How Foreigners Make Finnish People UNCOMFORTABLE (unintentionally)
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- čas přidán 18. 04. 2023
- Visiting or moving to Finland is exciting because you will get to meet Finns! However, there is several mistakes you can make in by accident that upset Finns. Make sure to watch the video to learn more!
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Watch next: Don't Do These Things in Finland! czcams.com/video/r4brP9DIldg/video.html
500 years is a long time..I think on surface level majority of Finn's & swedish share the same ethnicity,religion & somewhat of culture & language too..why exactly u 2 countries got seperated..?to better govern the all the lands administratively..?
The first time I asked a finn how they're doing, they invited me to a tentlike structure with a bonfire in the middle and handed me something to drink. I had no idea what it was, it was probably about 65% alcohol and tasted like distilled moss.
10/10 would ask again.
I feel the anglophone greeting of "how are you" as a form of hello is really just limited to anglophone nations. No other European nation asks this question without expecting a long and honest reply. Germans do it, the Spanish do it and we find it irritating too when we get asked "how are you" by Brits but they don't care when you start unpacking your inner conflicts. 😂
Honestly everything you've mentioned and explained sounded perfectly fine to me. I'm German and I also don't give out many compliments unless I really mean them and the person has earned it. Maybe there's a Finn inside my soul because everything you mentioned is part of my culture too. Kiitos!
Funny, if it's limited to anglophone nations only, then why has it become a worldwide "rule" to say "how are you"?
The Finnish face of disapproval cracked me up 😂
Good stuff! 😃🙌
Finns seem to be very quick with compliments when you pronounce words correctly. They almost seem...happy 😮
Indeed! The problem is that we don't know how to receive them. :D
Lol as a Chinese person who speaks mandarin, I am the same. I get so excited when people who are non native speakers get words correct!
@@KawaiiCat2 😄
I am from Serbia, much more extroverted country, but not nearly like the USA. Here "how are you" is a weird greeting, too. I remember when I went out and in a small shop that I went to that worked during the night, there was someone speaking in English, asking the woman who worked there "how are you?", and then started to ask more and to chat with her all smiley, and I think he called her "dear", and she giggled and was all blushing and it was so funny and awkward, even to me, it looked like flirting then. But I now think that's just how the American's behave with everyone. 😂
Good video Aleksi. I am Finn living in Australia and I had to adjust my "Finnishness" - so I think I am half Finnish and half Australian now. I had to adjust to the more cosmopolitan lifestyle, we probably have people from every nation living here. We are always greeting one another in the street, hugging & kissing etc. I married my Aussie GF but she still thinks I am "different" - that's the Finnish half. I don't think I will ever totally lose my "Finnish Roots".
Stick to your Finnishness! :)
Kiitos paljon. from America
Talking about money (for example your salary) is also a difficult topic for most of the Finns.
Good point!
The finnish smile never gets old
thanks Aleksi...really informative and funny video!!!!
Thanks Kostas!
About the average net worth image, the numbers are average net worth per household, not per individual.
Kiitos, very helpful and cool video
Thanks Jack!
This just popped up in my feed -- the first one since you decided not to continue posting. It reminded me of how much I've enjoyed watching your videos. Hope things are going well for you, Aleksi. And thanks for all the insights you've given to us here!
We pronounce "sauna" the same way in Hungarian, it is so obvious! 🙂
Your videos are great, it is so interesting to gather some insights into the culture of other countries.
As a Finn born and raised in one of the few small regions of the US(I have since moved) where it is actually pronounced correctly, I have made it my mission to educate people on how to say "sauna" correctly.😐
The escalator thing is also a big city (people) thing. I'm originally from the region of Paris, I moved to a German town that's 10% of what I'm used to in Paris in the public transports.
If I take an escalator, most times I walk the stairs up/down and there are some people in the way, so I have to do the fake throat clearing or I just bluntly say sorry and move forward (cuz we don't care for waiting in Paris).
Awesome video! I like these kind of videos because honestly when I travelled for the first time in another country I wasn't aware that you are not suppose to occupy all the escalator space and I felt so bad when a guy pointed that out to me. So I would love to see more videos on the finnish etiquette for all kind of situations, even if it seems trivial for you! 😂thanks gor the video!
Good stuff!
Love to watch your video again!
