Are You Happy With Your Life?

[KukriKhan]

The Pew Global Survey Group has finished a study/survey (Link) (http://pewglobal.org/commentary/display.php?AnalysisID=1020), that tried to measure peoples' general happiness with their circumstance.


People's sense of their own personal progress is clearly linked to their satisfaction with their lives. To measure progress, Pew analysts computed the proportion of people who say they are on a higher step on the ladder now than they were five years ago.


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So, following the Pew lead, given the past 5 years, are you happier, about the same, or less happy, today, than you were in July 2002?

Why?

edit: poll is anonymous

[AntiochusIII]

Gah! I read the whole link (I really need to stop doing that: It's the Backroom! Nobody ever read links!) and I think the survey results pretty much screams out "common sense," really. For one, a richer, more comfortable person is on average happier than an I-don't-know-if-I'm-gonna-die-tomorrow African, yet there's only so far you can go before that shiny new home theater system is really just a useless empty toy for a spoiled American suburban [/self insult]. Considering the West's "developed" status versus other countries' "developing" status "our" stasis when compare to other nations' improvements in happiness trends are almost self-explanatory.

Economics is important but it's not everything...which is the conclusion from the survey is it not?

As for the poll, I vote less happy for precisely one reason: I grew up. :laugh4:

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Somewhat less, though I've grown more cynical with age, I guess. And slightly poorer. ~;p

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Much happier now. I'm a lot more attractive, dress better, have my own place, am at university doing something I love, and have developed into a person I really quite like.

[KukriKhan]

Economics is important but it's not everything...which is the conclusion from the survey is it not?


I think so, although they're loathe to admit that their surveys try to arrive at any preconceived conclusions. :eyeroll:

Nevertheless, I was interested to see if backroomers thought, in general, they were happier, the same, or less happy, than they thought they were in 2002. And why.

We have an enviable international membership - that sadly doesn't include many developing countries. So, given that we are residents of developed countries, how do we feel?

[Papewaio]

Got married, lived overseas, had a kid, had a couple of salary raises... so I would think I would be happier.

[seireikhaan]

I was definitely happier back in 2002. Why?

1) Back then, I was an ignorant 12 year old with relatively minor worries and concerns.

2) Now, I am a hormonal teenager who is fed up with the hypocrisy of my high school, fed up with my government's leadership, fed up with the situation in Iraq...And of course the fact that I'm a hormonal teenager means that I generally blow situations way out of proportion to begin with.

[Marshal Murat]

I'm more satisfied...
1. M2TW is out
2. My bagpiping has improved (now it sounds like a semi-asthmatic pig, not three geese wailing with a cat)
3. I'm getting closer to graduating.

Less satisfied...
1. I'm becoming more cynical
2. Love problems
3. I 'm wishing I lived somewhere other than Florida

Before (2002) I was enjoyed living in Florida and was more innocent, didn't care so much about girls (I don't care to go into it)

[Csargo]

I guess I'm happier now than 2002

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'm definately happier now. I have a great girlfriend, more money, closer contact with my family, and I'm in much better shape, from playing rugby and football (that's rest-of-world football to you Americans).

[Strike For The South]

I drink more often. So more happy

[AntiochusIII]

I think so, although they're loathe to admit that their surveys try to arrive at any preconceived conclusions. :eyeroll: True, they seem to try to interpret their data in a specific way they want.

We have an enviable international membership - that sadly doesn't include many developing countries. So, given that we are residents of developed countries, how do we feel?I suppose Total War isn't very popular compare to other, more "iconic" computer games like Halo and the rest of them, which would allow for a wider fan base + community. In any case it doesn't help that even Thailand banned YouTube which generally suggests that users of developing countries with shaky civil rights often have to go through more trouble to use the internet (as for my guess for the reason, I suspect someone got offended over a random video showing negativities about "The King" and pulled the trigger. Shame really, I used to be in along with everyone else about how great The King really is for a large portion of my youth; goddam propaganda, I'll never forgive them...but I'm rambling here).

In a way though, one could argue that not being exposed to the Really Bad Stuff makes our happiness not altogether that different from people elsewhere, simply that we have relative standards. Even though the study is skewed I still effectively agree with their key point that there's a ceiling though sadly not a floor on where economics can go in terms of having a good trip 'round this pretty little Earth.

