Three sure things: death, taxes and Finland

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― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 January 2004 18:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure why they felt the need to tack this onto the end:
Finnish citizens pay among the highest taxes in the world, but enjoy
one of the best welfare systems.

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Monday, 19 January 2004 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Because comments about saunas are seen as stereotypical.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 19 January 2004 18:39 (twenty-two years ago)

They must have really excellent air conditioning in that building.

― Luigi Vampa (Horace Mann), Monday, 19 January 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

apparently their social welfare system is so good, they wont even fire you if you're dead.

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Hmm thats interesting, cos this story's been a Snopes staple for quite some years now:

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/fivedays.htm

George Turklebaum, 51, who had been employed as a proof-reader at a New York firm for 30 years, had a heart attack in the open-plan office he shared with 23 other workers.

He quietly passed away on Monday, but nobody noticed until Saturday morning when an office cleaner asked why he was still working during the weekend.

His boss Elliot Wachiaski said: 'George was always the first guy in each morning and the last to leave at night - so no-one found it unusual that he was in the same position all that time and didn't say anything.

'He was always absorbed in his work and kept much to himself.'

All they've done is changed the city and occupation. Bad work, BBC.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

And it isnt true, according to them I forgot to add.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Bad work, BBC.

I note the story quotes some Finnish press agency so maybe said agency was having a joke.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Wouldn't suprise me... what does tho is the Snopes link says the BBC have been caught before WITH THE SAME HOAX. How could they fall for it twice!?

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

It isn't a hoax, it made headlines here yesterday. Sometimes urban legends can come true... Remember that other legend about a guy who lied dead in his apartment for several years until anyone noticed? That really happened in Finland a few years ago: a guy was dead for six years in his apartment until his mummified corpse was found. He was a small-time crook who had no close friends, and his sister, his only living relative, was scared of him so she never visited him. Also, he was on the dole, and because of some mistake the social office continued to pay for his rent and electricity, even though they hadn't heard of him for years.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I blame the Hattifatteners.

― MikeyG (MikeyG), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 12:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Instances like these might raise questions about the Finnish mentality... If you didn't know, Finns are stereotypically depicted as quiet sort of folks who keep to themselves, which apparently applies at least to the unfortunate souls mentioned above.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 12:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Until an electrical storm. Moominpapa found out the hard way, remember.

― MikeyG (MikeyG), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

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