I am not going to deny that there are some Swedish speakers who do have prejudices against Finnish-speakers, but I think as a whole it is to a far lesser degree than that amongst some Finnish speakers. Although having said that, I don’t find that much prejudice amongst either language group.

I have mentioned it before, but there is a good book called Muukalainen Muumilaaksossa that is worth a read.

(PS I hope someone makes an entry on the Sipoo decision that has now been made by the government).

This is so unrealistic comment that I doubt you’ve ever been out there. Finnish speakers outnumber Swedish ones by – what – something like 1 to 50. In places like Rymättylä, Kakskerta, Kuusisto and so on even more.

Even if only the permanent residents are counted the archipelago is slightly more Finnish than Swedish. But naturally in the summer the place is full of Suomi-poika – you know those sullen drunkards who don’t know how to piss in a boat. Come to think of it, they belong to an altogether different race, as you pointed out, which is incapable of adopting the civilized life style which so well describes certain Swedish-speaking kids in places like Pargas (but remember to avoid those who carry a baseball bat and are looking for somebody to take a swing at).

Then again, after having spent about every summer on the archipelago, it’s really strange, taking into account how friendly they are, that it’s usually the Swedish-speaking neighbors who you will not get to know. Perhaps they just don’t want to get involved with the lower species unless they can do it by waving from a distance. And I’m not kidding, it seems that the last outpost of the Swedish racism in Finland lingers on there, among the few remaining local rednecks. One of our neighbors held a grudge against – not only us Ugrics – but also against those Vikings who had sold land to us.

By the way, the ferry to Nauvo carries more passengers over in a year than there are pilgrims to Mecca. Heh.

A friendly advise: don’t get drunk if you’re steering a boat, during Juhannus in particular, or the police could get you. The limit is somewhere around less than five-six beers for a male of your size (I suppose). Two percent of the Finnish boaters according to the police statistics fail to meet the criterion. The result can be surprising; you can even get your drivers license canceled. The rest of the “crew” can naturally be as drunk as they like, unless the skipper tells them not to. And he probably will – in a sailing boat in particular. If he doesn’t he’s not really up to his task, in my humble opinion.

The tiresome habit of waving to everybody has nothing to do with alcohol, though. Motorcyclists do the same, by the way. And I don’t think they’re all drunk.

Kristian, there are those who do and those who talk. Libertarians tend to fall to the latter category.

I have to say, this forum is almost as fun as the sfnet.keskustelu.evoluutio newsgroup.

That aside. Phil, is there a photo-gallery? Surely you took more than one photo?

People by boats for the same reason some mad people buy expensive cars with no roof, no heating, no padded seats, no windscreen and over 300bhp/ton that they can only use a few months a year… cos they want to have some fun

naw, Iran is your problem, I did see a note that the best selling item in Germany right now, is a Nuke Bomb shelter.

Any one want to tell us why? It is so safe to be near Iran, I hear. Your best friends, I hear. You are supporting them in Lebanon, I hear.

And what, exactly, are ‘online ratings,’ peenis breath?

Are you going to promise to buy me one of these cars that you suggest don’t exist in Finland if I show you it does?

You do have a title and reputation as a blustering, gloating, liar and fool earned by shooting off cocksure comments to pump up your aura of worldiness and making flamboyant offers you didn’t intend to keep.

Maybe you could try redeem a little credibility – make (and then keep) this offer and slough off a bit of the stench of dishonesty hanging over you.