Poor Phil, the evil welfare state has robbed him of his underpants by excessive taxation as well!!!

Are you entering the wife carring contest as well? You could potentially win her weight in beer. Unlike this blogger I actually live in NYC and travel quite alot all over the country (US and Finland). It varies. I asume he’s never been to Miami or Cali or anywhere else besides Maryland (typical) With these types of blogs it really does a good job of excluding. Have you ever seen a show call “Tool Time” The main character speaks to his neighbour constantly in his bathrobe. And this is a network TV show.
And besides, I though Finnish people didn’t talk to their neighbours. This is what I get for reading an American abroad. Foolishness……

“Tool Time” The main character speaks to his neighbour constantly in his bathrobe.”

I’ve seen that show. He’s got a big fence between them. No chance of accidentally seeing each other’s “tools.” heh heh

In fact, I don’t think the neighbor’s face is ever revealed; only his eyes.

Generally speaking though, Europe is definitely a ‘clothes optional’ kind of place. However, over the years, Finland has probably grown more conservative than other places. As a young child, I remember sitting in the sauna with my parents…and grandparents. No clothes. Now it’s probably not done that way anymore.

Germany is still highly nakedness oriented though. For example, the saunas/steam rooms at most health clubs are mixed and naked. But, in Finland, separate men’s and women’s saunas exist in most places.

Not sure how I got from discussing bathrobes to nakedness. Oh well, gotta go with it, I guess. By the way, my little vacation cottage doesn’t have separate men’s and women’s saunas

I have no clue what #2 is talking about. Finland is much more with being naked. I am not sure of Phil’s US travels, but I have been around and Finland is on another level concerning this matter.

I will spare readers of my Finland experiences which for some reason did not include even a towel.

At least your neighbours bother with the towel! There are just some things that I don’t want to see when I’m having my breakfast.

It varies. I asume he’s never been to Miami or Cali or anywhere else besides Maryland (typical)

I’ve been to Miami, Cali, and have traveled quite a bit. Is it cool to wear a bathrobe in your neighborhood? Do you by any chance happen to live in a trailer park?

I though Finnish people didn’t talk to their neighbours.

What was that you said about foolishness?

I’ve seen that show. He’s got a big fence between them. No chance of accidentally seeing each other’s “tools.” heh heh

Exactly, they have a huge white fence, and I think that family is quite wealthy considering the husband has his own TV show.

“Either white trash, or wealthy people who have a big fence around their yard so no one can see in.”

Have you ever noticed that Finnish movies 9 times in 10 will feature a Finnish dude in full-monty formation sans robe? I’m thinking it could be a new drinking game in the theme of Bob Newheart. Maybe Finnish guys just like to exhibit their wares.

Have you ever noticed that Finnish movies 9 times in 10 will feature a Finnish dude in full-monty formation sans robe?

That’s probably Samuli Edelmann in some Selin production every time. Leena Sharma wrote a funny column about the topic a while back. Then there are e.g. Kaurismäki films which famously have no sex or nudity.

No! Phil, I don’t live in a trailer park. The last time I checked mid town manhattan didn’t have trailer parks and you would know this if you could afford the rent while in the US. You probably couldn’t afford my rent in Finland. I’m quite sure of this, actually, looking at the average salaries for Nokia employees on your level.
I suspect you do not live downtown Helsinki since you would know this is a constant (well, not constant but I heard it a few times and experienced it) conversation topic. People haven’t seen or heard their neighbours for weeks at a time.
My comment was not a defense to the US being more free with nudity (or anything for that matter) or potential nudity but it’s a vast country with all sorts of places that have various types of lifestyles. It’s not as simple as you put it. Not only trailer parks and the weathy are considerable when making a point. You seem to have a view of the US as a typical export with assimilation on the brain but camoflague it with your adament stance against the welfare state. You make these very broad comparisons which are really careless and frankly completely untintelligent from a core sociological prespective.

ou would know this if you could afford the rent while in the US. You probably couldn’t afford my rent in Finland. I’m quite sure of this, actually, looking at the average salaries for Nokia employees on your level.

It’s true, I’m poor.

I suspect you do not live downtown Helsinki since you would know this is a constant (well, not constant but I heard it a few times and experienced it) conversation topic. People haven’t seen or heard their neighbours for weeks at a time.

Downtown Helsinki is NOT Finland. True, the renters in the downtown area don’t bother chatting with neighbors because they move every 14 months or so and they don’t own. The rest of Finland is quite different.

You seem to have a view of the US as a typical export with assimilation on the brain but camoflague it with your adament stance against the welfare state.

