taking sides - Norway v. Sweden

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sadly I cannot think of any stereotypes regarding our nordic friends that would distinguish one of these countries from the other.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Hah! Let me get my Norwegian colleague onto that! Someone accused her of being Swedish and she replied something to the effect of "Hah! No way I drink that much!"

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Ace of Base is from Sweden

Sweden

― Vic (Vic), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:13 (twenty-two years ago)

And why are we leaving the Finns, the Danes and the ... erm ... people from Iceland out of it?

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The Finns and the Icelanders aren't Scandinavian, though, unlike the Danes, Swedes and Norwegians.

― caitlin (caitlin), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

but bjork is from iceland and sang about how it was so scandanavian of her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― Vic (Vic), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

the Icelandicians are ethnically and culturally Scandinavian.

but taking sides is all about duality - two countries enter, one country leaves.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:18 (twenty-two years ago)

The Finns I will give you, as their language descends from a complete different source (even though they do share a tiny bit of the penninsula, don't they?) but Iceland was settled by that lot, and their language comes from the same family.

How are we defining Scandinavia anyway? Because Finland is geographically but not culturally, while Iceland is culturally but not geographically.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I would argue that the Icelanders *are* Scandanavian, yeah. The Finns definitely aren't; they are closer, culturally and linguistically, to the Estonians.

― MarkH (MarkH), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm hoping there are some Norway defenders around. I almost don't want to say Sweden but I have too many Ikea flatpacks, ABBA records and Max Martin MP3s to deny it.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

queen xtina of sweden killed descartes by making him get up early

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

This is turning into a walkover.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:21 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.traveleye.com/europe/scandinavia/images/scandinavia.jpeg

Ha ha, Iceland *AND* Finland are listed as part of Scandinavia on most maps.

Though I do agree that Finland are not culturally/linguistically Scandinavian.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm all about Norway here, Bergen is ace.

Erika my Finnish colleague says yes, geographically Finland is part of Scandinavia, "but all the others are very alike, you know, a bit weird"

― chris (chris), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not fair putting Finland in anyway. It's out of the others' weight class for certain.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'm kinda partial to Norway, but I couldn't tell you why, and I wouldn't put up any kind of defense, really. There are lots of nice aspects to Sweden, too.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Finland has Moomins => Finland kicks Sweden and Norway's arses

― RickyT (RickyT), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:26 (twenty-two years ago)

yeh same here, can think of nothing i prefer about one or the other - score-draw

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Hopkins should decide, based on their National Football teams (I know who'll win too)

― chris (chris), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Vikings, Fjords and Geir Hongro. How can you go wrong with Norway?

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Icelanders aren't Scandinavian. At least, that's what I was taught at university by various lecturers on Scandinavian and Icelandic history and literature.

― caitlin (caitlin), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I was trying to find a pro-norway thing, but then I remembered larson....

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:30 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll big up norway for their psychotic death metal bands.

― angela (angela), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Icelandians are descended from Norwegian viking colonists (and (the good looking ones) from Irish slaves). therefore they are scandinavian.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Vicky I think you'll find that the BIG LAD UP FRONT method is preferable to all that tongue action. Anyway Larssen has retired from international football now, because he's decided Norway is better (possibly).

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I guess half of Scotland and most of Yorkshire are Scandinavian, too, then? ;-)

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

and you have Vidar Riseth too Vicky, he's Norwegian

― chris (chris), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

When I was in Iceland people there told us that they really loathed the Danes after being under their iron Danish rule for years. They also said they felt that their relations with US / UK were far stronger than relations with Scandinavia, at that time a lot of postgrad students went to US / UK so they brought back that vibe.

― Emma, Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Norway: has Turbonegro and Mensen

Sweden: Does not

Norway wins.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Also: Aha.

― Emma, Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

iceland vs finland = MUCH HARDER!!

(eg cod war vs moomins)

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow, I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Sweden now! But half my office is Norwegian, so I can't jump ship.

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Aha! I forgot they were Norweigian. Dear god, that seals the victory.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Icelanders say they are not Scandinavian, therefore they are not.

― caitlin (caitlin), Thursday, 10 July 2003 14:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought Emma was singing the bit out of "Knowing Me Knowing You" in support of Sweden.

― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

My wife is from Bergen, Norway. Therefore, I'm partial to Norway.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Jeg vil bare sitte en liten stund

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Icelanders say they are not Scandinavian, therefore they are not.

By that logic, Quebec are not Canadian. When they clearly are!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Norway has the Trollstigvegen http://www.nordicbike.no/images/nb27.jpg

and the Lysebotn http://www.nordicbike.no/lysebotn.jpg

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I want to go to Norway. How can I blag a free trip from my office?

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

I've mentioned it before but my relatives are all nutso over Norway. Yeah, so, our great grandfather came over on a boat and changed his last name from Johannsen or something like that cuz it wasn't keen. And then my aunts learned how to make Kringla and my uncle puts norwegian flags on his xmas tree every year. But nobody in the family has been back there. It's just this thing...

