Why are we so unhappy all the time? (Pittsburgh: crime, unemployment rate)

[mattjd]

I recently saw an article from Business Week listing the "Unhappiest Cities in America." Naturally, Pittsburgh was on that list...coming in at number 14. What's bizarre is that no other city on the list was even close to us as far as the unemployment rate goes, which was 5.6% in December. I mean, I could see Detroit being unhappy, they have an 18.6% unemployment rate. Yeah, 18.6% people. So, if jobs aren't an issue, what's the problem here? Housing too cheap for us? Schools too good? Not enough crime to spice up our lives? Minneapolis has a 10.7% unemployment rate and they are happier than us. Seattle has an 11.5% unemployment rate and they are happier than us. That's pathetic.

America’s Unhappiest Cities: The other kind of depression - BusinessWeek

[Mugatu]

The lists are getting ridiculous. It seems like there is a different one for everything now. Unhappiest city, fattest city, angriest city, most miserable city, most desirable city....blah, blah.

So we're the most livable, but also the most unhappy and most polluted. Whatever... These lists are bunk. One of the reasons for cities ranking high in "unhappiness" is "lousy weather." What is their definition of lousy weather? Number of cloudy days, of course. So naturally, Pittsburgh makes the list based on that. I guess they assume it's impossible for some people to like cloudy weather, or four seasons, or cold temps. I'm sure 95 degree heat with stifling humidity and intense sun is "great weather."

But as I posted in Scranbarre's pics thread, people here DO complain about everything. From getting to know some people here, I don't even get sense that the locals are TRULY miserable about living in Pittsburgh, I think it's just more of a 'Burgh tradition to whine and moan about this place. There seems to be a mob mentality amongst the locals, when not bonding by talking about the Steelers, they seem to bond by putting down everything else about the city and acting like it's so much better everywhere else. I'm sure all this contributes to the "despression" statistics. The locals just assume that because they live here, they MUST be depressed. It's Pittsburgh, after all!

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by mattjd

I recently saw an article from Business Week listing the "Unhappiest Cities in America." Naturally, Pittsburgh was on that list...coming in at number 14. What's bizarre is that no other city on the list was even close to us as far as the unemployment rate goes, which was 5.6% in December. I mean, I could see Detroit being unhappy, they have an 18.6% unemployment rate. Yeah, 18.6% people. So, if jobs aren't an issue, what's the problem here? Housing too cheap for us? Schools too good? Not enough crime to spice up our lives? Minneapolis has a 10.7% unemployment rate and they are happier than us. Seattle has an 11.5% unemployment rate and they are happier than us. That's pathetic.

America’s Unhappiest Cities: The other kind of depression - BusinessWeek

The schools are good here?

You do realize they give out E's now, and you can't get a grade lower than 50%, don't you? High graduation rates doesn't mean schools are good.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by hnsq

You do realize they give out E's now, and you can't get a grade lower than 50%, don't you?.

That's been rescinded.


City schools flunk weighted grade system

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

That's been rescinded.


City schools flunk weighted grade system

I missed that...very cool. Maybe our schools are better than I thought!

[Johnny C]

I blame the Pirates for most of my grief and dispair.

"rebuilding since 1992"

[mariok689]

yeah but they don't give out "F's". E comes before F, numbnuts.

[hnsq]

Originally Posted by mariok689

yeah but they don't give out "F's". E comes before F, numbnuts.

What is the point of this post?

the system in pittsburgh has it so an E is failing...

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by mariok689

yeah but they don't give out "F's". E comes before F, numbnuts.

I think the poster was referring to the fact that a big, red F plastered on a test paper that used to scare the hell out of students is no longer issued. Teachers now use a purple marker with a less offensive E.

[PeterRabbit]

If they fail they should have to stand in the corner with one foot in the waste basket. Bring back big red Fs.