The Most Pessimistic Town in the World

November 14, 2019 1:56 AM

In Puolanka, Finland's ‘best worst’ dying town, some citizens held a meeting to figure out if they could hold some fun events. “One man said that nothing works out here”, said Riitta Nykänen, “not even pessimism.” And so Puolanka decided to celebrate Pessimism Days. That has spawned a popular YouTube channel hosted by Tommi Rajala, and is the subject of a five minute video report by the BBC.
posted by Kattullus (17 comments total)

FINALLY
posted by Foci for Analysis at 2:45 AM on November 14, 2019 [3 favorites]

It’ll never work.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:19 AM on November 14, 2019 [9 favorites]

Did they actually think this would end well?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:45 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

The song of my people!
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 3:46 AM on November 14, 2019 [8 favorites]

Speaking of songs,

...has been a member of a pessimist band called 'Trauma Group' that still occasionally performs upon request.

I can imagine their playlist, starting with Paint It Black.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:52 AM on November 14, 2019 [4 favorites]

I'm lobbying my partner to move there when the kids are out of the house.
posted by jzb at 4:02 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Sounds like my kind of town. I'll probably never get there though...
posted by blaneyphoto at 4:35 AM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

CTRL-F "immigrants," "migrants"

I think I found your problem, Poulanka.
posted by Miko at 4:58 AM on November 14, 2019

MetaFilter: nothing works out here, not even pessimism.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 5:06 AM on November 14, 2019 [5 favorites]

Kattullus, I found your previously :)
posted by eirias at 5:11 AM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

That's pretty much the most Finnish thing ever.
posted by Foosnark at 5:26 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Finland's "National Joke" might explain a little:


Mika and Peppe hadn't seen each other for ages, so they decided to get together for "one" beer.
At the end of the first pint Peppe says
"How have you been?" Mika just grunts in reply.
At the end of the second pint Peppe asks
"So how's your family?" Again, Mika just grunts in reply.
After three pints Peppe asks
"How's work going?" Mika turns and says
"Perkele! Did we come here to talk or did we come here to drink?!"
posted by lalochezia at 5:31 AM on November 14, 2019 [14 favorites]

We used to call Akron "The Turnaround Town," because when you get here you wanna turn around.

I keed, I keed. It's actually a wondering place.
posted by slogger at 7:00 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

THis will all end in tears.

(Making travel plans.)
posted by ocschwar at 10:18 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Golly, I may have found my people at last... or not.

(PS blaneyphoto I saw what you did there)
posted by kinnakeet at 11:06 AM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Ask the OP, did I or didn't I find my people in the darkness?
posted by Mrs Potato at 7:13 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

The release of the 2019 World Happiness Report again confirms that impression with four Nordic countries in the top five happiest nations.

Finland, which headed the table last year, came top again, followed by Denmark, Norway (top in 2017) and Iceland. The Netherlands joined them in the top five. Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and Austria completed the top 10.


hmmm?
posted by Mrs Potato at 7:14 AM on November 15, 2019 [1 favorite]