to complete strangers and talk like complete friends. It's not at that level, but it's a pretty normal thing to talk to stranger on public transport around here.
[–]Croatiaakademski_kloshar 12 points13 points14 points  (8 children)
Yes, I also don't get this. No body ever talks on bus/tram stops to strangers, except some old people who don't use smartphones and need some information. Also, the rare crazies.
I wait on several tram stops each day - what should I, small talk with 10 different strangers every day? Is this normal in, for example, America?
[–]Silverburn 29 points30 points31 points  (4 children)
There is a thread how people handle awkward silence in elevators, and what to talk about without sounding a creep. Sure thing, it was americans wondering this insanity. There is no need to talk in elevators! There is no awkward silence, it's a shared silence, embrace it you silly people.
[–]Francethomanou 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
Is this normal in, for example, America?
Can't talk for the North of the US, but it definitely is in the South.
[–]FinlandAPFSDS-T 174 points175 points176 points  (8 children)
This is not Finland. There are not enough people to create such large crowds especially in weather like this.
This is why terrorists don't strike in Finland. For one suicide bomber you get two civilians killed tops, it's just not worth it.
[–]Saxonyfrittenlord 107 points108 points109 points  (4 children)
If a suicide bomber explodes in finland does he make any sound?
[–]FinlandCAUSE_OF_UPSETS 46 points47 points48 points  (1 child)
It does if it happens inside Ring III. Otherwise, no.
[–]FinlandX-Ecutioner 14 points15 points16 points  (0 children)
Im pretty sure Aarnio would make sure that his hired hooker is the only thing blowing something.
[–]Czech Republickrhick 244 points245 points246 points  (20 children)
[–]Finlandhoundi 38 points39 points40 points  (6 children)
That Italian futebolo bothers me, though.
[–]strawmanmasterrace 14 points15 points16 points  (3 children)
Also, bueno.
[–]Canary IslandsElianozor 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
Yup, I have sometimes seen Spainball speaking something that resembles more Italian than Spanish (and the other way around) but never have I seen Italyball use a Portuguese word. That was awkward.
[–]France & RomaniaTangoJager 14 points15 points16 points  (0 children)
Yeah, that's what it made me think of.
[–]Earthexceptionalaverage 282 points283 points284 points  (6 children)
The definition of an extroverted Finn is someone who stares at your shoes when he's talking go you, instead of his own shoes.
[–]FinlandArttuH5N1 56 points57 points58 points  (0 children)
I stare at my own shoes but that's still a compliment. It's where my mirror is.
[–]ISourceBondage 22 points23 points24 points  (1 child)
When is this misconception of what introvert/extrovert means going to end? They do not have anything to do with being socially awkward or shy, they're just about how much social interaction you want/need, like how often you hang out with other people.
[–]United KingdomMrJMaxted0291 38 points39 points40 points  (6 children)
This picture is a gross misrepresentation of Finnish people.
There isn't a sauna in sight.
[–]FinlandApexHawke 16 points17 points18 points  (0 children)
There probably is a sauna in one of those houses though. In a block of flats, it's usually in the cellar, so with a bit of x-ray vision there could very well be a sauna in that picture.
[–]Swedenframabe 98 points99 points100 points  (5 children)
Can't have people stealing your body heat, so better keep a distance to other people.
Joking aside, as weird it might seem to be for some people, this picture just shows how you show respect to other people in the north by not intruding to much on their personal space.
[–]gelastes 66 points67 points68 points  (18 children)
As a German visiting South America for the first time, the greeting-kisses are somewhat offsetting.
Last week I was at a party and asked if any of the people had had problems with this kind of greeting when they had been abroad.
A Chilean girl then told about her first trip to Finland.
When she arrived, she started cheek kissing the people waiting for her.
After kissing the third person she recognized some awkwardness and asked: "How often do you kiss for a greeting?"
Then she saw the sheer horror on the faces of the Nordics.
[–]Hungarypepperboon 9 points10 points11 points  (3 children)
Interesting. We Hungarians seem to be a mixture of these. With strangers we are similar to Nordic countries, barely acknowledging the existence of the other, not much smalltalk (except for the elderly), but with non-strangers we kiss on the cheek (2 or 3 times) if one of the people is a girl/woman, and often put hands around shoulders etc with friends. It's like there are two modes of operation.
[–]gelastes 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
That seems to be a very reasonable compromise. I applaud you.
[–]Clayman_ 11 points12 points13 points  (6 children)
As a south american that is going to visit Germanic countries i will do the same to scare some europeans
Ps: why north europeans are so surprized about cheek-kissing? i thought most south europeans countrien do it
[–]gelastes 33 points34 points35 points  (0 children)
We see it on TV, but when it happens to us, we are like "Shit - they really do that??"
[–]United KingdomCasualview 28 points29 points30 points  (10 children)
How would they react if I walk up and just stood between two of them or in the shelter?
[–]FinlandKippekok 107 points108 points109 points  (7 children)
a wave-like chain reaction as people even out the distances
[–]United States of Americanounhud 57 points58 points59 points  (2 children)
Unleash a single Italian in a crowd of Finns with a drone above to record the fascinating patterns.
[–]Job Stealing GuiriLupineChemist 7 points8 points9 points  (0 children)
An Italian and a Spaniard together. It's great because talking louder and slower (and generally more obnoxiously) actually works to make us understand each other.
[–]Profanex 13 points14 points15 points  (0 children)
It's almost hypnotic how everyone understands that there is a disturbance in the personal space and adjust accordingly.
[–]Finland0000F_ 8 points9 points10 points  (2 children)
This is actually so true! I don't even know if people do it consciously or not. Everyone just kinda starts shuffling about and inching their way to create more space.
[–]You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.SunCream 12 points13 points14 points  (1 child)
They would slowly move away and adjust the space between you and them.
[–]United KingdomCasualview 26 points27 points28 points  (1 child)
Reminds me of this picture. Finnish cats?
[–]GermanyRetard_Capsule 432 points433 points434 points  (108 children)
I like how they silently agreed to all face the same direction to minimize the risk of accidentally having eye contact or, even worse, a conversation.
[–]Nationality is an accident of birthsamuel79s 374 points375 points376 points  (21 children)
That, or the bus comes from that direction.
[–]European Unionrok182 338 points339 points340 points  (18 children)
Sometimes it's because of the wind direction. But you're probably right cuz they drive on the normal side of the road.
[–]The Big Bad Liberal They Warned You Aboutancylostomiasis 64 points65 points66 points  (16 children)
LOL normal side.
[–]Nationality is an accident of birthsamuel79s 246 points247 points248 points  (15 children)
The right side. In both senses.
[–]QwertyPrincess 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
Not trying to defend those weirdos the Brits, but they actually have it the right way
[–]askapaska 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
That, or the blizzard is blowing from the opposite direction.
[–]FinlandToppo 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
The wind is blowing from right to left too.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 121 points122 points123 points  (63 children)
You, I can tell, reason like a Scandinavian.
[–]RUFl0_ 38 points39 points40 points  (61 children)
Please dont hijack the humor found in social isolation for Scandinavia in a thread with a picture from Finland.
Scandinavians do this all the time; when theres any attention or kudos to be found in including Finland as part of Scandinavia - yes were all Scandinavians!
