2015 Happiest State Rankings

[lewdog]

http://www.businessinsider.com/happiest-state-rankings-2016-1

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/56a95d1458c32375028b5d04-746-290/screen%20shot%202016-01-27%20at%207.12.05%20pm.png

[Ming the Merciless]

West looks pretty content

[Gonzo]

I've been in Cali for a week and it sucks. Yeah, good for you and your weather. Fuck your 4 dollar a minute taxis, your homeless shitting on the sidewalk and the millions of people working five jobs to afford a 300 square foot apartment with two roommates.

Jesus, this place sucks now. I lived here as a kid and loved it.

[ChiliConCarnage]

Misery :45.

This list seems legit.

[baitism]

I always love the bullshit criteria they use for these "rankings."

[Ming the Merciless]

I've been in Cali for a week and it sucks. Yeah, good for you and your weather. **** your 4 dollar a minute taxis, your homeless shitting on the sidewalk and the millions of people working five jobs to afford a 300 square foot apartment with two roommates.

Jesus, this place sucks now. I lived here as a kid and loved it.

If you're judging the whole state based on being in the Superbowl city the week of.....sorry...you're not smart.

[ClevelandBronco]

I've noticed.

[Coochie liquor]

Who the fuck could be happy in Alaska, and why. Fuck that frigid barren wasteland.

[BryanBusby]

I'm not sure how Alaska is high when alcoholism and suicide is a significant problem up there.

[CaliforniaChief]

Happiness is a choice. My wife and I were miserable for the first three years after we moved here from Fort Worth, TX...and determined to go back. And then we just made a decision to be happy, to "bloom where we're planted" and now we love it here. There are drawbacks everywhere.

But if you're waiting for a circumstance to change to become happy, you'll probably never get there. :shrug:

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I've been in Cali for a week and it sucks. Yeah, good for you and your weather. Fuck your 4 dollar a minute taxis, your homeless shitting on the sidewalk and the millions of people working five jobs to afford a 300 square foot apartment with two roommates.

Jesus, this place sucks now. I lived here as a kid and loved it.

I don't understand homeless people taking shits. They're getting too much food from somewhere.

[Toby Waller]

North Carolina is the 23rd happiest State.....lol list is bogus

[ClevelandBronco]

North Carolina is the 23rd happiest State.....lol list is bogus

That was the smoking gun?

[Infidel Goat]

North Carolina is the 23rd happiest State.....lol list is bogus

There is no way that NC is below SC. None.

Well, maybe fireworks, but that's not enough.

[Toby Waller]

That was the smoking gun?

no, just the obvious punchline if you know who wore 23

[DaFace]

No wonder you guys are always grumpy all the time.

[Why Not?]

From number 1, now live in number 9. No wonder I'm so fucking happy!

[ThaVirus]

I'm fine with Florida at 12.

Shit is all so subjective though. I know a couple guys who spent time living in Hawaii and hated it. Meanwhile Lewdog talks up Montana (or is it North Dakota) like it's prime living.

[Pablo]

That does it. I'm moving two miles west and bumping my quality of life up big time now!

I think it's the Columbia and St. Louis side of the state dragging us down. Because KC is awesome and the Ozarks can be too.

[DaFace]

I'm fine with Florida at 12.

Shit is all so subjective though. I know a couple guys who spent time living in Hawaii and hated it. Meanwhile Lewdog talks up Montana (or is it North Dakota) like it's prime living.

I wouldn't call it subjective; it's based on a survey that simply asked people to rate their own happiness in terms of purpose, social, financial, community, and physical attributes, which is a pretty objective way of measuring it.

You're definitely right that there's a lot of VARIATION in opinion, though. I'm sure there are people that love West Virginia and those that hate Hawaii.

[vailpass]

Did they survey Arizona in the summer or the winter?

[DaFace]

Did they survey Arizona in the summer or the winter?

It's a continuous, year-round survey.

[ThaVirus]

I wouldn't call it subjective; it's based on a survey that simply asked people to rate their own happiness in terms of purpose, social, financial, community, and physical attributes, which is a pretty objective way of measuring it.



You're definitely right that there's a lot of VARIATION in opinion, though. I'm sure there are people that love West Virginia and those that hate Hawaii.


Isn't that like the textbook definition of subjective?

[DaFace]

Isn't that like the textbook definition of subjective?

For an individual, sure, but not across a population. That is, I guess, unless you're suggesting that people in one area think a "5" is more like a "4" for people in other areas. That's possible, but I don't know of any research that has suggested that there are differences in perceptions of rating scales across regions of the U.S.

To put it another way:

"Are you happy?" Subjective
"On average, how happy are people in Texas?" Objective

[vailpass]

It's a continuous, year-round survey.

Wow. Significant sample?

[DaFace]

Wow. Significant sample?

I downloaded the report itself, and they did 177,281 surveys for 2015, so an average of around 3500 per state (though they probably vary it a bit due to population differences).

I don't really know much about this study, but with it only being 5 questions, I'd bet they're piggybacking those questions on other studies they're doing for other clients to get the sample sizes up.

[vailpass]

I downloaded the report itself, and they did 177,281 surveys for 2015, so an average of around 3500 per state (though they probably vary it a bit due to population differences).

I don't really know much about this study, but with it only being 5 questions, I'd bet they're piggybacking those questions on other studies they're doing for other clients to get the sample sizes up.

Thanks. The results are very interesting in terms of geographic grouping.

[DaFace]

Thanks. The results are very interesting in terms of geographic grouping.

Yep. I actually think the map is more informative than the individual state rankings:

http://i.imgur.com/49a8kmV.png

[GloryDayz]

I'm not sure how Alaska is high when alcoholism and suicide is a significant problem up there.

Had you moved somewhere chasing a dream would you admit you fucked up or drink yourself to death?

None of this is unexpected really.

[jd1020]

Not sure how Illinois manages to rank in the 4th Quintile when being surrounded by 5th's and being run by a Governor that refuses to sign a budget.

[lewdog]

I'm fine with Florida at 12.

Shit is all so subjective though. I know a couple guys who spent time living in Hawaii and hated it. Meanwhile Lewdog talks up Montana (or is it North Dakota) like it's prime living.

I talked up Montana so much that I decided not to live there?! ROFL

And that's right, #3 dick!!!

[Ming the Merciless]

Yep. I actually think the map is more informative than the individual state rankings:

http://i.imgur.com/49a8kmV.png

It would be interesting to divide Oregon into quadrants

Eastern Oregon is like high desert

Whereas Western Oregon is like lush awesome forest

I guess I'm surprised Oregon is so low but I mainly know western & southern oregon

[notorious]

Is Kansas 25th at everything?

Even Steven. Never great, yet never shit.

[Spott]

You want to see homos naked?

[Ming the Merciless]

You want to see homos naked?

You and your uncles doing another podcast?