[KafirChobee]

With life, yes. With the reality of it, maybe not so much.
With the differences between 2002 and 2007? Well, we all get over most of the problems in 2008. :brakelamp: ~D :hijacked:
:balloon2:

[Blodrast]

MUCH less happy.
5 years ago in July I was freshly married, in love (with my wife) (duh, I said freshly), had good future prospects, was about to immigrate to a better country and presumably better life, etc.
Today: divorced, been through a crapload of emotional anguish (I know, I'm repeating myself here), I'm alone, closest friend is 5000 km away, completely lacking motivation to do my job, haven't done any actual work in several weeks...

So yeah, I guess I voted less happy. ~D

[Banquo's Ghost]

I guess that I am differently happy now than in 2002, but also more so.

I was working very hard back then in my business - which brings its own rewards in achievement, but less in contentment. Now its all sold and I can relax, I am much more content.

Material prosperity has never been a concern in the sense that my ancestors did all that for me. But the sense that I am progressing in personal terms, in making my small mark on the world so that someone might remember who that fellow in the painting on the back stairs might have been - well, I'm reasonably content in that too.

Being happily married makes a big difference as well, of course. The love of a good woman (and no doubt a family) far outweighs anything money can buy, happiness-wise.

[CountArach]

Back in 2002, I was only 12, so I suppose I was only happy through naivety. Now I am still at least as happy, knowing what I know now. So I guess that does count for more, therefore I suppose I am more happy, in a different way.

[Husar]

I'm happier overall.

Since 2002 I've gone to live on my own mostly, live in a big city now and not in a village anymore. I have gained some new friends, changed my mindset a bit and am still working on changing myself to the better in some regards.
I have also discovered how nice this forum here is, yeah, it's a part of my life and I would consider many of you friends(maybe I'm weird, but I like most of you and I don't hate the others). Then I have also discovered Beirut nights radio and dance music, which usually makes me happy.

On the downside we have slow studies, have to find a job now, still no love, no really close friends in the big city(well, my close friends in the village all came/come from outside) after two years of living there.

But overall I always expect good things from the future, maqybe that's what makes me lazy, but it's also my drive to go on and keep living, I'm constantly looking forward to good things I expect from the future, even if it's unlike that they will happen. I keep making plans only to not execute them, but it's fun and keeps me positive and lately I'm working on doing things I would usually not dare to do and doing them without blushing.

I'm a work in progress and overall I like it. :2thumbsup:

PS: I'm inclined to say some of you orgahs helped, telling me I need to get out more often keeps my self improvement up and running. ~;)

[Beirut]

The same. Which means philosophically unhappy, if not existentially grumpy.

Last week at work, me and the boys are cutting up this big dead pine tree, sweating in the sun, and in a break in the action, I let loose. I told them that we were right here on this same piece of land yesterday and the day before doing the exact same thing, and we'll be doing the exact same thing here tomorrow. It's a a horrid deja vue, a blur of work leading to work. Gah!

I asked why I can't have a day to day deja vue existence of that night years back when me and that sweet brunette spent New Year's Eve in bed drinking champagne and eating chocolate. Why can't I have that day over and over? Why is the pleasure the abberation and the workload the rule?

Totally, utterly, blisteringly unfair, and I'm really pissed off about it. Just like I was in 2002. ~:pissed:

On the other hand, my kids are healthy and cute, I make decent money, and my woman has a smoking' bod, so who am I to complain?

[Ja'chyra]

Being happily married makes a big difference as well, of course. The love of a good woman (and no doubt a family) far outweighs anything money can buy, happiness-wise.

Says it all really, but you pays your money, you makes your choices and you live with the consequence of you decisions.

Needless to say I voted more unhappy but at least I don't whine about it and blame others, life in general and the universe as a whole.