Any other time - no no no, Finland is definately not part of Scandinavia!
Can we use Nordic countries please?
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 78 points79 points80 points  (52 children)
Well, all I can say is, I've lived in Sweden, worked in Norway, and worked in Finland, and language aside, find those three places to be highly monocultural. There is a definite 'Scandinavian' culture, which I would wager that this is a part of. It's not just the Finns.
[–]RandomXTC 27 points28 points29 points  (16 children)
Absolutely agree. After working abroad with people from most of the EU countries there is definately high similarity between nordics eventhou we want to always emphasize the tiny differences.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 85 points86 points87 points  (15 children)
Except Denmark. Denmark is like the sparkly little sister who's constantly bringing home new boyfriends every week.
[–]Denmarknofreakingusernames 63 points64 points65 points  (10 children)
Typical Swedish propaganda.
[–]Schilvagg 15 points16 points17 points  (9 children)
I love the sneering between the Nordic countries. It kind of confirms that we are indeed a "family".
[–]FinlandAskMeIfImOnReddit 8 points9 points10 points  (2 children)
If you can't rib your family, they aren't family.
There was an ad on TV, about some cream, that said "the best weapon against wrinkles is happiness and Q10." So I turned to my mom and asked "So.. which one are you lacking?" She glared at me, then laughed.
[–]digitalhate 7 points8 points9 points  (0 children)
The last words my grandfather ever spoke to me, was a joke about my retreating hairline.
[–]Schilvagg 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
Yep! :) It's the same with friends. The closer you are with someone, the snarkier shit you can quip at them, and weirdly enough it helps you bond. It's funny how "So I dragged myself over to your place, what are we gonna do now, you turd" implies more friendship than "Hi, nice to see you". :D
[–]Austriawievid 1 point2 points3 points  (5 children)
Go out with a few Austrians and Germans and get 'em a little liquored up. Bring a change of underwear, though, you may piddle yourself a bit.
[–]Schilvagg 0 points1 point2 points  (4 children)
Yay, that'd be fun. Would you welcome Switzerland along for the ride as well? Is she considered a pal?
[–]DenmarkThe4Channer 7 points8 points9 points  (0 children)
Except Denmark. Denmark is like the sparkly little sister who's constantly bringing home new boyfriends every week.
Whose panties you sniff you sick fuckers!
[–]NorwayTcFir3 1 point2 points3 points  (2 children)
Always seen Denmark as the spoiled little brother who is worshipped by his parents and get to do what he want.
[–]DenmarkFiddi 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
Oh come on Norge! if anyone's spoiled, it's you!
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
That too!
[–]FinFihlman 5 points6 points7 points  (12 children)
Nordic*.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 3 points4 points5 points  (11 children)
But Nordic includes the Danes and I want to actively exclude them.
[–]Kongeriget Danmark -> Münchenaveragemonkey 8 points9 points10 points  (8 children)
But.. Denmark is Scandinavian, too.
  • Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway and Sweden
  • Nordic countries: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 0 points1 point2 points  (7 children)
Fennoscandia, then!
Because you must agree that Denmark isn't really like Sweden and Finland and Norway in this regard. Danes are pretty outgoing people.
[–]Norwaythenorwegianblue 4 points5 points6 points  (2 children)
Meh, they are pretty similar to Norwegians imo. Norway is somewhere between Denmark and Sweden. I've lived in all three countries.
[–]SwedenGryphonGuitar -1 points0 points1 point  (1 child)
Depends on how far up you go in Norway, I think. If you split the country lengthwise, I've had very different experiences in the southern half compared to the northern one!
[–][deleted]  (3 children)
[deleted]
    [–]FinFihlman 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    I accept of your morals.
    [–]Best SaxonyKandierter_Holzapfel 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    If you don't want them, we will take them, this time we will allow them to keep their flag.
    [–]RUFl0_ 18 points19 points20 points  (20 children)
    I dont doubt that, I've worked in both Sweden and Finland.
    Thats what I was getting at though.
    Finn: Heres something funny in Finland Scandinavian: Hehe yeah, we Scandinavians are funny like that German: lol, you scandinavians are funny, Im thinking of traveling there, where should I go? Scandinavian: Well dont go to fucking Finland, its not part of Scandinavia Finn: Wtf just happened?
    Ie. Scandinavians have no problem implying Finland is part of Scandinavia when its convenient for them, but then put up a fierce resistance to any such notion immediately when there is nothing to gain
    TL; DR: Use Nordic countries
    [–]SwedenGryphonGuitar 2 points3 points4 points  (18 children)
    That is very strange. I really don't know how to take responsibility for behavior I find irrational. As far as I know, Scandinavia is Norway, Sweden and Finland... But some people exclude Finland and include Denmark, it's a fluid concept it seems.
    One should however at least be consistent, whatever one's definition is.
    [–]Norwegian, living in UKrubygeek 13 points14 points15 points  (7 children)
    Scandinavia is Denmark, Sweden and Norway because all three countries at some point or other have been partially part of the Scandinavian peninsula. Finland has not.
    A lot of people mess that up, but Finland has only ever been part of Scandinavia indirectly while ruled by Sweden.
    [–]Finlandgefroy 7 points8 points9 points  (1 child)
    Since when we lost northern Finland?
    Even wikipedia writes: "...is a peninsula in Northern Europe, which today covers Norway, Sweden and most of northern Finland."
    If that is wrong, would you mind to make it correct please.
    [–]Norwegian, living in UKrubygeek 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    Interesting. Here are two alternative descriptions: World Atlas:
    The Scandinavian Peninsula of northern Europe includes the countries of Norway and Sweden. Some sources include the small Finland projection of land (marked with an arrow) that separates Norway from Sweden within the peninsula's landmass number, and so do we.
    Scandinavian Peninsula, large promontory of northern Europe, occupied by Norway and Sweden.
    In any case, historically the name Scandinavia comes from Scania/Skåne, and Scandinavia is a modern invention (both the region and the naming of the peninsula) largely for political purposes, so expect imprecision, confusion and disagreement all around about exact borders.
    [–]Finland0000F_ 0 points1 point2 points  (4 children)
    Based on the definitions you borrow below, Denmark wouldn't be part of Scandinavia:
    The Scandinavian Peninsula of northern Europe includes the countries of Norway and Sweden.
    And the fact that Finland belonged to Sweden at one point in history does not mean that Finland ever belonged to Scandinavia. Its like saying that Normandy was once part of the British Isles indirectly as it was occupied by the Brits in the 13th century. Even though Normandy was occupied, it did not change its geographical orientation. Same goes for Finland.
    [–]Norwegian, living in UKrubygeek 0 points1 point2 points  (3 children)
    Based on the definitions you borrow below, Denmark wouldn't be part of Scandinavia:
    You missed this part of the comment you replied to:
    all three countries at some point or other have been partially part of the Scandinavian peninsula.
    The point is that while Denmark does not own part of the Scandinavian peninsula now, it did. Until the Treaty of Roskilde, Denmark owned Scania (Skåne) - the region of Southern Sweden that is the source of the name Scandinavia.
    It's worth mentioning also, that these reasons for defining Scandinavia as Sweden/Denmark/Norway were explicitly created to match Sweden/Denmark/Norway as part of a political movement - they did not just naturally come into use, so yes, they may be contrived.
