Random Thoughts

In many cultures, striking up a conversation with a stranger is the norm, and could even lead to a budding friendship. But not for the Swedes. Here, small talk is seen as futile, and referred to as kallprat (cold talk) or dodprat (dead talk). To avoid ending in these situations, many Swedes have made an art of avoiding eye contact with strangers and acquaintances they might come across in the street by looking at their phones or staring at shopping windows instead. For Swedes, the purpose of talking is to exchange meaningful information, and engaging in purposeless chit-chat simply isn't valued.