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This matches my experience. If I were to use a word to define the nordic countries I'd use : Flatline An other which comes to mind is : Stasis Those places

This matches my experience. If I were to use a word to define the nordic countries I'd use : Flatline An other which comes to mind is : Stasis Those places are depressing, people don't have the hatred and the competitive killer instinct which can be seen in big US metropolis and London

jfk13 5y ago
So hatred and killer instincts are the characteristics that appeal to you? Chacun à son goût, as they say...
- fogihujy 5y ago
  Yeah, it's not a bug but a feature.
- ObserverNeutral 5y ago
  If you stop competing then all you are left with is contemplating your own insignificance and death. Competition keeps us busy, if we are busy competing , then we can't think. The moment society collectively stops to think and do introspection, it would be the end of the human race, we'd all fall in a deep depression and off ourselves.
  - AlexandrB 5y ago
    > If you stop competing then all you are left with is contemplating your own insignificance and death. I think this is more revealing of your own thinking than that of society at large. Plenty of people derive meaning from family, craft, nature, etc. and don't need competition to distract them from thinking too much. I'd instead argue that if the premise - competition keeps you from thinking too deeply - is true, competition is probably the most destructive force in society because it prevents one from properly prioritizing one's life based one's own sense of what's meaningful.
    - ObserverNeutral 5y ago
      > properly prioritizing one's life based one's own sense of what's meaningful. The biggest meaning is derived by elevating oneself socially. It's the reason why people move to cities. Cities are essentially the arenas where the competition happens. You can say whatever you want , but more and more people are moving to the arenas, and to the extent they stop moving there or an outflow begins...that's because we now have the Internet which is essentially a MegaCity. A huge metropolis , the biggest arena we ever built
      - KozmoNau7 5y ago
        > "The biggest meaning is derived by elevating oneself socially" I wonder what makes you state that in such certain terms. I certainly don't feel a need to compete with everyone else all the time. Living somewhat below my means, supported by a decent, but not flashy paycheck in a society with a good safety net means I have no real financial worries, which eliminates a huge potential burden of stress off my shoulders. My job won't revolutionize the world, but I do make a positive difference for people every day. When I am off work, I am off work, my spare time is 100% mine and I spend it doing things that I enjoy, not trying to somehow monetize my hobbies as a "side hustle". I am not lacking for resources to hang out with friends, go on vacation or eat at interesting restaurants. All of this means I am quite content, and especially content that I don't have to feel like I'm in some sort of constant competition with everyone else. It's nice to stop and smell the flowers, you should try it.
  - circlefavshape 5y ago
    Funny, but not actually true. Competition is not the only available source of excitement
Viker 5y ago
This discussion needs more exposure because it is hammering the nail hard in the head. I have come to both conclusions on my own too... Is it better to live in competition to avoid thinking... Or... Is it better to derive joy form external factors: family, craft, nature. I have no good answer but love where the discussion is going. I also live in Scandinavia.
mbrodersen 5y ago
What experience is that? I have lived and work in Denmark, England, USA and Australia and I completely disagree with you. Most people in the US are constantly scared and stressed. Not so in the Nordic countries.

jfk13 5y ago

So hatred and killer instincts are the characteristics that appeal to you? Chacun à son goût, as they say...

fogihujy 5y ago
Yeah, it's not a bug but a feature.
ObserverNeutral 5y ago
If you stop competing then all you are left with is contemplating your own insignificance and death. Competition keeps us busy, if we are busy competing , then we can't think. The moment society collectively stops to think and do introspection, it would be the end of the human race, we'd all fall in a deep depression and off ourselves.
- AlexandrB 5y ago
  > If you stop competing then all you are left with is contemplating your own insignificance and death. I think this is more revealing of your own thinking than that of society at large. Plenty of people derive meaning from family, craft, nature, etc. and don't need competition to distract them from thinking too much. I'd instead argue that if the premise - competition keeps you from thinking too deeply - is true, competition is probably the most destructive force in society because it prevents one from properly prioritizing one's life based one's own sense of what's meaningful.
  - ObserverNeutral 5y ago
    > properly prioritizing one's life based one's own sense of what's meaningful. The biggest meaning is derived by elevating oneself socially. It's the reason why people move to cities. Cities are essentially the arenas where the competition happens. You can say whatever you want , but more and more people are moving to the arenas, and to the extent they stop moving there or an outflow begins...that's because we now have the Internet which is essentially a MegaCity. A huge metropolis , the biggest arena we ever built
    - KozmoNau7 5y ago
      > "The biggest meaning is derived by elevating oneself socially" I wonder what makes you state that in such certain terms. I certainly don't feel a need to compete with everyone else all the time. Living somewhat below my means, supported by a decent, but not flashy paycheck in a society with a good safety net means I have no real financial worries, which eliminates a huge potential burden of stress off my shoulders. My job won't revolutionize the world, but I do make a positive difference for people every day. When I am off work, I am off work, my spare time is 100% mine and I spend it doing things that I enjoy, not trying to somehow monetize my hobbies as a "side hustle". I am not lacking for resources to hang out with friends, go on vacation or eat at interesting restaurants. All of this means I am quite content, and especially content that I don't have to feel like I'm in some sort of constant competition with everyone else. It's nice to stop and smell the flowers, you should try it.
- circlefavshape 5y ago
  Funny, but not actually true. Competition is not the only available source of excitement

Viker 5y ago

This discussion needs more exposure because it is hammering the nail hard in the head. I have come to both conclusions on my own too... Is it better to live in competition to avoid thinking... Or... Is it better to derive joy form external factors: family, craft, nature. I have no good answer but love where the discussion is going. I also live in Scandinavia.

mbrodersen 5y ago

What experience is that? I have lived and work in Denmark, England, USA and Australia and I completely disagree with you. Most people in the US are constantly scared and stressed. Not so in the Nordic countries.