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Comment by null_object | Hacker News Reader

This gives a really distorted image of the real Sweden I know. 99% of kids in real Sweden are definitely not hanging out at these educational centers: in this massively conformist society (especially for teenagers), the kids are getting hold of beer as soon as they can, driving cars to the nearest petrol station or out-of-town car parks, and burning tire marks in the asphalt.

This sort of article is just window-dressing for what it’s really like to live in this mostly restricted and limited land, out in the boondocks.

Swedes living abroad probably actually believe this nostalgic fiction of their homeland.

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99% are a lot; there would be a constant mist of rubber if they all left scorch marks on the asphalt. I grew up in the tail end of what is described, not a part of it but took advantage of it. I believe the author grew up when that movement did have a lot of money and engagement, that then faltered in the economic down turn of the 90ies and with the down fall of the Swedish farmers party.

It is still strong, but not as extreme as it used to be.

I'm interested in your perspective. What is "real" Sweden to you? Rural? Urban? Something else? Can you share a little about where you live? Your age or life phase at least?

P.S. A bit of direct but constructive criticism: the problem with saying 99% is that is comes across as overly specific, even simplistic. It begs the question: have you quantified your observations? Most people don't. Unfortunately, this makes it hard to reason statistically about variations in different perspectives.

I think you have a skewed views of 'kids these days' if you think they're getting beer a soon as they can.

Data will tell you that alcohol consumption in Europe is down compared to my generation (millennial). They are also more engaged than previous generation, especially compared to the silent generation who basically let their elders kill popular education (I hear a lot of 'OK boomer', but let it be said that boomers fought to conserve our rights in my country, at least in their youth).

Anyway.

I also prefer to think of rural Sweden as one big Simon Stalenhag painting. But I've seen enough of Canada's own boondocks to have an excellent idea of what you're describing, unfortunately. I just replace Chryslers with Volvos and Molson with, uh, Falcon?

Clearly the Falcon should be replaced with Norrlands Guld.

As a non-Swede, I didn’t get the bit about “massively conformist society”. Could you please expand on it a little or point to some reading about it?

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