Icelandic Aluminum Plant Delayed To Search For Elves

When Alcoa Inc. wanted to build a new aluminum smelting plant in Iceland, they were forced to hire an expert to make sure that none of the country's "hidden people" lived underneath the proposed building site. The legendary elves provoke serious apprehension in much of the country's population. An Alcoa spokesman said that the inspection (which delayed construction for six months) was costly but necessary. "We couldn't be in the position of acknowledging the existence of hidden people," he added. The job of an elf finder is not as easy as you might think. With a +2 racial bonus to hide, elves can be quite elusive. Ogre spotter, now that's an easy job.

Strong belief in superstition

[JWSmythe]

From what I've read, that part of the world has strong beliefs in this type of superstition. Many of these superstitions date back at least thousands of years.

    In Iceland [softpedia.com], a decent percentage of the population believes in gnomes, faeries, and elves (among other things)

    I have heard legend that the Shannon airport in Ireland either during construction or expansion, was delayed because a fairy circle existed in the planned construction area. Due to this, the runway was built in a different direction, so it didn't disturb the circle.

    Beliefs in superstition aren't all that bad. There are plenty of things we don't know about the universe yet. Maybe they are simple superstition for unexplained things, or maybe (just maybe) they have a basis in reality somewhere.

    I usually prefer not to bash anyone's superstitions. What if they're right. :)

      A decent percentage of Americans are amazingly superstitious too, and follow those superstitions through their whole lives. Don't believe me? Check out any local church. I'm not saying religion is wrong. It could be right. Who am I to say that it's wrong. Someday I may find out the truth (probably a few seconds after I die, I would expect).

    Before you bash the superstitions of others, look at your own.

Re:

[hannson]

I'm from iceland, most people are not _that_ superstitious although I see no difference between christianity and elves... it's both rediculous

Re:

[JWSmythe]

Hey, don't knock the elves like that! :) At least they never formed a cult of humans that was the driving force behind multiple crusades [wikipedia.org].

In any group, you'll have extremes. Some will be extremely superstitious, and some complete disbelievers, with the majority landing in the middle somewhere.

I'd prefer to believe in elves, faeries, and other little people. :)

Re:

[JWSmythe]

    Careful, you're treading very close to the territory of Godwin's Law.

   

Re:

[JWSmythe]

    Trust me, it wasn't worth the time. Usually people who spew that kind of crap never took the time to research it. They are just blindly repeating what they were told. You'll never have more credibility than their sources, so you'll always be wrong, and thus begins a flame war.

   

covered on CBC radio last month

[ad0n]

This story was covered by the CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corp.) with an interview of the headmaster of the Icelandic Elf School [gonomad.com]. Here's the link to the CBC broadcast: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2009/200903/20090327.html [www.cbc.ca]

Re:

[Beryllium Sphere(tm)]

Alcoa denies it [nymag.com]
An Icelander responds [icelandweatherreport.com]
The same Icelander talks about what the "hidden folk" mean to Icelanders [icelandweatherreport.com]