[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Happiness beyond the basic needs such as food, water, shelter and companionship is really not linked to wealth at all so there is absolutely no reason to assume that just because a country is "poorer", its people aren't happier.

Some people live very happy, content lives almost completely "off the grid" with no material wealth at all. Some very rich people are so miserable that they take their own lives before they hit middle age.

The UK is a miserable place. People have miserable, materialistic priorities here. That's pushed by parents, in schools, and by the government every day... trying to convince us all from the age of 5 that the ultimate goals in life are "good grades", for "good jobs" and then "plenty of money" (and then supposedly you will be happy). When you combine that with crappy weather conditions that stop people from getting back to any sort of natural state at all, then no, it's not surprising that we're an unhappy nation at all.

add to that celeb culture, addiction to social media and hang on so called celebs every move it's no wonder kids are discontented

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Cherie

add to that celeb culture, addiction to social media and hang on so called celebs every move it's no wonder kids are discontented

Yeah social media is a big factor really, people cherry picking and exaggerating the best parts of their lives to share with everyone whilst for the mostpart leaving out the less good things that balance it out... The effect being that EVERYONE ends up thinking that everyone else's lives are better than theirs. Facebook bragging is a bit of a pet-peeve of mine.