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Nyrkki -> (2/17/2003 2:38:50 PM)
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Yes, every finn is packing a cell phone! Seriously, I don't think that a high density of cell phones and internet connections are the only reason for so many finns on different wargame forums.
The population in Finland is about 5 million. If it's true that 5 million finns can rally as many wargamers as for instance 30 plus million Canadians, there must be ohter reasons than the one mentioned above.
I haven't done any reasearch on this, it's not really my area of expertise, but there are a few charasterictics of the finnish society that might cause a larger interest in wargames and especially in wargames of world war II.
First of all, Finland has a conscription army. Over 80% of all men do military service in their twenties and are then placed in the in the reserves. When men get together, not many beers are needed before everybody has slipped into military jargon and are sharing stories from the service days. (At this point all women have disappered from the scen). So most men have military experience, many share an interest in military matters. I guess this is a good base for recruiting wargamers.
Secondly, Finland is a young nation and the second world war plays a major role in the creation of our nation. It's a survival story of a people fighting against all odds. Me and my generation have the previlege to know the actual persons who fought and survived as our grand parents. As the ranks of our nations heroes are thining, the younger generations feel a need to learn about then lives of their grandparents. At least for me, wargames are a way reliving those events.
Another matter is why wargamers find Finland so interresting. For a small insignificant country, Finland is very well represented in wargames. Any thoughts on this?
Nyrkki
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