    And the fact that Finland belonged to Sweden at one point in history does not mean that Finland ever belonged to Scandinavia.
    I agree. I made exactly that point.
    [–]Finland0000F_ 0 points1 point2 points  (2 children)
    Ah, I see. I think I know what you meant by,
    Finland has only ever been part of Scandinavia indirectly
    Though I would go on even further by retracting that Finland was ever part Scandinavia indirectly or not. Would you not agree?
    Another clearer example of what I mean (though perhaps slightly exaggerated) would be that of the British Indian Ocean Territories. They belong to Britain, but they do not belong the British Isles directly or indirectly. Unless by indirectly you mean political control? But in that case, would it not be better to simply denote that those islands belong to Britain? Similarly, I would not call Finland as ever being even indirectly part of Scandinavia.
    I guess it always comes down to what one means by a term. That is why I think /u/RUFl0_ was urging people to use Nordic Countries instead of Scandinavia when referring to the countries located at the very North of Europe. "Scandinavian" is (or has become) an ambiguous term, as people attribute to it in so many different ways. Nordic Countries is clear and concise.
    tl;dr: pairing Scandinavia and Finland always creates debate.
    [–]SwedenFalsus 5 points6 points7 points  (6 children)
    Denmark is part of Scandinavia, Finland is not. I don't know why Denmark is included because they are sure as not close to Skanderna. Fenno-Scandinavia includes Finland as well.
    [–]DenmarkSolenstaarop 4 points5 points6 points  (2 children)
    Because the idea that the Scandinavian countries should have any special connection to each other came into being as a reaction to the pan-germanic movement in the nations that would latter form Germany. It started around Scania(Skåne) and included all the nordic kongdoms at that time. Remember Finland was part of Russia. Iceland was part of Denmark.
    [–]AluekomentajaArje 2 points3 points4 points  (1 child)
    Thanks, that actually explains the roots of this confusion! The Wikipedia article is pretty informational too, and states that Nordism - including Finland and Iceland in the exclusive club - only started in 1919. No wonder, as I guess trying to include a part of Czarist Russia in their Scandinavian dreams would've been quite suicidal..
    [–]Estoniamediandude 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    By 1919, Finland was already independent and the Czar family had all been killed already and the Russian Empire had ceased to exist. And Germany had surrendered.
    [–]DenmarkThe4Channer 0 points1 point2 points  (2 children)
    På grund af vores sprog. Hvis du kan forstå dette er du skandinavier.
    [–]AluekomentajaArje 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    Kammelåså?
    [–]digitalhate 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    You just ordered yourself a thousand liters of milk, buddy.
    [–]DenmarkBarl3000 3 points4 points5 points  (1 child)
    No no no, it very much is not, the official list of countries that are part of Scandinavia is Denmark, Norway and Sweden. But given that is not a state or any sort of governing body it doesn't really matter all that much
    And yes, it is kinda confusing seeing as how a lot of culture is similar in many of the nordic countries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsXMe8H6iyc
    [–]Mosteragda -1 points0 points1 point  (0 children)
    Scandinavia is the peninsula not sure why Denmark is included though.
    [–]RUFl0_ 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Agreed, consistency.
    I dont mean to be a heckler or hold you personally responsible. I've just made a point of raising this issue every time Finland is implied or stated to be part of Scandinavia.
    If we're there planting the seeds for brand Scandinavia we should be there for the harvest as well.
    [–]Rand_alThor_ 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    It's just banter
    [–]AllanKempe -1 points0 points1 point  (0 children)
    Indeed, finns have become scandinavianized. 800 years of
    (1) being part of Sweden like any other part (700 years)
    and
    (2) trying its best to be exactly like Sweden (100 years)
    does that. Go further east if you want to see un- and descandinavianized finns, they don't behave "Finnish".
    [–]Estoniatollakas 40 points41 points42 points  (2 children)
    can I into nordic?
    [–]FinlandJojje22 40 points41 points42 points  (0 children)
    FFS we talked about this...
    [–]FinlandRosenholm 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    We should just start our own club
    [–]Schilvagg 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Finland is not Scandinavian in terms of geography or linguistics, but on cultural and social level Finland can be grouped in with Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland without a problem. It all depends on what aspect of "Scandinavian" you want to emphasise. But yeah, "Nordic" is a good term for the whole bunch.
    P.S. I think Estonia should be accepted into the Nordic family
    [–]SwedenOllebro -1 points0 points1 point  (3 children)
    I still see Finland as eastern Sweden, so they are part of Scandinavia.
    [–]Socomi 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
    Funny, this is how we see Sweden in our perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw3e64sosEg
    [–]FinlandAlrightWallOfChina 2 points3 points4 points  (1 child)
    Östra rikshalvan, bästa rikshalvan.
    [–]EstoniaRandel55 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    Börkele!
    [–]My_God_is_Coffee 9 points10 points11 points  (5 children)
    As if we Germans were that much better ;D
    [–]GermanyNacksche 26 points27 points28 points  (3 children)
    I'm sick of these nonsense stereotypes about Germans. I had, like, AT LEAST one social interaction this month.
    [–]My_God_is_Coffee 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    Was it with strangers at a bus stop or station while the weather sucks? Talking with friends or acquaintance doesn't count! ;D
    But to be fair we are friendlier in the summer months!
    PS: I want to see the sun.....everything is gray here...
    [–]GermanyKeeperDe 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
    I had a conversation with an old lady at a train station a few months ago. I was just standing there minding my own business and there she comes. Deutsche Bahn beeing one minute too late she instantly rants "ahh immer zu spät scheiß Bahn" and I was like "mh hmm" and thats it. I hate having conversations at train stations.
    [–]Portugalnaughtydismutase 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Have a cookie!
    [–]Lord_A_89 5 points6 points7 points  (0 children)
    Ja. Ja we are.
    [–]Finlandtahvero 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    I think they are facing that way so they can see when the bus is coming.
    [–]DerLoladin 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    No different than Germany!
    [–]SloveniaU5K0 2 points3 points4 points  (2 children)
    [–]Finlandpunaisetpimpulat 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Molecules seek energy minimum. Humans seek interaction minimum.
    [–]Czech Republicpayik 1 point2 points3 points  (3 children)
    They are all standing to not face the wind, I think.
    [–]FinlandFullyMammoth 8 points9 points10 points  (2 children)
    That's the direction the bus comes from. If multiple bus routes stop there then you need to flag down the bus you need as it wouldn't stop otherwise. So you need to look where it's coming from to give you time to signal it.
    [–]Czech Republicpayik 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    All stops? Here it's limited to rarely used stops where it's not worth stopping every time.
    [–]FinlandEtunimi 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Yes, all.
    [–]EstoniaEnque 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Or they are facing away from the wind.
    [–]kbbajer 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    or to avoid getting snow blown in the face
    [–]Earthujorge 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Maybe looking east in case of a Russian..."visit..."?
    [–]Namartia 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    It could have been icy wind in their faces...
    [–]DenmarkShwayne 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Have you never used public transport? While waiting you should look at the direction from which it's going to come, they usually don't wait around and you want to get in fast.
    [–]whitepalms85 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    First I thought that they might be queuing for something.
