Ask a Dane.

[Sotof]

What do you think of Greenlander independence?

Ridiculous.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I get what you're trying to say, but we aren't backwards, just behind in certain areas, and sometimes our qualities can be defended as positive.

What is the difference between backwardness and being behind? Also, what I meant with ""You take religion serious": It has an important role in your public arena. In Europe it tends to be more private. Like a hobby.
@Nova Cart
Yes, yes you do. I witnessed it personally. Creepy!

But lord what am I doing. This is the Danish thread.

Is there a lot of donair in Denmark? How does it feel to live in such a tiny country? Is there (projected) trouble due to rising sea levels? What do you like the most and what the least about your country?

 

[Ironsided]

Let's be honest here Denmark smells most fart-like of the countries in the fart-belt; Germany, Poland, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Baltic farts etc.

 

[Tycho Brahe]

What is the difference between backwardness and being behind? Also, what I meant with ""You take religion serious": It has an important role in your public arena. In Europe it tends to be more private. Like a hobby.
@Nova Cart
Yes, yes you do. I witnessed it personally. Creepy!

But lord what am I doing. This is the Danish thread.

Is there a lot of donair in Denmark? How does it feel to live in such a tiny country? Is there (projected) trouble due to rising sea levels? What do you like the most and what the least about your country?

What is donair? Doner kebab? No, none of that. We do have shawarma.

Living in a small country means you are very avare avare you should learn foreign languages. Back in the day before cabel-TV and satelites, most people in Denmark had acces to television in german, swedeish or norwegian. (besides the one national danish channel) It also means theres no chance we could fight a war against England, Germany or Russia and win. Not on our own. Good international relations are essential for survival.

 

[Save_Ferris]

What is the difference between backwardness and being behind? Also, what I meant with ""You take religion serious": It has an important role in your public arena. In Europe it tends to be more private. Like a hobby.
@Nova Cart
Yes, yes you do. I witnessed it personally. Creepy!

But lord what am I doing. This is the Danish thread.

Is there a lot of donair in Denmark? How does it feel to live in such a tiny country? Is there (projected) trouble due to rising sea levels? What do you like the most and what the least about your country?

Backwardness is having opposite ideas, being behind is being less socially advanced than another nation.

 

[Tycho Brahe]

I have no idea whats going on in your "socially backwards" discussion? What does it even mean if a country is socially backwards? That you get beaten up if youre gay or goth or some religious minority? Women can't work outside the home? Economic inequalities and crimerates are so high the rich are hiding behind guards, fences and bulletproof cars?

 

[Ironsided]

Germany is at least 10 years behind Denmark. It's funny because Germans and Americans are so focused on economy they forget what builds their economy.

 

[gnuenstein]

Denmark is a wonderful country in my opinion. We used to take the ferry to Jutland for holidays when I was a kid, and Copenhagen's great.

I really like Danish films, "De grønne slakterne" og "Blinkende lykter" are some of my favourites! They're outrageously funny. What do you guys think of these? Can you maybe recommend some in the same vein?

Also, speaking as a teacher, I'm supposed to teach scandinavian mutual intelligibility to my students. You guys need to shape up when it comes to spoken language , it's becoming increasingly difficult to understand. I can barely make out what they're saying in "Klovn" (Great show) without subtitles.

We get a good bunch of Danish shows on TV here - Denmark seems to be in a whole different league than the Norwegians. Do you get any Norwegian TV shows down there?

 

[Takhisis]

That sounds interesting. Can you expand on that? After all, we Europeans, after reassuring ourself that America is no serious contender, like to see ourself as the beacon of civilization as brought forward by the era of enlightening. And now you come and call us socially backwards compared to.. South America? You got to tell us more! Is it because their concept of race is more flexible? Is it because of the Brazilian transvestites? Of the mix of nationalities? Are there other regions compared to which we are socially backwards?

Heh, I appear to have started an online crapstorm without meaning to.

Sorry for the delay in my answer. I meant that you seem to be very advanced when dealing with other Danes, but just like in most other European countries, there's always an underclass of people who are second-rate citizens. Not as bad as other places, of course, but still bad to outsiders.

And, here in the banana republics, people have crappy lives because of the countries themselves being crappy and living in economical rollercoasters all the time. But no, people tend not to care about ethnic groupings and such. Not as much as I found when living in Europe. Humans are humans.

The anti-immigration is a problem, and racism have been on the rise. Also, state control and surveillance is on the rise. On the other hand, gay and women rights is at an all time high (friggin' Ireland approved civil union).
I'd say we have stagnated somewhat, but are still high compared to most of the world.

Ireland isn't you… it hasn't been ruled by Danes for centuries, you know…

Ridiculous.

Why? The stepping stone is already independent.

