Quote from: WaPo'Hello, Sweden speaking': Official hotline connects you with a random Swedish resident
"Calling Sweden, you will soon be connected to a random Swede."
Those are the first words one hears when dialing the "Swedish Number," a new hotline created to connect callers with local residents. A few flat tones later and the caller is patched through to, well, a random Swede.
One such call late Thursday morning connected with David Lamm, a product designer from the nation's second most-populous city, Gothenburg. Lamm, who speaks English, volunteered to field calls on Wednesday, which was both the day the service launched and his 31st birthday.
"We were sort of invited to answer the phone for Sweden and I thought I had to sign up," he said.
The conversation on Thursday was Lamm's seventh through the service. His first was with a pleasant man from Istanbul, who, like this reporter, first asked about the weather. (It was about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and raining when we spoke.) Lamm also spoke with two Americans, he said.
"The interesting thing with both of those guys is that they were sort of calling with a Donald Trump-ish agenda," he said. "They wanted to hear sort of 'What the hell are you doing over there in Sweden, taking all those immigrants, all those Muslims.'"
(The nation welcomed more refugees per capita than much of Europe last year, though that openness has not come without its problems. Authorities have been accused of covering up crime allegedly committed by migrants, resulting in a sometimes-violent backlash.)
Lamm's conversations were facilitated by the Swedish Number—46-771-793-336, or 46-771-SWEDEN—debuted on Wednesday and was conceived by the Swedish Tourist Association, a nonprofit that runs more than 350 accommodations including hostels, hotels, mountain stations and cabins.
It was launched to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the passage of what many say was the world's first press freedom law. The hotline itself appears to mark another first: It is the world's only national phone number connecting callers to local residents, the association said in a statement.
"We want to show the real Sweden – a unique country worth visiting with the right of public access, sustainable tourism, and a rich cultural heritage," Magnus Ling, general secretary and chief executive officer of the association, said in a statement.
Just after 11 a.m. on Thursday, that meant Lamm, who, for what it's worth, defended the refugees his country has welcomed.
"We've had problems in Sweden, of course, but it's mostly due to us being bad at integration projects,
he said. "I wouldn't blame anything on the people coming here, I mean they're fleeing for their lives."
Lamm shared his experience growing up with refugees from the Bosnian conflict: "I grew up with a lot of those that came then and that worked out really good," he said.
Though he disagreed with his two American callers, he nonetheless enjoyed the discussion.
"The conversations with them had been the most interesting because they had something to say," he said. "The other people calling were like, 'Hello, is this working? I just want to check out the service.' "
As of Thursday morning, more than 3,000 Swedes like Lamm had downloaded the smartphone app that allows them to answer the hotline, according to Jenny Engström, a spokeswoman for the association. The number had attracted between 5,000 and 6,000 calls at that point.
She herself has taken part.
"I got six calls and it's fantastic," Engström said Thursday. "China, Saudi Arabia — and they ask all different questions." She also spoke with someone from Turkey and a man from Michigan.
"He asked me about how it is to study in Sweden, how it works, and is it hard to find a place to stay, stuff like that," she said.
Engström acknowledges the potential for abuse but said there are mechanisms to deal with that: All calls are recorded and will be listened to only if callers complain through the website, she said.
The lack of control is precisely what the service was created to honor: two-and-a-half centuries of press freedom.
Sweden continues to live up to its reputation for free speech, tying Norway for first in the 2015 Press Freedom ranking created by Freedom House, a watchdog dedicated to global freedom and democracy. It ranked fifth in a similar 2015 ranking created by the nonprofit Reporters Without Borders.
Globally, however, conditions for the media "deteriorated sharply" in 2014, according to Freedom House. Reporters Without Borders agreed, noting a "drastic decline in freedom of information" that year in its annual report. The number launched less than one month before World Press Freedom Day, which is scheduled for May 3.
The hotline will run for two months. There is a chance it will run beyond June 6, Engström said, but only if the nonprofit can find a sponsor to cover the high costs of maintaining the service.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/04/08/hello-sweden-speaking-official-hotline-connects-you-with-a-random-swedish-resident/
Any Swedish posters participating?
I might give it a call later if I'm not busy. :uffda:
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
What are the hottest night spots in Malmö?
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Quote from: derspiess on April 08, 2016, 12:12:56 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
What are the hottest night spots in Malmö?
Rosengård.
Quote from: DGuller on April 08, 2016, 12:15:51 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
I'm an ass man.
