How the Finnish survive without small talk

[Dowly]

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/2018...out-small-talk


Pretty good read, even for a Finn. Never really thought about why we don't do small talk other than, as the article puts it, "The Finnish don’t believe in talking bull****."

[u crank]

Finns think if there’s no important topic to discuss, there’s no conversation at all.

We could learn a lot from the Finns.

[Skybird]

"Silcence is Gold, talking is Silver/Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold", is a German idiom as well.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Dowly

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/2018...out-small-talk


Pretty good read, even for a Finn. Never really thought about why we don't do small talk other than, as the article puts it, "The Finnish don’t believe in talking bull****."

That reminds me of German. We don't do much small talk either which is probably the reason why we have the reputation of being cold and rude (well, apart from starting the largest war in human history of course....).

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

That reminds me of German. We don't do much small talk either which is probably the reason why we have the reputation of being cold and rude (well, apart from starting the largest war in human history of course....).

I don't think it was the war exactly....


German Humor, it's no laughing matter.

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Gargamel

I don't think it was the war exactly....
German Humor, it's no laughing matter.

Yeah, tongue in cheek and all that. But it still is propaganda.
Humour is international, like love or mathematics. Most of the chosen ones of anglo-saxon origin do not stand to learn another language, so how can they even understand?

"Hey Philipp, how was your vacation?"
"Horrible! In the hotel I had room number 100. And the 1 fell off the sign on the door!"

Was ist rot und schlecht für die Zähne? - Ein Ziegelstein.

Treffen sich zwei Jäger. Beide tot.

Ich habe neulich in Paris angerufen. War besetzt.


Most of the best german jokes (i think) are silly and absurd or bizarre ones, which is why especially the Monty Pythons approach was so welcomed and loved here in Germany (yes we know now who shot Manfred von Richthofen, even if that is from Blackadder). Most of the jokes i read here i already heard from my grandfather, and they are far from being of anglo-saxon origin.


Why do elephants have red eyes?
To better hide in cherry trees.
Did you ever see an elephant in a cherry tree?
No.
See that's how good they are.


This for example, must be a century old:

"Boss, can I leave work two hours early today? My wife wants me to go shopping with her."
"That’s out of the question!"
"Thanks, boss! I knew you wouldn’t let me down."



On topic re Dowly's link:

Good link..
if germans behave that way they are being called impolite or rude. By proxy of Schroeder: Fun terminated

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

We don't do much small talk either which is probably the reason why we have the reputation of being cold and rude

You and us both. On the plus side, maybe that keeps foreigners from coming to talk to me.

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by Catfish

Why do elephants have red eyes?
To better hide in cherry trees.
Did you ever see an elephant in a cherry tree?
No.
See that's how good they are.

No no! It's why do they paint their toenails red?


And then, the follow up:


What is all the red stuff between their toes?


Pygmies that run slow.

[Jeff-Groves]

Originally Posted by Dowly

You and us both. On the plus side, maybe that keeps foreigners from coming to talk to me.

What keeps me from coming and talking to you is you live in the fridge North some place that requires flying way past where the Vikings were even afraid to go!

That and I don't talk Finnish so couldn't ask "Where's the Beer?".

[nikimcbee]

I was gunna guess it starts with the letter "V".

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Dowly

You and us both. On the plus side, maybe that keeps foreigners from coming to talk to me.

Hmm. needs more ferret snacks. ...or llama snacks.

[Jeff-Groves]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Hmm. needs more ferret snacks. ...or llama snacks.

That's just cold! He probably can't pronounce Llama.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

That's just cold! He probably can't pronounce Llama.

Sounds like a bet. How much beer do we pour into him? Geordie amounts? Aussie amounts? Wisconsin amounts?











L.......L.........L......ah............perk....le. .......la.




Okay, never mind. Who's gunna clean up the mess?

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

L.......L.........L......ah............perk....le. .......la.

Okay, never mind. Who's gunna clean up the mess?

You don't know much about Finnish drinking culture, do you?
At this point I highly doubt you can still get him drunk on beer alone.

Originally Posted by Dowly

You and us both. On the plus side, maybe that keeps foreigners from coming to talk to me.

Ah, that's why you never bothered getting a mic.

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by Jeff-Groves

That's just cold! He probably can't pronounce Llama.

Jokes on you, it's an alpaca.