Comments on: Drinking in public and common sense http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/ Politics, current events, culture - From Finland & United States Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kristian (in Espoo) http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-81038 Kristian (in Espoo) Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:05:37 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-81038 @113 Yes, the basic essentials :) @113

Yes, the basic essentials :)

]]> By: Antti (the redneck one) http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80710 Antti (the redneck one) Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:09:05 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80710 Rööperi comes from the Swedish name 'Rödberg' (Red Rock, heh) for the area, but hey, 'Köydenpunojankatu' (Ropemaker's street) is very close at Hietalahti. Isn't the classical harbour lay-out approximately: Docks-tattoo salon-brothel-bar. Rööperi comes from the Swedish name ‘Rödberg’ (Red Rock, heh) for the area, but hey, ‘Köydenpunojankatu’ (Ropemaker’s street) is very close at Hietalahti.

Isn’t the classical harbour lay-out approximately: Docks-tattoo salon-brothel-bar.

]]> By: Kristian (in Espoo) http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80554 Kristian (in Espoo) Sun, 20 Aug 2006 12:44:17 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80554 I think there is a large minority of people, in Finland, that qualifies as alcoholics and nuisance drunks. But the rest of us, in Dr. Phil speak, might be termed as the 'enablers.' :) One thing maybe worth considering... Helsinki is a harbor city. It's hardly uncommon for this type of unruliness to occur in other places with similar geographies and backgrounds. Places like Amsterdam and Hamburg readily come to mind. Plastered on the side of a tram in Amsterdam, I remember seeing a big hotel advertisement that read: "Newly renovated, private baths and even more dog shit in the doorway than before!" Obviously, people in port cities have a sense of humor about this kind of stuff. Of course, it helps that it rains almost daily in A'dam :) ...that is, to clean-away all the shit. heh heh. And in Hamburg, we have the Reeperbahn with all its brothels and heroin addicts. Well, as someone already mentioned, Punavuori once had the same flair. I guess seediness doesn't always give-way to trendiness; or at least some vestiges always remain. Interestingly, Reeper--which means rope, as rope-manufacturing once co-existed with brothels on the Reeperbahn--sounds a lot like Rööperi, which is a Finnish nickname for Punavuori. No connection though...I assume. Anyway, I like all these sorts of places, but they get on my nerves if I spend too much time there. That's when I know it's time for a trip into the countryside :) I think there is a large minority of people, in Finland, that qualifies as alcoholics and nuisance drunks. But the rest of us, in Dr. Phil speak, might be termed as the ‘enablers.’ :)

One thing maybe worth considering… Helsinki is a harbor city. It’s hardly uncommon for this type of unruliness to occur in other places with similar geographies and backgrounds. Places like Amsterdam and Hamburg readily come to mind.

Plastered on the side of a tram in Amsterdam, I remember seeing a big hotel advertisement that read:

“Newly renovated, private baths and even more dog shit in the doorway than before!”

Obviously, people in port cities have a sense of humor about this kind of stuff. Of course, it helps that it rains almost daily in A’dam :) …that is, to clean-away all the shit. heh heh.

And in Hamburg, we have the Reeperbahn with all its brothels and heroin addicts. Well, as someone already mentioned, Punavuori once had the same flair. I guess seediness doesn’t always give-way to trendiness; or at least some vestiges always remain.

Interestingly, Reeper–which means rope, as rope-manufacturing once co-existed with brothels on the Reeperbahn–sounds a lot like Rööperi, which is a Finnish nickname for Punavuori. No connection though…I assume.

Anyway, I like all these sorts of places, but they get on my nerves if I spend too much time there. That’s when I know it’s time for a trip into the countryside :)

]]> By: Anzi http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80496 Anzi Sun, 20 Aug 2006 10:03:48 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80496 You just don't get it do you, hfb? We do not have problems understanding your indignation on the peeing and pooping drunks. Most of us here are just as upset about it as you are. You are very well aware of this because this has been said in several posts time and time again. You just seem to conveniently ignore it for reasons that I do not and probably will never understand. Our problem, or at least my problem, is with your way of seeing all Finns as alcoholic low-lifes, and yet talking in other threads about how unaccepting and racist Finns are. That somehow it is OK for you to make these crude and rude generalisations, and we just have to take it lying down with a smile on our faces. My personal problem with you is that I think that you're being a self-righteous hypocrite. You just don’t get it do you, hfb?

