h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I heard today that people usually are happy or unsatisfied with things, things can be good or bad, positive or negative. Then Estonians and also Finns, they think things are bad or normal. And if anything is normal it's not noticeable. Noone is boosted or praised for being normal. Depressive, really. But I have to agree with it. Every time I am asked how I am doing I answer 'normal', not 'good'. My kids are doing 'normal' at the school.

Oh hati and your so good at 's

Hati, people here keep asking me whether I'm really unhappy or something, because I don't smile all the time... I tell them it doesn't occur to me to smile all the time, as that's just not how I was brought up. It really isn't part of Estonian culture, is it?

By the way, a guidebook/phrasebook I have says in the introduction, 'Never ask an Estonian "How are you?", as they *will* tell you.' I've noticed that other people start to look a bit puzzled when they ask my mother how she is, as she *does* tell them, rather than just saying 'Good', as they expect.

Hati, we all think you're doing fine

Yes, Ivan, it *is* so. I guess you who have talked more with me have noticed already that I use terrible amount of words answering the question 'how are you?'. Well, I am forcing to write 'fine, ' these days already but it still takes some effort. And hardly ever anybody says they're doing good or great. It's normal or fine, nothing more.
So, Hapi, but it's just normal.

right.. well.. since after a few posts we already agreed that the idea of performing "normal" or "fine" or "great" is culturally determined, I think it is safe to say that according to common western Europe standards you are doing fine. Probably according to American standards you are doing "great" and to Estonian/Finish/Russian standards you are doing "normal"

Translating the Russian answer "normal" on the question "how are you", I usually come up with "fine.. I'm fine"

So we sorted that out.
Still, it shows the way people think of feel about themselves.

no.. it shows local culture

When the normal English person in hospital is asked 'how are you', however ill they are they will always reply 'Very Well Thank you Doctor'*

*assuming they are asked by a

yes that is soooooo true

Of course, it's not that English people are very positive, it's that the older ones are too scared /respectful of doctors to answer honestly.

And saying you are not well is, well , un-English in some way..

Here it wouldn't make any sense at all. would ask 'what are you doing here then?'

The really odd thing is that the person who answers 'well I'm feeling dreadful actually Doctor' is usually the wellest person on the ward.

That's the culture for you.

Hati,
next time I will not ask "how are you?",
but ask you "is discribe your day?
some sugestions: a thunder or delicate or sunny side up day or combination or posible other imagnairy discription".

B used to drive me nuts with his 'normal'.

"How is this meal that I have just spent five hours slavig away in the kitchen to prepare?"

"Normal"

Yeah, normal is the best you can get out of most of the people here. But their normal usually means better than very good in Merica.

Interesting

And in the middle of writing this posting I had a call from my father-in-law (Italian) who speaks a little Danish. I couldn't resist asking him "How are you both doing?" - "Ordinary = normal" he said. I translate it "not too bad considering age and the usual pains".

Sometimes when people ask me how I am, I reply: "Do you want the full and honest desription or a short comforting reply".

I find myself wondering more and more about *how* I am and *why*...... so 'good', 'fine', 'normal', 'lousy' aren't answer enough, if I have to be honest.



At a certain point I tried to read a Finnish crime novel but had to give up because it was too bleak. Then I asked a Finnish collegue to recommend a Finnish humourist. I almost finished the book - but still a bit too melancholic to me.

That's who we are. Now you could perhaps understand why I love Denmark as much as I do.