11 Of The Best Examples Of Nordic People Social Distancing Way Before Quarantine
When they hear the name of a country, most people can immediately connect it with some sort of stereotype. What pops into your head when you hear Canada? We bet it’s the common notion that everyone is really polite (which we can’t argue with). The Netherlands is commonly associated with everyone being high all the time, most people don’t think about anything else than pizza when they hear someone say “Italy”. The associations people usually blurt out when they hear the name of any Nordic country are “tall, blond and likes everything licorice”.
Turns out, if there is anything Nordic people like more than licorice, it’s their personal space. People from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and other northern European countries have been setting the social-distancing trend before it was cool, and here’s the proof.
Imgur user LucasLux has recently shared a couple of photos of Nordic people social distancing a few years before this became the new normal
Image credits: LucasLux
While some people are struggling to figure out how far away do they have to stand from each other, it turns out that Nordic people have been setting this trend for a long while now. Some of these photos shared by Imgur user LucasLux are five years old, so they were definitely social distancing before it was cool!
While the rest of the world is struggling to keep the 6 feet distance that’s recommended due to coronavirus pandemic
Image credits: LucasLux
The appreciation for their own personal space is so enrooted within the Nordic community, they are even creating memes about being asked to maintain social distance now due to the health threats posed by the novel coronavirus. Apparently, being 6 feet away is too close for them.
Nordic people have practiced social distancing for generations
Image credits: LucasLux
LucasLux explained it was a social norm not to stand close to people you don’t know.” We really dislike being harassed and stalked by chatty staff in stores too. It’s about relaxing one’s mind by not having others going uninvited into your bubble,” he said. “We like being left alone by people we don’t know”
And are having a good laugh at the social distancing recommendations pressed on them by world’s health officials
Image credits: LucasLux
“When you get on the bus you simply take a free window place at a double seat if available, and if not you just take a free seat next to someone,” explained LucasLux and proceeded to point out it would be best to keep to yourself if it so happens you get to sit next to someone. “Leave the person alone, they might be thinking about something important,” he said.
Apparently, they cherish their personal space so much, it’s an absolute norm to keep a good distance while waiting for a bus
Image credits: LucasLux
However, he said multicultural cities like Norwegian capital Oslo are not so harsh about keeping their distance and keep closer together. “With warmer weather, everyone in Scandinavia becomes more social and the distances shrink a bit,” he added.
If you wonder what happens when they all go into the same bus, LucasLux has an explanation
Image credits: LucasLux
But it turns out, everything is not as simple as it may seem. Dena from Study In Sweden explained that standing too far from someone might not be the best idea as you would “project a sort of cold impression on others”. Yet, standing too close would make them uncomfortable. She said it isn’t uncommon in Sweden to even take a few spets back from someone you’re talking with if they’re getting too close.
Turns out, it’s considered to be rude in Scandinavia ad Finland to sit next to someone if there are completely empty double seats on the bus
Image credits: LucasLux
“In my opinion, all of this boils down to respect – respecting the stranger you happen to be standing/sitting next to by not speaking to them,” she said.
LucasLux says it’s a cultural thing – they just have a deep appreciation for personal space
Image credits: LucasLux
“There is almost no way of knowing what that person is up to, or if they want to be disturbed that way. Initiating a conversation like that can be considered aggressive, intrusive,” Dena explained.
“We really dislike being harassed and stalked by chatty staff in stores too”
Image credits: LucasLux
“It’s about relaxing one’s mind by not having others going uninvited into your bubble,” he says
Image credits: LucasLux
Talk about Nordic people setting the trends again!
Image credits: LucasLux
People had some witty remarks about Nordic social distancing
167Kviews
Share on Facebook
Sounds like a good place to live to me! Person: touches me Me: Hisses and crawls into a corner
If you get on a bus in the UK with empty double seats and you sit next to someone, that's a pretty aggressive move.
