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Comment by pmoriarty | Hacker News Reader

Don't miss part 2:

http://www.robertpriddy.com/Nos/Nor2.html

that goes in to a lot of detail on other aspects of Norwegian society as the author saw it.

I'd love to hear your reaction and that of other Norwegians. How accurate or fair is the depiction? How does your perspective differ? Would you have anything to add?

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I'm a Norwegian (born mid '80s) and feel like this is a rare window into my country's past. A lot of what I have learned at school and trough other typical sources has never been able to give me a neutral and observing perspective.

Remember, the young people of today (below 30y) has only experienced the oil-fueled side of Norway, and a rapidly increasing globalized version of our culture.

I have not read everything yet, but sure will!

Most recent immigrants only know the oil-fueled side of Norway, actually. I'm one of those, and found this reading absolutely fascinating. I'm probably also somewhat lucky - my Norwegian mother in law and extended family fill me in on some history. I did speaking practice in a nursing home, and learned quite a bit from some of the residents, and had a few language teachers that taught a broader view of Norwegian history in class alongside language.

I read some passages to my spouse (Norwegian) and he found some parts outright funny, though he agreed with some as well.. though, our perspective probably is slightly different as we are from the previous decade.

It's quite interesting. I've read some Bjørneboe, and I already knew about the case this author refers to (where a young delinquent was choked to death by a drunk off-duty policeman, and avoided conviction), so I knew these things used to be a lot worse. I guess the establishment of SEFO in 1988 helped quite a bit. Still it's kind of surprising to see Norway described as having a huge blue code/police brutality problem.

I'm not Norwegian, but I would be surprised if this was really a fair description. The author appears to be making an implicit comparison, where things are well if they are as in GB. Of course, there is no claim of objectivity.

Yeah, I tend to agree about the lack of fairness or objectivity, especially in part 2 (which I'm still making my own way through right now). The author really lashes out there, sometimes without very much justification. It almost sounds in parts like he's still undergoing culture shock. At the very least, the author is very opinionated. It does make for some interesting reading, but makes me skeptical of some of the conclusions and it would be nice to get a 2nd or 3rd opinion.

Example:

"At the personal level, the inferiority that seems to lie deep in the psyche makes itself known in all kinds of little ways. 'What made you come to Norway?', ask many people... certainly hoping for a positive comment on their country and culture."

Asking what made one move to one's country is supposed to be a sign of having an inferiority-complex or begging for a compliment? Come on. There could be any number of reasons for asking that, ranging from simple politeness, to making small talk, not being able to think of anything else to ask, or amazingly enough: being genuinely interested in the answer or in the person its being asked of.

I'm always interested in seeing the world through other people's eyes, and that's one of the main reasons I ask people for their impressions.

I'm an immigrant here and get asked, "what made you come to Norway?" Quite often. I don't view it as negatively as the author.

Most Norwegians seem genuinely proud of the country, but at the same time, realize that it is difficult at times, the climate is rough, it is expensive, and other such things. It is comparatively small. And as such, folks get curious about stories. It is easy small talk and more interesting than talking about the weather. Occasionally some folks get asked this in a nearly racist way: But racism isn't unique to Norway, and not sure that the racism of the US is better.

I do, in a way, understand where the author is coming from. Some immigrants are really miserable here or struggle with the society. Mileage varies, I guess, according to personal temperament and beliefs. I rather enjoy life here for the most part - even as I'm in the alternative crowd the author says has a rough time - so I'm probably more prone to positive reviews.

> "At the personal level, the inferiority that seems to lie deep in the psyche makes itself known in all kinds of little ways. 'What made you come to Norway?', ask many people... certainly hoping for a positive comment on their country and culture."

Can confirm this is actually very accurate. Inferiority-complex is indeed a thing in Norway.

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