2nd Unhappiest place to live. UK

[Newtonianmechanics]

m.economictimes.com/nri/latest-updates/uk-is-officially-the-worlds-second-most-miserable-country-these-were-the-happiest-and-unhappiest-countries-of-2023/amp_articleshow/108361220.cms

Clearly it isn't the most scientific test. However....

Unhappier than literal war zones.

Why is this?

Are we just a bunch of entitled grumps and grifters that lack resilience?

Or

Is it the cost of living crisis and the work work society? The disparity between rich and poor. The huge living costs and people not having spare money to fund fun despite earning well.
That things are getting worse not better or a number of other issues?
Childrens time being micromanaged to the nth degree. Too unsafe to play in the street like we used to. Constant pressure.

Why?

And similarly, you'll find people who love 'love style and take pride in putting together looks' in London. Or Manchester, where Chanel recently had a catwalk.

That still doesn't mean that looking scruffy = a lack of disposable income, which is what you observed. And as you stated, there are loads of styles, one doesn't need to spend a lot to look good. But it's you who equated wealth with it!
I just pointed out that plenty who tend to spend a lot on beauty actually have less disposable income. People might choose to spend on other things. They're not slobs with inferiority complexes. I mean, I clearly earn more than you for a start, why would I feel inferior? :)

Happy to share my budget hair care and perfect skin tips, maybe you'll feel better the next time you visit these places.

One of the central problems is overcrowding. There are too many people squeezed onto this little island, and it really lowers the quality of life. Developers take advantage of the high demand for housing and build tiny, gloomy little boxes and then jam them on top of one another. On some new estates you’ll find eight houses where there should only be two. It’s disgusting. Then there is the traffic. That sounds like a minor issue, but we spend huge amounts of time in the car. The traffic round here is hellish. Frankly, I hardly go out anymore. I’ve given up yoga and swimming because it just takes me too long to get there. My local woods have been hacked down to make way for a new housing estate, and a second giant estate is being built at the other end of the village. God knows what it will be like ten years from now. At this rate, the south east of England will be one giant new build estate.

The lack of personal space is making everybody irritable and stressed. Look at animals in a zoo. Put too many of them in a cage together and what do they do? They either attack one another or become stressed - biting their fur, pacing up and down, etc.

Notably there are now reports of the asylum seekers trying to get back to France because “it’s crap here” but we’re a lot better at keeping people in than out - we apprehend then as they try to leave and transport them back to wherever the home office housed them.

couldnt make it up!

Exactly this. When I moved to the UK I realised that the part in Alice in Wonderland about £1000 per a ring of smoke is not a joke. If it were possible, you'd be charged for inhaling and exhaling. Separately.

Not only every interaction is designed to extract money from you, the ideal is to extract money from you even if you are not interacting. Nothing is ever done for the enjoyment of the people; everything is evaluated in terms of monetary value and there is nothing absolutely nothing else but money. Which of course the majority of population doesn't have.

I was thinking more about the fact that there’s almost always extra fees or charges - booking fees and card payment fees slapped on top of things. Or good value things but with outrageous parking or refreshments prices slapped on top. It’s incredibly extractive. Or “pay more to jump the queue” bullshit. Anything to upsell, anything to make you part with more cash.

I spend time in the UK and another country quite known for being expensive. But over there the prices are better value - they seem higher on face value but the quality is much better and there are usually no extra fees at all. And tips are round up to nearest whole denomination, not automatic addition of a service fee. And that’s because they pay their staff properly.

In the UK it’s all about maximising the margins, it’s rampant and unpleasant capitalism.

Good observation.

The phrase "property ladder" is emblematic of what you're talking about.

Well let’s hope they text their friends and tell them not to bother, the streets aren’t paved with gold after all

Yeah that's ALL of us for sure- not.

I don't know any bitter moaning people except on here.

🤣 a sense of community is vital to many people's happiness and it's all bit gone even in small towns. When I grew up it was usual to have granny living round the corner, mums at home, cousins in the area, you then left home and you could afford to live or rent near your family. That is all but an impossible dream for most people now. Sad.

I suspect the people scoffingvat this have pretty comfortable lifestyles and have no idea how life is for a lot of their countrymen

Nah I've been dirt poor and spent my childhood scrabbling around in the dirt (and yes, I mean literally) and violence. Life here is still infinitely better than other places where they won't be pissing around doing surveys about how aggrieved they are that they can't afford a three bed semi near Staines and that it costs half an hour's work to buy the ingredients for a cheese sandwich.

People from many of the countries you mention "want" to come here in order not to be killed in conflict. Not because life here is inherently better in any other way.

Without getting into any discussions about whether or not immigration is a good thing/should be allowed, many of them get to France or Italy or other very nice, safe, wealthy western European countries first and then determine to travel to the UK from there.

I take your point for those who do travel directly from war-torn and/or impoverished countries.

Or at what points in societal deterioration are we allowed to start feeling pissed off?

^^

This. There's very often a puritan attitude on here, oh comparison is the thief of joy, etc, ad nauseam.

You're allowed to say it's shit

Validus you are so right!

I'm from France and moved to the UK 2 years ago: I'VE NEVER BEEN UNHAPPIER IN MY LIFE. I've also lived in Africa ( Senegal) but I was much happier. It's not just about money or "being privileged" because in the UK I live in brand new house and I have good pay but I still feel very miserable. British people attitude, mentality and lifestyle make it worse. I can't wait to leave ASAP. Asylum seekers that were about to be sent to Rwanda didn't realise how lucky they were. Because Rwanda is far better than the UK.

It’s also shit the way everyone uses economic metrics as an indicator of a country’s “success”. As if high GDP actually makes anyone happier: it doesn’t. It just shows where rich people get richer.