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HAPPY HAPPY LIST....STOP IT! THE LIST IS BS!!!!

The next time someone tells me Colombia is the happiest place on earth I will probably go INSANE! I have to wonder just how stupid the people are who are repeating this verbal diarrhea.

I am not saying that Colombia is not a happy place, but this "Happy Planet Index" is 100% PURE BULLSHIT.

First off, the information they gathered pertaining to an individuals level of "happiness" is gathered from the Internet. Any person who spent about 5 minutes studying statistics knows this is completely unreliable. There are about 100 reasons why this information is screwed, but I am only going to point out one very important one. How many people in Colombia have Internet who are rich compared to those who are poor? Obviously most rich people have Internet while most people living in poverty have limited access if at all. So this means a disproportiante number of rich people would have answered the survey. Needless to say the people in Poblado are going to say they are happy, but if the same question was asked to those who are living in poverty or the war zone? I think not.

I could write about 20 pages on how the method they used to gather data is absolutely crap but I think my one example is enough. Now lets look at what they did with the data.

They posted their formula here: http://www.happyplanetindex.org/calculated.htm

Basically, they took the skewed results from an Internet survey and manipulated in such a way to make happiness a reflection of ENVIROMENTAL CONSUMPTION! What the hell does one's use of resources really have to do with happiness? I would say ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Basically, they are saying that people with more resources (ie. evil Americans) need their happiness level divided by how much they consume!! The more you consume, the greater the division of your happiness, which means the people in nations with higher consumption levels will always score low. This is why all the developed nations scored so low!!!

What we have here is a much of old hippies twisting the data in such a way to try and make it look like people who consume less are more happy than those in developed nations! THEREFORE, THIS WHOLE SURVEY IS REALLY NOT ABOUT HAPPINESS!! IT IS A BUNCH OF WACKO ENVIRNMENTALISTS TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE WHO CONSUME THINGS FEEL BAD!!!

THIS IS POLITICAL BS! THIS IS PROPOGANDA!

Remember, I am not saying that people in Colombia are not happy. What I am saying that this whole survey has nothing to do with happiness. So next time you hear someone say that they heard Colombia was one of the happiest places on earth, tell them the DATA IS SKEWED!

STOP REPEATING THIS BS!!!!!!!!!!!!

By ColomboGringo on Aug 18, 2007, 19:09 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


hawkmare says on Aug 18, 2007, 20:00:

Colombians are the 2nd happiest people on the planet.

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vicshere says on Aug 18, 2007, 20:08:

colombo you would be surprised at how many poor poor Colombians have cell phones, big screen TVs, computers and even internet while living under a shit tin roof in strato 0.....hey the other day I noticed the guy the picks cans out of my garbage receiving a call on his nice shinny cell phone...he looked like crap and his clothing was all torn up ...but the cell phone was spanking new...not saying this survey is false or true...just putting my 2 cents in

listo

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hawkmare says on Aug 18, 2007, 21:56:

USA doesn't have cocaine? Oh, that's right, they have the cocaine users.

USA doesn't have kidnapping?

has colombiabound ever been to Colombia? I thinks not.

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panthdave says on Aug 19, 2007, 05:28:

The list is funky but they need to do more research and fix there formula...I even did the Happy Index Test on there site www.happyindex.org and scored low but I seem happy not jumping of the ground but overall okay and grateful..

Again I don't feel sorry that much for Colombians...they are doing much better than many countries..Everybody stresses they are so poor Colombia is not a poor nation anymore..not rich but I see many have roof's over there head, having running water, like Vic said cable tv, electricity, nice cellphones so..

panthdave Miami

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 06:37:

The list is pure bullshit......and many people are poor because they want to be......lazy

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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vicshere says on Aug 19, 2007, 06:39:

cheles to a certain degree I agree with lazy....I have given many examples of lazy in some of my past posts...not going to post them again

listo

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phxgringo says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:20:

ColomboGringo you seem so UNHAPPY...where do you live?

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joanseb says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:22:

entonces en the usa si son felices?
Aquellos que creen que el dinero = felicidad, les hace falta vivir un poco mas entre los estratos bajos, conocer que es la felicidad y como estas personas aprecian hasta las cosas mas pequeñas. Eso para mi es felicidad.
Lastimosamente para el creador del post, vivi en castilla(barrio pobre) y ahora en envigado, y he conocido personas que tienen demasiada plata, pero no son felices, viven solo de apariencias.

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:28:

el amor no paga la cuenta.......solo lo haga,,,,,,,

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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hawkmare says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:52:

I find it funny how people with money assume that poor people cannot be happy.

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panthdave says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:57:

I use to think that way..but not anymore...I had two Audi convertibles nice condo in Aventura married traveling the world in luxury..and now I have none of that and I could never be so happy as I am now..Really funny...

I am just an ordinary JO SHMO...now..not married have a great GF in Medellin..who is not materilistic..No Audi's no more have a Chevy...in a condo worth much less than I use to have...normal regular job..with flexibility...Can't be any better.. Don't go to fancy restaurants anymore...

