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Tag Archives: jantelagen

The Downfall of Jantelagen – Social Media Posted by on Feb 18, 2010

I managed to get myself a degree in Scandinavian Studies back in the US. When I explain to people here in Sweden what that entails I am always faced with questions. Why? Why would you study Swedish culture? We don’t have any culture. This comment always strikes me. On a personal level, it is a…

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“Express yourself don’t repress yourself!” Posted by on Feb 17, 2010

No one really likes Jantelagen. People have really weird thoughts about this subject sometimes. You are not supposed to express strong opinions on anything unless it’s not about child abuse (barnaga/barnmisshandel) or something really horrible that people are naturally against. I remember one conversation where I really went against jantelagen and only one friend of mine backed me up. I should…

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Don’t think that you are special… Posted by on Feb 15, 2010

…at least not if you are a Swede, that is. (Alright, we are generalizing again, but it is after all a Swedish blog…) With those words, I hereby declare the Swedish blog’s first theme week open. Every day and every word this week will be dedicated to an awful cloud that has been casting its…

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Jante Something or the Other Posted by on Oct 4, 2008

Sooner or later when you write about Sweden you will have to address the topics of “lagom” and “Jantelagen” and I’ve been mulling over how long I can practice avoidance and not talk about them. Why? Because I don’t know what the big deal is all about. Really. Two goofy phrases that supposedly “define” the…

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