[Kagemusha]

I voted less happier, but now that i think of it more, it might be that im actually happier, while i have less reasons to be happy about. Lot has happened after 2002 and i think the most important result has been that as an human being, i have came to value smaller things that make me happy more.
Many things that were trivial to me when i was younger have gained value as i have grown older and also some things that were of great value back then, mean little to nothing to me anymore.
Im not sure what others think, but in my personal life i have pretty much abandoned the pursuing of happines from my part. It seems that destiny has little consideration about "my happines",when it throws me around in this life and many times things happen that i have little to no chances to effect in any way. Basicly, all as a person i can do is to take care of myself and help my friends and loved ones incase they need me. And ofcourse always hope for the best.:yes:

[Prince Cobra]

I am as happy as I was then. Why? I am still in somwhere in the middle. The things are changing, I am in the same strange mood. I still do not know if this is good or bad. Well, forunately the good moments are better!

[Agent Miles]

Happiness is a virtue, like courage or honesty. I’d no more be unhappy, than I would be a coward or a liar. Life is full of ups and downs. At some point, you take ownership of your life and make peace with the world, or you will forever be on a rollercoaster. Adversity should bring us wisdom, not sadness

[King Kurt]

Definately happier than in 2002 - but I was preety happy then. The big difference? - the birth of my daughter in 2004. I now have the complete set - a wife, a son and a daughter - and we all live together in the beautiful English countryside - and, unlike many other parts, my bit is not under water. Add the fact that the sea is about a mile away, life could not be much better.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I think a little Gilgamesh (:2thumbsup:) can provide insight into why I am less happy today than five years ago, though I did not have the foresight of Gilgamesh:

"'You are a cooking fire that goes out in the cold; a back door that keeps out neither wind nor storm; a palace that crushes the brave ones defending it; a well whose lid collapses; pitch that dirties one who is carrying it; a waterskin that soaks the one who lifts it; limestone that crumbles in the stone wall; a battering-ram that shatters in the land of the enemy; a shoe that pinches the owner's foot! Which of your lovers have you loved forever? Which of your Little Shepherds has continued to please you? Come, let me name your lovers for you! ... "

[Warmaster Horus]

Me, I'm happier than I was before. Now, I've only got a few more years in school to go. I'm more learned, more experienced, I have more friends, and have a decent idea of what the future might hold for me.

Also, I discovered the Org. That counts for something.

[English assassin]

Well, I guess, although she does do that thing where they start conversations when the football is on. And no matter how many pairs of shoes I offer to buy her, she's just never going to get freaky with her best girl friend. Or mine :clown:

Oh, Life. Whoops. Yeah, about the same.


Last week at work, me and the boys are cutting up this big dead pine tree, sweating in the sun, and in a break in the action, I let loose. I told them that we were right here on this same piece of land yesterday and the day before doing the exact same thing, and we'll be doing the exact same thing here tomorrow. It's a a horrid deja vue, a blur of work leading to work. Gah!

I asked why I can't have a day to day deja vue existence of that night years back when me and that sweet brunette spent New Year's Eve in bed drinking champagne and eating chocolate. Why can't I have that day over and over? Why is the pleasure the abberation and the workload the rule?

You know how people answer this question by saying ah, but if you DID sopend every day with that sweet brunette in bed drinking champagne and eating chocolate it would BECOME work and you'd be wanting to go and chop up dead trees in the blazing sun with your buddies instead?

Its total cobblers, isn't it?

[Lorenzo_H]

Not as happy. I left the school which I realised I loved, so now I'm heading back ASAP.

[Don Corleone]

With Mrs Corleone, and little Jilly Bean? No comparison.

[Bijo]

Happy? Happiness? What kind of strange words are these? They sound familiar.

My philosophy and my way of life allow no happiness, nor sadness and suffering. Difficult (to most), but possible: it can be trained. Having been a mix of that which is Cynical, Stoic, and Tao-like, I ultimately embraced Stoicism. However I still have some of the other two occasionally but hardly (and then only minimally).

And if I lived differently -- like most -- and allowed a thing such as "happiness" in the typical sense (which is usually the typical old consumerism, greed, money, lust, romance, being a slave to emotions and passions, ignorance, having a distorted mind, etc.) I would probably not be truly happy, for I would most likely be pursuing a goal, an objective, that is unattainable in such a way, as one would continually pursue and never finally find it. When people are supposedly happy in this way it is merely a false idea or belief to make oneself feel better.

