What Russians Think of Finns

[Hors]

Author: a Russian who lived in Finland for several years

After many years of living amongst Finns, I can identify their negative and positive traits:

Pluses:

1. Honesty. Finns won't pretend, but will heartily and honestly hate us... They have no imagination or inclination to dissembling.

2. Law-abidingness. If there is a sign on the door saying "Do not enter", a Finn will die before he comes in. He won't even look inside out of the corner of his eye. Why do such a thing?

3. Concern for the environment - their swamps ("Suomi" translated means "swamp") are pristinely preserved.

4. Massive interest in sports. Seeing Finnish women marching down the street with skis in the middle of summer gives me a rolling laugh even today. Sometimes it seems like I am in China, with everyone riding their "Tunturi" bicycles ("Turvalinen Kotimainen" Safe Domestic)

Minuses-

1. Dullness - incredible dullness. No creativity. Their nickname is "people from the forest", who never gave the world anything.

2. Laziness - Incredible laziness. Half the population lives on welfare. Why work when the state pays you so well to sit and do nothing?

3. Apathy - Nothing interests Finns (except beer and sports news). Someone here wrote about a Finn at the theatre... *Laughing*. Finns don't go to the theatre, nor do they go to museums, art galleries, the opera or the ballet. To talk with Finns about art, classical music or literature is a complete waste of time. Their entire knowledge of politics and history is limited to the Winter War and russophobia.

4. Taciturnity - At first, you think that they're simply shy, then, perhaps that they have something against you, but then you understand that they're always quiet. "Hot blooded Finnish boys" is a stupid joke. Because of their incredibly narrow view of life, there is nothing to talk about with Finns. "Kaumas ilmaa tanjan oon" ("There's good weather today") that's how I like to start conversations with them. Add to this phrase words along the lines of "Jo", "Niin on" or "Ust, ust" and you'll sound just like a typical Finn - their speech isn't developed beyond these few words... just like their brains.

5. Greediness and stinginess. And not just to others... to themselves as well. Finns will never even think about spending money on culturally enriching travel. The closest thing a Finn will ever do is travel to Talinn or St. Petersburg for cheap alcohol. Everything that Finns ever buy, they buy on sale. Early in the morning, they get their coupons in the mail, and immeadiately start deciding which store to ski to for the best bargains.

6. Tendency to suicide. A tendency that is completely abrupt and unexplainable. A man will be living along, not a drunk, not bankrupt, not spurned in love, and then, all of a sudden, he'll just hang himself. Something's not right in the head with these people. I think that pyromaniacs burn churches in Finland for similar reasons.

7. Alcoholism. The Swedish government barely saved these White Eskomoes from "fire water" by instituting a complete ban on the sale of alcohol except some special "ALKO" stores, where the prices are simply astronomical. That's why when they get their hands on cheap vodka over the border, Finns go insane. This isn't your Frenchman, Italian, Spaniard or Greek, who'll drink a glass (or a bottle) of red wine, and go on to create some masterpiece of art... Absolutely nothing like that... When the 'quite Finn' gets full of vodka, his tongue gets untied, and all the dirt and idiocy that he keeps concealed is revealed. The resulting show is a nightmare.

8. Stubbornness. Anything that a Finn gets into his head, you won't beat out with a club. Of course, stubbornness and dullness always go hand in hand...

9. Conservatism. Or, more accurately, a fear of being different from the crowd. This isn't a Frenchwoman, intentionally looking a little disheveled so that someone will notice... No, the Finnish woman will always wear her tracksuit and hat, the same as everyone else. No make up, no style, no individuality - straight from the forest.

10. Keeping grudges.. You've already forgotten what happened, but the Finns will quietly remind you, and stab you in the back. The Finn won't bring his hurts and problems out into the open to solve them right then and there... no, the Finns is afraid of causing a stir. He'll much rather quietly hunker down in the corner and fantasize about how her can get his revenge..

Feel free to flame me, chukhontzi. Of course we all know that all your criticisms of Russians are motivated solely by the myopic, almost instinctive Russophobia that forms most of your political and historical consciousness, and not by personal experience.