And your attitude is why Americans abroad are so embarrassed of other Americans abroad. No wonder why the rest of the world hates us, comments like “you would know this if you could afford the rent while in the US. You probably couldn’t afford my rent in Finland” give them reason to. Americans like you make me cringe and remind me of why I’m so happy living in Finland and away from people like you.

You asked if I lived in a trailer park. Did you not? I gave you an answer. BTW/ I’m not american. And you don’t live away from me. Please read carefully. I as well live in Finland seasonally. I won’t comment any longer. You get too hasty. Not cool.

Downtown Helsinki is NOT Finland.

Amen to that..!;)

I won’t comment any longer. You get too hasty. Not cool.

Good. After you publically insulted me about my salary, I’m not too interested in what else you have to say.

On this blog, we often do generalizations, and as you know, the U.S. is a difficult place to generalize because it’s full of so many cultures. So, if you disagree with a generalization, you should give some examples of where that generalization isn’t true, rather than tell me what I can and cannot afford.

And your attitude is why Americans abroad are so embarrassed of other Americans abroad. No wonder why the rest of the world hates us …
Americans like you make me cringe and remind me of why I’m so happy living in Finland and away from people like you.

Oh, that’s priceless, thanks for the laugh. So, instead of listening to it in the States you decided to export it abroad?

Despite how many Fantastic Finland’s you’ve listed, despite living in Finland for four years, and despite constant exposure to alternate viewpoints (often very thorough) via this blog, you have still not understood a simple concept:
Every service model has pros and cons. If, overall, you prefer the welfare system in Finland (as you’ve stated repeatedly in the past), then you present yourself very poorly every time you point out how an aspect of an overall inferior (by your own admission) American private system is better. Sure, the cons of every system should be debated in order to improve it, but you cannot do this credibly by cherry picking from an incompatible model.

I’m not saying you are a bad guy, I think you are a very good person in fact. However, you do perpetuate the ‘ugly American’ stereotype. Maybe it’s for kicks, web-hits to make cash or stroke your ego. Regardless, it’s your words and you are not, sadly, helping the perception of Americans at home or especially abroad.

Anonymous wait! Come back! You forgot to tell us where we can find your great blog.

You did confirm one of my theories. It is not the traditional NY’er you run into in Manhattan who is a jerk, it’s the implants who are.

New York City: Over 5 million people, 8 million pets, and at least one assh*le.

Phil, Try living in 5 countries and speak six languages. I think you are a gross embarrassment to the english language. A mother lanuage to which you have not perfected leading me to believe to have a learning disability. I gave you examples (miami Cali). Please reread the posts and think! Your reading comprehension is poor and as far as insulting what you can and cannot afford, Finland has a law that publicly publishes the average income of whatever position. If you feel insulted then maybe you should be embarrassed. Nothing specific was ever mentioned. And speaking of ugly americans, you fit the bill to a tee.
Your generalized blog is bullocks. You’re so afraid to assume accountability for you blatant generalization without experience and when someone questions it you pull the “American under attack card” Like you’re in a minority of enlightened world travelers that no one understands. Please!

Mapleleaf,

Just because Phil disagrees with you does not make him an “ugly American.”

The author of this blog should visit real europe. As I hav mentioned Finland is not a part of europe but rather it’s Asia. In real europe, you will find more nude friendly people. Compared to Europeans, Finns are very prudish similar to Asians. This Prudishness is one culture code shared with Asia.

Europeans don’t make hustles about nudity as Finns do.

” A mother lanuage to which you have not perfected leading me to believe to have a learning disability.”

wtf?

Maybe bad english still can be better english. Unless of course you want me to unleash the inner cockney man in me.. I advice you won’t do that.

” If you feel insulted then maybe you should be embarrassed. Nothing specific was ever mentioned. ”

Well, you did implicate that Nokia employees have low salaries, which is true but also blasphemy. BURN IN HELL!!

20.
“Europeans don’t make hustles about nudity as Finns do.”

Funny: where do you come from? Where do you live? Your comments sound quite naive. Your Europe seems to exclude Finland, Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, and all the places I have been to.
You’re telling that as nudity is a part of Finnish sauna culture (we have separated public saunas in Finland..), Finland is a part of Asia.
Where in Asia do they tolerate nudity? Oh wait, you told us already, Finland.

You certainly are funny, but more than that, naive. Does any actually take you seriously? All the conversations in this blog, people are trying to have sophisticated conversation -sometimes slipping aside a bit- but you are not even close to sophistication. Are you 17 or 16?
What made you hate Finland so deeply? Is it Asian values again?
Go to school, it helps.