No, I have no happiness in the common sense. Economy, financial status, etc.; it is a bad gauger. I don't even see a reason to live, really. For years -- actually for a big part of life -- I have thought, I have philosophied, I have sought and found knowledge, wisdom, truth, illumination, and finally inner peace and freedom, and so forth and humanity consists of mainly silly foolish creatures.... why do we live? Wherefore do we live -- to consume, etc.? Nature, the master, that controls us slaves. It is pointless. It is petty.

And "being happy in the typical sense" has become impossible to me, for once one knows it is too late. "Happiness" requires mainly ignorance and simplicity and they are things I lack and have lacked for many a moon past.

Generally the control of emotions and passions is a better way for humanity. The control of emotions, passions, and desires, and the utilization of logic and proper morality are a better way for life in general... in the big picture.

[PanzerJaeger]

Much, much less. This is primarily due to the fact that I am in a horrible, draining relationship that I cannot seem to get out of. I hate my (real) life, which should be good news to some on this board. :help:

[Don Corleone]

Much, much less. This is primarily due to the fact that I am in a horrible, draining relationship that I cannot seem to get out of. I hate my (real) life, which should be good news to some on this board. :help:

Dude, those German frauleins are just too high-maintenance. Get yourself a nice Irish babe, keep plenty of Guinness in the house, and you'll be living large with the rest of us. :2thumbsup:

All kidding aside, if the relationship is all about the pain, it's not a relationship. You have to know when to pull the plug. Life's too short to waste time hoping Ms. Wrong will turn into Ms. Right (or Mr. Wrong/Mr. Right).

[Papewaio]

I asked why I can't have a day to day deja vue existence of that night years back when me and that sweet brunette spent New Year's Eve in bed drinking champagne and eating chocolate. Why can't I have that day over and over?


Simply put, 5 years of lying in bed drinking alcohol and eating only chocolate does not a starlets body make...

[Papewaio]

I hate my (real) life, which should be good news to some on this board. :help:

Actually I wish you had a really good life as it would make moderating easier. :sweatdrop:

The only mean streak I have is that you fall in love with someone like Jessica Alba. :2thumbsup:

[Xehh II]

Less happy, I've always been a loser but over the last year, I've become even more of a loser which makes me more unhappy.

[Tristuskhan]

Héhé, july 2002? My life is much, much better now: I was working in a slaughterhouse, I'm working in forest management. I was a loner, I have a nice little woman by my side. I was drinking too much, now I smoke my own harvest. I pay taxes on my income, good thing. The only bad parts is that I have no more garden and do not live on the seashore anymore...

[Sigurd]

24th of July is my wedding-day and in 2002 the wife and I were living in sunny Queensland and had a 1 year old daughter. I studied and we had crap-loads of funds and were able to live quite luxuriously in a new apartment building a walking distance from uni. There were absolutely no worries but exams and assignments… oh, and the occasional ant or spider.

5 years later back in Norway I am still married and very much in love with my lovely blond but smart wife. We have now two daughters and we did a daring thing in a marriage; we built a house.
I have had my first job and am now in my second. I doubled my salary in the new job and am really cruising through life. My wife needed to finish her education and have 2 years left on her masters as a pharmacist. When she finishes her studies and gets her first job we plan on taking a real holyday somewhere nice… I married my wife when we were both students and our marriage has been without too many timeouts. There has always been a project.

Am I happier now then I was in 2002? Maybe.

Life has its ups and downs and there have been years that I will try to forget. The two in question; 2002 and 2007 are two good years.
24th of July 2003 I spent talking to my wife via phone. I was in Australia and she was back in Norway with our second daughter in her tummy. My wife has troublesome pregnancies with morning sickness that lasts the whole day and for the major part of the pregnancy. She also suffers from pelviolysis during a pregnancy and need lots of support. I sent her home to her mum where I knew she would be in the best hands. It was the hardest 4 months in my life.
Next year she will spend 4 months in UK as a part of her study… I am not looking forward to it. Other than that my life has been put in perspective this year and I have tied up a few loose ends. I have nearly stopped all gaming and am spending more quality time with my family.