    [–]highasakite91 22 points23 points24 points  (1 child)
    A perfect example on why the Finnish Infrantry were so effective during WWII. The finnish soldiers had a natural ability to form a skirmish line due to their innate fear of social interaction. Come to think of it, guess thats why the finns had such a high level of marksmanship. "Random Finnish soldier: Shit, I think that russian guy is coming over to talk to me!!, I don't have anything to say to him, I can't even speak russian! Oh my, this is going to be so extremly akward! Hmm, I better blow him up with my machine gun so I don't have to talk to him, yeah I better do that!"
    [–]xxVb 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    The perfect blend of asocial and antisocial.
    [–]AustriaTsurja 64 points65 points66 points  (5 children)
    Wait, people respect personal space there?
    Finland, here I come!
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 135 points136 points137 points  (3 children)
    [–]KaldisGoat 16 points17 points18 points  (0 children)
    As a British ex-pat living in Finland, I feel the same way. What a hypocrite I must be.
    BTW, great username.
    [–]Floridairish711 2 points3 points4 points  (1 child)
    Why is Finland walking between Russians and Somalians?
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 26 points27 points28 points  (0 children)
    I edited the last panel from this polandball comic:
    [–]Best SaxonyKandierter_Holzapfel 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    You are too far in the south
    [–]United KingdomLazyPyro 107 points108 points109 points  (78 children)
    This is great. A dream country for anyone who's introverted or suffers from any kind of social anxiety.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 134 points135 points136 points  (71 children)
    In totally unrelated news, Scandinavian countries are among the highest suicide rates in Europe.
    [–]LithuaniaMr-Goat 165 points166 points167 points  (13 children)
    Lithuania numbah one! We no Scandinavian, we Balts, best suicide!
    [–]VojvodinaBrokenPudding 26 points27 points28 points  (10 children)
    Hungary has waaaaay too much sunshine and we're still (?) among the Top3. What gives?
    [–]Temporarily in UkrainePocketSized_Valkyrie 8 points9 points10 points  (6 children)
    Genetics. :-( This page is old, but talks about (possibly) why Hungary and Finland have relatedly-high suicide rates. Of course, there are also cultural reasons, but the genes aren't helping. I'm short on time to find more, but I'm sure there's newer research available.
    Magyar can into Nordic? :-/
    [–]VojvodinaBrokenPudding 6 points7 points8 points  (3 children)
    That's really weird, as we are of a much more mixed stock now as the Finnish are... I mean, Slavs, Germans, Turks, some leftover Mongols and Italians, Gypsies, who knows what else... All contributed to the glorious Magyar essence. And this is what we inherited from our even more glorious true ancestors? Apart from the language, that is.
    [–]Temporarily in UkrainePocketSized_Valkyrie 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    I think the cultural part matters a lot, too, though. And each country has different set of factors.
    I presume it's like with cystic fibrosis. There are genes, but the Irish and Danes don't necessarily have the exact same CF gene mutation.
    And this is what we inherited
    Well, and good looks and general aggressiveness.
    [–]AluekomentajaArje 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    And this is what we inherited from our even more glorious true ancestors?
    Maybe that same gloominess is also an evolutionary advantage? Because things are so gloom, one is forced to innovate? Because things are so gloom - but you still have to take care of your family - better work your ass off to keep your mind off the gloominess?
    [–]VojvodinaBrokenPudding 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Dunno much about that, though we did have many great inventors... And almost all of them were Jewish, who are again a bit different ethnically.
    "There is no justice!" - he crieth out loud.
    [–]Swedenevitagen-armak 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    I'm short on time to find more,
    Noooo! Don't do it!
    [–]The NetherlandsReinierPersoon 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Wouldn't it be more language-related? Perhaps language influences mood?
    [–]GermanyOrsonius 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    Must be the Uralic Language then.
    [–]Estoniamediandude 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    The after-effect of switching from uralic to indo-european.
    [–]LithuaniaAbsurdiskas 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Surprisingly enough most suicides happen in summer/late spring when there's no lack of sun.
    EDIT: source
    [–]FREEVODKA 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Best reply, read with eastern accent lmao.
    [–]DenmarkThe4Channer -2 points-1 points0 points  (0 children)
    Eik sikt!
    [–]DenmarkNATIK001 49 points50 points51 points  (4 children)
    Maybe if you don't count eastern Europe as being part of Europe, but most of the eastern European countries rank higher than Scandinavian/Nordic countries. Southern Europe and most of western European rank lower than the Nordics, with the exception of France ranking highly. That is using the World Health Organization numbers.
    [–]HungaryYidyokud 5 points6 points7 points  (3 children)
    That's probably the effect of the 40 year long soviet occupation. Tho I would need to check last 25 years' numbers.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    There's a line from the film The Lives of Others that claims Soviet East Germany stopped counting suicides, but classed them as "Self Murders". but honestly, I dont know if there is any truth to this.
    [–]Hungarypepperboon 6 points7 points8 points  (0 children)
    The normal German word for suicide is "Selbstmord", literally self-murder. So the story doesn't make sense since it was always called "self-murder".
    [–]puspuswhisperer 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Dont think so, Lithuania has been free for 25 years and it still has one of the highest suicide rates.
    [–]Finland4745454B 40 points41 points42 points  (14 children)
    Umm, Nordic countries are also one with the painfully honest reporting both in crime and suicides.
    [–]Estoniadeadthewholetime 22 points23 points24 points  (4 children)
    All those people reporting they've committed suicide
    [–]MK_Ultrex 31 points32 points33 points  (2 children)
    He has a point. In some Christian countries where religion still has social ramifications suicides are under reported. The church will not bury someone who killed himself (as suicide is a major sin) and suicide is also a major stigma for the family. Thus the relatives just say that it was an accident. The church knows it but the formalities are upheld, the police doesn't care unless there is suspicion of a crime. Official death certificate says something generic.
    The 3 people I know for certain that they killed themselves were classified as "accidental deaths". 2 in Greece and 1 in Italy.
    [–]PolandEmnel 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    There is some merit to it, I think.
    Doubt that it's religiously motivated but apparently suicides by car (driving yourself into a tree) aren't uncommon here and both police and insurance companies always play along calling it an accident, paying life insurances and whatnot afraid of public uproar if they try to dig too deep.
    [–]Germanytherewereothers 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    The church will not bury someone who killed himself
    I think at least the Catholic Church has mostly stopped doing that. They still don't accept suicide but they simply assume that more or less everyone who kills himself had a mental illness (which is actually not even wrong).
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
    Maybe they were /u/deadthewholetime they were filling in the reports!
    I'll see myself out.
    [–]FinlandTech_Itch 0 points1 point2 points  (7 children)
    Well yeah, if you know the lingo the press uses for suicide. Every time there are the words "kuoli äkillisesti kotonaan", which translates to "died suddenly at home", in the news, it's pretty likely that the person being talked about commited suicide.
    [–]Finland4745454B 1 point2 points3 points  (6 children)
    I am not referring to news, I am referring to statistics. And there there's no euphemisms, only the cold hard truth.
    [–]FinlandTech_Itch 0 points1 point2 points  (5 children)
    I very much doubt many 1st world countries have an aversion to reporting suicides reliably in statistics though. They might get covered up on personal level, of course. Especially in Catholic countries.
