What do you know about "us"?

[Zvona]

We had once a fruitful conversation in local message board about prejudices towards Finnish people (Finland). Most of legendary comments and rumours were from United States, where people seem to know very little about smaller countries in Europe (especially in Northern Europe, where we're located).

Could you post anything, you've heard about Finland, or about Finnish people? Are there any brands, companies, persons, habits/manners or acts/events we're famous for? Is there something you've always wondered, like "How Finnish people can do/be so..."?

Most usual prejudices are about Finland's and Russia's relations, Eternal winter in Finland[/i] and Iglus, ice-bears and Finland. It's always funny, yet odd to hear questions about these topics.

I know, I know..this is no pit, where you can have fun. This is a forum for feedback and announcements. I'm just too curious too hear point-of-views from foreigners

[WA]

This may not be the pit, but as mods are basically part of the forum itself, your business is the forum's business, and thus appropriate for posting here

For some reason I always associate Finland with Sweden, and not just because of the two countries' proximity to one another. Cold, beautiful, sophisticated are terms I would use to describe Finland. Now, getting past the vague imageries, I will admit Finland still is a distant and very much mysterious place to me. Most people's knowledge and impression of Europe is dictated by The major Western European countries like England or France. It's a shame, as there's so much more to Europe obviously.

BTW, the last time I visited Europe was more than 10 years ago. And yes, I only visited some of the major Western European countries on that trip lol.

Brand name? Nokia!

[ronaldb66]

I can only respond out of my very limited encounters with Finnish people:
I once met 4 finnish guys in Greece on a holiday, and they were plastered for two weeks straight, although i must say most of them (except one) could hold their liquor very well. They were a lot of fun though, and all spoke english very well which was a blessing considering the finnish language.

And that's another thing: man, that language is difficult, at least
for a Dutchman like me! I saw a headline in a newpaper forementioned guys carried, and it was one long word, which, translated into english, would take up a whole sentence.

I really doubt ice-bears being native to Finland, but i'm pretty sure you guys have lots of reindeer.

[justame]

zvo...
/me just a knows® you guys/gals ski just a lot® n' make the bestest ever 'sweetbread'...mmmm...you know the just a kind® ya eat @ easter??? ummm...thinkin' tis called 'egg bread' n' its more 'yellowish' vs white of normal bread???

/mes eldest who just a happens® to be fillin' his face before going to write his english exam??? says...finland hmmm...bakeries/skiin' n' guys/gals with reallly blonde hair n' having neat just a ccents® :O)))

[Zvona]

So far, so good.

Most of the arguments are plain facts. Nokia was mentioned on first reply, which wasn't suprising. Also manners, like drinking lots of alcohol, came out.

There are also things like Sauna, Santa Claus, Stamina, Midsummer (which is, by the way, on friday) and Finnish easter pudding (looks like sh*t, but tastes good) associated to Finland.

But no, most of us don't have long, blonde hair - they're from Sweden. But we have warm relations and co-operation with Sweden. They're pretty much like us, but they're jealous for us being worse in ice-hockey . In school, we're forced to read Swedish language for at least 3 years (normally 6-10 years, depending on education path).

And justamusta , I can't figure out what you mean with yellow "sweetbread". We have this yellowish cake/pudding thingie with raisins eaten in Easter..you must be meaning that?

[justame]

Originally posted by Zvona

There are also things like Sauna, Santa Claus, Stamina, Midsummer (which is, by the way, on friday)

And justamusta ,We have this yellowish cake/pudding thingie with raisins eaten in Easter..you must be meaning that?

zvo...
/me just a grees® with sauna...
'cept santa??? surrrely you just a know® he comes from the northpole...:O)))
n' midsummer??? tis our just a firstdayofsummer® on friday :O)))

n' justamusta????????? just a rotflmao®!!! thattts just a first® hehehe...
n' nope on that description of your sweet bread...ewwwwwwe thattt just a sounds® like uncooked cake hehehe...
/me meant thisss...

http://www.shopsofli.com/id-1550/ImgUpload/P_62617_212671.jpg

n' just a lolin'® @ the character in the 'background'...hehehe...


n' on just a sidepost®??? wanna see the 'strawberries' /me got outta the garden this morning???
btw the current score of slugs vs /me is...
slugs 6.../me 8 lol...they 'munch' on the ones that just a hang/touch® too close to the ground...:O(((

http://www.justame.com/justame/stbry196.jpg large size...
http://www.justame.com/justame/stbry196-sm.jpg just a smaller® file size...lol...

