judderbar wrote:People are fairly narrow minded here, like in many other places, and they dont seem to see any reason to mix socially outside of established circles - which includes contact with neighbours. They might say hello but that is all you get. I think people who want social contact are perhaps seen as weak minded lonely people or something?
Finnish people are not narrowminded, they are actually pretty open towards foreigners compared to many other countries. Once the system said you have a right to be in the country, practically everybody will accept you and your right to be here.
Finns are careful people and very particular with social interaction, but that has nothing to do with being narrowminded. Finns are not group people, they enjoy living alone. Their happy place is the summer house, with nobody else around than the immediate family. Therefore they try to live in a way that allows everybody involved to pretend that there are no other people. That is why you can live in an apartment complex for years without ever seeing your neighbors. It is a social norm, if not a codex, Finns agree on and live by.
Finns also don't like to be forced to social interaction. They don't enjoy the pressure that these situations bring, and also often they are not sure how to react. Nevertheless, Finns are very open and friendly people when they can choose themselves when to interact with new people.
As a foreigner and guest in the country, you should try to understand that and accept it. I never get it why people come to a country and start criticizing the culture and mentality of the people the minute they are off the plane. If you don't like it you can leave.