I think it's pretty standard anywhere to only sit next to a stranger if there are no completely empty seats left. It's the same as not using the toilet cubicle or urinal next to an occupied one if you have a choice.
Load More Replies...
I'm in the U.S. and I also hate being harassed and stalked by chatty staff in stores.
I’m not in Scandinavia but in Germany and it’s mostly like that here as well. But some weird, annoying people just don’t seem to be bothered by common knowledge >.>
That's what it's like being northern. We just don't like to socialize :)
It's more about having the luxury of space. Now, go to a place where people don't socialise, but are forced to stick together like sardines due to lack of space. Welcome of East Asia. ♡
Load More Replies...
If not for all the snow everywhere, I'd call this place heaven.
The snow is most certainly not everywhere 😂😂 Where I live we haven't had snow since early january.
Load More Replies...
I get rather annoyed when someone sits next to me in a movie theater where there are lots of empty seats or even rows... why would you?
I looked into moving here out of curiosity, it is a stunning country and probably one of the most cleanest and safest places in the world. But as an American trying to move there and gain citizenship is a nightmare! They make it really hard for you to immigrate there.....but seeing as we've f****d up most of the planet I can't say I blame them lol
Wow. That's much better than where I live, even with the pandemic happening.
Can confirm. As an introvert I'm blessed to having been born a swede. 😂
i find this very nice, here most people don't have the concept of personal space which is kinda stressing me.
As descendants of people on both sides of the Baltic, we American Midwesterners have our spacing issues: "We have to move, Inga. The neighbors are too close, almost half a mile away." "Ja, what do they think this is, a city? Oh, no, no, no." -Dr M
I hate when there are empty seats left, or seats with only one person on them and someone goes all the way into the back of the bus where I sit, and sits next to me (school bus), at least in some places they understood that that's actually pretty rude
I live in Sweden and yes, it is creepy having to sit next to strangers on the bus when there is lots of empty seats. Is that really a Scandinavian thing? 🤔
Heh, pretty sure thats the police training school/academy in Hervanta, Tampere, in the 6th pic down. Opposite Duo!
I like it because i feel uncomfortable when i'm crowded like concerts, public transports etc
I don’t agree with this. Human closeness and interaction are very important to me. Call me crazy, but I like to visit places where people are warm and friendly. This doesn’t do it for me.
Please don't impose that onto others. Just because you can't stand being alone, doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way.
Load More Replies...
I have stood in line at McDonald's where the person behind me stood so close to me, I could feel his breath on my neck. I wanted to sing that Police song, 'Don't stand so close to me'.
I'm hoping that wearing masks in public is a thing that sticks because then people won't breathe on me.
Load More Replies...
All nonsense... Its just they dont know eachother and hve no interest in eachother plus low population. Here in india we have no choice.
There's a huge difference between India and Scandinavia. So just because you are forced to interact with other people all the time, doesn't mean that other people from other countries experience the same
Load More Replies...
In the UK, queueing for buses is pretty much a thing of the past. It's now more like what I observed from living in Eastern Europe where people just stand and get on the bus with no regard for anyone else.
These photos were taken way before the virus was around ☺️ That's what this article is all about.
Load More Replies... This is silly though because even though they are six feet apart outside, once they get on the bus they will be shoulder to shoulder. On top of that they are far more likely to be infected indoors than outdoors, even if they could be six feet a part on the bus, because the 'stagnant' environment and surfaces inside the bus are more conducive to the spread of viruses. While viruses spread outdoors, they love indoors more, so really the critical area is the threshold; when you bring the virus in from an external source to an internal environment you significantly increase your chances of contracting the virus. That's why you need to wash your hands and face as soon as you come in the door and not after you put away the groceries or take a dump (wash your hands after you take a dump too though).
I think these photos were taken long before the virus, so the virus has nothing to do with them and that's what's so amusing ☺️ We have always valued our personal space 💙
Load More Replies...
Sounds like a good place to live to me! Person: touches me Me: Hisses and crawls into a corner
If you get on a bus in the UK with empty double seats and you sit next to someone, that's a pretty aggressive move.