Thanks Harry!
Hi Aleksi! Great video and I really like the effort you made with the angles! Made it quite captivating!
I just wanted to suggest you look into introversion in countries of Europe. I always thought I, as a Portuguese, couldn't possibly have a lot in common with Finns, but it turns out I feel quite at home with you guys and that's because we are one of the most introverted countries in Europe!
Thanks!
HEIIIII ALEKSI miltä tuntuu tänään. en ole katsonut täällä videota vähään aikaan. toivottavasti teillä oli hyvä pääsiäinen
Kiitos!
I just found out your channel and I really love your videos! It's so funny to me how almost everything you describe about finnish culture was a culture shock to me when I moved from France to Canada hahaha. Getting used to all of it was really weird at first, but nowadays for example when I go back to France the thought of cheek kisses just… u r g h, no thanks
I guess that harsh winters make people more similar than they would think!
Welcome to the channel!
Welcome back aleksi!
Thanks!
Your videos are hilarious - I just subbed and clicked the bell!
Yay! Thank you!
Nice video 👍
Thanks!
It's all true, and I learned some of this finnish traits the hard way and others by instinct, I'm Puerto Rican/American and felt very confortable as if I was born in Finland I could simply relate to most of it. And fell in love with Finland
Even for cultural differences i found Finnish people nice and easy to deal with. Just minding your own business sometimes or personal space is one way of creating a healthy environment. Love this country so much and the people we met along our journey ❤️
when you find out you're maailmanmestari (Finnish for world champion) or the like and you react in the most Finnish way by not celebrating it like crazy let alone mention it. Finnish modesty, Finnish humility, Finland at its finest. An example of that is rally driver Marcus Grönholms reaction to winning the WRC title. To him it was just another day, nothing too extravagant.
What I've seen in a video that you refer to as modesty in Finland, is referred to as humble/humility in the English speaking countries.
In Finland its people let their work and results do all the talking, no need to toot your own horn. If foreigners mention a Finn's achievement so much at most the Finn would say 'I get that alot'.
I'm glad that you encouraged your fellow Finns as well as foreigners to do to Finns, to do genuine compliments.
I agree with all of these! Luckily, as a shy person I don't think I made too many Finns uncomfortable xD great video Aleksi! Also, love Goku vibing with us :D
Good stuff Marija!
You have just highlighted as it is! Suomi life is interesting though. I love it.
Thanks June!
Cheek kissing are just awful! Completely understand you guys. Just suffering here in Spain!
So, we should go constantly on dates with different people if we like to kiss. 😂 I like your humor. And regarding that, the compliments, I really struggle to believe how the Finns are so surprised and happy to hear that I like Finland and Finns. I mean, you guys are so awesome, it's just how I feel it's so obvious to me. 😁 💙
Olen iloinen, että teet näitä videoita, kiitos! Onko sinulla ehdotuksia hyvistä kirjoista, jotka voisivat auttaa minua oppimaan suomen kieltä?
This video was acceptable Aleksi.
Just kidding, it's excellent - very thoughtful & well done, but I don't want to make things uncomfortable! 🙂
It really makes me think about the way I've behaved around my Finnish cousin (we definitely never do the cheek kissing thing, though). I wonder if some of the things I've done have made her facepalm a little from time to time. Being Canadian I guess I can be more the opposite of "reserved" every now and then!
Thanks Dave!
I am English and so many of these are the same in Britain, so I know that when I go to Finland, at least it won’t be too much of a culture shock! Good video :)
Thanks Chai!
I love the Finns...they are the most interesting people I've met..in Australia
Nice Dragonball towell 😊
Good stuff! 😃🙌
Dude literally made videos about how Finns hang out naked, in those saunas, and I am the one who should be concerned about making Finns uncomfortable. Hahaha
Yep, we don't like talking to other people unless they are naked.
So I have been pondering this question for years now about Finland. As you mentioned, Finns don't know how to handle compliments and that they are shy 8:27 . How on earth do Finns find their spouses? How do they flirt? How do they express interest?
Fins passively diffuse
Hearing Finnish social convention's makes me think of our 'British politness' so often. It feels quite similar in a lot of areas. (Even some of the alcohol habits XD)
Thank you for mentioning more Finnish companies too. I end up doing 'Suomi mannitu!' On Finn's behalf when if I notice any now 😅
Thanks Arky!