We do not have problems understanding your indignation on the peeing and pooping drunks. Most of us here are just as upset about it as you are. You are very well aware of this because this has been said in several posts time and time again. You just seem to conveniently ignore it for reasons that I do not and probably will never understand.

Our problem, or at least my problem, is with your way of seeing all Finns as alcoholic low-lifes, and yet talking in other threads about how unaccepting and racist Finns are. That somehow it is OK for you to make these crude and rude generalisations, and we just have to take it lying down with a smile on our faces.

My personal problem with you is that I think that you’re being a self-righteous hypocrite.

]]> By: hfb http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80469 hfb Sun, 20 Aug 2006 09:02:06 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80469 Freeridin' - Yeah...saturday morning was a delight to take the dog through the vast amount of broken glass on the sidewalk and the sleeping drunks in the park before the cops arrived to cart them off. Big public events generally have this effect on the area down here. Just wait for that Lordi concert in Kaivopuisto next week. As for the rest of you...my bewilderment at how being upset and indignant at the people who crap in my hood daily could be such a difficult thing for you to understand was somewhat explained by my husband that it's just as difficult for hicks in the sticks back home when confronted with a reality they work hard to ignore. Yes, there are worse things but the topic was the drinkers and drunks. And anonymous - as I've said, my husband is as eager, if not moreso, to leave as I am. Freeridin’ – Yeah…saturday morning was a delight to take the dog through the vast amount of broken glass on the sidewalk and the sleeping drunks in the park before the cops arrived to cart them off. Big public events generally have this effect on the area down here. Just wait for that Lordi concert in Kaivopuisto next week.

As for the rest of you…my bewilderment at how being upset and indignant at the people who crap in my hood daily could be such a difficult thing for you to understand was somewhat explained by my husband that it’s just as difficult for hicks in the sticks back home when confronted with a reality they work hard to ignore. Yes, there are worse things but the topic was the drinkers and drunks.

And anonymous – as I’ve said, my husband is as eager, if not moreso, to leave as I am.

]]> By: Anzi http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80436 Anzi Sun, 20 Aug 2006 07:39:04 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80436 No-one is more interested about the doings of their neighbor and more eager to tell them how to live their lives like a German is. I have to agree with Kristian on that one, having lived in a nice German suburb for a year. My goodness, the amounts of pointing and shaking fingers that I saw. I also do not think that the answer to immaturity and broad, borderline racist, generalisations is more immaturity, foul language, and broad generalisations. So hfb is not happy here and she has made this pissing and pooping -thing to be her main source of unhappiness. Hey, it happens! Not everyone is cut out for the Finnish way of life. No-one is more interested about the doings of their neighbor and more eager to tell them how to live their lives like a German is. I have to agree with Kristian on that one, having lived in a nice German suburb for a year. My goodness, the amounts of pointing and shaking fingers that I saw.

I also do not think that the answer to immaturity and broad, borderline racist, generalisations is more immaturity, foul language, and broad generalisations. So hfb is not happy here and she has made this pissing and pooping -thing to be her main source of unhappiness. Hey, it happens! Not everyone is cut out for the Finnish way of life.

]]> By: Kristian (in Espoo) http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-80007 Kristian (in Espoo) Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:37:14 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-80007 Geez, aren't we being a bit harsh on hbf? I mean, it's just her opinion. I'm sure we've all been bothered by certain unpleasant things in our lives and complained about them. This is just her turn, for now. I had MY turn at complaining last year when I still lived in Germany. Each day held potential conflict with some asshole who wanted to inform me (or anyone else) of certain rules or laws that he didn't feel were being followed. Not just old guys; young guys would do this too! For example, if I cross a railroad track (with my bicycle) against the red blinkers (even though the train hasn't come in 15-minutes) then it's "That's 3-points of your driver's license young man!" But hooligans on public transit or graffiti everywhere: That's perfectly OK! Seriously, people in *some* parts of Germany still have problems coming to grips with that authoritarianism of the past. I complained worse than hbf and couldn't wait to leave. For me, Finland is the perfect opposite of Germany. Perhaps people here are a bit anal expulsive--figuratively and literally! But I'll take that any day, compared to things in other places I've experienced. And don't even get me started about the US :) Geez, aren’t we being a bit harsh on hbf?

I mean, it’s just her opinion. I’m sure we’ve all been bothered by certain unpleasant things in our lives and complained about them. This is just her turn, for now.

I had MY turn at complaining last year when I still lived in Germany. Each day held potential conflict with some asshole who wanted to inform me (or anyone else) of certain rules or laws that he didn’t feel were being followed.

