A recent Newsweek study of health, education, economy and politics concluded that Finland is the best country in the world.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/15/interactive-infographic-of-the-worlds-best-countries.html

So, what do y'all think of that, huh?

The best country in the world is where U find happiness.................

but is it the funkiest country?

SOCIALISM!

I can only speak about Helsinki and I found that incredibly boring. But like all Scandinavian countries I'm sure Finland has a good social safety net and very little poverty and a stable political system and those are usually the kinds of things they measure in studies like these. They don't really pay attention to actual happiness, it's more about lack of threats and conflicts etc. No wonder our boring, bland countries always make the top of the lists.

retina said:

They don't really pay attention to actual happiness

Aye, because something like that would be way too hard to measure.

[Edited 8/16/10 12:34pm]

NDRU said:

but is it the funkiest country?

Most certainly not

Graycap23 said:

The best country in the world is where U find happiness.................

And truth be told, I don't believe happiness is dependant on the country you live in

LoveIsTheMessage said:

retina said:

They don't really pay attention to actual happiness

Aye, because it something like that would be way too hard to measure.

There have been studies on the happiest countries, as well. I do not remember which won, but it was possibly Denmark, hell maybe Finland!

The key in that study turned out to be lowered expectations but it makes sense. Along with a high standard of living the people in this country had no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

LoveIsTheMessage said:

retina said:

They don't really pay attention to actual happiness

Aye, because something like that would be way too hard to measure.

[Edited 8/16/10 12:34pm]

True. Even if they do a huge survey where they simply ask people if they're happy, the results could depend on other factors (for example how socially acceptable it is in that country to complain about your life, etc). Still, I think those surveys are usually a bit more interesting.

NDRU said:

no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

This is what I've always considered America's biggest problem. The culture seems to breed people with an overinflated sense of entitlement and self-worth. I'm not saying everyone over there is like that, but there sure as hell seems to be a lot more of that going on in the States than say Finland.

Oh and, if I recall correctly, the #1 spot on the "Happiest Country" study went to Denmark. I can't recall what spot Finland held on that list.

NDRU said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Aye, because it something like that would be way too hard to measure.

There have been studies on the happiest countries, as well. I do not remember which won, but it was possibly Denmark, hell maybe Finland!

The key in that study turned out to be lowered expectations but it makes sense. Along with a high standard of living the people in this country had no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

generalizations are nonsensical

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Graycap23 said:

The best country in the world is where U find happiness.................

And truth be told, I don't believe happiness is dependant on the country you live in

4 sho.

NDRU said:

LoveIsTheMessage said:

Aye, because it something like that would be way too hard to measure.

There have been studies on the happiest countries, as well. I do not remember which won, but it was possibly Denmark, hell maybe Finland!

The key in that study turned out to be lowered expectations but it makes sense. Along with a high standard of living the people in this country had no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

Yeah, relativism and the whole expectations game definitely comes into play. Also what attitudes and responses are socially acceptable, like I mentioned in my previous post. I don't need a study to see that Sweden is a pretty miserable country though, lol.

retina said:

Still, I think those surveys are usually a bit more interesting.

They are interesting indeed. Truth be told, this whole "World's Best Country" business means very little to me, outside of being good PR for Finland. I'm not really one for patriotism, or attaching myself too deeply to some geographical location I happened, by chance, to be born in.

LoveIsTheMessage said:

NDRU said:

no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

This is what I've always considered America's biggest problem. The culture seems to breed people with an overinflated sense of entitlement and self-worth. I'm not saying everyone over there is like that, but there sure as hell seems to be a lot more of that going on in the States than say Finland.

Oh and, if I recall correctly, the #1 spot on the "Happiest Country" study went to Denmark. I can't recall what spot Finland held on that list.

yes, certainly not everyone in the US is like that, but so many people here seeem to not be happy with what they have--me included!

Opinions are like assholes - and Newsweek has plenty of both.

retina said:

NDRU said:

There have been studies on the happiest countries, as well. I do not remember which won, but it was possibly Denmark, hell maybe Finland!

The key in that study turned out to be lowered expectations but it makes sense. Along with a high standard of living the people in this country had no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

Yeah, relativism and the whole expectations game definitely comes into play. Also what attitudes and responses are socially acceptable, like I mentioned in my previous post. I don't need a study to see that Sweden is a pretty miserable country though, lol.

Yes, I could imagine that there are certain cultures where you might be taught to appreciate what you have and not complain. That might not translate into actual happiness, only that people say they are happy.

My theory is that we all experience a sphere of experiences--the entire range of feelings--and that we exist for the most part right in the center, neither happy nor unhappy, but experience both from time to time.

So people in poverty & bad political situations may experience joy, and people of wealth & privilege also experience unhappiness. There are sure to be some exceptions of course, where people seem to live cruel and unfair existences, but I wonder if even they are able to find joy in the tiniest things. I wonder if it is maybe unavoidable to experience all of these emotions.

Dewrede said:

NDRU said:

There have been studies on the happiest countries, as well. I do not remember which won, but it was possibly Denmark, hell maybe Finland!

The key in that study turned out to be lowered expectations but it makes sense. Along with a high standard of living the people in this country had no delusions about being superstars as every American seems to have.

Americans are incredibly well off for the most part, but walk around feeling like they deserve to be on a yacht with supermodels

generalizations are nonsensical

typical response of someone from wherever you are from!

^

[Edited 8/16/10 13:04pm]

NDRU said:

retina said:

Yeah, relativism and the whole expectations game definitely comes into play. Also what attitudes and responses are socially acceptable, like I mentioned in my previous post. I don't need a study to see that Sweden is a pretty miserable country though, lol.

Yes, I could imagine that there are certain cultures where you might be taught to appreciate what you have and not complain. That might not translate into actual happiness, only that people say they are happy.

My theory is that we all experience a sphere of experiences--the entire range of feelings--and that we exist for the most part right in the center, neither happy nor unhappy, but experience both from time to time.

So people in poverty & bad political situations may experience joy, and people of wealth & privilege also experience unhappiness. There are sure to be some exceptions of course, where people seem to live cruel and unfair existences, but I wonder if even they are able to find joy in the tiniest things. I wonder if it is maybe unavoidable to experience all of these emotions.

Yeah I'm sure we all have the whole range of emotions. That's part of being human. But like you said, that doesn't mean that all our living situations that are equally condusive to happiness. Some people really do live under very cruel and unfair circumstances and when they're happy it's really despite their situation, not because of it. So while we can't create happiness through society alone, at least we should aim for a level playing field for everybody, with equal opportunities in our pursuit of happiness.

NDRU said:

Dewrede said:

generalizations are nonsensical

typical response of someone from wherever you are from!

My country (Iceland) doesn't even seem to be included in this study, probably because of the small size, but I'm sure it would be in the top 20 if it were included.