    [–]Finland4745454B 1 point2 points3 points  (4 children)
    Have to dig sources but there are articles that stats are fudged in many countries.
    [–]FinlandTech_Itch 0 points1 point2 points  (2 children)
    Looks like that example you posted talks only about US military veterans.
    The CDC in the US seems to think international statistics are fairly accurate for developed countries:
    For the more developed countries, the evidence presented here indicates that such national data achieve acceptable standards of reliability.
    [–]FinlandTech_Itch 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    And Ireland is one of those Catholic countries.
    [–]Sloveniaperen3 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    It's not easy to fudge data at all in any developed country. When death occurs and you report it, a medic comes to your home. He asks how he died, what illnesses he had, checks the body etc, in order to determine cause of death. If he can determine cause of death this way that's that. Otherwise an autopsy is performed to determine cause of death.
    What I'm saying is that there's probably no persistent bias in the statistics.
    [–]Denmarkzotekwins 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Most of them
    [–]Swedensplergel 25 points26 points27 points  (3 children)
    That's probably more related to the months of darkness.
    [–]ScaniaPerkelton 12 points13 points14 points  (0 children)
    I think it's a little bit of both, actually.
    [–]NeutralGoodINTP 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    months of darkness
    Explain Hawaii then.
    [–]Swedensplergel 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    Hawaii has a lava lake. Things are bound to happen.
    [–]Sweden - Norway Union Foreverneutralinostar 18 points19 points20 points  (7 children)
    Which is a myth that never seems to die. Wikipedia lists France significantly above Sweden in suicides per population.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 15 points16 points17 points  (6 children)
    I wonder if Jihadist bombers are counted in the French figures?
    [–]plil 4 points5 points6 points  (4 children)
    I believe Sweden, with a staggering number of one suicide bombing (killing just the bomber himself), actually has had more suicide bombings per capita than France has. As far as I can tell France has had 6 in total, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 1 point2 points3 points  (3 children)
    A quick wiki: France 67mil, Sweden 9.8mil
    That could stack up!
    [–]Spaintheunderstoodsoul 2 points3 points4 points  (2 children)
    67 mil what? There can't be anywhere near enough suicide bombers to have an effect on the overall suicide numbers.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler 4 points5 points6 points  (1 child)
    Don't make that sound like a challenge!
    [–]Spaintheunderstoodsoul 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    It wasnt. It was a serious question.
    [–]Denoj 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Too soon.
    [–]Naggy2k 1 point2 points3 points  (1 child)
    You say it like it is a bad thing?
    [–]m0neybags 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Look on the bright side, it's suicide!
    [–]SwedenVectoor 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Not really. Scandinavia is kinda in the middle. Finland is a bit higher. Eastern Europe is where the suicides are at.
    [–]Eurospective 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Why the fuck does my subconciousness value this as something positive? I instictually just went: "That's neet, because of the implications"
    [–]Wetski 0 points1 point2 points  (14 children)
    How does Scandinavia have anything to do with Finland? Just asking.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler -2 points-1 points0 points  (13 children)
    Swedish is an officially recognised language in Finland for 1
    google scandinavia, and you get this for 2
    you're welcome!
    [–]Wetski -1 points0 points1 point  (12 children)
    How about Wikipedia? Or what about fennoscandia? Last time I checked, Scandinavia included only those countries that are located on the Scandinavian peninsula.
    [–]DenmarkNATIK001 2 points3 points4 points  (3 children)
    Actually Scandinavia is two countries on the Scandinavian peninsula and one country not on it. Denmark hasn't had a physical presence on the peninsula for hundreds of years but is still Scandinavian.
    [–]Wetski 0 points1 point2 points  (2 children)
    I'm not that educated on why Denmark is Scandinavian, but I do know that Finland is not part of Scandinavia.
    [–]DenmarkNATIK001 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    History and culture is why Denmark is Scandinavian.
    Denmark used to own Skåne, Halland and Blekinge in what is now southern Sweden, those regions were lost in wars with Sweden though.
    Also Denmark and Norway was once a single country named Denmark-Norway, however that union was broken up at the end of the Napoleonic wars which meant Denmark had lost the last land area it had on the Scandinavian peninsula.
    So we ended up with a Scandinavian country that isn't actually in Scandinavia.
    [–]Wetski 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Oh yes! I didn't remember that Denmark used to be a lot more bigger. Well it's good to wake up some old memories from middle school history. Thanks for clearing that up.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler -1 points0 points1 point  (7 children)
    Scandinavia included only those countries that are located on the Scandinavian peninsula
    So that would exclude Denmark then?
    and include most of northern Finland!
    The Scandinavian Peninsula is a peninsula in Northern Europe, which today covers Norway, Sweden and most of northern Finland.
    looks like you need to check again!
    [–]Wetski 0 points1 point2 points  (6 children)
    Denmark is included because of the cultural and linguistic similarities with Norway and Sweden. Finland isn't included because the language is in no way similar with any of those countries.
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler -1 points0 points1 point  (5 children)
    Last time I checked, Scandinavia included only those countries that are located on the Scandinavian peninsula.
    You mentioned nothing about linguistics here, you simply claimed
    Last time I checked, Scandinavia included only those countries that are located on the Scandinavian peninsula.
    therefore excluding Denmark, and including Northern Finland.
    Now you want to categorise by linguistics, Fine.
    If you do want to do it by linguistics to include Denmark you must also include Finland as Swedish is an official language of Finland. and also you must include Iceland due to its historical linguistic links with Denmark and Norway.
    (I'm well aware of the nature of the Finno-Ugric languages, as my wife is Estonian)
    So which is it? Geography or Languages?
    [–]Wetski 2 points3 points4 points  (4 children)
    Okay that's it I'm done.
    If I remember right there's some sort of organisation or whatever which handles all the Scandinavian thingies and all that.
    First of all, although Swedish is officially a language in Finland, only maybe 5% of Finnish people can actually speak Swedish, so the language really isn't present in the country. It's not really a relevant measure.
    Also sometimes Iceland is included to be Scandinavian, don't know if it's correct or not, but Finland isn't Scandinavian
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler -1 points0 points1 point  (3 children)
    only maybe 5% of Finnish people can actually speak Swedish
    *as a first language on 2006 estimates. (get the Wiki quote right)
    Swedish remained the only official language up until 1863. Finnish only began to gain dominance after Independence in 1917, Finland has since then been a bilingual country with a Swedish-speaking (ruling) minority.
    Further reading on Finland's language strife will teach you about the struggles of Finish to be officially recognised, and the ability of Finish speakers to secure top jobs in both the private and government sectors.
    Its a huge part of Finnish identity and is a totally relevant measure.
    If I remember right there's some sort of organisation or whatever which handles all the Scandinavian thingies and all that.
    You mean The Nordic Council?
    You're trying to win an argument whilst being spectacularly under informed, and willfully ignorant. You'd do well to give up.
    [–]comfypepe 0 points1 point2 points  (4 children)
    In somewhat related news, Finland isn't part of Scandinavia!
    [–]comfypepe 0 points1 point2 points  (2 children)
    Did you even look at the results you just linked me? I mean, holy shit literally first 10 articles with that google result says this
    In foreign usage, the term Scandinavia is sometimes incorrectly taken to also include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Finland, on account of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries and the Scandinavian peoples and languages. However, this broader group of countries is officially and commonly known as the Nordic countries
    Right from your link.