@@AleksiHimself
Eläköön Suomi ^^
If I travel to Finland, I'll come looking for Aleksi.
Nice!
The mentioned points just make me loving Finland. Pretty much everyone of these is different in Germany, but I like them neither 😂
Good stuff! 😃🙌
The "don't talk about religion" is ~80% true in my opinion. Mostly we don't since it's just common courtesy to let others live their life and trust in what ever it is, even if it is different to ourself.
But the 10% we talk about it is while drunk, but nobody takes it too seriously, because, after all, it's a drunken conversation that nobody remembers, and even if they do it's just normal to ignore it, like all drunk talk. Not to mention it's often just saying the same thing but using a different term, like most drunken debates.
And the other 10% is because it's just talking with decent, not semi-friends, but before best friend level, and it happens to come up because of a random topic.
But we most often take it as not a personal attack, and since most people don't take religion too seriously or make it a huge part of their personality, compared to my friends from countries like Israel, USA, or Iran, (obviously different religions and personality types in question for most parts per country, just my personal experience with my friends from observing them, limited sample supply). Here in Finland religion isn't a massive thing. Nobody really cares if you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Satanist or Atheist. Just let others be and believe who they want.
Except if you say swedes are better. then it's a fight
And about compliments, I think a large part is that we also massively use sarcastic compliments, and empty compliments. Like if someone does a reasonably amount of work, we might say "helvetin hyvää työtä et oot painanu tätä duunia, eihä meitä ees tarvita tässä, teet tän yksin" (not a word to word translation, more to explain the tone), "Fucking great work doing all the work on this stuff, we aren't even needed, you'll do this yourself". So we are so used to those sarcastic compliments, that if someone says to us "hyvää työtä", it basically sounds like "hey great work, NOT".
9:24 The moment when i (as an introvert) meet Finns for the first time (who have never seen me IRL) and then get a big hug by a lady as a greeting. I probably looked more Finnish in the moment than all the Finns in the room. So happened on my vacation trip end of January in Finland. 😁🙈And I thought that at least in Finland I would be safe from hugs.🤣 Terveisiä Saksasta!
Haha good stuff! It seems you got to know each other via internet? That makes sense cos you had established some sort of connection before meeting.
@@AleksiHimself yes, but just a little bit, actually only 2 things were known about me, my chat alias at a well known streaming platform 😅 and that I am the guy from Germany.😂 At some point I told them that I will come to Finland for 2 weeks and suddenly I was invited to join a community meeting. 😵💫That was already a surprise for me. 🤯😱
I know Finnish and Hungaruan languages are distantly related but not very similar.
However me and my wife were talking Hungarian at a café in Portugal and a Portuguese gentleman came to our table and asked if we were Finnish. He spoke Finnish very well and from a fair distance our Hungarian speech reminded him of Finnish.
7:47 funny thing about that is it actually can cause damage to the escalator if people only stand on one side and yet people do it also it reduces the amount of people that the escalator can move per minute.
I think no one knows that.
On compliments; there is a swedish saying that 'Those who reject praise want to be praised twice.' It works. I'm introvert, (having lots of thoughts spinning in my head) and I've learned that if I accept and thank for the compliments people will leave me alone sooner than if I had rejected the compliments as they would go on and on about whatever trying to make me feel good.
Det har jag aldrig hört. va ere på svenska?
Addition to the escalator point: Don't stand on the staircase right behind the next person. Leave at least one, better two empty ones in between
Because of Finnish personal space? :D
@@AleksiHimself Yeah, I feel like strangers feel super uncomfortable if I stand right behind them in the escalator :D
Yes, my Finnish friends will say How are you ? To me followed by - That is a question not a greeting.
If you speak Finnish as a traveler in Finland they think you are just a wonderful magical being.
Google Translate...oh dear...
Sit in your assigned seat!! No exceptions!!
I’d love to visit Finland, I have 6% Finnish in my DNA and would love to learn a bit more about my ancestors and their culture 👍
Most I agree with here but a few points like queuing, Finns are not good at this, especially in supermarkets. If one new cash desk opens to shorten the line then people will dash from the back of the existing line to the new cash desk 🙄 😅 blood is often involved. Also cheek kissing (like a kiss on the cheek) is fine if you are friends, hugs too. Its more often or not that friends hug each other, even guys.
