Why is it that people who barely have anything in the 3rd world seem so much happier than those of us that seem to have it all here (as far as the necessities to live- food, clothes, shelter etc.) in the developed world?
Why is it that people who barely have anything in the 3rd world seem so much happier than those of us that seem to have it all here (as far as the necessities to live- food, clothes, shelter etc.) in the developed world?
Reply to this Hi there, (From a westerner's point of view)
I was just having this discussion with my flatmate last night. Maybe because they see far more death and suffering than we do: they in turn appreciate and value their lives far more - living for every bit of it. I am aware that this is a huge generalisation and I'm not saying that people in the western society don't value their life, but thoughts of whether I am going to starve to death or loose my home in a natural disaster, or lose every member of my family due to war is not usually in the forefront of my mind. I think that when you are so close to suffering, you surely would appreciate every moment and person you have got. My flatmate also suggested it had something to do with our lack of community: we do see suffering in a different way and yet we (as a whole) personally don't tend to help. I only had to get on a bus today and watch an old fragile lady stand whilst no able bodied person would give up their seat.
However, I hope that I am one of the happier members of society. I do appreciate and enjoy my life. I tend to think how lucky I am every day.
(disclaimer I appreciate that I may be wrong about all of the above feel free to disagree!)
Reply to this maybe coz tradition & culture keeps us occupied in everyday life...
Reply to this there are many people, particuarly in australia that beleive that those in 3rd world countries are at times happier, as they know no different. Well this may have been the way a couple a years ago. but the 3rd worlds devotion to telvision as impsosed these western values on 3rd world communities.
I too have been asking myself similar questions. living in argentina i have realised that the people here generally simply are not happy. as a whole i would say that australian have a better state of mind then the argentines. why, economic colapse, goverment dicatorship, corruption all play heaverly on the mind. but key factor, i believe is the materalism of the people. where i come from in australia is really the heart land of the so called alternative surbubia. where people have but are not driven, nor place their happiness on materialistic posession. where as here so much depends on your look and what you have. people tend to have few friends, more known people. particuarly women don´t seem to be happy. i don´t know all day your house, living through your husband and kids is something i have never understood. its not that im been culturely ignorant, or not understand properly. i have been here, and with argentines, in an argentine family for 10 mnths now. maybe thats why everyone visits the skrink here
Reply to this I dont think they are in fact happier.
They just do not yet feel their need for fulfulment on a higher level then getting food clothing and shelter like we do in the first world.
I think at the moment we are going through a wave of negativity in the first world.
We have high degrees of freedom and wealth but do not yet know how to effectively use this freedom to gain personal fulfullment. Getting enough food clothing and shelter may be difficult for many in the third world but it is a need that is easier to understand then trying to discover what would provide personal fulfillment.
Mell
Reply to this I think our lifestyles have become so busy with working and acquiring things, that we're missing out on the simple pleasures in life, like human contact and fellowship. I think that is the same reason so many people love backpacking--they leave the day-to-day chaos and stress of western life, and embrace a simple life again, even if it is only for a few weeks.
Reply to this I don't think the developed world is a particularly unhappy place. Food, clothing and shelter are simple to obtain (generally speaking of course) and when something is easy it perhaps is not as fulfilling as it could be for others. Those in the developed world I think are constantly looking for something else..a bigger car, a better job, a new partner, greater adventure, more experiences, ultimately because we can. Our expectations are higher, often what we have is not enough and because we are not forced into living a certain way we are always visualising a better life, therefore perhaps not seeming to be contented with our lot.
That is one argument of course, and it generalises. We could open a huge can of worms with the debate, are people in the third world really happier?! As a Westerner visiting places in the third world I can only imagine that the kids posing in the photographs with big grins are excited to be seeing something different, delighted to have the attention thrown on them. What really happens when the Westerner disappears in search of another great adventure? It is surely a different story.
Reply to this Very simple! Ignorance is a blessing, some say.
The 3rd world's vast majority of citizens do not have a clue about our "lovely consumers' paradise" neither they get shot every day by millions of ads telling them " you must have this". So, they have to live only with the simple things of life: the sun, the trees, the landscape, nature.
We, the 1st world citizens, are tremendously exposed to greed and envy, a hugely fertile ground for frustration.
Like Joe Cocker sings, and very well, "The best things in life are the simple things".
Reply to this I also think it has a lot to do with people's general beliefs. When I've travelled in North Africa (Arabic-Muslim) and also Asia and Southeast Asia (Hindu and Buddhist). I've often commented on the fact that everyone there is always so welcoming, will always offer you their last shirt, will always welcome you in to their home, and always share whatever small amount of food or drink they have with you. I'm convinced it's a lot to do with their religious beliefs. Their beliefs also always give them a much simpler and happier outlook on life.
Reply to this i'm thinking it's a middle class thing, the feeling of always not having enough. you have a little experience of what it's like to have a good life as u're able to afford things like an ipod and a few travels a year, but we always aspire for more and more. as compared to this, people in the developing countries have never had a taste of this kinda life, so they're content with what they have now. they have no basis for comparison. and considering most of them are illiterate, it's not as if they're exactly exposed to the world beyond their country, so they don't really understand the point of all the materialistic stuff.
Reply to this I don't believe on over-simplifying things, but in this particular case I have to agree with some of the previous opinions in this matter that the tangible happiness in the developing World boils down to a non-materialistic life outlook... During my formative years in Latin America, many happy instances were associated with spending time with family and friends while doing the simple things in life... Elders had a very important role and the extended family typically "hovered" around them... When I moved to the "developed" side of the World, the rat race took over much of what used to be quality personal time... But I have found that the degree of "materialistic" living is not the same in all developed nations... I lived in Norway for a while and was surprised to find that most Norwegians enjoy the simple things in life as much as the Latin Americans that I left behind.. Simple walks in the mountains to collect mushrooms or wild berries in the fall are still high in the list of pastimes... So is joining the local choir or simply composing a new song with friends at a restaurant and distributing the lyrics on table napkins so that everyone can sing... Perhaps is just a matter of where your priorities are in life and surrounding yourself with people that share the same values...
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