Every once in a while we hear about some happiness report which usually concludes that Nordic nations are generally happier than everybody else. The same analysis often smuggles in a plug for a generous welfare state as an explanation. Not surprisingly, it seems that the conclusions are based on some very flimsy evidence.
But upon closer examination, it turns out that the World Happiness Report is not based on any major research effort; far from measuring how happy people are with some sophisticated mix of indicators, it simply compiles answers to a single question asked to comparatively small samples of people in each country:
“Please imagine a ladder with steps numbered from zero at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you feel you personally stand at this time?”
places where everything is verboten or compulsory are always shown at the top
no freedom
Or maybe they are just busy with other things. Were suicide rates entered into the equation? At worldpopulationreview.com, suicide rates per 100k population show some interesting results. Greenland is by far the worst at almost 60/100k and the only 3 below 1/100k were Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.
Those “happy” nations always have the highest suicide rates. Fortunately in Canada, that’s not a concern. The government will happily handle it for you. Do they have “drive-thru” MAID locations yet?
Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon has other people willing and capable to do the “wet work” so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Yes. So many of these “studies” claim that people are happier in places where they’re punished if they complain.
But ask yourself: Are you happier when you have more choices, or fewer? Funnily enough I can’t think of a single time when not having choices has made me feel happier. I may or may not be interested in the extra options. I may buy only one of two or three brands of cereal in a real supermarket, but I’m NOT happier finding only one brand on the poorly stocked shelves at the Aldi. In fact, only when I’m in a car pool with someone who thinks Aldi is cute have I EVER gone back to the Aldi. It does not bother me at all that the real supermarket has all those brands of cereal I don’t like, alongside the ones I do. I’m pleased if other people like the ones I don’t like. It bothers me when all the Aldi has is some tacky European brand that nobody likes.
It goes further than that. Not only do you have to consider societies that quash dissent but also the conditioning that culture does to them.
Ask an American that question and what sort of answer would you get? Now, base it on the culture said American has grown up with. Of course they’ll put themselves lower. America is notorious for always wanting better/more/bigger.
The countries that score higher on that question are ones that culturally tend towards “we are living in the best of all possible worlds” or where fatalism (for example, “it’s God’s will that I am living like this”) reign.
But does that create a more pleasant society to live in? The choice is up to the individual I should say.
“You will be happy… or else, capisce? Now answer that survey question.”
I would imagine with a survey that ridiculous that North Korea would rank as #1.
On a,scale of one to ten
How bad is your pain?
As IF anyone else could understand YOUR 7.
The comments are sadly misplaced. I have many relatives in Denmark, and Greenland. After visiting Denmark I also think they are one of the happiest countries in the world. Where else could a far-left neo-Marxist sit down with a far-right neo-con over a beer and still be good friends? Spend a couple of months there and you may think that they are a happy nation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGd1Dshf6i0 Yes I know they are Svensk but still Nordic.
Just a survey for Nation with the most liar’s
Monogenous, cooperative, high trust cultures are somewhat happier is no big surprise despite such a ridiculous survey question. But they’re changing that as fast as they can and women are going to have to bear the brunt of those changes – no more walking alone, no more fashionable skirts, harassment on public transit etc.
They will be happily stepping down that ladder… along with all the other formerly civilized women and men…
I can’t find this ladder…
“On paper, as much socialism as you can possibly get just before all that starving and mass graves business, that’s the model.
“See, I have data”
“You’re looking at the heads?!”
“Why are you looking at the heads?”
Well, Canadians are ranked 18th. What a happy bunch!
Anyone measuring the world by “happiness” does not understand the world or the human condition.
Have these UN Happiness bureaucrats ever heard of the Beatles? Or the song The End? As … “In the End … the Love you take is equal to the love you make”? Do they not know the same thing applies to “happiness”?
https://youtu.be/8L-PUCx6PzA?si=ppxNzbIraN3IQ1tm
Everybody’s HAPPY in CA! It could be the legalized shrooms … or the fun homeless outdoor camping jamborees! Or the FWEEdom of pooping in the streets. Or all the five-finger smash and grab FREE shit … or the arson insurance claim that made you $RICH$ … who knows … but we’re ALL happy as little girls (that we identify as) here in CA!
Of course it’s pure BS. Here’s the team which produces it.
https://worldhappiness.report/about/
The report is nothing more than their opinions dredged out of a collection of sources they claim supports their statements. And here are their sponsors.
https://worldhappiness.report/about/#partners
Draw your own conclusions. This gang of hucksters simply gave themselves a fancy title. They do this as a way of avoiding producing anything anyone actually wants or would read.
“… holistic world development …”
Do these people even hear themselves talk?
Now do PISA!
That’s the Program for International Student Assessment.
The DJ responds:
https://youtu.be/ZW44cpolj08?si=wiUCDXw7AB3qiLQG