    Finland is part of Nordic countries and Fennoscandia but not Scandinavia. But hey by all means downvote me just because you're wrong :>
    [–]United Kingdomdugsmuggler -2 points-1 points0 points  (1 child)
    ~I have literally just had this exact same argument
    [–]comfypepe 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Those maps portray the scandinavic countries such as Finland and Iceland due to us having similiar cultural heritage / language. But hey if u wanna disagree with every single geographic highschool & university level textbook in Finland and also every single geography teacher I've had in Finland I'm sure they'd love to hear your argument why they are all wrong
    [–]Swedenhegbork -1 points0 points1 point  (0 children)
    Total bullshit spread by Fox News who were trying to indoctrinate people that atheism causes suicides based on made up statistics from the 60s (which was about religion back then too). Even disregarding that cause of death statistics in Scandinavian countries are more accurate and honest than usual and suicide isn't a religious taboo that gets hidden and misreported all Scandinavian countries rank at or below EU average suicide rate. Finland (not a Scandinavian country) is above average, but not even top 5.
    But why spend 2 minutes to look at reality when you can just repeat fabricated bullshit.
    [–]rightfulemperor 6 points7 points8 points  (1 child)
    I'm buying a plane ticket tomorrow! (buying it online, that is)
    [–]Fallenexe 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Ha... I know what you mean
    [–]swoleinjesus 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    Just move to Detroit, we don't have neighbors for miles and it looks just like the photo rn.
    [–]Scotland_Hopped_ 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    A photo of Post Apocolyptia maybe.
    [–]SuicideNote 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Reddit's dream land, just check out every /r/askreddit that mentions this aspect of the Nordics.
    [–]Italygeralt_the_butcher 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    The perfect way to get even worse
    [–]HerrNatuerlich 34 points35 points36 points  (5 children)
    Remember people, one arm length!
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 69 points70 points71 points  (1 child)
    one arm
    Get out of my personal space
    [–]FinalndCayenne_ 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    1. Personal space
    2. Personal space
    3. Stay out of my personal space
    [–]Cold winter not funXtoraX 20 points21 points22 points  (1 child)
    Remember people, one arm man length!
    Ftfy
    [–]United Kingdomkiradotee 7 points8 points9 points  (0 children)
    Remember people, one tall man length!
    FTFY
    [–]I only wish the beers ;_;Nautileus 7 points8 points9 points  (0 children)
    It's actually an arm's + a knife's length.
    [–]Portugalmasquechatice 34 points35 points36 points  (5 children)
    In Portugal they would be all crowded in the bus stop to avoid the cold and the rain (rarely snows) ... more like this
    [–]Chambergarlic 18 points19 points20 points  (2 children)
    Postwoman waiting for the rain to pass to finish her round.
    Guy with manly mustache.
    Old guy with farmers hat in the city.
    Portugal confirmed.
    [–]Portugaljm7x 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Postwoman waiting for the rain to pass to finish her round.
    More likely waiting for the bus to get to her round, or returning from it.
    I may be wrong, but this looks like the square near Cais do Sodré, Lisbon (public transportation hub; "Sodré Wharf" in English, if you will).
    So, confirmed it is.
    [–]Portugaljimykurtax 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    this is genious
    [–]Portugalnaughtydismutase 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    I miss home.
    [–]PolandEmnel 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    I see you have those shitty excused for a bus stop as well.
    [–]FranceaxelmanFR 44 points45 points46 points  (4 children)
    I am a big fan of this one
    [–]ExperimentalFailures 28 points29 points30 points  (1 child)
    With a Moomin cup too, classic.
    [–]The NetherlandsZeebaars 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Perks of having a Finnish girlfriend: I will always have my trusty Moomin standard issue mug.
    [–]The Kingdom of The NetherlandsDheeradjS 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    That's a real man.
    [–]DragonTamerMCT 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    France still has the old google images?
    [–]The Great Empire of Sneikku/FinlandSneikku 14 points15 points16 points  (2 children)
    You should see my bus stop in the morning when there are over 50 people waiting. I wish I had a drone to take pic. That bus stop is same size as this one so you can imagine how spread out we are and how funny it looks.
    [–]United Kingdomslybob 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    How long does it take everyone to get on the bus? 'hmm I'm now half a kilometre from the bus stop'..
    [–]zamzam73 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    I wish I had a drone to take pic
    This is not how I thought this sentence would go
    [–]LithuaniaAbsurdiskas 50 points51 points52 points  (15 children)
    Good, if some BMW driver steers off a road, less people will be hit.
    [–]Stadigerbaire 38 points39 points40 points  (4 children)
    Yeah, how dare he call us lesser people?!
    [–]LithuaniaAbsurdiskas 30 points31 points32 points  (1 child)
    Is of mistake, sorry Eesti!
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 27 points28 points29 points  (0 children)
    Oh no you didn't
    [–]Morbanth 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    Well, you're not in a BMW...
    [–]Stadigerbaire 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    I do drive a new Audi.
    [–]xelf 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    tl;dr: While a style guide suggested the fewer/less rule, it's actual historic usage, and common usage suggest that the use of less is just fine.
    [–]FinlandImZephyr 0 points1 point2 points  (3 children)
    What?
    [–]The Netherlandssavois-faire 2 points3 points4 points  (2 children)
    "Less people" is incorrect, it should be "fewer people".
    Finally, we must observe that colloquial, informal usage often breaks this rule. It is not uncommon to hear people say that "less people voted in this election than in the last" when they should, according to traditional rules, say that "fewer people voted in this election than in the last." "People" is the plural form of the count noun "person" (one person, two people, etc.). Although "less people" may be accepted colloquially, "fewer people" is what we should use in formal, written English.
    [–]Norway_TB__ 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    I couldn't care fewer
    [–]LatviaMorterius 8 points9 points10 points  (1 child)
    Not happenink. Flindland Män is the pest driver!
    [–]spudstoned 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    As a guy experiencing snow for the first time in the UK with my new BMW, I pray they went with the X-drive option.
    [–]DenmarkYilar44 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    The chances of the BMW hitting someone would go up though.
    [–]Australiajb2386 20 points21 points22 points  (7 children)
    Auttaa! Olemme loukussa pähkinänkuoressa!
    so so sorry for the Google translate
    [–]Meatloafrice 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    The other sentence is fine, but the word "Help" should be tranlated to "Apua!". Direct translate for "Auttaa" would be "Helping". But in some sentences "Help" could be translated to "auttaa".
    Like: "Can I help you?" = "Voinko auttaa (sinua)?" But: "Do you need help?" = "Tarvitsetko (sinä) apua?"
    Damn I love this language
    [–]FinlandShieldAre 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Apua! Olemme loukussa pähkinänkuoressa!
    Fixed. This was a surprisingly good google translate.
    "Auttaa" essentially means "to help"
    Auttaa, autan, autat, auttavat, autatte...
    [–]The Netherlandscrackanape 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    They're smiling. Definitely photoshopped.
    [–]KaldisGoat 0 points1 point2 points  (3 children)
    Mutta pähkinänkuori ei ole lukossa!
