Comment by matt.clerke on February 7, 2013 at 5:19pm

Look at those poor miserable godless people

Comment by dragotron on February 7, 2013 at 5:27pm

Looks like they know how to respect personal space too... but does look chilly!

Comment by Jéanne on February 7, 2013 at 9:17pm

But Japan also has the highest suicide rates in the world, due to the stress from the way they are expected to work 16-18 hours a day.

Comment by Ed on February 8, 2013 at 10:51am

Waiting at the bus stop like a Swede?

That is kind of creepy. Huddled together you are at least a tad bit warmer and you can still do the chit chat thing......

Comment by Arcus on February 8, 2013 at 5:25pm

@dragotron

If I recall that was put up on reddit by a Fin, but your point stands. We don't talk to strangers in the Nordics, and our ability to small talk is extremely limited. As an example, my colleague today asked at lunch whether we thought bordellos should be legalized. 

Then again, we don't really have intrusive religion, though Sweden in particular has a stick up its ass when it comes to criticizing Islam.

Comment by Doug Reardon on February 8, 2013 at 8:01pm

Most of the Nords have great living conditions, but they've also got those lousy winters!

Comment by Ed on February 9, 2013 at 1:00pm

I wonder if it is temperature related. The image by the water in a warmer climate shows the people much closer to one another. ???

Comment by Brynja Knapp on April 3, 2013 at 11:06pm

Oh i DO miss Sweden so very much *sighs* I loved the winters too... almost all 8 months of it.

Comment by Brynja Knapp on April 3, 2013 at 11:07pm

Also, a Swedes ability to make small talk is directly proportional to how much alcohol they have imbibed.

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