 

[Save_Ferris]

I have no idea whats going on in your "socially backwards" discussion? What does it even mean if a country is socially backwards? That you get beaten up if youre gay or goth or some religious minority? Women can't work outside the home? Economic inequalities and crimerates are so high the rich are hiding behind guards, fences and bulletproof cars?

I'm not sure if you're describing America, and if so that's not true at all.

What I mean by backwards is a relative term used to describe an opposite. A communist society would be considered backwards to a capitalist society.

 

[Quintillus]

I don't think this has been directly touched on - is there a "friendly rivalry" with Swedes in Denmark, as there is with Danes in Sweden? Both in Sweden and with Swedes I know in the U.S. I've noticed this sort of rivalry, and the Swedes have mentioned it as well. Nothing malicious, just the usual "we like them well enough, but we'll never say they have things figured out better than us."

For those who haven't been to Sweden, I'd say it's actually fairly similar to how Americans poke fun at Canadians, but it's pretty much just poking fun.

 

[Tycho Brahe]

I'm not sure if you're describing America, and if so that's not true at all.

What I mean by backwards is a relative term used to describe an opposite. A communist society would be considered backwards to a capitalist society.

No, thats my descriprion of things that might be considered "socially backwards".

Why is a communist society considered socially backwards? What if it has better education and healthcare? What if their ballet dancers are superior?

Heh, I appear to have started an online crapstorm without meaning to.

Sorry for the delay in my answer. I meant that you seem to be very advanced when dealing with other Danes, but just like in most other European countries, there's always an underclass of people who are second-rate citizens. Not as bad as other places, of course, but still bad to outsiders.

And, here in the banana republics, people have crappy lives because of the countries themselves being crappy and living in economical rollercoasters all the time. But no, people tend not to care about ethnic groupings and such. Not as much as I found when living in Europe. Humans are humans.

Europeans take great pride in their national herritage. Perhaps too great. They feel threatened by EU, by immigrants, by global capitalism. It's bad when it turns into discrimination, but I don't think national pride is all bad. But I agree that europe has taken a social step backwards in regards of nationalism and xenophobia in recent years. And Denmark was in the lead (If "leading" is the right word for a backward movement)

Denmark is a wonderful country in my opinion. We used to take the ferry to Jutland for holidays when I was a kid, and Copenhagen's great.

I really like Danish films, "De grønne slakterne" og "Blinkende lykter" are some of my favourites! They're outrageously funny. What do you guys think of these? Can you maybe recommend some in the same vein?

Also, speaking as a teacher, I'm supposed to teach scandinavian mutual intelligibility to my students. You guys need to shape up when it comes to spoken language , it's becoming increasingly difficult to understand. I can barely make out what they're saying in "Klovn" (Great show) without subtitles.

We get a good bunch of Danish shows on TV here - Denmark seems to be in a whole different league than the Norwegians. Do you get any Norwegian TV shows down there?

I hate "Klovn" Theres rumours about a remake of Klovn the movie in Hollywood, involving the people from "The Hangover"

Danish television has the norwegian comedy Fjellkøbing/Uti vår hage. But I haven't seen it.

 

[Save_Ferris]

No, thats my descriprion of things that might be considered "socially backwards".

Why is a communist society considered socially backwards? What if it has better education and healthcare? What if their ballet dancers are superior?

I said relative. A relative word, like art, has a different interpretation for everyone. Capitalists consider it to be backwards.

 

[trader/warrior]

Is it worse to have opposite ideas than to be less socially advanced?

I'd rather be backwards than behind, really.

That sounded a bit weird.

 

[Graceheart the Leopard]

What do you think of that Beowulf movie that came out a while ago? In particular, what did you think of their spectacular disregard for Danish geography?

 

[NBAfan]

Do you Danes like LEGO a lot?

 

[Tycho Brahe]

What do you think of that Beowulf movie that came out a while ago? In particular, what did you think of their spectacular disregard for Danish geography?

The computeranimated one? I didn't like it much, but I don't remeber the landscape? Wasn't it just some sort of generic "fantasy"-landscape?

 

[Andvare]

Ireland isn't you… it hasn't been ruled by Danes for centuries, you know…

It was you who brought up Europe, Ireland is Europe.

What do you think of that Beowulf movie that came out a while ago? In particular, what did you think of their spectacular disregard for Danish geography?

Haven't seen it.

Do you Danes like LEGO a lot?

Yes, of course. Doesn't everyone?

 

[Angst]

Is there a lot of donair in Denmark?

Donair donair everywhere. It is the standard cheapskate dish for lunching.

How does it feel to live in such a tiny country?

Cozy, but I haven't tried living in a bigger country for comparation. It's fun to get to know somebody somewhere, though, and then there's a very, very good chance to have mutual friends on Facebook.

