# Scandinavians aren't really happy **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488 "2015-09-10T02:11:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/81 "2015-09-13T11:12:57Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > what’s to complain about if all your basics like food, housing, education, healthcare, and public safety are all covered? Death. The profound loneliness of the human soul. The weather. Isn’t that the point of having your basic needs covered? To have the freedom and leisure time to stare into the black and icy depths of existence? I don’t trust people who are cheerful and happy-go-lucky. But, yes, it’s pretty awesome to not have to worry about everyday problems, and be free to indulge in some proper angst. I do see that as a luxury, and appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/82 "2015-09-13T11:46:37Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Its a symbol. I’m not sure which of us is getting whooshed, but yeah, the choice, as symbol of America’s Greatness, of “Our large soft drinks are really really large” is indeed symbolic of something. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/83 "2015-09-13T14:57:56Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > They may be stupid, but are any of them so stupid as to NOT know how to post a thread in the appropriate forum after using a particular message board for _15 years_? Why do you think the thread was posted in the wrong forum? Did I not make it clear that I was seeking opinions about an opinion piece? Thank you _so_ much for continuing the hijack. (But after 13 years, do you not know you’re not allowed to make personal insults in IMHO?) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/84 "2015-09-13T18:52:29Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > A Danish tongue twister is basically any phrase that has vowels or consonants in it. Double points if it has both. I have never heard Danish spoken but I have heard quite a bit of Swedish spoken. Swedish sounds EXACTLY like English spoken backwards. I am convinced that you there some kind of genetic change in Swedes that allows them to make those sounds. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/85 "2015-09-13T19:11:52Z")
In Scandinavia – Incarceration rate is 10 times less then in USA – Homeless people get a free place to live in – Unemployed people get a good subsidy The most unfortunate members of society are much better off then in USA. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/86 "2015-09-13T19:14:52Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I have never heard Danish spoken but I have heard quite a bit of Swedish spoken. > Swedish sounds EXACTLY like English spoken backwards. > I am convinced that you there some kind of genetic change in Swedes that allows them to make those sounds. Swedish sounds very much like Dutch. Danish sounds like, well, [this](https://youtu.be/1th8w106Kok?t=24s). ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/87 "2015-09-13T19:23:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > “You said Lithuania twice.” It’s so happy they named it twice. ---
**Author:** ![Surreal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/88 "2015-09-13T21:19:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Why do you think the thread was posted in the wrong forum? Did I not make it clear that I was seeking opinions about an opinion piece? Ah, the old disingenuous “Just Asking Questions” (JAQing) ruse. Been a while since we’ve seen that here. :rolleyes: More of Johnny’s thinly veiled JAQs: > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Do you _really_ want everyone to have access to education? > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Wouldn’t it be better if you had a small number of rich people and hoards of poor people, with everyone else just one major expense away from bankruptcy? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/89 "2015-09-13T23:18:20Z")
> [@Surreal](#): > > Ah, the old disingenuous “Just Asking Questions” (JAQing) ruse. Been a while since we’ve seen that here. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: yourself. If that’s how you’re reading it, then you’re beyond hope. ---
**Author:** ![Stoneburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Stoneburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoneburg)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488/90 "2015-09-13T23:33:24Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What does it mean? AFAIK it means “not even with his/her ability to not to make a thing unsystematic” and is the longest single Finnish word. It’s also interesting that they don’t separate between his/her. > [@foolsguinea](#): > > “Any other language”? Wow, you Scandinavians really don’t remember Estonia exists, do you? I have to say that most days go by without the fact that Estonia exists entering my mind, but now that you bring it up, I remember it does. I didn’t know Finnish was related though, I thought the only similar language was Romanian or something. But now I am starting to think that the reason Scandinavians are happier than Americans (if that is the case) is that we’re able to have a discussion or even hear things said about our nations without completely freaking out or taking it personally. I will happily admit that Sweden is not the greatest country in the world, that we sure do have some problems, and that on average I don’t expect people who don’t live here to actually know anything about it. I’m OK with that. And if someone asks me something about Sweden, I don’t feel a need to “defend” it, but I’m happy to talk about it and explain whatever needs to be explained. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scandinavians-arent-really-happy/730488.md?page=4)