[franksolich]

A recent news item about our ally in the war against terror. One wonders what it is that makes Norwegians apparently so morose, but one gets a pretty good idea.

[martin_fierro]

They look happy enough to me.

[franksolich]

"Ping" for the "Norway ping list."

The purpose of the "Norway ping list" is to provoke comments and remarks and illumination from those Norwegians among us on Free Republic.

There ARE some Norwegians who hang around Free Republic, but who hesitate to enlighten us, probably for one of two reasons; (a) they are not familiar with American sorts of humor, and are afraid they will upset Free Republicans and (b) they know English only as a second language, and so are hesitant to express anything, for fear their English might be ridiculed.

Well, no Free Republican has ever been known to commit an act of violence against another Free Republican, so no worry there. And as for "good" English as compared with "bad" English, one rarely meets an American who uses proper English anyway, so Norwegians fit in rather well here.

[Grut]

Well, judging from my own family Norwegians are a pretty morose lot even when they're Americans!

[lizma]

Researcher Ottar Hellevik believes that the steadily rising standard of living undermines contentment by stimulating a desire to have even more.

Spoken like a true marxist.

I was under the impression that the standard of living in Scandinavia isn't as high as we have been lead to believe.

[Tacis]

I think it is because they are also officious, pompous and arrogant and they know it, and know that every one else knows it. That would certainly lead to depression and national drunkenness.

[ArGee]

A new study finds that Norwegians, despite their beautiful natural surroundings, oil fortune and having the country ranked as the best place in the world to live, are the saddest people in the Nordic region.

I thought Norwegians were gay.

Shalom.

[Jedidah]

This might have something (or a lot) to do with their problem:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-12-15-marriage_x.htm

(Read the whole thing.) One excerpt: "Even though there are state churches in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, few people go. . ."

Proverbs 16:20 . . . and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

They have high suicide rates due to low sunlight levels. That's probably the source of the higher than normal moroseness too.

[ghitma]

They need Monday Night Football

[dfwgator]

Of course if my country's only contribution to pop culture is A-Ha, I'd be pretty depressed to. ;)

[Mr. Jeeves]

It's the weather. ;)

[NoClones]

they, the Norwegians as a country, are socialists!

that is a good enough reason to be down-in-the-dumps!

[Teacher317]

Some people need to watch a few sappy movies from the 70's and 80's... money does not create contentment!!!

[cookcounty]

"A new study finds that Norwegians, are the saddest people in the Nordic region."

Undlike us hoppy Svedes.