I guess more or less all people come to the point when they realise death could be just over the next hilltop or the next after that. This realisation begets thoughts of how to make the best of what is left. Maybe make a difference. Not to the extent that you desperately want to leave a name that will be recorded in history, but that people and more importantly your children remember you as a good man. This is my legacy, my progeny; to help make the best life possible for my two daughters. In them I will live forever.

[Fragony]

I am too ignorant to be unhappy. In a good mood 24/7 :yes:

[Ice]

Meh, it's a toss up, but I'd say more happy.

Pros: In the last five years I've grown up a lot. The women and the alcohol make some sweet memories. I'm also attending a great University that I love. I have an idea what I'm going to do for a living. I'm actually considered a young adult.

Cons: No so much carefree anymore. I've also had some experiences that I don't particularly care for.

[King Kurt]

I guess more or less all people come to the point when they realise death could be just over the next hilltop or the next after that. This realisation begets thoughts of how to make the best of what is left. Maybe make a difference. Not to the extent that you desperately want to leave a name that will be recorded in history, but that people and more importantly your children remember you as a good man. This is my legacy, my progeny; to help make the best life possible for my two daughters. In them I will live forever.

Sigurd - I don't think I will read any truer words for a very long time.

I to live in a wonderful place with a super family - my only jealosy is that you have achieved this in your 20's and I had to wait until my late 40's. Your wife going to the UK for 4 months - especialy if your girls go with her will be tough - perhaps you will need to return to gaming for some escape.

As an aside, it seems that many of the members of these boards seem in the same position as me and Sigurd - what is it that attracts us? - perhaps it is the TW series of game - who knows??

[Odin]

What an intresting and revealing thread. I dont have much to add as some of the input thus far has been candidly personal, I'll just allow this post to be my subscription.

And thumbs up to those who reveal thier personal subtleties, I find them intriquing to some extent when measured against past repsonses in other threads.

:medievalcheers:

[Sigurd]

Your wife going to the UK for 4 months - especialy if your girls go with her will be tough - perhaps you will need to return to gaming for some escape.

My wife will have to live without her family in some student home or the like. It will be the toughest thing she will experience next year and possibly in her life. Lukily, it is not that far away like Australia was and I have ample oppertunity to make social calls there and have her come home for some of the weekends to rejoin with her family and the girls.
I know what many of you will say.. about the "dangers" of being alone in a forreign country. I trust her and I was able to manage in Australia even though the oppertunities were all around.
Besides, I doubt any of those young uni-boys could measure up. :beam:

[King Kurt]

Sigurd

I am sure those 4 months will fly by - especialy with 2 young children to look after. The wonder of the web will keep you in touch. As for uni-boys - nothing to worry about I would think - people like your wife doing a college course which they presumably had to pay for etc means that her nose will never be out a book.:beam:

[doc_bean]

Hard question, in 2002 I had just finished my second year of uni, had plenty of time to go, so no worries about the immediate future, had friends close and had found my rhythm in the academic world. OTOH I knew this was just a stage, a temporary thing. Now in 2007 I've graduated (took a slight detour) am looking for a decent first job, got a girlfriend, need to worry about the financial matters (well, not really worry, but I need to pay attention), most of my friends have moved away or have jobs and families now (well, no kids yet) so i don't see them as often, and I drink far less than I used to 5 years ago.
Overall I'd say I've grown as a person, but as for happiness ? Hard to say, since I left my teenage angst and depression behind (God, those where horrible years) I've been a very happy person.



Much, much less. This is primarily due to the fact that I am in a horrible, draining relationship that I cannot seem to get out of. I hate my (real) life, which should be good news to some on this board. :help:

You're young, you'll find better, dump her (or him ~D ).

[Husar]

Besides, I doubt any of those young uni-boys could measure up. :beam:
I agree.

[Lorenzo_H]

Much, much less. This is primarily due to the fact that I am in a horrible, draining relationship that I cannot seem to get out of. I hate my (real) life, which should be good news to some on this board. :help:
I know exactly what you mean about a draining relationship that you can't get out of. I was in one some time ago. I had a very disloyal friend who caused loads of problems. I know it's probably different for you but I managed to eliminate that person from my life altogether.

[Kuni]

I was happier back in 2002. I definitely had more friends back then. and more interests.

ing country person-thing here. :no:

[JR-]

more happy.