Your national complex

+15°C Spanish dress in winter clothing.
The Finns are sun bathing.

+10°C French try, but fail, to start the central heating.
Finns plant flouers in the garden.

-5°C People in California almost die of cold.
Finns barbecue for the last time before winter.

-50°C Polarbears evacuate the north pole.
Finnish army cancels winter survival traning in wait for real winter.

-183°C Microbes in the food don´t survive.
The Finnish cows complain about the farmers hands being cold when it is milking time.

-273°C All atom based movment stop.
The finns say "Perkele, it's cold outside to day".

-300°C Hell turns to ice.
The finns win the Eurovision Song contest.

As seen in the winter war.

@ gerryandersson

PrinceOfLeigh said:

It's quite amusing that insults bridge cultural and language barriers. We call people from fishing towns "fishheads" or "codheads" too.

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We also seem to have the same North South divide with similiar stereotypes for North and South.

What is it with those pesky Spanish? They think they should have Gilbraltar too. Don't they know the "Do you have a flag" rule to conquering?

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In Mallorca's case the rule of conquering is "Do you have a towel (on the beach)?" Germans tend to, hours before they actually get there.

Till said:

In Mallorca's case the rule of conquering is "Do you have a towel (on the beach)?" Germans tend to, hours before they actually get there.

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The question that remains one of Europes most elusive enigmas, "how do the Germans always beat you to the sunbeds"? No matter what time you get up?

gerryandersson said:

+15°C Spanish dress in winter clothing.
The Finns are sun bathing.

+10°C French try, but fail, to start the central heating.
Finns plant flouers in the garden.

-5°C People in California almost die of cold.
Finns barbecue for the last time before winter.

-50°C Polarbears evacuate the north pole.
Finnish army cancels winter survival traning in wait for real winter.

-183°C Microbes in the food don´t survive.
The Finnish cows complain about the farmers hands being cold when it is milking time.

-273°C All atom based movment stop.
The finns say "Perkele, it's cold outside to day".

-300°C Hell turns to ice.
The finns win the Eurovision Song contest.

As seen in the winter war.

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I've seen that before (In Finnish, that is.) still a classic.

PrinceOfLeigh said:

The question that remains one of Europes most elusive enigmas, "how do the Germans always beat you to the sunbeds"? No matter what time you get up?

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The English get bladdered and stay up and don't get up early though? First light to an Englishman abroad is when you open your eyes(at 2pm generally)

Simple solution, sleep on the sun beds

that's pretty good GA.

Steph said:

Why? This is what the French think of themselves.
You disagree the French think that?

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Most of it is the exact opposite of what they are known as everywhere else! Also, follow the news about France and you'll see. Well Steph you live there so you should know better, I would have thought?

aaglo said:

But the topic isn't to seek out "the truth", diablo

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Ahhh well, Steph you're alright then.

Nice to see a couple of Finns on this forum. Now, I have a few self-esteem raising contributions.

- Even though the USSR spilt up 16 years ago, some Finns still percieve Russia as a mean bogeyman, which is prone to start Winter War II any day now. (Seriously, I've talked with people who fear that Russia might march over the border but can't give even one good reason for it doing so.)

- Finland is such an awful place to live that many people just have to use the money granted by the government to drink themselves into surly oblivion. All the poor bastards want is to forget the terribly high quality of living for a while.

- As mentioned elsewhere, all Swedish men are gay. Yet Sweden is the Shangri-La of Scandinavia, where everything is better than in Finland. It must be all those desperate women over there.

- Finland has an unbelievably efficient collection of political parties: Kokoomus
(right wing) for the rich and arrogant Swedish-speaking better folk, Sdp (left wing) for the poor, the bums and the communists in the closet and Keskusta (in the middle) for all those people who live outside the bear-border. Aka outside the capitol.

I've also got a very serious complex of my own. I fancy living in Finnland.
Please help!

Winner said:

Allright, there are types of national stereotypes or prevalent ways of thinking about the nation itself and about the other nations, usually the neighbouring ones. Almost every nation has some more or less unfounded image of itself or of other people, which is remains hidden in minds of its citizens.

For example there is plenty of stereotypes and complexes between Czechs and Slovaks, originating in the times of the 1st republic, when these two countries joined together to form Czechoslovakia. Czechs believe, that they actually saved the Slovak nation from being "hungarized" and that they developed this totally backward region. In short, they view themselves like sort of a "colonial power".
On the other hand, Slovaks developed sort of bigger brother mentality, so they now feel they need to step out from the Czech shadow and prove them something. In short, they probably feel the same way the Czechs feel about the Germans

So, I want to know what kind of national complex do you or your nationals have. Please, be open and honest

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I probably won't be the first American posting, but here goes:

To Americans, the United States is the cradle of democratic civilization, and other nations are either pale immitations, or barbaric tyrannies. We are strong and prosperous because of the legacy of liberty bestowed upon us by the Founders. We don't need to learn other languages, unless we have some academic interest. English is the universal language of the world because we demonstrated our economic military might through WW2, the Cold War, and McDonald's franchises. Other languages are unnecessary to learn. Depending on your political leanings, you may either see that other nations are misguided fools that will eventually conform to our cultural and political scheme, or must be subdued and forced to give us tribute (in the form of lucrative trading rights).