I don't know weird..

panthdave Miami

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Simon says on Aug 19, 2007, 10:45:

I'm one happy camper here in Colombia, while the person who started this thread seems to be one major 'AMARGADO'!!!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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gabolicious says on Aug 19, 2007, 11:30:

help me understand this...according to "happy planet index" happiness is related to money?

the less money you have the happier you are?

Well, I think that both poor people and rich people can be happy.

For me money is not related to happiness, for me money is like a magnifying glass, if you are happy the money will "make" you happier, but if you are unhappy already, money will "make" you unhappier...

Just my point of view...

Oh by the way I've been to Cuba and the cubans I met were unhappy according to their own words, and all of them wanted to get out of the island.

Elección no canonización....

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billyb says on Aug 19, 2007, 11:39:

I never understood people who continually whine and bitch about where they live. Why don't they do themselves, and everybody else who has to listen to them whine, a favor and move? Of course within a couple weeks they would be whinning about the place they just relocated to.

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gabolicious says on Aug 19, 2007, 11:44:

what I have never understood Billy is some people who do not seem to respect the place where they live, as I have said many times before, you may have your opinions but bitching?

Elección no canonización....

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billyb says on Aug 19, 2007, 11:59:

I guess that's just their nature, they're not happy unless they're unhappy.

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panthdave says on Aug 19, 2007, 12:00:

Great Billy.....

panthdave Miami

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:23:

Lets face it......really......nobody is happy being poor and without money. It is completely illogical to think otherwise.......just go ask a poor person.

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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paisa29 says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:23:

Tener dinero o cosas materiales no siempre significa ser feliz

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:26:

Claro, pero si no hay plata no hay vida....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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paisa29 says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:30:

es necesaria, pero no es lo mas importante para ser feliz, conozco mucha gente que tiene bastante dinero, pero no se sienten felices con sus vidas y otros que no tienen nada pero siempre estan sonriendo y luchando.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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LA_MONA says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:31:

Paisita que hubo! Para mi la plata sirve como una proteccion pero solo hasta cierto grado, mira las personas de Peru, tratando de ahorrar y edificar sus casas y no les quedo nada. Las cosas de la vida como buena familia, amigos y salud es lo que mas cuenta, asi uno tenga que comer arroz con huevo, si es con personas optimistas que te quieren mucho pues puede haber felicidad.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:33:

estoy de acuerdo, pero feliz o infeliz es mejor con plata.......

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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LA_MONA says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:35:

Pero cuando se tiene demasiada plata ahi entra la preocupacion por mantenerlo y no perderlo y eso causa estres y problemas, lo mejor es estar entre los dos, ni rico, ni pobre, pero si uno esta pobre y tiene buena familia y salud eso contribuira mucho a su felicidad.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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paisa29 says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:36:

Hola mona como estas?
Estoy muy de acuerdo contigo, esas 3 cosas son esenciales.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:37:

Si Mona...es mejor asi...entre los dos...

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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LA_MONA says on Aug 19, 2007, 13:45:

Pero cuando se tiene demasiada plata ahi entra la preocupacion por mantenerlo y no perderlo y eso causa estres y problemas, lo mejor es estar entre los dos, ni rico, ni pobre, pero si uno esta pobre y tiene buena familia y salud eso contribuira mucho a su felicidad.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Nucknfuts says on Aug 19, 2007, 14:15:

Hello

What I gather from your writing is that you may be an angry little rich man that has a whole lot of issues. You believe that you are better than most and know how exactly it should be done.
Hey one question? How much joy do you bring to others ?
It's it hard to bring joy to others if one is as unhappy as you seem to be.
Now if you do get upset over what I have written then it must be the truth as if you are secure in yourself no matter what someone say's as long as one's own self knows what is the truth that is all that is important.

I simply have a few thing for you to really think about.
All of what you dislike about Colombia is nothing more than part of it's charm.
You seem to want to change Colombia to be more like the USA.
This is the last thing I and most others would never like to see.
I fell in love with Colombia due to it's people it's food it's diverse weather beautiful county and the way it's it's own place.
Far removed from American influence.
So PLEASE
do the world a favor
do Colombia a favor
do us a favor and
especially do yourself a favor and move back to America !

You are never lost, unless you don't want to be where your at.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Aug 19, 2007, 14:23:

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LA_MONA says on Aug 19, 2007, 14:26:

Oops ok CG ;-)

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 14:30:

Thanks again Nuck.........what a Pinhead this guy...

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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Nucknfuts says on Aug 19, 2007, 15:53:

Hey ColomboGringo

I want to apologize for the somewhat personal attack that I posted. And if I could edit it I would.
I only want to to good but what you are saying it really one of my pet peeves.
I would simply like you to look at things in there proper perspective.
I love Colombia just the way it is.
Who the Hell am I or any other foreigner to say what a country or it's people "should do" or "be like" ???
The point I was trying to make is one is far better off accepting and enjoying the way the country and it's people are than to try and change them.

You are never lost, unless you don't want to be where your at.

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ColombianoGringo (Moderator) says on Aug 19, 2007, 16:56:

Just in case there was a misunderstanding, I was not refering to you nucknfuts with the "Don't feed the troll" image, nor am I the original poster.

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 19, 2007, 18:59:

That troll picture is from the book "Gnomes". I got (was given) that book in Germany when I was but a lad. I used to be scared of the pictures of the trolls.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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