[E.]

Does anyone know about Janteloven (Jante’s Law)? ‘t was created in 1933 by a Danish writer Aksel Sandemose in a novel called ‘A refugee crosses his tracks.’ It takes place in an imaginary town called Jante (based on Sandemose’s own hometown, Nykbing Mors) in which the Jante Law clearly dictates the social and moral standards. The law has, unfortunately, a larger geographic relevance.

I’ve noticed an awful lot of this in the town I’m living in, as I’m not a Dane and don’t conform to the ‘fashion’ as many other young adults do. As much as I like the town and country, the prejudice is hard to adjust to, coming from a town where there were more cultures and more diversity than almost anywhere else. The Jante Law, as I found it went: 1 You shall not think that you are special. 2 You shall not think that you are of the same standing as us. 3 You shall not think that you are smarter than us. 4 Don’t fancy yourself as being better than us. 5 You shall not think that you know more than us. 6 You shall not think that you are more important than us. 7 You shall not think that you are good at anything. 8 You shall not laugh at us. 9 You shall not think that anyone cares about you. 10 You shall not think that you can teach us anything. My being from Australia, and therefore a foreigner is one thing, so I’d expect a little of the usual off-standish attitude from some people, but not so many. And my boyfriend, who is Danish, receives similar treatment for looking slightly different. I haven’t noticed this in Copenhagen, though, because of the cultural diversity. Can anyone help me with any information, opinions or experiences on this?

User Detail :  

Name : E., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 19, City : Esbjerg, State : NA, Country : Denmark, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Rick29927]

If you are unhappy in Denmark, why don’t you go back to Australia… actually, why don’t you move here (California) where we are so thrilled with cultural and ethnical diversity pushed to us by politician whores who get money from either the immigrant lobby or big business looking for cheap labor !!

User Detail :  

Name : Rick29927, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 40, City : Piedmont, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Management, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[K-Petersen]

Janteloven was created by Sandemose as you say, but I believe the principle goes way further back than Sandemose. If you read Erasmus Montanus (play by Holberg 1731) You’ll see the theme supports the 6th commandment ‘You shall not think that you’re important than us’ But already in the viking days a man could only prove himself and improve his social status if he charged up front in battle (berserks)

User Detail :  

Name : K-Petersen, Gender : M, Age : 27, City : Svendborg, State : NA, Country : Denmark, 

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