How to Piss Off a Swede

3. Sit next to us on public transport when other seats are available.

Personal space is a big thing for us, so don’t invade it. We think you must be mentally deranged seeking out human interaction with a stranger. So please move at least two seats away from us so we don’t have to feel awkward.

4. Yell in public.

All public spaces in Sweden are quiet and if you talk loud enough for the third person from you to hear, we think you are yelling. We don’t like it. Sweden is a quiet country and we would like to keep it that way. Don’t yell in the restaurant, on the street, on the train, in the gym, at Systembolaget — you get the picture. You’re just being annoying, disturbing the peace, and we can’t understand why you are such an attention seeker.

5. Try and claim the meatball.

We know the Italians have the polpettine, the Danish frikadeller and the Spanish albondigás, but let’s be real. Us Swedes invented them. We serve them at Ikea and made them world famous, so don’t even dare to hint that they would be anything than Swedish. We’re a small country, so cut us some slack — we need to brag about something.