Not just old guys; young guys would do this too!

For example, if I cross a railroad track (with my bicycle) against the red blinkers (even though the train hasn’t come in 15-minutes) then it’s “That’s 3-points of your driver’s license young man!”

But hooligans on public transit or graffiti everywhere: That’s perfectly OK! Seriously, people in *some* parts of Germany still have problems coming to grips with that authoritarianism of the past. I complained worse than hbf and couldn’t wait to leave.

For me, Finland is the perfect opposite of Germany. Perhaps people here are a bit anal expulsive–figuratively and literally! But I’ll take that any day, compared to things in other places I’ve experienced.

And don’t even get me started about the US :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79898 Anonymous Sat, 19 Aug 2006 12:23:33 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79898 Obviously hfb isn't going to take her husband along. And who can blame her? How embarrasing would it be back in the civilized world with a husband always drunk, emptying his bowel or bladder in the middle of that tidy American street. Even the crazy lady would be shocked. Or woud she? There seems to a lot of Finns already in the USA. Why would public urinating otherwise be a big problem? http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/02/02-16-04tdc/02-16-04dnews-04.asp Killing people is of course much more socially acceptable, a minor problem and something to get easily used to: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/12/D8IQH9P05.html With those kinds of murder rates I wouldn't be surprised if hfb's husband refused to move to the USA. Obviously hfb isn’t going to take her husband along. And who can blame her? How embarrasing would it be back in the civilized world with a husband always drunk, emptying his bowel or bladder in the middle of that tidy American street. Even the crazy lady would be shocked.

Or woud she? There seems to a lot of Finns already in the USA. Why would public urinating otherwise be a big problem?

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2004/02/02-16-04tdc/02-16-04dnews-04.asp

Killing people is of course much more socially acceptable, a minor problem and something to get easily used to:
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/07/12/D8IQH9P05.html

With those kinds of murder rates I wouldn’t be surprised if hfb’s husband refused to move to the USA.

]]> By: tim73 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79804 tim73 Sat, 19 Aug 2006 11:15:41 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79804 hfb: well, fuck off and soon. I hope you and your lame shit husband have a fucking wonderful time at soon-to-be banana republic USA. It ain't gonna last long before the fat lady sings and you guys are trying to get the hell out. hfb: well, fuck off and soon. I hope you and your lame shit husband have a fucking wonderful time at soon-to-be banana republic USA. It ain’t gonna last long before the fat lady sings and you guys are trying to get the hell out.

]]> By: Blah http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79792 Blah Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:15:19 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79792 Okay then Finnish culture is public urination, coma-drunks, and of course the favourite entertaiment of finns pooping in the streets. American culture is shooting drugs on broad daylight, torture, gun-related murders (over 11 000 per year), theocracy and bible-thumbing, and of course generalizations. Isn't this mature or what people. hfb, my advice to you is grow the fuck up (what are you twelve? or are you one of those gated-community type of people who are afraid that the 'darkies' and all-sort-of-unwanted-trash will come along trying to rape and robbe you 'better-than-them-folks') I'm quite certain that finns don't approve this type of behaviour neither is it part of their culture. This juvenile generalization is pointless. I'm sorry if your life is so 'hard' here maybe when you move out of this land of street poopers and drunks who try to piss all over you, you'll find some better place where anything like this doesn't happen (maybe a gated-community perhaps?) Well people now that hfb so kindly pointed out the culture of Finland, I guess I shall drink myself to coma and then poop on the streets of Punavuori so that I can be a true finn. I hope to see all of you cultured people there too. Okay then Finnish culture is public urination, coma-drunks, and of course the favourite entertaiment of finns pooping in the streets.

American culture is shooting drugs on broad daylight, torture, gun-related murders (over 11 000 per year), theocracy and bible-thumbing, and of course generalizations.

Isn’t this mature or what people.

hfb, my advice to you is grow the fuck up (what are you twelve? or are you one of those gated-community type of people who are afraid that the ‘darkies’ and all-sort-of-unwanted-trash will come along trying to rape and robbe you ‘better-than-them-folks’)

I’m quite certain that finns don’t approve this type of behaviour neither is it part of their culture. This juvenile generalization is pointless.

I’m sorry if your life is so ‘hard’ here maybe when you move out of this land of street poopers and drunks who try to piss all over you, you’ll find some better place where anything like this doesn’t happen (maybe a gated-community perhaps?)

