# Anyone here who lives in these happy places? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 26, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133 "2010-09-26T19:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/21 "2010-09-27T13:16:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Wait, Israel’s in the top ten? > > I guess we’re just happy to be alive. Either that, or thge rest of the world’s a fuckin’ miserable place. Why so negative, Alessan? I agree that there are more than too many poor, unemployed people in Israel, but why would the great majority of Israel be sad? This reminds me of a video from Sderot that I saw on the kid’s channel a few years back. Rockets were raining down on them, but they were happy and optimistic. (the kids, at least). Besides, Israelis don’t have that famous self-loathing Americans have. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/22 "2010-09-27T13:17:09Z")
No need to even check, Saudi Arabia did not make the list. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/23 "2010-09-27T13:20:42Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > No need to even check, Saudi Arabia did not make the list. It’s actually not that far down, number 58. Maybe the oppressing populations cancel out the oppressed? Or the Oil Princes are living well enough for the whole country ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/24 "2010-09-27T13:32:08Z")
[QUOTE=Babale Besides, Israelis don’t have that famous self-loathing Americans have.[/QUOTE] Really, we have that reputation? ---
**Author:** ![VanillaGorilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@VanillaGorilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanillaGorilla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/25 "2010-09-27T13:32:29Z")
Sweden is in fourth place! \o/ Denmark is kicking ass though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/26 "2010-09-27T13:38:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > > [@Maastricht](#): > > > > . And Dutch chidren are the happiest in the world, apparently. > > Somewhat surprising, what with all that standing around with their fingers in dykes. Tell me more, I’m getting aroused. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/27 "2010-09-27T13:44:00Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > We’re number **4 (shared)**! (Netherlands). So are we, Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/28 "2010-09-27T13:46:05Z")
Interesting that the top 4 on the list are also among the top half of [countries by suicide rate](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=suicide+rates+by+country&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off). ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/29 "2010-09-27T13:52:09Z")
> [@Boyo o Jim](#): > > Interesting that the top 4 on the list are also among the top half of [countries by suicide rate](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=suicide+rates+by+country&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off). Ahh, so that’s the secret to a happy country. Get the miserable to off themselves and stop bringing down the average. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/30 "2010-09-27T13:54:49Z")
**wolfman** , you beat me to it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/31 "2010-09-27T13:56:40Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@Alessan](#): > > > > Wait, Israel’s in the top ten? > > > > I guess we’re just happy to be alive. Either that, or thge rest of the world’s a fuckin’ miserable place. > > Why so negative, Alessan? > > I agree that there are more than too many poor, unemployed people in Israel, but why would the great majority of Israel be sad? > > This reminds me of a video from Sderot that I saw on the kid’s channel a few years back. Rockets were raining down on them, but they were happy and optimistic. (the kids, at least). > > Besides, Israelis don’t have that famous self-loathing Americans have. I think it’s just because Israelis like to complain and argue so much. I suppose you’re right, though. Ask an Israeli if he’s happy and he’ll say, “Well, the world sucks, the country’s going down the crapper and we’re all probably be dead within ten years… but I’ve got my family, I’ve got my friends, I’ve got a job, and I’ve got my health, so who am I to complain?” Plus, on some level Israelis consider enjoying life a form of defiance. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/32 "2010-09-27T13:57:50Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > > [@Boyo o Jim](#): > > > > Interesting that the top 4 on the list are also among the top half of [countries by suicide rate](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=suicide+rates+by+country&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=off). > > Ahh, so that’s the secret to a happy country. Get the miserable to off themselves and stop bringing down the average. Suicide is a happiness force multiplier. Not only are the unhappy people gone, they stop bumming out the people around them. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/33 "2010-09-27T14:30:19Z")
[Countries by Beer Drinking Consumption](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_beer_consumption_per_capita). Get drunk, be happy? Get drunk, drown your misery. Pick one. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/34 "2010-09-27T22:47:01Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Really, we have that reputation? [Quote=Americans] America is not the best country in the world because: We suck. We ruin the world with our SUVs. We suck. We ruin the world with our attacks on terrorists. We suck. We chop too many trees. [/quote] That’s the general view some people have of America. Other nations, in my experience, like to say, “Sure, we have our problems. But we’re still the best.” Obviously not all Americans are like this and not all other nations are so optimistic, but still, that’s the perception. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/35 "2010-09-27T23:58:59Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@mangeorge](#): > > > > Really, we have that reputation? > > [Quote=Americans] > > America is not the best country in the world because: > > We suck. We ruin the world with our SUVs. > > We suck. We ruin the world with our attacks on terrorists. > > We suck. We chop too many trees. That’s the general view some people have of America. Other nations, in my experience, like to say, “Sure, we have our problems. But we’re still the best.” Obviously not all Americans are like this and not all other nations are so optimistic, but still, that’s the perception. [/QUOTE] Sorry, Gaia. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/36 "2010-09-28T00:09:11Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Is your home in the top ten or so? What do you think? Go ahead and gush if you like. 🙂 NZ. #6. Mostly harmless. 🙂 I find it amusing and a little odd that often on that sort of survey / poll we’re next to the Scandinavian countries… hmmm… perhaps someone is getting us confused with “Zealand”. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/37 "2010-09-28T00:33:36Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > > [@mangeorge](#): > > > > Is your home in the top ten or so? What do you think? Go ahead and gush if you like. 🙂 > > NZ. #6. Mostly harmless. 🙂 > > I find it amusing and a little odd that often on that sort of survey / poll we’re next to the Scandinavian countries… hmmm… perhaps someone is getting us confused with “Zealand”. Comfused? I still have trouble with Greenland = ice, while Iceland = green. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/38 "2010-09-28T00:38:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Interesting. Panama comes in at number 12, just above the US. I do think people here have it fairly good. Just be careful of your tailor. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/39 "2010-09-28T06:53:30Z")
Germany at 33? That’s about right. Germans are not cheerful people. ---
**Author:** ![grey\_ideas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@grey\_ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grey_ideas)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133/40 "2010-09-28T08:19:51Z")
Woo! I’m happier than I knew (Denmark) 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-who-lives-in-these-happy-places/555133.md?page=3)