    [–]Finlandfacethespaceguy9000 5 points6 points7 points  (2 children)
    Tuossa kylläkin seisoo 'loukussa'. Kaveri on muutenkin australialainen, kun on kuukkelin translaattoria käyttänyt.
    [–]Suomisudo_apt-get_rekt 3 points4 points5 points  (1 child)
    Olen yllättynyt että kääntäjä antanut noin tarkan käännöksen.
    [–]Finlandfacethespaceguy9000 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    Kyllä se matokin sen sokean linnun joskus tappaa, eikun...
    [–]korsting 11 points12 points13 points  (0 children)
    Well, thats what we in Scandinavian call "queuing".
    [–]cpt_picards_toupee 10 points11 points12 points  (0 children)
    Actually, and I could be wrong, but I think that's a bus shelter, not a nutshell. But I can see why you would be confused.
    [–]FinlandNjoy32 48 points49 points50 points  (13 children)
    Finns are antisocial, unless we are drunk. You cant speak to a random person on the street, their face will be like "why is this guy talking to me, i dont know him" :D
    [–]Cold winter not funXtoraX 35 points36 points37 points  (7 children)
    "why is this guy talking to me, i don't know him"
    More like "Is this guy drunk?"
    [–]FinlandImZephyr 24 points25 points26 points  (5 children)
    Drunk/high/crazy/Savonian
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 58 points59 points60 points  (4 children)
    "Dear God be a drunk, be a drunk..."
    "Hyvvee päevee"
    "OH GODDAMMIT"
    [–]Macedoniadedokire 0 points1 point2 points  (3 children)
    Context?
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    The middle one is how Savonian people say "good day". It's a joke about how the company of a drunkard is preferable to someone from Savonia.
    [–]MoarDakkaGoodSir 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    Also, it's a very distinct dialect, which is how he knew which he was.
    [–]Macedoniadedokire 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    Yeah but what's the deal about them, are they way too friendly or do you just find their dialect kinda funny and annoying?
    [–]KaldisGoat 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    More like "Is this guy drunk?"
    More like "This guy is obviously drunk".
    [–]FinlandArttuH5N1 95 points96 points97 points  (4 children)
    "why is this guy talking to me, i dont know him"
    Why would you randomly talk to a stranger?
    My biggest gripe with these asylum seekers is that sometimes they have the nerve to approach me in public.
    "Excuse me, where could I find..." STAND BACK YOU VILE BEAST OR I SWEAR TO GOD I'M VOTING TRUE FINNS NEXT TIME
    [–]United Kingdomkiradotee 35 points36 points37 points  (0 children)
    STAND BACK YOU VILE BEAST OR I SWEAR TO GOD I'M VOTING TRUE FINNS NEXT TIME
    [–]United Kingdomslybob 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    You guys are like the aliens in 'Home'
    [–]VojvodinaBrokenPudding 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    You're gonna do it anyway.
    [–]Turkey911Mitdidit 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    your mehthods are questionable but effective.
    [–]Cold winter not funXtoraX 20 points21 points22 points  (15 children)
    I am curious on how well can native english speakers read this
    [–]United Kingdomstellapacificus 20 points21 points22 points  (0 children)
    Reading it aloud in a terrible approximation of a Finnish accent works for me, but reading it in my head is much more difficult.
    [–]tudoparaolixo 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    I am not even a native English speaker and found that pretty easy to read.
    [–]United StatesSelcouthBadger 2 points3 points4 points  (4 children)
    Rather easily. It's a humorous way to phonetically transcribe(?) an accent but still quite legible.
    [–]comfypepe 2 points3 points4 points  (3 children)
    Do people who don't have Ö or Ä in their language know what those two sound like?
    [–]United StatesSelcouthBadger 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    No. It's not difficult to learn the difference (I caught on to it very early on in my German education) but the average English speaker with no foreign language experience would not know the difference.
    [–]SloveniasuberEE 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    When was kid, could not into German. I ask my teacher how to German. My teacher say: "For to German you must umlauts. For Ö you open mouth like you want say O, but say E instead. For to Ä you open mouth like you want say A, but say E instead. For to Ü you prepare say U but say I."
    Then I was happy because could German. But not really.
    [–]Portugaljm7x 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    No, we don't.
    [–]EyeSavant 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    I guess it is easier if you know Finnish? Is not so hard if you just know English. It is somewhat phonetic, and the rest is more or less guessable.
    [–]mammajasos 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    I can read it since im swedish :)
    [–]Portugaljm7x 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    However, the page itself looks a bit harder:

    Tarkista selaimen asetuksista, että JavaScript ja evästeet ovat käytössä.
    Mikäli JavaScript on käytössä, mutta jokin selainlaajennus estää sen lataamisen, poista selainlaajennus käytöstä.
    I have no idea how would this sound.
    (Yes, I grokked the probable meaning from the English "JavaScript" giveaway. No need for Google Translate, I'm sure)
    [–]Meatloafrice 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    I think you are using some sort of adblock software. Helsingin Sanomat has blocked the adblock (Blockception?). Disable and read.
    [–]nyando 0 points1 point2 points  (1 child)
    I can read it just fine. Is it easier for you as a Finnish speaker?
    [–]Cold winter not funXtoraX 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    I think it's probably around the same level of ease after reading the other comments.
    [–]United Kingdomrambi2222 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Wait did I just read Finnish?
    [–]Clayman_ 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Because its english
    [–]Meatloafrice 8 points9 points10 points  (1 child)
    Something like this happened to me some time ago:
    It was rainy day and I walked to the dus stop. I saw some guy under the shelter, so naturally I did not invade his personal space. I started smoking a cigarette 5m from him, which I thought was enough.
    After that I saw how this guy moved away from shelter, and I guess it was because my cigarette (sorry for that). Now we both stood in the rain. I would love to go under the shelter, but it felt so wrong since that guy moved from there because of me.
    We waited 10 minutes in the rain, shelter was free whole time. Most finnish moment ever
    [–]red_runge 1 point2 points3 points  (0 children)
    I guess you smoked him out, eh.
    [–]French Americankervinjacque 7 points8 points9 points  (1 child)
    I probably would've stood in the line as well but I would've complained a lil, but not so much that you'd hear me.
    [–]United States of Americanounhud 6 points7 points8 points  (1 child)
    Personal space is highly variable, and can be due to cultural differences and personal experiences. The United States shows considerable similarities to that in northern and central European regions, such as Germany, the Benelux, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom. The main difference is that residents of the United States of America like to keep more open space between themselves and their conversation partners (roughly 4 feet (1.2 m) compared to 2 to 3 feet (0.6–0.9 m) in Europe).[10] Greeting rituals tend to be the same in these regions and in the United States, consisting of minimal body contact which often remains confined to a simple handshake.
    Those living in a densely populated places tend to have a lower expectation of personal space. Residents of India or Japan tend to have a smaller personal space than those in the Mongolian steppe, both in regard to home and individual spaces. Difficulties can be created by failures of intercultural communication due to different expectations of personal space.[5]
    [–]FinlandDoile 21 points22 points23 points  (7 children)
    People laugh about social awkwardness in Finland but it's the main reason I love to live here. I don't have talk to strangers just because some idiot thinks it's not okay to stay silent when sitting together in a bus. I don't really care what that person does for a living or how his/hers day has went.