Is there (projected) trouble due to rising sea levels?

Yes, but while we're a somewhat environmentalist nation (much ecology and wind power) people forget to care.

What do you like the most and what the least about your country?

The most? The good Danish spirit; the general relaxed attitude and normative open-mindedness in the culture. It can be exemplified by our natural relations with sexual things; It's not everywhere women lie barechested on the beaches because it's summer. It's not everywhere gays are so well-treated, socially that is, they still need some legal things allowed, still.

Some time ago, a middle aged politician slept with a fifteen year old, and people were outraged; not because of him, as she most probably knew what she was doing, but rather because his party kicked him out and people felt it was a sign of closemindedness. Even though it's iffy to have relations across such a big gap, fifteen years olds are consentual in age. If I remember, he had a wife too; but we didn't want an American propagandist situation where politicians' sex life mattered as if they were divine standards of human beings.

There's also the public school ideals that all children should have room to speak up for themselves and share ideas; much more than in powers such as France and Germany. The teacher is prompted by first name, there isn't as much strict discipline and more room for individuality. Also, the school days are shorter to allow the children to play for themselves. Generally, people should be allowed to breathe.

The attitude is dying somewhat right now, but it's something many are attempting to preserve.

The least? The bad parts of Danish nationalism; the cultural fundamentalism of some people, the small-minded isolationalism (which is unrealistic when you're so small, even) and the racism.

I don't think this has been directly touched on - is there a "friendly rivalry" with Swedes in Denmark, as there is with Danes in Sweden? Both in Sweden and with Swedes I know in the U.S. I've noticed this sort of rivalry, and the Swedes have mentioned it as well. Nothing malicious, just the usual "we like them well enough, but we'll never say they have things figured out better than us."

For those who haven't been to Sweden, I'd say it's actually fairly similar to how Americans poke fun at Canadians, but it's pretty much just poking fun.

We're extremely rivalrious and extremely friendly. It's like two codependent brothers that have to be better than the other all the time. We have to beat them at football each game. Denmark vs. Sweden is the social peak of all football seasons when it happens. Also, if someone in politics needs something passed that's already passed in Sweden, they usually legitimize the decision with "They're already doing it in Sweden! It must be a good thing (Because our Swedish brothers are inherently good) and we can't be behind, therefore we must pass it too!"

Denmark is a wonderful country in my opinion. We used to take the ferry to Jutland for holidays when I was a kid, and Copenhagen's great.

I really like Danish films, "De grønne slakterne" og "Blinkende lykter" are some of my favourites! They're outrageously funny. What do you guys think of these? Can you maybe recommend some in the same vein?

Also, speaking as a teacher, I'm supposed to teach scandinavian mutual intelligibility to my students. You guys need to shape up when it comes to spoken language , it's becoming increasingly difficult to understand. I can barely make out what they're saying in "Klovn" (Great show) without subtitles.

We get a good bunch of Danish shows on TV here - Denmark seems to be in a whole different league than the Norwegians. Do you get any Norwegian TV shows down there?

I love these movies, but to be honest I know next to nothing about movies. I know Adams Æbler, which is in the same vein and also have a cute little point. There's also Blå Mand, I think.

I know next to nothing about Norwegian TV shows. I love Bjergkøbing Grand Prix, though.

Do you Danes like LEGO a lot?

Best thang evar. Srsly hav to buy ten thousands of pieces for my children.

What do you think of that Beowulf movie that came out a while ago? In particular, what did you think of their spectacular disregard for Danish geography?

Well... It's not like the legend was ever remotely connected to Denmark really, so... I haven't seen the movie tho. But it's like Hamlet, like; nice it's about Denmark, but in name only.

 

[Racsoviale]

I don't think this has been directly touched on - is there a "friendly rivalry" with Swedes in Denmark, as there is with Danes in Sweden?

For those who haven't been to Sweden, I'd say it's actually fairly similar to how Americans poke fun at Canadians, but it's pretty much just poking fun.

This is exactly how it is, we make jokes about them not being able to buy/drink real beer and how Copenhagen is overrun by drunken swedes. I don't know what they think about us. They probably mock our language though.

What do you think of that Beowulf movie that came out a while ago? In particular, what did you think of their spectacular disregard for Danish geography?

Except for how godawful I found the movie, thereby having only seen the first 15 minutes of it I would say that the people who decided the geography probably mistook Norway for Denmark.

Denmark is flat. Period. We have nothing but grassland, lots of islands and bridges to connect it all.

Do you Danes like LEGO a lot?

We are raised on a steady diet of LEGOs for birthdays and Christmas until we are old enough to not find girls icky.


Also: Everything Lord_Joakim just said.