The world's 10 happiest countries

**Finnish Swede** · 03-19-2018, 08:00 AM

Finally Finland beats both Norway & Denmark (at the same time)

!

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/g...ries/finland0/

So is this now ''a victory'' of Eastern Europe & Eastern Europeans over Western Europe & Western Europeans
(a thread here some time ago ... where somebodies kept Finland as Eastern European country)?
LOL!

**~~Maintenance~~** · 03-19-2018, 08:32 AM

How can finns be happy?

Did they lower the prices of vodka?

**Finnish Swede** · 03-19-2018, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Maintenance

How can finns be happy?

Did they lower the prices of vodka?

LOL. Bitter now? Don't be. And I fully understand that Swedes needs to do something after that article .... as Sweden is now going down in every possible listings/rankings. Sad but true.

So yes ... I have already seen Swedes jokes about this (even if this is a new article/ranking). Still right now? Not very wise .... as that is the last thing Finns will take. Oh, they might go and buy new fighters directly from USA (without even negotiating with Swedes). LOL.

**ioan assen** · 03-19-2018, 08:54 AM

I love Finland, so peaceful, organized, clean, modern and European in the best possible way. Too bad the language is hard to learn. I was happy Swedish is official too and the signs were in both languages and I know a bit of German so I managed to find my way round Helsinki. But even the name of the streets were too long. It felt Scandinavian with huge Russian influence. I know some people don't classify it as Scandinavian, but it felt exactly as this. Having been there, I could understand why its classified as the happiest. One of the best countries have visited. Probably the best to live in.

**Finnish Swede** · 03-19-2018, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by ioan assen

I love Finland, so peaceful, organized, clean, modern and European in the best possible way. Too bad the language is hard to learn. I was happy Swedish is official too and the signs were in both languages and I know a bit of German so I managed to find my way round Helsinki. But even the name of the streets were too long. It felt Scandinavian with huge Russian influence. I know some people don't classify it as Scandinavian, but it felt exactly as this. Having been there, I could understand why its classified as the happiest. One of the best countries have visited. Probably the best to live in.

Yes, Swedish is also official language in Finland ... but in reality .... except Åland and Finland's coast areas ... normal Finns are not very good on it. Or they are not good enough that you could really discuss with them by using swedish. The good point is that all Finns can talk english (enough).

Finnish hard? Oh, I know that pretty well. And it seems to be hard not only to Indo Europeans but also non-europeans (these muslim refugees) .... as some of those would like to get living exactly in the coast areas of Finland (where they could learn Swedish). Very scary idea as population of Finnish Swedes is already very small. For example idyllic small town Närpes

... today their 6. most common family name is Nguyen ... or something.

**Sokoli** · 03-19-2018, 09:14 AM

Happiness is a sign of stupidity. As Dostoyevsky said: "Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/663...e-intelligence

**Carpatz** · 03-19-2018, 09:27 AM

ignorance is bliss

**Finnish Swede** · 03-19-2018, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by Sokoli

Happiness is a sign of stupidity. As Dostoyevsky said: "Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.”
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/663...e-intelligence

Believe me ... Finns history contains those just enough. And more than their Nordic neighbours.

And if ones are facing those all the time ... knowing that nothing will still change ... I doubt how happy those people can be ... no matter are they stupid or not stupid.

**Sokoli** · 03-19-2018, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Finnish Swede

Believe me ... Finns history contains those just enough. And more than their Nordic neighbours.

And if ones are facing those all the time ... knowing that nothing will still change ... I doubt how happy those people can be ... no matter are they stupid or not stupid.

I was joking, obviously. Of course there are objective reasons to be happy / sad other than the subjectivity of the perceiver.

**Finnish Swede** · 03-19-2018, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by IceT

Wasn't there already a thread about this?

If so...I apology that.

I have been ''out'' for short period (and have not checked all the threads here).

Anyway...they published that couple of days ago.