This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

11 Comics That Make Perfect Sense To Introverts

11 Comics That Make Perfect Sense To Introverts
Karoliina KorhonenFinnish Nightmares

If the thought of making small talk fills you with dread, or if you pray to the heavens above that no one joins you in the elevator before the doors close, then you might be an introvert. You also might be Finnish.

Finland, the magical land that’s home to actual reindeer, is also a paradise for introverts.

“Finns are not big small talkers, and quiet moments in conversation are not considered awkward,” travel site VisitFinland explains. “Silence merely means the person doesn’t have anything essential to say. There’s no necessity to fill gaps in conversation with chatter.”

Have we just discovered heaven on Earth?

Finnish artist Karoliina Korhonen is hilariously self-deprecating about her country’s reputation for introversion. In a series titled “Finnish Nightmares,” Korhonen illustrates the casually awkward encounters that prove truly agonizing for this personality type.

“Finnish Nightmares was born by accident, from a random idea,” Korhonen told The Huffington Post. “It was year ago when I thought what would be the most awkward situation for a very stereotypical Finn. I illustrated the piece quickly and half-jokingly made it a complete Facebook page of its own rather than just sharing it to my friends. From that it kind of blew up ― I gained over 80,000 likes in one week.”

It’s not hard to see why. Even non-shy introverts will recognize themselves in these drawings. Take a look at more of Korhonen’s comics below:

For more “Finnish Nightmares,” follow Korhonen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

H/T Design Taxi