luka

Well-known member
If you do business with Danes, you will encounter cultural traits that are quite peculiar to basically everybody else. The Danes themselves are not likely to be conscious about these traits as cultural awareness in Denmark is generally low. In fact, only 5% of Danes have high cultural competencies, while 66% and 29% have low and average cultural competencies respectively.


However, there is a good reason for this. Historically Denmark has been an enclave where homogeneity has been valued. It has been quite common for immigrants to assimilate into Danish culture as a ‘requirement’ for social survival. Therefore, the Danes have been less exposed to other mindsets than most other cultures and have not had the opportunities to develop the competencies needed to manage cultural differences. This has two foundational consequences:


  1. Danes have limited knowledge of other cultures.
  2. Danes have limited awareness of how their behaviour is perceived by others.

It is when we engage with others, that we become conscious of our own features. Non-Danes might therefore experience positive results by being explicit about the way you are and how you work when you interact with Danes. This approach can bring potential differences out in the open. For there will be differences! What is interesting is that the Danish features are consistently at the extreme end of almost any cultural dimension we can measure. And therefore, I give you four insights about Danish behaviour that might help you interpret their odd behaviour and underlying intentions.
 
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luka

Well-known member
uk wise, we generally get along best with notherners

To be ’un-Danish’ (an actual word in the Danish vocabulary) is used when ideas or behaviour are not quite good. You can’t really do anything about this character trait but knowing about it might lead you to simply smile as they bluntly promote everything Danish as the best thing in the world. However, be aware that though Danes like to talk about the superiority of seemingly endless amount if Danish wonders, they hold a deep dislike for bragging in general. There is a codex (’Janteloven’) that makes all forms of bragging or self-promotion distasteful to the Danes. So, though they might be smug about anything Danish, but they will not brag about personal achievements. And they do not appreciate others’ self-promotion either.
 

martin

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Terrible place. Hans Christian Andersen was their best writer - and he used to dress up as a goose and then masturbate in front of call girls. Disgusting! A very expensive place to live: a beer's like £9, if I remember right, and tastes like drain cleaner.

They have some weird social code where you can't say "I caught this massive fish, it was the biggest pike in Skagen!" because it's seen as showing off. The best thing I will say about the Danes is they're not as two-faced and pedantic as the Norwegians, as soppy as the Swedes or as loony as the Finns.

Obv, I'm a bit biased due to the whole Celts vs Vikings thing. Actually, I'm just arsing around: Skagen is nice. I had a local beer there before Xmas once and it tasted like Xmas pudding.
 

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
Terrible place. Hans Christian Andersen was their best writer - and he used to dress up as a goose and then masturbate in front of call girls. Disgusting! A very expensive place to live: a beer's like £9, if I remember right, and tastes like drain cleaner.

They have some weird social code where you can't say "I caught this massive fish, it was the biggest pike in Skagen!" because it's seen as showing off. The best thing I will say about the Danes is they're not as two-faced and pedantic as the Norwegians, as soppy as the Swedes or as loony as the Finns.

Obv, I'm a bit biased due to the whole Celts vs Vikings thing. Actually, I'm just arsing around: Skagen is nice. I had a local beer there before Xmas once and it tasted like Xmas pudding.
I knew you'd be along presently to set us all straight, and you didn't disappoint.
 

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
To be ’un-Danish’ (an actual word in the Danish vocabulary) is used when ideas or behaviour are not quite good. You can’t really do anything about this character trait but knowing about it might lead you to simply smile as they bluntly promote everything Danish as the best thing in the world. However, be aware that though Danes like to talk about the superiority of seemingly endless amount if Danish wonders, they hold a deep dislike for bragging in general. There is a codex (’Janteloven’) that makes all forms of bragging or self-promotion distasteful to the Danes. So, though they might be smug about anything Danish, but they will not brag about personal achievements. And they do not appreciate others’ self-promotion either.
And yet Carlsberg is allegedly "the best later in the world". Very inconsistent if you ask me.
 

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
British ideas about Denmark include:

* Vikings! (obvs)
* bacon
* generic lager
* the Mohamed cartoons brouhaha
* gritty crime thrillers (although that's also Sweden and probably Norway too, much of a muchness really)
* er, that's about it
 

luka

Well-known member
i got asked to write a poem about denmark once and its one of the only times i got writers block as i realised i knew nothing about it, not even crude stereotypes and cliches.
 

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
There was also that 'hygge' things everyone went nuts for a few years ago, as if the fact that it's pleasant to wear thick jumpers, have a real log fire and drink got chocolate when it's cold outside were some sort of earth-shattering innovation.
 

Mr. Tea

Let's Talk About Ceps
i got asked to write a poem about denmark once and its one of the only times i got writers block as i realised i knew nothing about it, not even crude stereotypes and cliches.
I remember thinking it was funny that Saudi Arabia was going to boycott exports from a country known mainly for producing bacon and lager.
 

luka

Well-known member
Danes drink a thick brown drink called Gammel Dansk with their rugbrød and coffee most mornings. They also believe that Gammel Dansk can cure some common illnesses. It is strong, bitter liquor made of 29 herbs, spices and flowers but the recipe is kept a secret.
 
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