# Norway, isn't that in Sweden? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389 "2004-03-10T01:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![The\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@The\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Face)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/81 "2004-03-10T16:59:24Z")
Norway is not in Sweden, everybody knows its in the [U.P.](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&zoom=4&mapdata=Fha1P5i%2fM%2fWFLcD1lF8FJh007OzFOy6PoOlZudUoIaG6NO%2bVRtanqv%2bq09qKbku6x9y3JqBNgGJFTEDXMH0dQoXeb%2bOBulUZXUT8A91QXeAn3qkVIyekzQ70tObne6Us5Hcb%2fIH%2fcdh4QGpWojbo1%2f5xJ1%2bL2D3h9pjBJMRdpiuhipx1Tn7BHTwy7xukwqs4HeYhquk0Mk2k4X01S0DXYz32uOeUZwgWXQXAsOKusw%2f%2fi%2f1fBqtO2g%3d%3d) Sorry,just had to. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/82 "2004-03-10T17:02:08Z")
Copenhagen ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/83 "2004-03-10T17:04:58Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Dude, slow down. šŸ˜‰ Aauugghh!! pantā€¦pantā€¦ thanks, pantā€¦pantā€¦ I think I willā€¦ pantā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/84 "2004-03-10T17:07:48Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > I just donā€™t think itā€™s a measure of a personā€™s intelligence or ignorance if they are lacking in knowledge of georaphy, as the OP suggests. Intelligence? No, of course not. Ignorance? Well, yes. Ignorance of geography, in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/85 "2004-03-10T17:21:22Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Sweden is the spoon, right? I know Finland is the one that borders on Russia. Actually, Norway also shares borders with Russia. Iā€™ve been to all four countries, and lived in Europe, so my knowledge of the area is fairly extensive. I am probably atypical for an American, since Iā€™ve travelled a lot and lived overseas for extended periods. My interest in other countries is quite high, but in general Americans really donā€™t have that same interest. I could just never figure out why The Netherlands are located in Holland. And why do they hate the Dutch so much? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/86 "2004-03-10T18:26:04Z")
While youā€™re being amazed at how ignorant of geography we Americans are, youā€™re certainly welcome to be amazed at our lack of a social safety net, affordable housing and health care, and decent quality primary education (including maps of Norway). A lot of us (often the same ones who can locate Norway) wish weā€™d spend money on these things instead of a huge defense buget. Since thereā€™s over a quarter-billion of us, there may actually be even more Americans that wish this than the huge number of Europeans who wish this as well. I wonā€™t degrade ths into a ā€œIf it wasnā€™t for us, youā€™d be eating knockwurst/borsch with your lutefiskā€ argument, or the ā€œmaybe if you Europeans had been nicer to your Jews they wouldnā€™t have left and taken it out on the Palestiniansā€ argument, but the fact remains that once upon a time America was satisfied with a 100,000-man army and no income tax, during a era of increasingly progressive social legislation and judical rulings. But Europe exploded in 1914 and 9 million were killed, then exploded again in 1939 and 40 million were killed. On that schedule, Europe would have exploded again in 1987 and killed 178 million. You canā€™t argue that Europe did benefit from a defense shield funded at the expense of the American education system. Or maybe you can argue it, but weā€™re so fucking dense, jingoistic and belligerent that youā€™d just be wasting your breath. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/87 "2004-03-10T18:28:44Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Intelligence? No, of course not. Ignorance? Well, yes. Ignorance of geography, in particular. Quite true, **jjimm**. Perhaps I should have been more specific. Everyone is ignorant of a great many things. The most intelligent, well-educated person in the world is ignorant of far more than heā€™ll ever be able to learn. I was speaking of the use of the term to denigrate someone for not having knowledge of something that the OP, or anyone else for that matter, thinks they should haveā€¦and not because it has any particular use in their lives but just as a matter of course. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/88 "2004-03-10T18:31:46Z")
\*\*Slithy Tove \*\*, Bravo! šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/89 "2004-03-10T18:37:20Z")
> [@HĆ¼sker DĆ¼de](#): > > I remember there was a similar story on Norwegian news a couple of years ago, where they polled Americans on the street and they asked this guy if he knew where Norway is located, and he scratched his scalp and said: ā€œthe restaurant?ā€ I wonder where those street polls took place - I know of a couple of restaurants called ā€œNorway Restaurant.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/90 "2004-03-10T18:47:12Z")
