Top five Norwegian stereotypes

What do Polar bears, Pro skiers, and mean people have in common? Well apparently life in Norway. I have heard many stereotypes about Norway and felt it was time to let you know what its really like here. So here are the top 5 stereotypes and me trying to shead some light on the truth.

[canttalkanymore]

Americans are being nice by striking a conversation and being open about thoughts.
Norwegians are being nice by respecting others privacy and minding their own business.

[TheFrontyer]

A guy I knew from Norway visited New York. He met some "gangsters" in a dangerous street. They where about to rob him, until they figured out he was a turist. They asked him where he was from and he said Norway.
They went like: Deeemnn yall´ got polar bears n´ shit in da streets ovah´ there?
He responded, Fuck yeah, I fight them almost every day.
Then they said: Heell we aint robbin a polar bear killer, we dont wanna get killed, get outta´ here.

Fucking genius story.

[bobjohnsonface]

Norwegians hate b.s. small talk and don't crowd you in public places? Damn, when do I move over there?

[CaelemSky]

You can't imagine how happy I am that you used Celsius.

[Dasspapirfly]

Just a little correction about the vikings, although at the time the viking name only applied to those who went on raids, nowadays it's used about pretty much all the people who lived in "the viking period" (which is the scandinavian iron age). But these men were mainly farmers or firshermen, very few had "professional pillager" as their main occupation.

Also a lot of the general beliefs about vikings, like their brutality, ferocity and such is based on the simple fact that most people at that time couldn't write, but who could? Well that would be the priests and monks and because vikings would happily steal gold and silver from unprotected monasteries they got some bad press from the only writers of the period. I would believe there were quite a bit of brutality as well, but not quite as bad as the general beliefs make it out to be.

Vikings were also considered to be freakishly vain since they cared very much about their personal hygiene (they bathed once a week, which is why saturday received its norwegian name "laurdag" which basically mean bathing day .

This post turned out to be a bit longer than I meant it to be (although I could go on and on, I love history) but I hope somebody finds it interesting

[ChubbyCheeseMonkey]

As a norwegian it's a lot of fun to watch your videos :D Tnx for making them :D

God sommer!!

[GranVlog]

as a norwegian. i feel like 90% of the year is cold and winter.
1-2 months of real good weather and then its back to winter...
living in norway btw

[stiras]

Good you cleared up the mean thing. When I'm sitting on the bus... Don't sit with me if there are other seats. I don't mind sitting next to people, but it is kinda uncomfortable to sit so close to strangers. The seats aren't that big. Also, it's my private time to listen to music and look out the window. It's me time. I don't want to small talk with strangers. In my experience, we Norwegians don't like small talk.

[pickymissmn]

From Minnesota/North Dakota and my dad's side is Norwegian... There is a huge Scandinavian community here. The friendly/polite yet "cold" behavior sounds just like us! Of course you would choose the one seat that is empty not next to someone else! That seems completely logical to me and I guess it is funny to me that you mention it, because I am pretty sure that is how we operate here too. We have something people call "Minnesota Nice"... I interpret that as polite and friendly acting outwardly, but not necessarily wanting to become a friend.... and NO HUGGING unless you are my family or very good friend. I heard someone say that people in Minnesota will give you directions to ANYWHERE... except their home. I am hoping to go to Norway sometime and it is nice to know that it might be a little like home... but with beautiful mountains and scenery... we have beautiful places too, but completely different than pictures I have seen of Norway.

[hegeandersenbakken]

I am from Norway, from a town called Bodø in the north, my friend moved from here and down to the south around Oslo, and people actually throught there where polar beats around the streets in Bodø 😂

[Panzerpanda]

Most Norwegians will be happy to talk to strangers if there is a reason to, like helping with directions or explaning something. Small talk will usually not be responded to in more than a shrug, half a smile or a short word.

[darktwistedlady]

Apparently one of you gave visited Northern Norway. Where you chat with anyone whenever, if you like. Take the bus alone to uni, and be invited for lunch. Ask for a nice place to eat, and get invited to a night out. The further north you get, the more friendly people are.

The further north you are, the following increases:
Hospitality to strangers
Swearing
Honesty
Relaxed sexual moral
Drinking
...sometimes because of the drinking, but also because of the vast distances.

Historically, strangers are like the internet, a place to get info about the world outside your home.

This has led to Tromsø becoming possibly the friendliest city/town in the northern hemisphere. It's the only place I've heard of where even men who are out partying alone are invited to join the tables of strangers in a pub/bar/other drinking shack.

[fruGDrage]

I like how you sort out that last stereotype. It's actually Even more complicated, though! Here's a few examples:

A woman gets on a nearly full bus. She will choose a seat in the following order.
- next to an empty seat
- next to a woman
- next to a child
- next to an old man
- next to a man over fourty
- next to a boy under 17
- next to a man 18-39

If she sits next to a woman, a child, or an old man she will smile. If she sits next to a boy under 17 or a man over fourty she will meet his eyes politely but with a very fleeting smile. If she sits next to a man 18-39 she will quite likely not meet his eyes at all, and will keep her eyes firmly away from him for the duration of the ride. If she approaches a seat next to a man 18-39, and he smiles to her, she may consider not to sit down at all.

The ages I have given can vary according to dress and body language. There are also obviously individuall differences.

[tjom]

please do talk with us norwegians on the bus or when you get the chance!! it is very true that we're not sed to it, but it wouldn't harm us to be challanged on this point.
I find when strangers start conversations me, one of the nicest things that can happen on a normal day on the way to or from work.

[jackyboy]

I'm from Norway and alot of this is true, but some of it I have never heard of like not liking to start conversations, cause I love it ;)
But great vid :)

[nattifrutti]

thank you so much! you have no idea how sad it has been to see people become dissapointed in how quiet and reserved norwgians are. I'm really facinated by how well you were able to put it into words, like how the culture really works, and that we are being polite by not being too intrusive on others. Because it does not mean that we don't want to help foreigners in any way.. so it made me sad to see people feel neglected because of this. So thank you again because it is very enlightening and refreshing to hear someone being posetive and trying to understand someone else's culture. Thank you! :)

[ChiliConCarnage]

Vikings were almost exclusively farmers. Then occasionally they went on Viking in the east, west and south.

Great vid. I'm afraid Norwegians are somewhat at fault for these stereotypes. Whenever we're in foreign parts and people ask if there are polar bears in the streets, we usually like to take the piss, so we go "Oh yeeeeah. LOTS."

[Recklesslime]

The thing about most norwegians is that they respect other people’s privacy. So if you see them walking on the streets or waiting for the bus they can look kind of irritated, but if you ask them a question or start talking to them they instantly smile and are very polite.

[cassiopeia]

Very fun video this week, Patrick. The polar bear was an awesome addition. You're getting better at this. ;)

[ErikBjarne]

Interesting perspective with your experience in Norway. I am a full ethnic Norwegian from Seattle and travel to Norway to visit my cousins and other relatives. Seattle has a strong Norwegian community and I can tell you the culture is still somewhat strong here. There is this thing called the Seattle Freeze, which really comes from what you mentioned in this piece about public interaction and how the immigrants here influenced our city over the century. Going to Norway, I see this very phenomenon and understand it, because the US and it's different regions were shaped by whichever immigrant group and culture settled. I would suppose places like Minnesota would be similar. We also have the largest Syttende Mai parade on the actual day of the 17th of May and have done so for the past 128 years in Seattle, or Ballard the district of Nordic settlement.