[Loki]

The feeling is mutual, I guess.

[Atlas]

The feeling is mutual, I guess.

Definitely.

http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...highlight=epic

[Absinthe]

Would you mind my two cents?

1. Honesty. Finns won't pretend, but will heartily and honestly hate us... They have no imagination or inclination to dissembling.

It's true.

And coming from the Mediterranean, I like that. I appreciate it even if it shocks me sometimes. Over here we're used to "diplomacy" and brown-nosing, and in extremely rare occasions one Greek will speak his honest opinion to another Greek.
So I'd rather be called names in my face than be treated diplomatically and get back stabbed later on.

2. Law-abidingness. If there is a sign on the door saying "Do not enter", a Finn will die before he comes in. He won't even look inside out of the corner of his eye. Why do such a thing?

I haven't tested that theory. But northerners in general tend to be more law-abiding that southerners. It must be the climate.

3. Concern for the environment - their swamps ("Suomi" translated means "swamp") are pristinely preserved.

That is again, a very northern trait - respect for Nature. Especially in Finland where the Sauna Gnome gets angry with climate offenders.

4. Massive interest in sports. Seeing Finnish women marching down the street with skis in the middle of summer gives me a rolling laugh even today.

Since when it is bad to exercise and maintain a fit body?

1. Dullness - incredible dullness. No creativity. Their nickname is "people from the forest", who never gave the world anything.

Dullness? Hm, let me see... I've had the craziest fun when in Finland. They're incredibly crazy and unpredictable bastards. One can never get bored with them...and I am Greek...imagine

2. Laziness - Incredible laziness. Half the population lives on welfare. Why work when the state pays you so well to sit and do nothing?

I believe that is the natural consequence of every welfare state in the world, not just Finland.

3. Apathy - Nothing interests Finns (except beer and sports news). Someone here wrote about a Finn at the theatre... *Laughing*. Finns don't go to the theatre, nor do they go to museums, art galleries, the opera or the ballet. To talk with Finns about art, classical music or literature is a complete waste of time. Their entire knowledge of politics and history is limited to the Winter War and russophobia.

Well...the ones I've met already must be phenomenal because they did a great job showing me around, taking me places and explaining culture to me.

Helsinki has an unbelievable number of museums. I was too hungover to remember anything.

4. Taciturnity - At first, you think that they're simply shy, then, perhaps that they have something against you, but then you understand that they're always quiet. "Hot blooded Finnish boys" is a stupid joke. Because of their incredibly narrow view of life, there is nothing to talk about with Finns. "Kaumas ilmaa tanjan oon" ("There's good weather today") that's how I like to start conversations with them. Add to this phrase words along the lines of "Jo", "Niin on" or "Ust, ust" and you'll sound just like a typical Finn - their speech isn't developed beyond these few words... just like their brains.

Again, I think that is true with most northerners: they're more "buttoned up" until they get to know you better and trust you.

As opposed to us over-talkative Southerners with our flamboyant behavior and hand-gestures and all that, kissing twice on the cheeks and telling our live's stories to total strangers.

But once you gain their trust, they're your friends forever.

5. Greediness and stinginess. And not just to others... to themselves as well. Finns will never even think about spending money on culturally enriching travel. The closest thing a Finn will ever do is travel to Talinn or St. Petersburg for cheap alcohol. Everything that Finns ever buy, they buy on sale. Early in the morning, they get their coupons in the mail, and immeadiately start deciding which store to ski to for the best bargains.

Coming from a country where everyone feels the need to prove himself to others as a "big spender", throwing away their last pennies into perfumes and designer clothes, even if that means they're gonna starve...well, let's say I appreciate thrift and frugality.
After all, why fix it if it ain't broken?

6. Tendency to suicide. A tendency that is completely abrupt and unexplainable. A man will be living along, not a drunk, not bankrupt, not spurned in love, and then, all of a sudden, he'll just hang himself. Something's not right in the head with these people. I think that pyromaniacs burn churches in Finland for similar reasons.

This tendency is generally evident in the North. Clinically, my guess is it has to do mainly with the absence of sunlight...