_hehehe šŸ™‚_ For those who really donā€™t know [and why would you, huh]: Netherlands, Capital: Amsterdam; seat of government: the Hague. **Chefguy** , Holland is also located in the Netherlands. Thatā€™s just to make things complicated. Why we hate the Dutch so much? šŸ™‚ Maybe because it confuses us. You know; Being a Hollander, or a Netherlander - with two capitals - and then being called Dutch. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/91 "2004-03-10T20:06:13Z")
> [@gum](#): > > I find it amazing enough that you have to learn all 52 states and capitals by heart. šŸ˜› ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/92 "2004-03-10T20:09:04Z")
> [@C3](#): > > šŸ˜› Sorry, didnā€™t see there were two pages! Gary T stole my thunder! :smack: šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/93 "2004-03-10T20:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > I am constantly amazed by, not only Americans lack of geographical knowledge, but also their total lack of interest in anything outside the US. When we have Disney & Vegas, baby, who in the hell cares! Ok, just kidding. I couldnā€™t resist. You can take Disney. But Vegas stays with us. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/94 "2004-03-10T20:18:59Z")
Whomever posted the link to CNNN. Thanks. What a gas. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/95 "2004-03-10T21:48:21Z")
Apparently Kenya is better than Norwayā€¦at least for wildlife! šŸ˜ƒ (Norway is a bit player, but but it does show upā€¦) [http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/29/](http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/29/) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/96 "2004-03-10T23:16:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I could just never figure out why The Netherlands are located in Holland. And why do they hate the Dutch so much? What does this mean??? The Netherlands are NOT located in Holland (itā€™s the other way around). And, the Dutch hate _themselves_?!?? Are you sure you donā€™t mean they hate the Duits? You know, something about a little disagreement 60 years ago? When much of the Netherlands starved? ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/97 "2004-03-11T00:48:00Z")
This thread made me curious about my own geographical knowledge, and I hunted down [this interactive site](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/) where you can test yourself. OK, Iā€™m a Brit ā€¦ and my knowledge of Western Europe was pretty good, my knowledge of the 50 US states was ā€œmiddlingā€ ā€¦ but my knowledge of Eastern Europe was absolutely dire! :o ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/98 "2004-03-11T00:55:35Z")
> [@The Face](#): > > Norway is not in Sweden, everybody knows its in the [U.P.](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&zoom=4&mapdata=Fha1P5i%2fM%2fWFLcD1lF8FJh007OzFOy6PoOlZudUoIaG6NO%2bVRtanqv%2bq09qKbku6x9y3JqBNgGJFTEDXMH0dQoXeb%2bOBulUZXUT8A91QXeAn3qkVIyekzQ70tObne6Us5Hcb%2fIH%2fcdh4QGpWojbo1%2f5xJ1%2bL2D3h9pjBJMRdpiuhipx1Tn7BHTwy7xukwqs4HeYhquk0Mk2k4X01S0DXYz32uOeUZwgWXQXAsOKusw%2f%2fi%2f1fBqtO2g%3d%3d) > > Sorry,just had to. šŸ˜ƒ Soā€™s [Paradise](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=search&countryid=250&addtohistory=&country=US&address=&city=paradise&state=MI&zipcode=&historyid=&submit=Get+Map)šŸ˜ƒ And Finland is in [Minnesota](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=search&countryid=250&addtohistory=&country=US&address=&city=finland&state=MN&zipcode=&historyid=&submit=Get+Map) ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/99 "2004-03-11T01:15:20Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > This thread made me curious about my own geographical knowledge, and I hunted down [this interactive site](http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/) where you can test yourself. > > OK, Iā€™m a Brit ā€¦ and my knowledge of Western Europe was pretty good, my knowledge of the 50 US states was ā€œmiddlingā€ ā€¦ but my knowledge of Eastern Europe was absolutely dire! :o USian here. Fun site. I only missed one in Europe (couldnā€™t figure out which one was Latvia.) Africa freaking kicked my ass, though. Aced the Americas. Did not terrible on Asia. ---
**Author:** ![VampyChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@VampyChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VampyChick)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389/100 "2004-03-11T01:49:30Z")
That site screwed me over (or, ā€œYes, I _do_ know where Italy is!ā€). I can locate all the countries of Europe on a map, but Iā€™m not the average, as I spent two semesters majoring in international relations before I realized it wasnā€™t for me and got the hell out. If youā€™d asked me a month ago, I even could have named all the capitals. Iā€™ll stop bragging now. One thing Iā€™ve always wondered about New Zealand: Whereā€™s Zealand? Was there ever a Zealand? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/norway-isnt-that-in-sweden/233389.md?page=6)