>A Finnish cartoon character has become an unlikely hero for young Chinese, and even a symbol of resistance against compulsory socializing.
>Matti, the protagonist of the comic “Finnish Nightmares,” embodies a typical Finn who fears small talk and relishes personal space. The minimalist-style figure bears a blue cross on his head, like the country’s flag, as he wrests with awkward social interactions.
I wish I was born in Finland. I am a social retard who doesn't like talking. I think I'd fit in better there than in the US where if you don't strike up conversations with strangers you're considered an asshole
>you don't strike up conversations with strangers you're considered an asshole This is not really a thing, is it? If you don't at /least/ try to go along with a conversation somebody else has started, I understand - but what if you're a shy, taciturn man; a man of few words? Hell, what if you're being considerate of the other, and choosing not to bother them with stupid inane talk?
I literally have no idea what is talking about. There is no rule, written or otherwise, that enforces this notion that people are required to start up conversations with random fuckwads. I mean, it's not uncommon for people to randomly join in your conversation if you're in a group and being loud/look like you're having fun. But just a random 1 to 1 personal convo? Nah, that's weird.
Kevin Cruz
Still not quite awake, and I almost took his playful exaggeration at face value. You guys are social, yeah, but of course something like that won't be a real thing.
Anthony Harris
Yeah right. You would squirm when you dealt with the Mandatory American Ass Grabbing/Butt Slap on our buses.
Alexander Walker
What are the rules for when large americans yell "HOW ARE YOU?" to me? I was quite shaken by having that yelled at me everywhere when I was there. In Sweden it's a very personal question that only a close friend who was worried about you would ask or a psychologist.
Hunter Barnes
I hate how quirky people have culturally appropriated anxiety. It's a debilitating condition that cuts you off from relationships and work, not something like "I'm invited to parties but I only read books while I'm there, I'm SUCH an introverted loner xD".
Angel Diaz
Extroversion is a mental defect
Noah Diaz
That's not only America, it's a greeting you'll hear in any English-speaking country Just say "fine thanks" and continue on your way like anyone else
Wyatt Howard
Here it is normal to say among friends but unlike USA, saying "Bad, my life fucking sucks at the moment because my boss fired me and my wife screams at me" is a legitimate response. Here when a friend asks you that, he expects a honest response, not "Good" when you are totally not.
Luke Richardson
this but entirely unironically
pic very related, guess which types of people got wiped out for being too interconnected between eachother and living in cities, and guess why Poland managed to dodge this so efficiently. Every time we get too extroverted as a society, something like this happens, be it plagues, world wars, famines or even barely-documented stuff like the civilizational collapse of the Bronze Age and god knows what else that we haven't documented before that
I have been in US a couple of times and I must say you might have a point there. I consider myself to be an average finn when it comes to social interaction, but there I felr myself like a total autist. The interaction was constant and if I tried to have some time by myself, there was always someone checking on me, if I was allright. I of course understand the gesture, but it got really tiring after a while. All I wanted was a bit of peace and quiet and they were instantly after me. I was so exhausted after the trip that I spent a week just by myself after that. What strikes me is the misinterpretation, I felt fine and would have liked to contemplate for a while, but everyone thought that I was going to hang myself or something.
Luke Thompson
I hate people who take zero steps to remedy their social awkwardness, and then try to pass it off as some "cute" quirk, like they're fucking women.
Isaac Bell
>but its interesting too see that culturally they are also much closer to east-asia east asians have no concept of personal space
Ayden Jackson
This.
Tyler Richardson
I'm not socially awkward but I am definitely Finnish spiritually I stabbed several people and drink a lot
Michael Thompson
Poland was unaffected by the plague because they are good, God-fearing people. Plague is God's way of saying that you fucks need to square up and get with the program.