“I think you are a gross embarrassment to the english language. A mother lanuage to which you have not perfected leading me to believe to have a learning disability.”

Just what exactly is ‘English’?

I would think that this joker is from the UK, but there is this that would indicate otherwise:

“Try living in 5 countries and speak six languages.”

Dude, how many countries have you been deported from?

#22, My Europe include Norway, the UK, the Netherlands but not Finland.
Finnish sauna? You are joking. In every country even in Muslim world, people go naked in the bath to wash their body. So are you saying that Islam world is nudity friendly country? Finnish sauna is just a form of bath so Finns go naked as any other people go naked in the bath. This you must exclude in your consideration.
You have to say about the public places. In public places you can find Finn’s obsession to hide their bodies. This is similar to Muslim world.

Your response is again typical Finnish expression of inferioirty complexes. When other people criticize Finland, then Finns just don’t get the point like you.

“As I hav mentioned Finland is not a part of europe but rather it’s Asia. In real europe, you will find more nude friendly people.”

YEAH! Bring on the friendly nude people!

Phil’s blog seems to attract some weird people.

“You have to say about the public places. In public places you can find Finn’s obsession to hide their bodies. This is similar to Muslim world.”

This summer in downtown Helsinki I witnessed more bare skin than I could possibly have hoped for. Somehow I can’t imagine seeing all those boobs and mini skirts in Tehran.

Phil: For what it is worth, you are not an embarrassment to the English language.

From my experience, Finns are a lot less hung up on nudity than Americans. A few years ago, I took a Silja line cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki. On the way to my cabin, I walked past a cabin just a few doors down where the door was open and I saw all the people in that cabin completely nude. Never, ever would I see that in the States. Remember the big controversy when Janet Jackson exposed a boob on the Superbowl? Lots of Americans got their underware all in a bunch about that!

Funny,
Fine, I’m not trying to argue with your world view. I’ll accept it. Finland is an Asian country.
But I must say that you should make your critical arguments with some fluent explanation first. Just saying it, is not enough. Why exactly is Finland Asian?

You obviously haven’t to been to European SLASH Asian beaches. More nudity in Spain, Greece, Italy and France than in Finland. And all those nudes are European (SLASH Asian)

24.
“Your response is again typical Finnish expression of inferioirty complexes. When other people criticize Finland, then Finns just don’t get the point like you.”

That is not only Finnish expression. You get that wherever you’re a foreigner. It’s psychological. Doesn’t the existence of this blog prove it to you?

#28, what are you saying?

I am saying that
Finalnd is an Asian country. Genetically, linguistically and culturally. What should I say more?

“More nudity in Spain, Greece, Italy and France than in Finland. And all those nudes are European.”

Right. Europe is an open society. But Finland is not. That’s not surprising since Finalnd is not a part of Europe. It’s like Turkey. Geographically Turkey (or part of it) is in Europe, but culture, language and ethnicity is totally different.

If you argue Finland is Europe then again you also have to argue Turkey is Europe.

Funny:
“If you argue Finland is Europe then again you also have to argue Turkey is Europe.”

Do Finland and Turkey go together?
You still haven’t shown your proofs for genetic, linguistic or cultural Asian Finland. Not one bit.
Don’t worry, nobody is taking you seriously, not in this forum. Just trying to see what really motivates you to act like that.
Travel and go to school, it helps.

According to this article, it appears that 25% of Finnish genes are Siberian. Siberia is part of Asia.

http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/geeneng.html

Insofar as geography, I believe western Russia is part of Europe, therefore, presumably, Finland is also part of Europe.

#32,

Geographically Finland belongs to Europe. I agree. But culture, language and genes are different.
For 25% statistics, probably that research was done by Finns. That’s exactly different what we see in the street of Helsinki.
Anyway all humans share almost the same genes.

#31,

I will not reply to you childish as you. I understand you are a typical Finn. BTW, I have shown enough of the examples and you simply don’t see it because you are a Finn. Simple.

Kristina, as a honest Finish you should admit that the article is biased. Finns are asians, as anybody who have seen a finn can tell. Take a look at this tennis guy:

http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_kuvat/mtv3/urheilu/tennis/2006/375404.jpg

oops, I mean this one:

http://img.mtv3.fi/mn_kuvat/mtv3/urheilu/tennis/2005/358908.jpg

To see more Finish asiens just write “luokkakuva” into Google’s image search.

#34.
No worries.