    [–]PrOLAND, MasoviaRoxven89 1 point2 points3 points  (3 children)
    I wish Poland some day will be like that. Here you can hear whole storylife of random people in bus stops, communication vehicles, shops, hospitals etc. etc. can't even read book in silence. I have to move up North someday or i will get crazy.
    [–]FinlandDoile 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    I know that feel. So annoying when I try to read a book and two mates behind me start to small talk some shit about weather.
    [–]nomoch 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Have you people not invented headphones yet?
    [–]loczek531 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Where do you live? In Cracow the only times it happened to me, the person who started talking wasn't Polish. Except for Thursday/Friday nights.
    [–]Deliziosax 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    From the Netherlands, people on the bus definitely don't talk to each other unless they are riding it together, which always happens in crowded buses to and from campus. So how is it silent in your buses? D:
    [–]Hungarypepperboon 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    It's really the same in Hungary (at least in Budapest). Strangers rarely talk to each other. Maybe to ask whether the bus has already left, or something about how to get somewhere (less necessary now that we have displays at bus stops showing when the next buses come, and real-time route planning apps). No chit-chat, fortunately.
    [–]GermanyWestboundSign 0 points1 point2 points  (0 children)
    Eh, isn't it basically the same in most of Central Europe? I've never had a stranger try to strike up a conversation on the bus except for maybe old little ladies (VERY rare though)
    [–]European UnionFullMetalBitch 16 points17 points18 points  (1 child)
    This is how it should be in every country.
    [–]Francedooatito 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
    They would never fit in a nutshell all spread-out like that.
    [–]wonglik 10 points11 points12 points  (0 children)
    Unfortunately not all bus stops are as long.
    [–]Polandj7f3 31 points32 points33 points  (46 children)
    I am Polish but I have lived in North America for some 20 years (USA and Canada). I can't stand the behavior of some Poles now. They just leave no personal space it is super annoying, e.g. when they line up in a store. Someone always breathes down my neck, I feel threatened, violated.
    [–]United KingdomMartianDreams 98 points99 points100 points  (28 children)
    I feel threatened, violated.
    Americanisation confirmed
    [–]Germanyabbinzki 28 points29 points30 points  (4 children)
    Says the person whose country would collapse into anarchy with the fall of proper queuing.
    [–]European UnionRomanesEuntDomus 17 points18 points19 points  (3 children)
    You're mistaken, sir or madam. It's impossible for proper queuing to fall in the UK because the queuing comes from within.
    I just hope the brits never fully realise the word queuing is French. Now that would cause a bit of a ruckus.
    [–]Scotland_Hopped_ 7 points8 points9 points  (2 children)
    the word queuing is French
    WAS French old sport, we have liberated it from the cheese-eating surrender monkeys.
    [–]FranceShaaman 6 points7 points8 points  (1 child)
    Yeaaah right... Va faire la queue un peu plus loin
    [–]Lord_A_89 23 points24 points25 points  (6 children)
    So youre basically american now. Great.
    [–]Polandwolfiasty 18 points19 points20 points  (0 children)
    You took it out of my mouth. That person is lost. Poor soul.
    [–]The Big Bad Liberal They Warned You Aboutancylostomiasis 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    Those people gathered under the roof must be tourists then.
    [–]Shasdo 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
    Is that a game in which the bus driver hit the brake on the icy road and the passengers try to guess where he is really gonna stop?
    The nearest to the main bus door win.
    [–]European UnionVetinaris-Terrier 7 points8 points9 points  (1 child)
    This is one of the top reasons Finland is my favorite country in the world.
    [–]Czech RepublicKitane 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    Huh, I thought Finnish people were supposed to be shy, but this is just...normal, I guess?
    I guess families and groups of friends stick together, but it's normal to keep the distance from strangers. Preferably an equal distance from people on both sides, standing too close to one of them would feel strange and uncomfortable.
    [–]European UnionSojoez 2 points3 points4 points  (3 children)
    I stand a lot further away if people smoke. Do Fins smoke a lot?
    [–]European UnionSojoez 4 points5 points6 points  (0 children)
    Good god, what the fuck Greece?
    [–]ScaniaFredderov 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    First time in Scandinavia? Welcome! Please line up two meters behind the next person.
    [–]Saxonyfrittenlord 8 points9 points10 points  (1 child)
    That's a bus stop, not a nutshell. I'll go back hiding under my rock now.
    [–]Estoniabesterich27 2 points3 points4 points  (1 child)
    I don't get it. What's wrong with this?
    [–]Polandderpderp3200 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    I always thought that that's how it is everywhere. What countries even have strangers talking randomly to each other?
    [–]Iceland+Denmarksarabjorks 2 points3 points4 points  (2 children)
    I have to say, this is highly unusual for Iceland. Not the distance between people, just the amount.
    You can usually even stand in the shelter, because there's probably no-one else waiting.
    [–]Estoniagufdon-upon-labur 6 points7 points8 points  (2 children)
    Note sure what is noteworthy about this picture. Looks like random people in a random bus stop?
    [–]RexGuilty 3 points4 points5 points  (0 children)
    They look like Estonians to me
    [–]West-Europese UnieIJzerenHertog 4 points5 points6 points  (9 children)
    They're too close.
    • Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering
      • Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm)
      • Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)
    • Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family
      • Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm)
      • Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 122 cm)
    • Social distance for interactions among acquaintances
      • Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)
      • Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)
    • Public distance used for public speaking
      • Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)
      • Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.
    [–]United KingdomMartianDreams 12 points13 points14 points  (1 child)
    Whose feet are we using to measure those with?
    [–]West-Europese UnieIJzerenHertog 16 points17 points18 points  (0 children)
    Let's just stick with the meters shall we, before we know we'll drive on the wrong side too.
    [–]United States of Americanounhud 5 points6 points7 points  (6 children)
    Those measurements are for the US.
    [–]West-Europese UnieIJzerenHertog 2 points3 points4 points  (5 children)
    Wouldn't they also count for the 51st state?
    [–]United States of Americanounhud 2 points3 points4 points  (3 children)
    I'm guessing that you're referring to the UK, but in the US, Canada (apparently a larger personal distance) is normally what people mean when they use "the 51st state", and the currently-actually-requesting-to-be-the-51st-state Puerto Rico is apparently a smaller personal space.
    [–]West-Europese UnieIJzerenHertog 2 points3 points4 points  (2 children)
    I'm guessing that you're referring to the UK,
    Yea it was just banter. I have no idea with your British/American measurements some times, I honestly think our French metric systems makes more sense, but what bugs me more, is that the UK and the US even use different metrics.
    The only thing we've in common is 'knopen' I think, (knots).
    and the currently-actually-requesting-to-be-the-51st-state Puerto Rico is apparently a smaller personal space.
    Is that going to be a thing? I thought they already wanted that for ages, but that Americans are not very fond of that idea?
    [–]Turkeyw4hammer 2 points3 points4 points  (0 children)
    I'll never understand Scandinavians...
    Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (updated). © 2016 reddit inc. All rights reserved.
    REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc.
    π Rendered by PID 7257 on app-109 at 2016-01-15 20:57:34.376699+00:00 running ad1d85d country code: DE.
    Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies.  Learn More
    0%
    10%
    20%
    30%
    40%
    50%
    60%
    70%
    80%
    90%
    100%