[JoeP]

Like Member Dave Clark's post above, I also don't know anything about Finland....

But as a previous Mod on a forum like this, but trivia oriented, we use to get the useless fact about Donald Duck being Banned in Finland because he didn't were pants!



BTW It is not true! Ref:

http://www.snopes2.com/disney/films/finland.htm

[boxer_1]

Like many of the other members, I've heard very little about Finland. What I have heard has been positive. I've mostly heard about the landscape there being beautiful. The only other info. I've heard was that the people there were exceptionally adept craftsmen. From what little I've heard, Finland sounds like an interesting and peacful place. That's about all I've heard, maybe someday I'll get more than a few miles outside of Maine and see a little more of the world (perhaps Finland will be included). With my youngest Son having just turned 1, I figure maybe in another 17 or so years I can do so...lol. In the meantime, I'll just have to go by what I see/read/hear and try to sort out the truths from the myths .

[mouse]

Finnish people are spookily good overclockers and annoyingly decent rally drivers.

[whackaxe]

i once a finnish man who lived near to me. poor guy went mad whilst he was visiting australia and had to be sent to an asyllum! also here in france advertisers seem to be using fjords every 2 ads for yoghurt and stuff!

[jkd]

The only thing I know about Finland was when an old teacher told the class if you want some fun, learn Finnish. (or agony, whatever you define fun as ).

[Jeewhizz]

I don't really have an opinion on Finnish people. My neighbour wsa the most annoynig person and was from finland, but i decided not to judge you lot by your worst specimen

The only other finnish person i know is Zvo.. and she's pretty cool

[mouse]

Originally posted by whackaxe
...here in france advertisers seem to be using fjords...

Fyord = Norway

[justame]

Originally posted by Jeewhizz

The only other finnish person i know is Zvo.. and she's pretty cool

/me just a whispers® to jee...
zvo=zvona ??? female??? /me just a thought® zvo was just a male® lol...

/me just a pologizes® to zvo...
soooooo just a sorry® for the 'mistake' :O(((

n' wanders off mutterin' to herself...whyyy ohhh whyyy did /me just a think® (rotflmao!!!) that she was just a he®???
shoulda known...thattt ol' think came into play yet just a gain® hehehe...

[Zvona]

I'm a male. 99% male, I mean (1% is when I'm very drunk I start giggle like a girl ).

Anyway, I had a good laugh, when I read the reply about Donald Duck being banned. Sounds like we (Finns) are living under strict government with tough rules and no touch to outer world.

They say Santa Claus lives in North Pole, because it's globally better known place than Lapland. Like ronald claimed, Finland has lots of reindeers. Like, Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer (christmas carol).

And what comes to peace: It's true. Most of inhabitants are living in larger areas of south and northern part of Finland is scattered with very small villages. Thus, there's nothing else than thousand clear lakes and endless woods*. Most idealistic places to spend holidays - both in summer and winter.

It's also true (tho embarrasing) that some of the Finns behaves very "barbaric". I actually don't know, which are the main reasons for this. Maybe there's a desire for creating a Finnish Imago - people, who drinks, drinks more, ..and more, dresses in awful clothes (if dresses at all ), fights, and beats their wives. Still, I expect that there comes stupid people from every nationality.

Fjords are from Norway, same thing with cods (fish). We do export dairy products, but yoghurts usually don't come from Finland.

* Travel agencies uses a lot these facts for marketing Finland. So, I thought doing the same thing