Saturday, 01 August 2009

  • What Race Is The Happiest?



    A few days ago, I was on my way home after work and remembered that I ran out of cereal, so I stopped by CVS near my place. When I was about to swipe my debit card, I overheard the cashier’s conversation (I didn’t mean to, but she was talking loud enough for anyone near her to hear). She was smiling and telling the cashier next to her how she thinks Asians are the happiest race (Thinking about it, maybe she was being deliberately loud). I smiled back and asked her, “Really? How come?” She told me that she’s been working there for a few years now, but hasn’t really met any Asians who were mean or appeared to be angry. According to her, “Asians always look happy, like you!”

    I found this really interesting. I’ve actually never thought about this before, but I guess most Asians (of course, not all Asians) do often “appear” to be happy. Well, at least for me, this is usually the case. A lot of my classmates (ones that I’m not very close to) DO think I am always upbeat. They sometimes even ask me, “Do you have any worries at all? You’re the most optimistic person I’ve ever met!” Of course, I DO have worries and stress! Come on, I’m human, too. I just try NOT to show my feelings to others because that’s just how I am. But thinking about it, in many cases, I think a lot of Asians ARE shy and don’t tend to show their feelings to people they don’t really know.

    But considering the high suicide rates in certain parts of Asia, especially in South Korea and Japan, you can’t really say Asians are the happiest race. I mean, is there such thing as the “happiest race”?

    What do you guys think? What race do you think is the happiest? Why do you think so?

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Comments (105)

  • Neowind@xanga

    Wow, I don't think race is a determining factor for how happy you are. Though I'm certain if you're a particular race in certain parts of the world, you wouldn't be happy. And it's quite hard to just say a specific race that get first dips on this pool of happiness.
  • MissPixieGlitter@xanga

    i don't think there exists a "happiest race." perhaps the race with the most rights and highest standard of living, but that varies from place to place.
  • InTheThin@xanga

    I think what she's seeing is really just the fact that most asians are raised to be extremely polite and humble. I mean, Japanese even bow to most people - you never see as many white, black, indian, middle eastern, or hispanic people doing that. We're brought up with stricter rules in general.

    There was a survey at a European international resort where waiters and waitresses were asked which country's people were their favorite to serve, and they preferred Japanese over any other nationality. If you're asian, you probably understand why since Japanese people are specifically taught to be especially polite and thoughtful, they bow often as a sign of respect, and they are actually taught to hide negative emotions as to appear as pleasant as possible.

    I'm pretty sure the higher suicidal rates for asians comes from the impossibly high standards in our culture.
  • Keeko1@xanga

    Wow... no idea.   But I think it's because of our eyes (which often looks like we're smiling).  Can't really say that WE are the "happiest" race. 
  • goD_I_V_Aunc10@xanga

    In trying to figure out how someone could make that observation I'll try to reason it out for myself.  Perhaps there are some races that have to deal with stuff other races don't and that may make individuals of said races more aware, concerned and upset at certain things. That could make other races appear to be "happier".

    But that could just be a load of crap, you know? It's up to our individual selves to make us happy.
  • joycemiles@xanga

    Maybe it's the Asian Americans? hahaha I'm happy all the time, and I'm asian! Weellll, I'm not happy all the time :-/
  • lesprit__descalier@xanga

    yaaaa i'm like youu.. people that don't know me very well think i'm always smily and happy. i do have a spontaneous smile that forms when i see anyone, except people i'm close to.

    i don't think race has any correlation to how happy you are. but yeah, asians hide their feelings more, if anything.
  • ivarahBharavi@xanga

    you never really know how happy someone is, or even if they are happy. I know, from personal experience, that even if you give off the impression that you really are happy, there is so much inside that you just don't bring out. so there's no point trying to measure happiness even in one person, let alone a whole race of people.
  • nonurbusinessyo@xanga

    Hawaiians always seem happy to me =)  Sup bra, have a beer and relax.  No need to worry and no need to hurry cuz life ain't escapin' you.  Let's go catch some waves!  Hmmm, I feel happier already =D
  • linnelleum@xanga

    Thank you for sharing this.  I don't think race determines happiness but culture can have a huge impact.  I think the happiest people are the people who are part of societies that emphasize personal responsibility partnered with freedom to make decisions, value for community, honesty, connection, faithfulness and love.  Money is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.  Societies that worship money are usually terribly unhealthy.  Societies that value relationship and kindness and justice usually have happier members.
  • GieGieHeart@xanga

    I don't think there is such a thing that a certain race is the "happiest". It all depends on the individual, the society in which they live in, etc. It seems somewhat ignorant to think that a certain race is the "happiest"...

  • fueledbylaura@xanga

    No.
  • yukarimayhem@xanga

    jamaicans :)
  • Neowind@xanga

    @yukarimayhem@xanga - Why? because they dance all night, smoke all day, and eat crazy good spicy food?
  • yukarimayhem@xanga

    @Neowind@xanga - :P stereotypical isn't it :)
    but not only that theyre generally always smiling and all their music is upbeat and happy :P
    I'm generalising though haha
  • fried_ryce@xanga

    I don't think Asians are the happiest race...maybe they're just better at hiding it. >:O

    Personally, I don't think race has anything to do with it but rather it varies from person to person.
  • pang890528@xanga

    @InTheThin@xanga - As ur said, when ppl hiding their emotions, the stress increased. Maybe its the reason for the high rate of suiciding?
  • msarianne@xanga

    i know there's like a study that's been done on that. but personally, i think, nationality-wise, filipinos are really happy - maybe not the happiest, but they're really happy. i went back to the philippines, and despite the extremely high poverty rates, filipinos are known for the smiles and light-heartedness and joking around. i love it there. 
  • Neowind@xanga

    @msarianne@xanga - Filipinos are known to be the most adaptave culture in history, like when the Spanish and Americans came and went into their country. Also, I think they're generally happy because their country isn't religion based.
  • Neowind@xanga

    @yukarimayhem@xanga - it's not stereotypical if it is funny. =)

  • yukarimayhem@xanga

    @Neowind@xanga - would u agree then :)
  • Neowind@xanga

    @yukarimayhem@xanga - oh, if agreeing with you means I'll be in hell, then I'll be there waiting for you with a hand basket full of roses.
  • xueyo@xanga

    i've always thought that caucasians are the most happy and carefree. they never seem bothered by trivial matters unlike asians lol. but i think everyone is happy in their own way yeah
  • Neowind@xanga

    @xueyo@xanga - yeah, I'd think so.  Then again, the only caucasians I'm thinking about are the hippies.  Since I live in the Northwest, there's a bunch of them around here.

  • adept_of_chaos@xanga

    If I won a race, I'd be happy, dose that count?

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