I think it's pretty standard anywhere to only sit next to a stranger if there are no completely empty seats left. It's the same as not using the toilet cubicle or urinal next to an occupied one if you have a choice.
Load More Replies... I'm in the U.S. and I also hate being harassed and stalked by chatty staff in stores.
I’m not in Scandinavia but in Germany and it’s mostly like that here as well. But some weird, annoying people just don’t seem to be bothered by common knowledge >.>
That's what it's like being northern. We just don't like to socialize :)
It's more about having the luxury of space. Now, go to a place where people don't socialise, but are forced to stick together like sardines due to lack of space. Welcome of East Asia. ♡
Load More Replies... If not for all the snow everywhere, I'd call this place heaven.
The snow is most certainly not everywhere 😂😂 Where I live we haven't had snow since early january.
Load More Replies... I get rather annoyed when someone sits next to me in a movie theater where there are lots of empty seats or even rows... why would you?
I looked into moving here out of curiosity, it is a stunning country and probably one of the most cleanest and safest places in the world. But as an American trying to move there and gain citizenship is a nightmare! They make it really hard for you to immigrate there.....but seeing as we've f****d up most of the planet I can't say I blame them lol
Wow. That's much better than where I live, even with the pandemic happening.
Can confirm. As an introvert I'm blessed to having been born a swede. 😂
i find this very nice, here most people don't have the concept of personal space which is kinda stressing me.
As descendants of people on both sides of the Baltic, we American Midwesterners have our spacing issues: "We have to move, Inga. The neighbors are too close, almost half a mile away." "Ja, what do they think this is, a city? Oh, no, no, no." -Dr M
I hate when there are empty seats left, or seats with only one person on them and someone goes all the way into the back of the bus where I sit, and sits next to me (school bus), at least in some places they understood that that's actually pretty rude
I live in Sweden and yes, it is creepy having to sit next to strangers on the bus when there is lots of empty seats. Is that really a Scandinavian thing? 🤔
Heh, pretty sure thats the police training school/academy in Hervanta, Tampere, in the 6th pic down. Opposite Duo!
I like it because i feel uncomfortable when i'm crowded like concerts, public transports etc
I don’t agree with this. Human closeness and interaction are very important to me. Call me crazy, but I like to visit places where people are warm and friendly. This doesn’t do it for me.
Please don't impose that onto others. Just because you can't stand being alone, doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way.
Load More Replies... I have stood in line at McDonald's where the person behind me stood so close to me, I could feel his breath on my neck. I wanted to sing that Police song, 'Don't stand so close to me'.
I'm hoping that wearing masks in public is a thing that sticks because then people won't breathe on me.
Load More Replies... All nonsense... Its just they dont know eachother and hve no interest in eachother plus low population. Here in india we have no choice.
There's a huge difference between India and Scandinavia. So just because you are forced to interact with other people all the time, doesn't mean that other people from other countries experience the same
Load More Replies... In the UK, queueing for buses is pretty much a thing of the past. It's now more like what I observed from living in Eastern Europe where people just stand and get on the bus with no regard for anyone else.
These photos were taken way before the virus was around ☺️ That's what this article is all about.
Load More Replies... This is silly though because even though they are six feet apart outside, once they get on the bus they will be shoulder to shoulder. On top of that they are far more likely to be infected indoors than outdoors, even if they could be six feet a part on the bus, because the 'stagnant' environment and surfaces inside the bus are more conducive to the spread of viruses. While viruses spread outdoors, they love indoors more, so really the critical area is the threshold; when you bring the virus in from an external source to an internal environment you significantly increase your chances of contracting the virus. That's why you need to wash your hands and face as soon as you come in the door and not after you put away the groceries or take a dump (wash your hands after you take a dump too though).
I think these photos were taken long before the virus, so the virus has nothing to do with them and that's what's so amusing ☺️ We have always valued our personal space 💙
Load More Replies... 
324
92