We don’t do the double kiss thing in the US either
Kimi Räikkönen is the master of Finnish smile 😂
Yep!
I told my Finnish friend that his English was good. He indicated to me that he didn't think I was being honest (maybe even lying)..!!!
Lol that's very Finnish :)
How are you? I hate it when strangers say that.
5:11 yeah i will literally carry extra stuff with me to put on the seat next to me just so i don't have to sit next to someone :D
Haha nice :D
How about simo hayha???
I am a Filipino, but this video can be an example on more reasons why I want to move to Finland despite the difficulties I would have living there (like the language barrier, high taxes, cost of living is so expensive and the heavy snowfall). Although the Philippines is one of the countries that is popular for tourists, Filipinos, are generally extroverted and like to have a lot of friends (and sometimes, introverts in the Philippines are seen as different, anti-social, selfish or self-centered, rebellious, weird, lonely, having a problem with their brain or thinking or even a standout). And yeah, you can consider that Filipinos are generally the polar opposite of the Finnish when it comes to personality or character I guess. And Filipinos (not all of them of course) have the strong notion of "pakikisama" or spending time with people you would not be with like those who are flexing on their achievements in schools or even those who are arrogant. Sometimes, there older Filipinos tend to ask you awkward or personal questions like "do you have a girlfriend" or even make comments like "you got fat" (I can say this is gossip that people despise as well). And yeah, a person who has honors makes the seniors congratulate them and they are impressed by the achievements of that person, while those who have no honors get nothing (and they feel like they are left behind). And toxic positivity is largely prevalent in the Philippines.
Thanks for the comment! There are quite a few Filipino people living here.
@@AleksiHimself, yep, there are only a few of them. If you go to the Philippines, I'm afraid you might experience idle chit-chat (which might be uncomfortable) and the extrovertedness of some Filipinos.
You'd probably would like to avoid "How are you?", "What's up?", but you can say "Howdy! Hello!, hei, Hi, Hejsan" or whatever you like to mutter (one of these are long enough phrases) or just nod with a very little smile, but you may make eye-contact, and wait for the response and then just repeat it. Or try to say "Mitä kuuluu?", like try with "meeta cooloo" as a pronunciation approximation - it means "how are things" but verbatim - "what sounds" or what's new? The proper answer to "mitä kuuluu" is simply, "Kiitos, hyvää!" kiitos= thanks and hyvää = fine, good well. As a response to this just nod and smile a little and be ready to be asked the same in return and respond with the same words: Kiitos, hyvää! It's simple, no need to add problems! 😀
This just made me realize that during Covid, it was probably easy for Finland to social distance lol.
I feel a few of these are also common in Chinese culture. I have never understood why people do the cheek kiss thing in some countries and it frightens me lol.
Good stuff!
A few weeks ago, we were in our public student sauna. One *foreigner* from one neighbouring big country appeared.
So, he asked, "Are you Finns" and if not, "Who are you".
Then "Where do you study" (that's fine), and immediately, "Oh, did you get any job in that sector" (it's ok), and after it: "How much do they pay you?" and "Is that your car at the parking lot".
He also played with his biceps sometimes because he is obviously a big fanatic about a gym. And he was the only person wearing underwear in a single-gender sauna.
Imagine the level of comfort that evening. Kek.
Haha Thanks Art for sharing this!
I like this video
Thanks!
My question is :Do Finns get shy and keep space or do Finns hate people or people relations and keep space ? Same action( keep distance) but 2 different feelings in my question 😊
Neither. We keep space to respect the other person. We feel that it's disrespectful to go into another person's personal space and culturally our personal space is a bit bigger than in many other cultures. That's why we try not to sit or stand too close others. So that they wouldn't feel uncomfortable.
Also small talk is seen as wasting the other person's time as you really don't have anything important to say. We do sometimes talk about mundane things (like the weather) with other people but only when it's obvious that neither one is busy. Usually we just think it's more polite not to bother other people without a reason.
In 2007 I picked up a Sonata Arctica cd in an FYE store and now I’m here
Good stuff!
Very similar to Britain in a lot of ways, just when ppl jump the queue here we just stare awkwardly
Thanks for the comment!
