Portland #1 unhappy city? (crime, unemployment rate, live in)

[jdcnosse]

The article is from awhile ago but it states that Portland is the unhappiest city in America. America?s Unhappiest Cities: Portland, Ore. - BusinessWeek

[belmont22]

Doesn't surprise me with the crap economy, **** poor weather and declining public services.

[urbanlife78]

I was pretty happy in Portland, but this study factors in depression and suicide and when you live in an area that doesn't get much sun and you are not a happy person to begin with, suicide becomes a real option. That is just a side effect to the crappy weather (though I actually like Portland weather.)

[AndyAMG]

What a retarded survey. I would love to know what bearing cloudy days has on the rank, take Minneapolis for a second.

It ranks 19 overall
9th for depression

but the unemployment rate is 10.7%
crime is 14 notches worse
and there are 50 fewer cloudy days, but 30 of them come when the temperature is bone chilling cold.
Minneapolis, Minn.

Overall rank: 19
Depression rank: 9
Suicide rank: 44
Crime (property and violent) rank: 10
Divorce rate rank: 33
Cloudy days: 169
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 10.7%


So we are unhappiest despite having much lower crime, 3% lower unemployment, and only being ranked 12th for suicide?


Well, hopefully we can keep the all but the hardiest carpetbaggers out then.


Then I saw this and just shut the page.


Tucson, Ariz.

Overall rank: 18
Depression rank: 24
Suicide rank: 3
Crime (property and violent) rank: 27
Divorce rate rank: 10
Cloudy days: 81
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 6.9%


1st Tucson does not have 81 Cloudy days. It may have 81 days that have some cloud cover, but 81 days of what the weather service calls "cloudy" would be a flat out lie! More people off themselves in Tucson per capita but were depressed? 6.9% in (December 2008) unemployment, let me guess that's fuzzy accounting by the State of Arizona.


but wait the survey gets even better



Seattle, Wash.

Overall rank: 20
Depression rank: 6
Suicide rank: 27
Crime (property and violent) rank: 25
Divorce rate rank: 24
Cloudy days: 201
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 11.5%


give me a break.

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by jdcnosse

The article is from awhile ago................

Discussed here a while ago, too: //www.city-data.com/forum/portl...-city-u-s.html

[notoriouskelly]

All those "Best places to retire"etc are crap - they contain elements of truth but everyone will find each place different.

Factory writers crank em out by the dozen to get clicks and sell magazines.

[Yankeemama]

This is a rough time of year for many Portlanders, I think. We start to crave more sun in late Winter/early Spring but this has been quite a sunny Winter, IMO. I know I get way more grumpy when I drive in February/March. I like to get away to a hot climate this time of year and I come back recharged and ready to enjoy Portland's perfect Summer. I think job satisfaction and happiness in marriage/ relationships, overall mental stability are factors to Portlanders' "unhappiness", as well as weather, of course. I don't actually know too many people here in Portland so deeply that I would know if they are truly happy. Many aquaintances I see around my community could be downright miserable but covering it by keeping busy or medication, self-medication. These studies are interesting because how do you measure happiness or misery? I have a stressful life but I also feel great happiness when I witness small miracles or feel joy despite situational stress or lack of sun. I also feel downright exhausted when I wake up to the dark for months and I just want to stay in bed. Lately the mornings are getting brighter and I am motivated to get up and start my day. I have now lived through almost five Winters here and I small still learning new ways to cope with the darker, shorter days that Portland is known for. My husband reminds me that by the time I see the beautiful Spring flowers start to bloom... my mood shifts and I start to forget any misery I feel in Portland.

[KJoe11]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

I was pretty happy in Portland, but this study factors in depression and suicide and when you live in an area that doesn't get much sun and you are not a happy person to begin with, suicide becomes a real option. That is just a side effect to the crappy weather (though I actually like Portland weather.)

I like weather too. Most of us (public) work inside so we really don't see the sun or clouds all day anyway. This is why seasonal affective disorder may be a little over played. IMHO, it comes down to attitude. I left a nice job because of that behavior. I now working for less money and longer commute but the folks are much nicer. I made the right choice

[Teckeeee]

How do they get suicide rank? Factor weather, alcohol use, and unemployment?

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

This is a rough time of year for many Portlanders, I think. We start to crave more sun in late Winter/early Spring but this has been quite a sunny Winter, IMO. I know I get way more grumpy when I drive in February/March. I like to get away to a hot climate this time of year and I come back recharged and ready to enjoy Portland's perfect Summer. I think job satisfaction and happiness in marriage/ relationships, overall mental stability are factors to Portlanders' "unhappiness", as well as weather, of course. I don't actually know too many people here in Portland so deeply that I would know if they are truly happy. Many aquaintances I see around my community could be downright miserable but covering it by keeping busy or medication, self-medication. These studies are interesting because how do you measure happiness or misery? I have a stressful life but I also feel great happiness when I witness small miracles or feel joy despite situational stress or lack of sun. I also feel downright exhausted when I wake up to the dark for months and I just want to stay in bed. Lately the mornings are getting brighter and I am motivated to get up and start my day. I have now lived through almost five Winters here and I small still learning new ways to cope with the darker, shorter days that Portland is known for. My husband reminds me that by the time I see the beautiful Spring flowers start to bloom... my mood shifts and I start to forget any misery I feel in Portland.

Sure, in the midst of any season (summer included) people get a bit antsy for a change in the weather. I just don't see that that equates to unhappiness, much less "depression." At least, that's not the circumstance for most people. Yours sounds like a case of depression, Yakneemama ... but seriously, I've never known of anyone personally who deals with anything like that.

Now wanting to stay in bed because it's cosy and warm ... I get that.

How you really measure happiness or misery is by asking people. Conducting a survey. Until they do that, it's all b.s.