Danes accuse Ikea of "Swedish Imperialism"

[Masquerouge]

This is mainly an example with journalists with too much time on their hands...

It's obvious that it was written with a foreigner, with little knowledge of Scandinavia other than a history book. I mean, who cares about things that happened hundreds of years ago? When Scandinavians meet it's usually in cosy manner, even though "Sweden and Denmark have not been the best of friends through history"

Why should we be envious of Sweden, probably the country in the world, we have the most in common with? Our societies are so similar that it's hard to tell the difference when you go shopping across the border. We are both rich, no need to be jealous. (Besides, Denmark is actually richer than Sweden, so it's rather odd how the article hints we should envy their economy)

As Yoda Power pointed out, this didn't even make it to the Danish news. Even though "A large number of Danes believe that Kjöller and Mylenberg were absolutely right to point out what they perceived as Ikea insults

You're supposed to fit in the foreign media stereotype, you know, not obliterate it with your rationality

 

[Hakim]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/europe/ikea-and-loathing-whats-in-a-product-name-792774.html

The Danish paper's editor, Simon Andersen, is the first to admit that there was a strong element of tongue-in-cheek to the headline. "It was mostly meant as a joke. It's funny that there are these fancy, delightful and good-looking things named after Swedish places and we get these lousy carpets," he said yesterday. "The Swedes are so perfect at everything, so when we got the chance to poke fun and get our own back we did."

My bolding.

 

[Swedishguy]

"The Swedes are so perfect at everything, so when we got the chance to poke fun and get our own back we did."

No worry, neighbour; those danish pastries of yours are delicious.

 

[Gooblah]

Wow. I think the Professor is high on Ikea Meatballs.

Anyways, I have an IKEA in my town, so I've wondered where the names come from. Good to know. Now I can quiz the store manager on this and see if he is properly indoctrinated in the Scandinavian lifestyle. If he's not blond, however, he isn't indoctrinated.

 

[gangleri2001]

I'd like to know what would the vikings think their on descendants (icelanders, norwegians, swedish guys and danes). I'm pretty sure that that would be lolgasmic.

 

[GinandTonic]

My fav. is the JERKER desk.

Rather than the Lessebo sofa? Whats wrong with you man! I was about to tell you to get a grip, but given your choice of desk I doubt that is the problem...

 

[LesCanadiens]

Ikea is a scam. They sell you a box full of wood, and tell you to go home and build a desk yourself. Next time I go there, I expect to open up a box and inside there will just be an axe and a map to some trees.

 

[GinandTonic]

I've built furniture from scratch. I've assembled more flat-pack than any man ever should. There is a world of difference.

 

[Yoda Power]

I still haven't been able to get the news in any Danish media. It's interesting how big the difference is between what's reported in the outside and inside.

 

[Tee Kay]

Ikea is a scam. They sell you a box full of wood, and tell you to go home and build a desk yourself. Next time I go there, I expect to open up a box and inside there will just be an axe and a map to some trees.

Well to be fair they did include instruction booklets...

Well, sort of...