Neal Pomea Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Rankings Findings published in Science magazine "Their results come from a comparison of two data sets of happiness levels in each state, one that relied on participants' self-reported well-being and the other an objective measure that took into account a state's weather, home prices and other factors that are known reasons to frown (or smile). The self-reported information came from 1.3 million U.S. citizens who took part in a survey between 2005 and 2008. "We wanted to study whether people's feelings of satisfaction with their own lives are reliable, that is, whether they match up to reality — of sunshine hours, congestion, air quality, etc — in their own state," Oswald said. The results showed the two measures matched up. "We were stunned when it first came up on our screens, because no one has ever managed to produce a clear validation before of subjective well-being, or happiness, data," [Andrew] Oswald [of the University of Warwick in England] said." Interesting results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Oh how happy I'd be if I could afford to move to Hawaii and stay there. Interesting results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 I was going to say that it's related to climate but that's not the case at all. Also interesting that the tristate area (NY, NJ, Conn) come in dead last. I'm ready to move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 I won't debate the conclusions as they pertain to residents, but as a visitor, my ranking of the first three - Lousiana, Hawaii and Florida - put them dead last. Ugh. Dreadful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Well, Florida, I'd say is dreadful from my visiting experience. I loved Hawaii, but know I'll never be able to afford to stay there comfortably, but if I could I would. Those trade winds are for me. Louisiana I confess I haven't visited yet. I will say that I do know a few people from Louisian well, and they're happy, adjusted people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 I wonder if the states that are the happiest rank low in average time spent with a therapist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neal Pomea Posted December 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 I wonder if the states that are the happiest rank low in average time spent with a therapist Conversely, would the depressed people in these states where many people report they are happy feel even more isolated and apart? It might actually be worse to be depressed in a happy state! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swinging Swede Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Surely it should be Merryland. -_- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 1960 Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 I was going to say that it's related to climate but that's not the case at all. Also interesting that the tristate area (NY, NJ, Conn) come in dead last. I'm ready to move. No big surprises here. Speaking for my home state, high taxes and lack of good paying jobs might having something to do with that. Not trying to make a politcal statement mind you. Interesting to see Maine ranked 10'th among most happy since my wife and I are seriously considering moving there in the next 10 yrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 My "take" on Hawaii is slanted by the fact that I'm solely a business traveler. The downsides: - Airports and hotels are full of people unfamiliar with "the routine". Grrrrrrr. - Working eight to five (or, more likely, 6:00AM until 9:00PM) the sunshine and tradewinds are outside my enjoyment - Local culture? - Everyone back at the office seems to think I'm on vacation. The best State? Gotta be Alaska. I've been on business trips where I've gone hiking at midnight (June). That's cool. And in December, well, work doesn't mean missing much outside. But that's not what the survey is about. I'm kind of surprised that high unemployment, low wages and high cost of living don't "sink" Hawaii. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Dryden Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 It doesn't look like the states with high taxes and oppressive laws did too well. Good luck to New Yorkers, who allow greedy politicians and incompetent judges to take away their property for a private developer to build a basketball arena and high rise condos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Vermont at number 18? Must be those cold winters. Oregon #30??? I freaking love Oregon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bill Barton Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 These "results" are truly strange. Louisiana number one? Guess they must not take hurricanes and natural disasters into consideration... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim R Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Well, I read the article (and the comments) twice, and I have a hard time taking it very seriously. I haven't been to every state, but I've been to many, and having lived in California my entire life (and traveling all over the state), I know one thing... you can't generalize about a state this large and diverse (in geography, climate, population, etc etc). I think this sort of study would be better applied to cities rather than states. Lon, maybe I'll see you in Hawaii when we get to our "next" lives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave James Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Vermont at number 18? Must be those cold winters. Oregon #30??? I freaking love Oregon. High unemployment, lack of political leadership, messed up taxes, problems with school funding, weather, Greg Oden's knees and, most importantly, the fact that we can't pump our own gas. I'm not surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Louisiana #1??? I call bullshit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papsrus Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Well, Florida, I'd say is dreadful from my visiting experience. All I know is, I'm sitting here in flip flops and shorts while freezing winter descends on much of the rest of the northern hemisphere. I'm happy. I do agree that the "tourist" Florida is tacky, that if you're not on the coast you're toast, and that population is an odd mix of "native" rednecks, retired Republicans from Ohio and twisted castoffs from all corners of the globe who either already are, or soon will be, on the FBI's most wanted list. Other than that, it's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted December 20, 2009 Report Share Posted December 20, 2009 Louisiana #1??? I call bullshit. I too am very surprised with my home state's ranking. My recollection of growing up in New Orleans (and I admit that this may tell you more about me than it does about Louisiana) is that nothing happens there that does not involve the consumption of alcohol. Maybe everyone is too sauced to care about the mosquitoes! Or maybe the Saints were undefeated when the poll was taken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.