Swiss is Swedish

[The Infamous Scamola]

This thread was inspired by that other one, about Sweden.

Why do so many people have problems distinguishing Switzerland from Sweden? Now, I'm not swedish, but this kind of ignorance bothers me a quite a bit, and I'm sure my fellow Escapists of nordic descent feel even more about this issue. It seems that a lot of people when asked what they think about when they think of Sweden will say things like chocolate, cheese or neutrality, all things characteristic of Switzerland.

Why is this? Do people really have this much of a hard time distinguishing two completely different nations because of two initial letters?

Spoiler: Sweden

Spoiler: Switzerland

I hope this was enlightening.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Amon Amarth. Good call for Sweden.
I don't understand it either, but then again I've had years of talking to Swedes on t'internet whereas others haven't. That still doesn't explain why Switzerland though...

That is odd.

 

[Hedberger]

I guess it sounds the same and we are both neutral. To a lot of people they are just small countries that no one cares about.

 

[Xorghul]

I have no idea...but I suppose that the average human is quite dumb.

...A friend of mine lives in Sweden.
She got on my case about confusing Swiss stereotypes (clocks and chocolate) for Swedish stereotypes (I do not know any.)

I blame the education system.

Then I'll teach you some. The top three that people know about us is:
All our women are blonde babes.
Our homes are filled with IKEA furniture.
And we eat meatballs.
And all of them are more or less true.

 

[Gladion]

Oh lord, viking metal... Sweden definetly has better qualities, e.g. beautiful women and a language that just sounds AWESOME

 

[Fat Hippo]

Meh, from my experience, many americans don't know bull about Europe anyway. An elementary school teacher of mine thought Denmark was part of Germany and practically couldn't believe an area that small has it's own language (and with teachers that ignorant, who's surprised if the kids are too).
I don't see why people would mix up those two countries (I'm half-Swiss myself) but I've heard stranger and dumber things.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

You should have taken a picture of In Flames also.

 

[Jamash]

I've noticed that it's usually Armenian's who make that mistake, probably because geography isn't a big subject in the US.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Easy way to remember:
Sweden = vikings
Switzerland = neutral bankers

 

[Mongodyr]

Me being from Norway, I definitely don't see the resemblance between the two. When they do get mixed up though, I find it more funny then annoying.

 

[Eleuthera]

I've noticed that it's usually Armenian's who make that mistake, probably because geography isn't a big subject in the US.

Armenian's get their geography education in the US? (sorry couldn't resist)

And yes, "people" are stupid. See "Isn't Denmark the capital of Amsterdam?" and "Have you seen many tigers in South-Afrika?"

 

[Kajt]

All our women are blonde babes.
Our homes are filled with IKEA furniture.
And we eat meatballs.
And all of them are more or less true.

Yes, we own.
And I can't see how people can confuse us with the Swiss. Maybe the Norwegians, but the Swiss? Really?

 

[4fromK]

I've noticed that it's usually Armenian's who make that mistake, probably because geography isn't a big subject in the US.

win

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

I've noticed that it's usually Armenian's who make that mistake, probably because geography isn't a big subject in the US.

Ok, I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere.

(Oooooh, hehe, pretty funny)