Posted by Sobriquet Style on August 2, 2006, at 6:14:38
In reply to Re: Quality of life the answer, *triggers* » Sobriquet Style, posted by Gabbi~G on August 1, 2006, at 18:14:18
>I'm really curious though at how you came to the conclusion that people in the third world have a joy that we don't.
I would be too, as I was when I'd read about the 3rd world, before I had visted some of the countries. Granted I havent visited all of the countries, but i've been to a fair few which spans The America's - North, Central and South, Europe East and West, Asia (small part) and Africa (small part) Based on what i've seen in the various countries, their histories, cultures and the way of life of the local people eg being lucky enough to see how they live off the land with limited to no electricity/water and invited into their homes and other things, is what I base my conclusion on comparing them to the western developed countries I've been too.
Before this, I had read about it and thought, no way! Surely the developed western world is a far happier place. But serioulsy, and i'm sure there will be those who disagree, but based on my own opinon of what I've seen is the only way I can attest to my statement.
>That's a really broad statement
Perhaps, but to narrow it down (oxymoron?) I'd have to write a book!
>the treatement of Women, or Lower Castes, or the children who are drug addicted and used as prostitutes or sold into slavery because of poverty.
Thats interesting, the treatment of women, drug addicts and prostitution happens all over the world, but I know what you're saying.
Its hard to explain in writing, unless I wrote a book and can copy the amazon link! but in short, theres a social, health and happiness element in some of the 3rd world countries i've seen where people live from just afew dollars day if they're lucky, some in what could be described as shacks, with a separate outer building where theres a fire for food and home made beds and roofs made from the plants around them. Fair size families with the elderly to 6 months year old babies that look so healthy its truely astonishing. They have no social security, but everyone is so friendly torwards each other that the people who live close by are the social security. The job they do compared to welfare is, well its hard to put into words but its a better system than phoning a number being put on hold whilst you wait to speak to a stranger pressing 1 this, 2 for that etc. The food they eat is so healthy they live longer, they don't need any vitamins and in some respects the food tastes better than microwave meals. Even in some african countries where they get food from the UN, the food that they hunt for themselves be it cattle or crocodile, the people are so happy its unreal. They don't have burger king, and in all honestly i'm not sure if they'd want it... Antidepressants, their life is the antidepressant..
To sum up there was a recent happiness study published measuring peoples wellbeing and their impact on the environment. A tiny island in the South Pacific came top called Vanuatu. Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica and Panama were also close in the top 5. This is where theres prostitution drugs and a different treatment of women too.
The United States came 150th, Canada 111th, Britain 108th and France 129th etc etc. To put this in perspective, I wouldn't say its exact, as of course everyone has their own opinons, but based on the countires i've visted I'd say its probably on the right tracks in my own opinon. A short while ago I was in South America speaking to someone from the States - who said to me, "Man, what I'd do to leave the States and live in a shack in a 3rd world country, I'd have a great life and hope to do it someday" Who'd of thought?
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poster:Sobriquet Style
thread:672192
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060802/msgs/672851.html