People are by nature optimistic, according to a new survey.
The study involving 150,000 adults from over 140 countries showed that despite calamities from economic recessions, wars and famine to a flu epidemic, people were able to survive due to their universally positive outlook towards life.
It showed that 89 pct of the people worldwide expected the next five years to be as good or better than their current life.
Similarly, 95 percent individuals expected their life in five years to be as good or better than their life was five years ago.
"These results provide compelling evidence that optimism is a universal phenomenon," said Matthew Gallagher, a psychology doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas and lead researcher of the study.
At the country level, optimism is highest in Ireland, Brazil, Denmark, and New Zealand and lowest in Zimbabwe, Egypt, Haiti and Bulgaria.
The United States ranks number 10 on the list of optimistic countries.
May god bless us!!!! 
So who ranked number 1?
This is interesting. Kind of makes me feel like the black sheep. I am naturally pessimistic.
Did you know that 72% of all statistics are completely made up?
And 4 out of 5 cannibals agree... that the 5th cannibal tasted great!
I'm not sure that a poll exactly qualifies as "science"... let alone one that is as shallow seeming as this one (though I can't say for certain, given the lack of information on the survey itself, demographics polled, etc.).
| subirbasak wrote: |
It showed that 89 pct of the people worldwide expected the next five years to be as good or better than their current life.
Similarly, 95 percent individuals expected their life in five years to be as good or better than their life was five years ago.
|
Well, perhaps they're actually just very pessimistic about the last 5 years up to today, thinking it couldn't possibly get worse...
The wording of any survey like this is extremely important. Asking the same question in different words can result in amazingly varied results. | Solon_Poledourus wrote: |
So who ranked number 1?
This is interesting. Kind of makes me feel like the black sheep. I am naturally pessimistic.
Did you know that 72% of all statistics are completely made up?
And 4 out of 5 cannibals agree... that the 5th cannibal tasted great! |
Well said for me too. I am totally distrusting of stats as technically anyone can get stats to prove what they wish to prove, and the Government seems to be the most expert in doing that. I.e. arrange accounts so that when you look at them some are hidden or "separate". I have yet to see accounts the way I have to manage mine. I.e. you have income and then you subtract all your costs, cost of debt and debt. The latter two seem to be beautifully put into separate accounts, so much so that they have become something of art and "beauty" instead of DEBT! Like the real estate investment bad debt that the big banks don't factor into their main accounts. They are separate. 
If stats are based on actual accounts, and recorded accurately, I have no problem with considering them valid. It's "polls" that I don't trust at all. Like ocalhoun said, the way they are worded can often influence the outcome. Polls are usually opinion based, and I don't think I need to recount the adage about peoples opinions. Polls don't prove anything, and are almost entirely meaningless.
Politicians use polls to gauge the public in order to gain strategic advantage over their opponents during oration. Companies use polls to find out what the hottest trends are, and determine what products to market, and to whom. Ad nauseum.
In short, the only time polls are of any use is when somebody is selling something.
Even if you don't believe the study is valid, you have to admit that the study's results make sense. People need to be generally optimistic by nature because without general optimism, nothing would ever get done, and society and the human race itself would not be able to succeed.
| Magicman wrote: |
| Even if you don't believe the study is valid, you have to admit that the study's results make sense. People need to be generally optimistic by nature because without general optimism, nothing would ever get done, and society and the human race itself would not be able to succeed. |
True. One would also impair your health through negativism. Dark thoughts seem to have their way with working themselves through all the cells of the body.stats are stats... people like the xfactor, big brother and britains got talent... but I dont watch or vote... but if they asked 100 people if they watch the xfactor and 100% say yes... does that make me a negative...
according to horoscopes, there is only 12 types of people... and there's like over 6billion people on the planet... thats like 500,000,0000 people just like me?! If only I got a pound from everyone of them, and if I know me... which i do... I'd do it!
I don't know about statistic, but I protess to the statement
I'm optimistic by nature, but I know alot of people are not
in fact, some are down right grumpy and hot temper or sad or angry
some are depress (I would say more now)
I agree that people need optimism because without it there wouldn’t be any progress, in anything… But I don’t believe that it is by nature… I think that most of people have to work on themselves and to find some worthwhile goal and go to it…
Today, more people are “by nature” sad because they can’t live the way they like and deserve. 
