12 votes

Residents of Luleå, Sweden welcome new campaign encouraging them to say hello to each other during dark winter months

Posted by mycketforvirrad
Tags: sweden.lulea, society, communities, isolation, loneliness, friendliness, strangers, wellbeing, government.local, policy.social, winter, uplifting, author.miranda bryant, source.the guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/21/swedish-city-lulea-loneliness-campaign-to-say-hello

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Title
'You live in your own bubble': Swedish city takes on loneliness with a simple hi
Authors
Miranda Bryant
Published
Nov 21 2023
Word count
955 words

11 comments

  1. [9]
    lou
    Link
    Once again Scandinavia comes with news that make me think I was born in the wrong part of the world. But I suppose sometimes I might wanna say hello during a long cold winter.

    Once again Scandinavia comes with news that make me think I was born in the wrong part of the world.

    But I suppose sometimes I might wanna say hello during a long cold winter.

    5 votes
    1. [8]
      Pioneer
      Link Parent
      Then say "hello" to those you meet on a walk in these cold, dark months. I live in London, these folks are painfully reclusive compared to my origin in the country. They jump at "Hello" but...

      Then say "hello" to those you meet on a walk in these cold, dark months.

      I live in London, these folks are painfully reclusive compared to my origin in the country. They jump at "Hello" but usually say it back and get chatting if you do.

      7 votes
      1. [7]
        lou
        Link Parent
        Oh. Where I am from, I have never experienced winter :P

        Oh. Where I am from, I have never experienced winter :P

        4 votes
        1. [6]
          Pioneer
          Link Parent
          Angry British noises

          Angry British noises

          8 votes
          1. [5]
            lou
            (edited )
            Link Parent
            You'd get sick of it. Pretty much guaranteed. But I suppose it has its advantages. 18ºC with high humidity is the lowest it gets where I live, and even then it's not for long. Like, a few days a...

            You'd get sick of it. Pretty much guaranteed. But I suppose it has its advantages. 18ºC with high humidity is the lowest it gets where I live, and even then it's not for long. Like, a few days a year and not even all day long.

            Most days are like 28ºC to 30ºC and hotter a lot of the time even when it is not summer. Climate change is particularly scary on that climate.

            3 votes
            1. [3]
              Pioneer
              Link Parent
              You know what? You're probably right. The only thing that the UK sucks for with our bloody geographic position? We've got such painfully dark winters. We get just enough sun to be tantalising, but...

              You know what? You're probably right.

              The only thing that the UK sucks for with our bloody geographic position? We've got such painfully dark winters. We get just enough sun to be tantalising, but not enough to be enjoyable. Just enough cold to be interesting, but not enough for snow fun.

              So we end up cold, damp and miserable!

              4 votes
              1. [2]
                lou
                Link Parent
                I suppose we are both at extremes. I would prefer to live on a 18C to 25C zone with low humidity. It would be ideal for me. Too much humidity fucks up any climate in my opinion.

                I suppose we are both at extremes. I would prefer to live on a 18C to 25C zone with low humidity. It would be ideal for me. Too much humidity fucks up any climate in my opinion.

                2 votes
                1. Pioneer
                  Link Parent
                  Agreed. London can be hellish in summer due to it. It can be 24...but the humidity just batters you into feeling it's so much worse.

                  Agreed. London can be hellish in summer due to it. It can be 24...but the humidity just batters you into feeling it's so much worse.

                  5 votes
            2. smoontjes
              Link Parent
              30 degrees at high humidity is awful, I'll give you that. But it was 0 degrees yesterday when I was waiting for half an hour for a delayed train at the outskirts of Odense. I didn't realize it was...

              30 degrees at high humidity is awful, I'll give you that. But it was 0 degrees yesterday when I was waiting for half an hour for a delayed train at the outskirts of Odense. I didn't realize it was going to be this cold so I wasn't wearing proper clothing... but winter hasn't even technically started yet! I reckon a sweet spot exists in between my limbs freezing off and such heat as yours I mean good grief

              2 votes
  2. [2]
    gowestyoungman
    (edited )
    Link
    Sun disappears at 2 pm? Good lord, I thought northern Canada was bad. Sun down at 5 pm, before you even get home from work. Go to work in the dark, come home in the dark, no wonder we feel like...

    Sun disappears at 2 pm? Good lord, I thought northern Canada was bad. Sun down at 5 pm, before you even get home from work. Go to work in the dark, come home in the dark, no wonder we feel like we're hibernating for half the year.

    5 votes
    1. smoontjes
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Yip! I was well into adulthood when I learned the big difference in latitude between Europe and North America. Always thought they were perfectly equal for some reason. The upper part curves a lot...

      Yip! I was well into adulthood when I learned the big difference in latitude between Europe and North America. Always thought they were perfectly equal for some reason.

      The upper part curves a lot so it's not the best map but still: https://i.imgur.com/VuZaXcl.jpg

      Edit: Baader-Meinhof phenomenon :) Just saw this other one that isn't curved

      4 votes