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

sweden has abba.

norway wins.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Norwegian Christmas is decent time. Except for the Mutton Ribs.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

By that logic, Quebec are not Canadian. When they clearly are!

That's slightly different because Canada and Quebec are both legal entities and one is definitely part of the other. You can say to a Quebecois: "Ah, you've got a Canadian passport, therefore you're legally Canadian." That doesn't apply to Scandinavia.

― caitlin (caitlin), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

but sweden has a bridge to denamrk, that's cool. Then, Knut Hamsun would've been from Norway, if it had existed back then.

― jel -- (jel), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Flám:

http://www.5stars-of-scandinavia.com/images/flam.jpg

― chris (chris), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Norway has Lefse and some damn good beer and the chicks are hot.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Minnesota is part of Scandinavia, too!

― kate (kate), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:22 (twenty-two years ago)

LUTEFISK

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:25 (twenty-two years ago)

If Minnesota is part of Scandinavia, then southern England is part of Germany.

― caitlin (caitlin), Thursday, 10 July 2003 15:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 45 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Mark, you're the second person I know to suggest that Finns are somehow Korean. What's that all about then?

If I remember this theory correctly, the Finns and the Koreans (and the Hungarians?) appear to be linguistically and genetically closer to each other than either nation is to their geographic neighbors, suggesting some sort of prehistoric migration from a common origin.

― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

And I vote for Norway because one of my grandmothers was from there.

― j.lu (j.lu), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:37 (twenty-two years ago)

And they all eat dog.

― Lara (Lara), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah Swedes are stuck-up posers (I'm half-Norwegian so I may have a bias here). Stockholm's nice, but give me Norway every time. I'm going to Trondeim in August:

http://utenti.lycos.it/jimm/europa/norvegia/trondheim.jpg

― bert (bert), Monday, 14 July 2003 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Geir vs. Yngwie. HOW CAN I CHOOSE???

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 15 July 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.beautycafe.com/images/geir.gif

dave stelfox wins this thread with this classic ILXor post:

As a little boy, Geir’s mother would take him up into the mountains of Norway where they would listen to Tales Of Topographic Oceans by Yes. Even as a child, he was so taken by the complex harmony and melody of that experience.
Feel the Power of Norway! From the creator and designer of some of the most intractably bizarre musical theory ever encountered on ilx, Geir Hongro introduces his first Norwegian fragrance for men, GEIR The Power of Norway. GEIR Eau de Parfum for men captures the crisp Norwegian mountains... blended to the sounds of Toploader, Britpop and other "real European music" Hongro creates this harmonic, melodic and actually very brilliant scent. Available in two sizes 50ml and 100ml.

-- Dave Stelfox (destelfo...), June 5th, 2003.

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 02:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Dude, they have a city called "Hammerfest". Which I've always imagined must be the scariest place on Earth. Plus the Svalbard archipelago, which likely is the scariest place on earth, containing the northernmost city in the world (Longyearbyen, Lat. 78 00 N), a "temperate arctic climate" (whatever the hell that means), and a populace of mostly Russian coal miners. So close to heaven yet so godforsaken. And then there's Turbonegro, of course. Lyra's right though; Norway is more famous for its black metal than for its death metal.
-- Kris (branch_ricke...), August 21st, 2001

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Hammerfest!

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 03:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Norway has to win because in retrospect they made AC/DC sound like they came from there.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 04:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Hammerfest is just MC Hammer's version of Ozfest.

None of the Swedes I know are stuck-up posers. Not one.

― Tag (Tag), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 07:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm joining the half-Norwegian crew
Swedes = stuck-up poseurs / Norway = wholesome, healthy outdoor-lovers
hmm - I guess I'll have to betray my ancestors and go with the Swedes
tho, the Danes are a completely different story ("the latinos of Scandinavia".. yeah, right)

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 07:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Just to redress the balance, I think it's fair to point out that Norwegians eat their young.

― Tag (Tag), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 08:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweden's like the horrible magazine "Shoot!". Norway's more like the superior "90 Minutes".

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

if it wasn't for swedish people kicking my people's asses in the 17th century, then Our Lady of Czestochowa would be just another icon that my people pillaged from the russians when polish people were all about kicking russian ass.

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 08:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i.e., Slavs v. Nordics FITE!

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Slavs v. Nordics FITE!

Heh, the name "Russia" actually comes from the Finnish word for "Swedes". So do us Nordics win then? ;-)

― OleM (OleM), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh, the name "Russia" actually comes from the Finnish word for "Swedes". So do us Nordics win then? ;-)

uh, no cause finns aren't nordics they're just hungarians who like cold weather ... and russians are just slavified finns anyway!

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 23 July 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

im Norwegian if you need evidence look at this letter(s): æøå and did u know half of norway are related to Elvis or minnesota. and its only Norway and sweden that is scandanavia Geographicly and logical speaken. weird name up there huh? and i feel kind of sorry because i wish finns was scandanavian because of Nokia and americans still got a grey screen on their "Cellephone" and the vikings was from Norway sweden and Dennmark. Sweden got: ABBA Ikea and The Cardigans Norway Got: Turbonegro Great Black Metal Bands Geir a History with Rulers with sick throat and the fjords pluss midnightsun. and to that think Norway always cold: we got the Gulf stream same with svalbard and fest mean party

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten, Friday, 8 August 2003 21:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I am in awe.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

what does awe mean never heard of that and correction on sw nor are the only scandanavian lands dennmark might be and that sick throat thing no offence( not spelled right i think) danes but it was Dagladet that said it

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

what about uk vs us?