7. Alcoholism. The Swedish government barely saved these White Eskomoes from "fire water" by instituting a complete ban on the sale of alcohol except some special "ALKO" stores, where the prices are simply astronomical. That's why when they get their hands on cheap vodka over the border, Finns go insane.

Again, isn't that a general phenomenon in the North?

This isn't your Frenchman, Italian, Spaniard or Greek, who'll drink a glass (or a bottle) of red wine, and go on to create some masterpiece of art...

You talkin' about me?

8. Stubbornness. Anything that a Finn gets into his head, you won't beat out with a club.

That's called Suomen Sisu

9. Conservatism. Or, more accurately, a fear of being different from the crowd. This isn't a Frenchwoman, intentionally looking a little disheveled so that someone will notice... No, the Finnish woman will always wear her tracksuit and hat, the same as everyone else. No make up, no style, no individuality - straight from the forest.

I would not call it conservatism or fear of being different. Just practicality and anti-Western non-conformism.

10. Keeping grudges.. You've already forgotten what happened, but the Finns will quietly remind you, and stab you in the back. The Finn won't bring his hurts and problems out into the open to solve them right then and there... no, the Finns is afraid of causing a stir. He'll much rather quietly hunker down in the corner and fantasize about how her can get his revenge..

Is that the Horoscope for Scorpio, I just read?

[L-F Céline]

And coming from the Mediterranean, I like that.

What are you talking about? You are not a Homo Meridionalis, here is a description of the typical Mediterranid:

"Meridionalis type is short, coward, exhibitionistic and Catholic." (Gustave Vacher de Lapouge)

Do you fit this description? Based on your classification request thread you don't.

You being a mix of Hither Asiatic (Hellenic) and Keltic Nordic (Germanic), so you would be Germano-Hellenic and so don't fall under the Mediterranid classification.

That is again, a very northern trait - respect for Nature. Especially in Finland where the Sauna Gnome gets angry with climate offenders.

Just like the Japanese.

Definitely.


http://www.theapricity.com/forum/sho...highlight=epic

Que faite vous en Angleterre mon cher Francis?

[Absinthe]

What are you talking about? You are not a Homo Meridionalis, here is a description of the typical Mediterranid:

"Meridionalis type is short, coward, exhibitionistic and Catholic." (Gustave Vacher de Lapouge)

Do you fit this description? Based on your classification request thread you don't.

You being a mix of Hither Asiatic (Hellenic) and Keltic Nordic (Germanic), so you would be Germano-Hellenic and so don't fall under the Mediterranid classification.

I must be too drunk or too stupid because I did not understand a word of this scientific analysis

Whatever your theory as to my psychoracial make-up is, I said "coming from the Mediterranean" which means I live there, I grew up there and hence I'm psychosocially subjected to whatever the norms are there.

My genes could be from Africa or from Sweden and still the meaning of the above statement would not change.

P.S. wtf is a "Homo Meridionalis"

[L-F Céline]

Whatever your theory as to my psychoracial make-up is, I said "coming from the Mediterranean" which means I live there, I grew up there and hence I'm psychosocially subjected to whatever the norms are there.

My genes could be from Africa or from Sweden and still the meaning of the above statement would not change.

My mistake I thought you were talking about your race (subrace).

P.S. wtf is a "Homo Meridionalis"

Homo Meridionalis = Mediterranean

Homo Alpinus = Alpine

Homo Europaeus = Nordic

[Absinthe]

Thanks for the clarification

[Hors]

The feeling is mutual, I guess.

No.The feeling is not mutual, as while Finns are rabidly Russophobic en masse, the absolute majority of Russians hardly suspect that Finns exist.

[SuuT]

What Hors posted is pretty funny, I think: it actually captures the affect of your everyday Finn quite well. At first they seem stoic, and then you realise that they're just sluggish; at first they seem deep in thought, then you realise they are just intensely bored and a cause of boredom.

The most 'flamboyant' Finn I've ever known was a man by the name of Hannula who would go on and on about how he couldn't believe that I, as a Scandinavian, could prefer carpet over wood floors. He was absolutely obsessed with this; and when he was done with his tirade he would shrink back into a lethargic nothingness