Well people now that hfb so kindly pointed out the culture of Finland, I guess I shall drink myself to coma and then poop on the streets of Punavuori so that I can be a true finn. I hope to see all of you cultured people there too.

]]> By: Freeridin' Franklin http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79546 Freeridin' Franklin Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:27:42 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79546 Seriously, I've been thinking that hfb is being oversensitive, but I was ready to revoke my citizenship at the sight of the herd of apes in Kaivopuisto. Seriously, I’ve been thinking that hfb is being oversensitive, but I was ready to revoke my citizenship at the sight of the herd of apes in Kaivopuisto.

]]> By: Freeridin' Franklin http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79541 Freeridin' Franklin Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:20:17 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79541 We went downtown tonight to check the annual fireworks championships. Naturally, this happening has evolved into an excuse for every teenage fuckhead from the nowheremäkis along the main track to come downtown, scream and yell, smash bottles and piss everywhere. As we were walking by the public toilet next to the Russian embassy, we noticed one asshole pissing on its wall. Just couldn't wait. There wasn't even much of a queue. So I doubt that an increase in public toilets would help. Damn, I wish I'd had my camera. My girlfriend informed me that the latest issue of the women's magazine <a href="http://www.menaiset.fi/" rel="nofollow">Me Naiset</a> has four suggestions for controlling the problem: (bad translation follows) 1) The Puppy method A man caught urinating is grabbed firmly from the neck and his nose is rubbed into the puddle, repeating in an angry tone: "No, Reiska. Not like that. Bad Reiska." 2) The Mother-method Call the urinator's mother and tell her what her boy is doing. If he has a grandmother, call her also. 3) The Shame-method Pass a law that states that men who have two inches or less may freely urinate on the street. 4) The Utopian method Increase the number of public toilets in the centre. We went downtown tonight to check the annual fireworks championships. Naturally, this happening has evolved into an excuse for every teenage fuckhead from the nowheremäkis along the main track to come downtown, scream and yell, smash bottles and piss everywhere. As we were walking by the public toilet next to the Russian embassy, we noticed one asshole pissing on its wall. Just couldn’t wait. There wasn’t even much of a queue. So I doubt that an increase in public toilets would help. Damn, I wish I’d had my camera.

My girlfriend informed me that the latest issue of the women’s magazine Me Naiset has four suggestions for controlling the problem:

(bad translation follows)

1) The Puppy method
A man caught urinating is grabbed firmly from the neck and his nose is rubbed into the puddle, repeating in an angry tone: “No, Reiska. Not like that. Bad Reiska.”

2) The Mother-method
Call the urinator’s mother and tell her what her boy is doing. If he has a grandmother, call her also.

3) The Shame-method
Pass a law that states that men who have two inches or less may freely urinate on the street.

4) The Utopian method
Increase the number of public toilets in the centre.

]]> By: prince of dorkness http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79224 prince of dorkness Fri, 18 Aug 2006 11:38:58 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79224 @99, I wish there were more precise terms available. 'Drug' can be used to mean all kinds of medications, too, and Finnish 'huume' is misleading as e.g. hallucinogenics and stimulants are not narcotic. 'Controlled substance' is legalese and only applies to the stuff that's already banned or restricted. @99,
I wish there were more precise terms available. ‘Drug’ can be used to mean all kinds of medications, too, and Finnish ‘huume’ is misleading as e.g. hallucinogenics and stimulants are not narcotic. ‘Controlled substance’ is legalese and only applies to the stuff that’s already banned or restricted.

]]> By: Helsinkian http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-3/#comment-79200 Helsinkian Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:18:00 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79200 In Prohibition-era US the morphine situation was different, as it had already in 1914 become illegal to possess morphine without prescription. In Prohibition-era US the morphine situation was different, as it had already in 1914 become illegal to possess morphine without prescription.

]]> By: Helsinkian http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/comment-page-2/#comment-79197 Helsinkian Fri, 18 Aug 2006 10:14:39 +0000 http://www.finlandforthought.net/2006/08/11/drinking-in-public-and-common-sense/#comment-79197 One more thing hfb: at the time when alcohol was illegal in Finland, morphine was legal. According to the Finnish wikipedia article on morphine, you could buy it freely from the pharmacy and morphine was more commonly used in Finland than in other European countries on average. http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morfiini One more thing hfb: at the time when alcohol was illegal in Finland, morphine was legal. According to the Finnish wikipedia article on morphine, you could buy it freely from the pharmacy and morphine was more commonly used in Finland than in other European countries on average.

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morfiini

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