More than half of the respondents, 54 percent, thought that dating in Skellefteå was bad.
- I have to say it's pretty miserable, writes one Skellefteå resident.
The relationship magazine Passionerad conducted the survey on dating life in Umeå and Skellefteå earlier this year. Västerbottens-Kuriren has examined the results, which show differences between the two coastal cities in Västerbotten.
In Skellefteå, more than half the respondents, 54 percent, thought dating was bad.
– I have to say it's pretty miserable. I think there is a clear surplus of men, and it is very difficult to get a date here because the competition is tough. I've been trying to date on and off for a couple of years now, but I gave up because it affected my self-esteem too much. It probably won't get much better with the battery factory because it will make the gender imbalance even worse, writes a male resident of Skellefteå.
– There is no real dating culture here. I think romance is pretty much dead, just like in much of Norrland, writes another in Skellefteå.
A third of the respondents thought that Skellefteå had a good dating culture.
– I've only had good experiences. Here you really see the person and their inner self in a way I'm not used to. I love it!
– I like the men in Skellefteå. Easy going and down-to-earth. Then it can be a bit difficult to have a conversation, and this is reflected in the dating culture as well.
– But if you are open-minded, dating here is great.
There were mixed opinions about the dating culture in Umeå.
- Is it fair to say that many find it almost embarrassing to go on a date here? says one Umeå resident in the survey.
In Umeå, almost 60 percent believe that the city has a good dating culture. Responses include comments that the dating culture is quiet, safe and familiar, and there is openness in the city, VK writes.
– Overall, it's nice. Most people share the same values and it feels safe. Just a safe dating climate, even if it is not always that exciting.
– Wonderful. Happy people who usually say yes when you ask them out.
– I feel that people are much more open here than in Stockholm, where I live between holidays.
At the same time, 34 percent of Umeå residents in the survey had a completely different opinion and considered the dating culture to be bad:
– It's totally useless. I really want to meet fun people who don't just talk about hunting and snowmobiles. I often yearn to leave, but I have a job here and am too afraid to move.
– This may be controversial, and I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I think men are not good at being romantic. Romance is pretty dead, and I don't think there's much interest in dating overall; it's mostly about sexual encounters.
- Everybody knows everybody. This makes it a bit difficult to ask someone out, because if you're rejected you know that everyone will soon find out, writes a resident of Umeå.
The small size of the towns was mentioned several times by both Umeå and Skellefteå residents as a disadvantage.
– One negative aspect of dating in Skellefteå is that people, myself included, have preconceived ideas about each other. It limits who you want to meet.
– Dating apps work really badly here because you only meet friends and acquaintances, writes an Umeå resident.
Umeå residents felt that more events, activities and pubs for young people would increase the chances of meeting someone spontaneously.
The sentiments were similar in Skellefteå, but here, more courage and more 'hustle and bustle' among people were also called for.
– But perhaps the battery factory is a good solution to that.