I'm Czech guy, but after watch your videos... I think that I'm some lost Finn down there... 😂😂
As Finn I don't talk about religion for 2 reasons: 1. I think that it is private matter. And 2. I don't really care about religion that much.
As my last comment on this topic (I've commented enough) is to say that what sets Finns apart from the Scandinavians, especially the Swedes and Norwegians, is our tendency not to be so politically correct in informal settings. We can engage in pretty rough humor, and we are not so risk-averse when discussing the potential impacts of mass immigration on a country, even though this is increasingly made taboo by our mass media. So, what sets us apart is that we're not so cautious and afraid to speak about subjects that can be completely taboo, for example, in Sweden. The downside of this, however, is that we can also see pretty open racism in our internet comments. But as long as people keep their heads on their shoulders, they understand that the racist comments represent but a small portion of people who are terminally online.
Brother how to find a. Job in Finland Helsinki
I am looking for job please help
The cheek kissing thing is not popular in the U.S., either. Some Americans have adopted this practice, to try to be "cool" like certain Europeans, but it is not an American custom, at all.
So we must say instead terve, moin ?
I think spanish vowels sound nearly the same as finish ones
hi how can i get work visa of finland
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0:30 What could be an alternative to "how are you"?
You can use "how are you?" but just keep in mind how we Finns approach it. :)
@@AleksiHimself sorry I misspoke, I meant to say what could be the alternative to "mitä kuuluu ". Or some finnish expressions like "whats up?"
American here . I got REALLY stoned in Helsinki and walked through Kampii laughing at people. Last i heard was "wanna see something funny cowboy" and I got knocked the f*ck out. I learned the hard way not to make jokes about the finnish language and definitely do not mistake Helsinki for Moscow.
Here in Italy this cheek kiss thing is really common and I hate it
"Important words like" "kimi raikkonen " 😅
Hello Aleksi. Great content 👍 Learnt a lot about Finland from it.
I have got a PhD in University of Oulu with 2800 gross salary. Is it enough to manage expenses for me and my spouse in salary in Oulu?
Hi I am living in Turku. In my experience, I think it is fairly ok for two persons, if you don't need large apartments and lots of entertainments. Eventually, at this amount, I believe it does depends on your lifestyle more than the salary itself.
I agree with Harry, we lived as a family (one kid) on something similar in Tampere for a year and that was with full price rent, not student housing which is cheaper. But I’d say if the person isn’t working, it’s good to get out and try to find something, a part-time job, do a free Finnish course or even some volunteering as the winters can drag if you’ve nothing to do. Also nice to have a social life.
@@harrycslau Thanks
@@Whatshisname346 Isn't there some allowance for Finnish integration program which can support families?
What sqm size apartment would be comfortable (don't want it to be too small) for two persons?
😂😂😂😂😂 thanks!!!!
Hahaha!!!!! I remember kimi raikkonen everytime he wins a grand prix, journalist have difficult time formulating their questions, bec kimi appears to always have a very blunt and direct answer😅😅😅😅😅
Good stuff! 😃🙌
❤❤❤❤❤
😃🙌
almost 700 years
Kimi 🤣
:)
Uraliin! Uraliiin!!
There’s one that’s missing. You can stare at people anywhere and you’ll probably have to accept being stared at all the time but you can never stare at someone’s junk in Sauna.
Well, I mean... shouldn't that be obvious?
I think that is valid everywhere.
remember when in australia. years ago. how are you and I am prepared to tell him and then he is gone he he
Haha nice!
As a British person I can relate to most of these, especially the queueing. It is a sacred art.
Good stuff! 😃🙌
Why no cheek kiss ?!🤣🙉🙈🙈
I hate nothing worse than cueing unless playing pool
Why do we sit alone, searching for seats that are not taken at all? I mean, why would you seat yourself beside a stranger if other seats are available? I'm really asking. This is not a Finnish trait at all; it's just common sense.
However, I have no problem sitting next to someone if all the double seats are each already taken by one person. Like, why wouldn't I then sit next to someone? I don't get why this, which is a very common trait among people, has to be turned into a "Finnish quirk."
I mean, if you go onto a bus, would you choose the seat next to someone if the whole bus is otherwise empty? Now, why would you do this if the bus has only 6 passengers? 16? 20? Why wouldn't you try to find a double seat that is completely unoccupied?
