The debate about Swedish hospitality started on Reddit – a forum otherwise known for such profound discussions as ‘Can you watch porn on a hotel’s wifi?’ – and has now gone global. Even the New York Times has weighed in with an article entitled: ‘Do Swedish People Feed Their Guests?’
The whole fuss is difficult to comprehend from a Swedish point of view
Suddenly, it seems, the world is talking about Sweden’s lack of domestic warmth. Here in Stockholm, the buzz was first brushed off as a joke. When the subject started trending on Twitter, it was in all seriousness thought to be the potential work of Russian troll factories; professional provocateurs spreading disinformation and propaganda.
The famously neutral Sweden has just taken the historic decision to apply for Nato membership. Defence experts have warned us and fellow applicant country Finland that we’re facing a dangerous period of all manner of threats and provocations – from Russian military jets trespassing on our airspace to more subtle operations, aiming to tarnish the Nordic countries’ reputations.
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