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
If a horrible civil war ever breaks out in Texas is Sweden a good place to seek refuge?
Quote from: Valmy on April 08, 2016, 12:42:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
If a horrible civil war ever breaks out in Texas is Sweden a good place to seek refuge?
The best.
Are you a feminist or a masculinist?
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:39:01 PM
Quote from: DGuller on April 08, 2016, 12:15:51 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
I'm an ass man.
How did Sweden become the rape capital of Europe?
This is just calling for some swedish pranksters to show us what they're made of.
Also I wonder how many pervs hoping to speak to a woman they get
Quote from: Valmy on April 08, 2016, 12:42:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
If a horrible civil war ever breaks out in Texas is Sweden a good place to seek refuge?
if?
Quote from: Maximus on April 08, 2016, 01:06:31 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 08, 2016, 12:42:41 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
If a horrible civil war ever breaks out in Texas is Sweden a good place to seek refuge?
if?
I am hoping the heat and out fatness might make us procrastinate until after my death at age 110.
Quote from: Martinus on April 08, 2016, 12:58:17 PM
Are you a feminist or a masculinist?
All Swedish men are feminists.
Quote from: Jaron on April 08, 2016, 12:58:44 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:39:01 PM
Quote from: DGuller on April 08, 2016, 12:15:51 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
I'm an ass man.
How did Sweden become the rape capital of Europe?
The seeds were planted long ago.
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Average length, more than average girth.
Why do you hate me so? :cry:
What's the deal with lutefisk?
What's it like having Norway and Finland as neighbors?
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 02:32:41 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Average length, more than average girth.
Thanks. And IKEA, what's the deal with that nonsense?
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on April 08, 2016, 03:02:41 PM
What's the deal with lutefisk?
What's it like having Norway and Finland as neighbors?
Good alkaline food.
Constrictive.
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 03:07:57 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 02:32:41 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Average length, more than average girth.
Thanks. And IKEA, what's the deal with that nonsense?
Lets you buy stuff that defines you as a person.
Are you already over the loss of your Finnish colony to the Russians?
Quote from: Archy on April 08, 2016, 03:38:51 PM
Are you already over the loss of your Finnish colony to the Russians?
It wasn't a colony! :mad:
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 03:26:49 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 03:07:57 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 02:32:41 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Average length, more than average girth.
Thanks. And IKEA, what's the deal with that nonsense?
Lets you buy stuff that defines you as a person.
A sad person?
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 03:26:49 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 03:07:57 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 02:32:41 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 08, 2016, 02:17:05 PM
Quote from: The Brain on April 08, 2016, 12:04:38 PM
Maybe I participate and maybe I don't. But I'm a typical Swede, you can ask me stuff directly here on Languish.
Do Swedes have big dicks?
Average length, more than average girth.
Thanks. And IKEA, what's the deal with that nonsense?
Lets you buy stuff that defines you as a person.
Fight Club reference. :cool:
Bork Bork Bork?
Do you mourn SAAB's passing onto the eternal highway?
How come Swedes are even more preoccupied with herring than us Norwegians?
Quote from: Norgy on April 09, 2016, 02:15:34 AM
Do you mourn SAAB's passing onto the eternal highway?
How come Swedes are even more preoccupied with herring than us Norwegians?
No, it's nice that we just let them go instead of doing US-style massive government intervention to save failing companies.
Probably because we are less preoccupied with lutefisk.
How do modern Swedes get into Valhalla?
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 09, 2016, 03:18:47 AM
How do modern Swedes get into Valhalla?
Burrowing, or maybe posing as a serving wench.
What's modern Swedes' stance on male-on-male rape?
Quote from: Martinus on April 09, 2016, 08:40:10 AM
What's modern Swedes' stance on male-on-male rape?
Probably shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent and weight evenly distributed for balance.
What alcoholic drinks do Swedes like?
If I wanted to spend a typical Friday/Saturday night like a Swede, what should I do?
Can you hook me up with the Swedish Bikini Team?
Quote from: Martinus on April 09, 2016, 08:40:10 AM
What's modern Swedes' stance on male-on-male rape?
Gross.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on April 09, 2016, 09:57:48 PM
What alcoholic drinks do Swedes like?
If I wanted to spend a typical Friday/Saturday night like a Swede, what should I do?
Beer or mojitos.
Sit around the house reading about the Great Northern War and painting toy soldiers.
Quote from: Tonitrus on April 09, 2016, 10:16:16 PM
Can you hook me up with the Swedish Bikini Team?
Yes.