#34

FYI: Swedish people are rooted from Asian-Minor (read: Turkey),
Basques are supposedly from Caucasus,
Norwegians have as much of “baltic” blood as Finns,
Estonians have 2/3 of the same genes as Finns,
Hungarians are from Volga, just like Finnish people,
etc.

All the Europe is more or less from the middle of Eurasia. That doesn’t make them Asian. Besides, it’s pretty 19th century ethnology to define a nation-state through genes. Besides, I’m not saying that Asian is bad, all I’m saying that you see Asia in the Finnish streets because of 25% siberian genes.
Have you EVER met any contemporary people from Siberia? They’re quite blond, to speak.
Again: travel and study, get over your cultural shock, it’s possible.

FUNNY:

You don’t seem to understand the European stance on Asia at all.
Being from “somewhere Siberia” is considered here as mystical and interesting. You could compare it to Iceland and their mystisism. It’s well popularized the art of Björk. Not being sure where we’re from and denying it is just part of the game. Helsinki is gradually becoming as Reykjavik as been for years: mystic, nordic..

hey funny why don’t you go back to where you came from (ie Eastern Europe )

you have still not understood a simple concept:
Every service model has pros and cons.

No kidding. All we hear about are the pro’s of the welfare state, this is one of the few places that actually discuss both the pro’s AND con’s. That’s this blog’s “hook” if you will.

However, you do perpetuate the ‘ugly American’ stereotype.

How exactly do I peretuate the ugly American stereotype? Because I’m not a fan of socialism? Then I guess 48% of Finns are ugly Americans too.

i did soem image search to prove my point that Finish are Asian. Take a look at this formula 1 guy and his wife:

http://www.southcn.com/sports/star2/raikkonen/jenni/200403080678_593173.jpg

Here’s another exampel of asian rally guy
http://www.suomi.pl/images/groenholm.jpg

and what about heavy guy, no denying asian traits not mentioning the band
http://www.adl.at/artists/profiles/h/him/him.jpg

siblieus was straight from sibreria obviously
http://www.classical-composers.org/img/sibelius.jpg

and if you still don’t beleave me, just take alook at these missus contestants
http://www.colosefinland.fi/images/miss%20suomi%202006.pieni.jpg

I am saying that
Finalnd is an Asian country. Genetically, linguistically and culturally. What should I say more?

I recently completed a book that was all about this. Basically it said that Finland is the perfect mix between Western and Far Eastern cultures, and that the rest of the world was “becoming Finnish”.
http://www.amazon.com/Finland-Cultural-Lone-Wolf/dp/193193018X/

Insofar as geography, I believe western Russia is part of Europe, therefore, presumably, Finland is also part of Europe.

Kristina, althoug finland is part of russia it does nto follow that the Finish would not be from asia originally.

Actually, if my research is correct, then Finland was once located near Japan. Then, due to continental drift, it found a nice home here nestled between the Gulf of Bothnia and Russia.

So yes, we are indeed originally Asian, both genetically and geographically.

The invasion of ABBA and Björk happened much later, and both are probably insignificant; especially since we consider neither as true art.

Holy cow! From just comming from sauna, after a brief dip in the lake, I sat down to goof off on the laptop. (In my bath robe at our sauna). Looked onto your website, because it entertains me as well as offends to some extent. I never new that talking about visiting in your skivvies could make a country asian!! What a turn about!

Yeah. Phil once said that the comments are what makes this blog worthy. But just as often they ruin it. This was a nice post but the comments are… something else.

45. Yes, this blog does a 90° turn in different directions many times. I’ve wondered about this too on several occasions Well, at least asians wears clothes! Oh, and on a further note, eat shit sunny. That should get us on the same level Toodles

Phil will be laughing all the way to the bank at Finns expense when he sells this site, due to its high traffic volume and high foreign visibility.

As well he should.

To FUNNY:

A greek finno hater, telling finns are asians… ok. Listen.

Greeks are a mix of turks, jews and arabs… this is why you have dark hair, dark eyes hairy bodies and hooked noses… it doesnt sound very EUROPEAN to me.
And the Norse Mythology, and the finn-baltic mythology, you now thunder gods etc, are also called Asatro, because it originates from Greek mythology, and ASA was the viking name for ASIA.
And when you see “asiatic” traits in some finns, its their lappoid mix, samis… not asian, and the samis came from the european side of the Urals in Russia.
This lappoid mix is called East baltid, and is found in Sweden, Finland, Norway and former prussia (East Germany)

So now, take you ugly hairy ass back to Asiatic Greece, have an Ouzo, have butt sex with your cousin (butt sex is a tradition in Greece)
Turks and greeks have no business in Europe, you are middle eastern.