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:02 (twenty-two years ago)

That's a long story right there. And I shouldn't have been so flippant initially, welcome. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweden got: ABBA Ikea and The Cardigans Norway Got: Turbonegro Great Black Metal Bands Geir a History with Rulers with sick throat and the fjords pluss midnightsun.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It's like the bible code.

― Leee (Leee), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

im no Christian well thats my name i mean i dont belive on god

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

and from now on, stop playing with yourself!

― god (gygax!), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

im Wario im more god than you hahahahahahahaha no im Chaos the god of destruction kill kill kill im The Terminator Terminating God Terminating complete bye bye

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

idiotic hippie hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Norway wins see u next time on contry challenge

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Next week I get to go to both. Therefore I get to decide. My decision is final.

― Tag (Tag), Saturday, 9 August 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

If that doesn't prove Norway wins what the fuck does?

― Ally (mlescaut), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:00 (twenty-two years ago)

does anyone else think that it's, well, arbitrary that denmark got left out of all this? i mean, i understand finland not being included because they're not scandinavians. but denmark, why not?!? little mermaid and all that?

― Tad (llamasfur), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I blame Hamlet.

― Ally (mlescaut), Saturday, 9 August 2003 19:09 (twenty-two years ago)

because Sweden and norway are the competadors of scandanavia w4e wan in jokes and Music (if you dont think about Eurovision contest) i mean the pros and everybody that where in the Eurovision contest Sucks. and sweden wins in Ehhhhh øøøøh Ehem cant find anything

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Sunday, 10 August 2003 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Lets Just Say it Sweden SUCKS!!! It does really

― Christian Vasbotn Braaten (Christian Vasbotn Braaten), Thursday, 14 August 2003 10:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Heja Norge!

― Fabrice (Fabfunk), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:44 (twenty-two years ago)

What about the Swedish Bikini Team?

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 14 August 2003 12:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Jag alskar dig, baby.

― Leee (Leee), Thursday, 14 August 2003 22:09 (twenty-two years ago)

i've been to flam ... the train-ride down to flam was amazing, as was the ferry on the fjord from flam to bergen.

stockholm is like my 4th favorite european city -- after london, berlin, and paris!

― Tad (llamasfur), Saturday, 16 August 2003 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I have return-ed from my fact-finding mission and the winner is.....Sweden.

That's not to say I didn't love Norway. I loved it very much indeed. Bergen and the fjords and Flam and Myrdal were lovely places indeed, but the simple truth is that every time I go to Stockholm I come back wishing I lived there.

― Tag (Tag), Friday, 22 August 2003 10:55 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

REVIVE! cause i said so

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Saturday, 27 September 2003 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweden is Southern California to Norway's NorCal.

― adaml (adaml), Saturday, 27 September 2003 10:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Sweden.
Abba, Neneh Cherry, Cardigans, Roxette, Club 8, Ace of Base, Stina Nordenstam, The Radio Dept, Wannadies, Hives. Labrador Records is one of my favourite indie labels at the moment; Swedish pop is just heavenly. Especially washed down with a glass of Absolut.
And to recap: Vikings and fjords are shared between Norway and Sweden as is the forest based folklore in which Trolls (a Swedish word) feature. (and Will-O-the-Wisp is Swedish!)
But Norway has no answer to Stockholm, a stunning city. And the girls are prettier. Yes.
Sweden.

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Saturday, 27 September 2003 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

Norway is not all it is believed, but it is preferred to Sweden of course! I though must give a call to the Faroes for (sheep jokes or not >_<) I have it as my birthplace and childhood home. Nothing in search function for Faroes which is shaming and not a real surprise.

― Pål Útlendi, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 08:21 (seventeen years ago)

The news can be bad, is one listing.

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/bildeserier/article419747.ece

This is news, today?

― Pål Útlendi, Tuesday, 1 January 2008 08:25 (seventeen years ago)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/CIMG0317.jpg

― John Justen, Thursday, 3 January 2008 01:34 (seventeen years ago)

five months pass...

hammerfest's coat of arms:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Hammerfest_komm.png

― Eisbaer, Sunday, 29 June 2008 18:17 (seventeen years ago)

Quirky Swedish indie girlfriend

― The stickman from the hilarious "xkcd" comics, Sunday, 29 June 2008 18:18 (seventeen years ago)

from wikipedia ... these are REAL reindeer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hammerfest_-_Urban_Reindeer.jpg

― Eisbaer, Sunday, 29 June 2008 18:22 (seventeen years ago)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hammerfest_-_Urban_Reindeer.jpg

― Eisbaer, Sunday, 29 June 2008 18:22 (seventeen years ago)

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