Again, I have to disagree; it's not religion that we don't talk about, at least in my experience, it's money. I have never heard even the highest earners say what they make or how much they are worth. Seriously, I've had debates over religion with people about their beliefs and my non-beliefs. But money never gets discussed, even when it's apparent that the other person is very well off. And I think that's a very good thing.
Belonged to Sweden for five centuries, but the Helsinki was founded by Russians. Good knowledge of history.
I just say nothing and nod politely
Here's a compliment: Finnish rock groups in the 1970s were in general way better than the Swedish groups.
Sounds like i am a Finnish 😂
Americans don't cheek kiss either. We will hug friends, but kissing is awkward.
I said Finland and Finnish people are awesome in Estonia. And I got the Finnish look from Estonians. :(
It's the same thing with Estonians. :)
Also Finns: Mitä kuuluu?
Latin America could be the perfect finns' nightmare. JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA se joden. XDD
PDT: it's the perfect moment to use my finnish abilities. PERKELE.
😄🙌
The purpose of giving someone a compliment is to make that person feel good, but there's not much incentive in giving compliments to Finns if they look at you with disgust or puzzled after you compliment them, it looks like you make them feel worse. That's why I've stopped complimenting Finnish women and it seems to work better because you don't make them feel bad at least
What kind of compliments have you given so far?
@@AleksiHimself They react differently depending the kind of compliment and I've given all sorts of compliments. I've given compliments about their beauty, outfit, smile, eyes, hair, attitude, energy and what I found is that they don't like compliments to their beauty and it makes them feel worse, if I compliment something else that isn't related to their beauty it won't make them feel bad but it will confuse them very often
I'm guessing you mean not talk about religion as in theology. I'm guessing it's okay to talk about religious history amongst friends such as history of the Roman Catholic church or Protestantism.
I'm here to offer an insightful comment, one that you must take to heart.
Finland is a highly conflict-avoidant culture. Because of this, we are not as "honest and straightforward" as we like to perceive ourselves.
If you behave in a way that Finns around you consider improper, you’ll likely be given a pass initially. However, if you continue to behave in a way that the majority disapproves of, you will never be directly told, "What you did in this and that situation is wrong; we don't like it." Instead, you’ll notice a gradual decrease in interactions with Finns. Little by little, your contacts will become fewer and eventually may cease altogether.
This doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing something universally considered bad; it could simply be that your behavior is uncomfortable for the majority. You might be too forthright, too confrontational, too opinionated, or even hold unpopular political opinions. Whatever the reason, you will never know unless someone, perhaps under the influence of alcohol, tells you why you have lost contacts.
The truth is, Finns are not as sincere or direct as we think we are, simply because we avoid small talk or pleasantries. In reality, when it truly matters, we often remain silent. We maintain a straight face while someone does something we disapprove of and make a mental note that this person is no longer acceptable.
This is far from actual sincerity, honesty, and straightforwardness.
Written by a Finn
The reasons for conflict avoidance in Finland, particularly in my generation and as a Finnish male, are not exactly the same as in many other countries, at least as I interpret them. We do not avoid conflict because it’s embarrassing or because we’ll lose face. You see, beneath the civility and tolerance of a Finn, and a Finnish male in particular, is a deep-seated hatred and rage towards being told what to do by another person. I feel this in myself as well; there is nothing I hate more than someone having the audacity to tell me I must behave differently or to directly say I am wrong.
In my opinion, and this may be outdated, Finns are highly emotional and deeply feeling people. This is precisely why our culture emphasizes being mellow and not showing emotions, because when we do, we often overdo it. We can be really aggressive when we finally feel we’ve had enough, but that breaking point varies from person to person. I know there are Finns everywhere who are just on the brink, counting the months, days, hours, and seconds until they finally let it all out. This is not a pleasant cultural trait, but at least my generation has it, and I have seen it happen many times-when someone just loses their composure and goes off.
For all its ridiculousness, the relatively new Finnish movie "Sisu" actually provides a quite descriptive portrayal of a Finnish man. He just wants to mind his own business, but then outside forces intervene. Once he sees that he has been clearly wronged, there is an intense violent backlash, and the man simply won’t let it go. When it’s so clear that he’s been wronged, he just goes "to an all out war."