The Radio Sweden English language brodcasts always use this distinction when people ask about it.
Have you ever seen a map of Scandinavia and the Baltic? 
My wife and I did that the year before last.We flew into Stocholm, drove to Norway, went north of the Arctic circle, drove down to Denmark, and then back to Stockholm. We had a great time and the people were wonderful.
Our favorite food was “dagens meny” (inside joke) and we always snickered when we saw the sign “Pass Farten”.
You didn’t see any signs about “infart” and “utfart”, not to mention “fatöl” (canned beer)?
Jeez, okay, nothern coastline. Sure you’re from Sweden and not Pedantia?
Yes, those too. Made me wonder why Scandanavia does not exploit its natural gas resources.
Hehe… there are hundreds of things you can ridicule Norway for, seriously, but “they speak funny,” is not one of them if you happen to be Danish. There is this well supported theory that Danish people have lost the ability to understand each other ages ago, and only put on a show when foreigners are about, when they are alone they resort to either English, or crude sing language and guttural grunts.
Which is why the automobile license plates say “New Mexico USA”.
I could get Finland and Denmark. I would have a 50/50 chance on Norway and Sweden. I would be able to pick most countries general area out on a map, even though I might mix up the Baltic States, for instance.
In school, I had a teacher who had us all memorize the states and their capitals, Canadian provinces and territories, and their capitals, and had started on Mexico when we moved and I left that school.
Håll käften, du din jävla norska skithuvud. You know damn well these high foreheads shield some tremendously awesome brainpower. What did they call the Baltic in the 1600s? A Norwegian lake? A Danish lake? No. Y’all know who ran the show back then. 
*posted by *Gary T:
Okay. Back to school for me. In Amsterdam. Which isn’t the capital of Denmark.
Looks like a good time for my favorite joke about scandinavians. So as not to offend anyone I’ll refer to them as Scandanavian 1 (S1), 2, and 3.
An S1, an S2, and an S3 were bragging about their countries and the desirability of their women. The S1 says “The women in my country are so slim that we can circle their waist with a single hand and touch finger to thumb. And it’s not because our hands are so big, but because their waists are so small.” Not to be out done, the S2 says “The women in my country have legs so graceful that when they sit on a horse their feet touch the ground. And it’s not because our horses are so short, but that the women’s legs are so long.” Hearing this, S3 responds “The women in my country are amazing as well. We can rap them on the buttocks when we leave for work and it will still be jiggling when we return. And it’s not because their buttocks are so big, but that we work so little.”
What! When did they change it?
jastu, I think it’s great that you have such interest and curiosity about other countries and cultures and laud you for it. Such things make life full and interesting. I myself have quite an interest in certain other countries and cultures.
My post was in reply to the OP, which posited that people who lacked knowledge of geography, and apparently Scandinavian geography in particular, are “slow,” or by implication, stupid.
American television has taught me some European geography. For example, I know that Albania borders on the Adriatic, it’s mostly mountainous, it’s chief export is chrome, and the national anthem is sung to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In.
I agree, Rilchiam. (And just for the record, I’m not one of those who think Norway is in Sweden.) And after 9/11, like you said, I had greater curiosity about the location of Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, et. al. than I’d had previously and looked them up on a map. I just don’t think it’s a measure of a person’s intelligence or ignorance if they are lacking in knowledge of georaphy, as the OP suggests.
I had to look it up too. There are two capitals, Amsterdam and the Hague. Guess they can’t figure out which one they want to use.
Uh…I also don’t think it’s a measre of a person’s intelligence if the misspell geography as “georaphy.”
Dammit!!! “Measure,” either!
Sheesh! :rolleyes:
I’ll try to put this as gently as I can. Neither Amsterdam nor the Hague is a co-capital of Denmark.
Dude, slow down.