Here's how an American might see our neighbors:

Canada:

They're an ok, peaceful country to the north. And the way they say "Eh" is funny. Many Americans view Canada as a kind of 51st state.

Mexico:

Backward, poor, and hot country to our south. They're poor because their government is corrupt and the people too lazy to do anything about it. Nice place to go on vacation, but be wary of the water! I'm certain that many Americans harbor a secret fantasy to finish the "1st" Mexican War.

Europe:

Snobbish, pretentious, left-wing fools, but they do seem to have good taste in fashion, art, and food (especially French desserts!). Always slow to act, they've needed us to bail them out of inconveniences "all the time", like WW2 for example. They're more laid back than we are, so if you are young, you like to go on vacation to Europe, because you feel the world is your oyster there. Now if only the Euro wouldn't be so expensive. Some Europeans are "clearly" closet anti-semites.

So the attitude, as best as I can sum up is, everyone's cool and all, but we Americans are the coolest.

the country that has delivered the most damage in $ terms to the Canadian army is.... Canada!!!! After sinking a sub and crashing a couple of helicopters, we'r increasing the gap with second place.

Thanks for all replies, this thread is very inspiring

Syntherio said:

...
Poland: "Polish triathlon: Running to the public swimming pool, swimming, driving back on bike..."

I mean no harm, just making jokes.

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Funny, that joke is about gypsies in the Czech Rep.

aaglo said:

Finland:
...
- I think that Finland & Sweden are a bit similair as Slovakia & Czech (in that order).
...

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I think this is very common, at least in Europe - Slovaks feel inferior to Czech, we feel inferior to Germans, Dutch, Austrians and Swiss also feel inferiror to Germans etc.

In Czech Rep., we often make fun of our (relative and now hopefully overcome) economic misery (please forgive me my English, but translation of jokes isn't my cup of tea)

American is driving his Ford but he drives too fast into the bend and crashes. He leaves the car in anger: "Oh sh*t, my car! Now I'll have to spend my two weeks salary to buy another one!" He stays next to the car and whine.
German driver is driving his BMW the same way and because the wrecked american car draw his attention, he crashes right next to him. He gets out of the car and lament: "Schei**e, mein Auto! Now I'll have to spend my monthly wage to buy another one!"
While they're talking, a Czech in Trabant crashes into a tree nearby. He falls on his knees, crying like a child: "Noooo... My life savings are lost! I'll never be able to buy another one!"
German and American turn to him: "So why don't you buy a cheaper car?"

Nanocyborgasm said:

Canada:

They're an ok, peaceful country to the north. And the way they say "Eh" is funny. Many Americans view Canada as a kind of 51st state.

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Yeah, but they way your economy is headed, you'll be the 11th province before long. We're looking very forward to owning you.

Winner said:

I think this is very common, at least in Europe - Slovaks feel inferior to Czech, we feel inferior to Germans, Dutch, Austrians and Swiss also feel inferiror to Germans etc.

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Actually, we feel way better and superior to the Germans!! The problem is they have a powerful country and we haven't. In that view we have an inferiority complex.

KaeptnOvi said:

nah, we don't usually use the term, maybe it's because prussia is too far a away, while Swabia is the evil we know

"Schwob" is acutally a very common swiss-german term for a german. Probably because, in the past, most germans in switzerland actually were from there. Though I had to learn that not all germans take being called "Schwob" too well (my gf's family (maternal) is from around Heidelberg, and apparently Badenzer don't really like being called Schwaben )

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Yes, I'm studying in HD and calling a Badenser a Schwabe (and vice versa) is a major insult. Personally, I hate both the Swabians and the Badenser. That said, being called a Schwob is indeed an insult. Their dialects are much more annoying than Bavarian. Saupreißn on the other hand...

I prefer Schluchtenkacker to -scheißer, sounds a bit more cultivated.

sysyphus said:

Yeah, but they way your economy is headed, you'll be the 11th province before long. We're looking very forward to owning you.

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Keep dreaming.

Well, the Filipinos have a love-hate relationship with the US, the Americans having been our colonial masters since the Spanish had the good sense to get the hell out. On the one hand, they detest the fact that the US crushed the First Republic, and put it under US control, then after 1949 screwed us over with economic domination, and supporting the Marcos regime. On the other hand, we have adopted the American culture almost wholesale, with fast food, Hollywood, etc. We see our Muslim minority as a bunch of secessionist traitors (they’ve been trying to get their own state since the Americans came here)

gerryandersson said:

+15°C Spanish dress in winter clothing.
The Finns are sun bathing.

+10°C French try, but fail, to start the central heating.
Finns plant flouers in the garden.

-5°C People in California almost die of cold.
Finns barbecue for the last time before winter.

-50°C Polarbears evacuate the north pole.
Finnish army cancels winter survival traning in wait for real winter.

-183°C Microbes in the food don´t survive.
The Finnish cows complain about the farmers hands being cold when it is milking time.

-273°C All atom based movment stop.
The finns say "Perkele, it's cold outside to day".

-300°C Hell turns to ice.
The finns win the Eurovision Song contest.

As seen in the winter war.

Click to expand...

...it's a cold day in hell...

I've just lost half of my national identity
Way to go Lordi!

gerryandersson said:

-300°C Hell turns to ice.
The finns win the Eurovision Song contest.

Click to expand...

It's actually a typo: it meant +30°C for Finns to win the Eurovision Song contest.