What's the square root of an orange? I suspect it is possible to answer the question methodically and empirically, not using buzz words or bollocks. Does anybody care?

How does an academic fully justify their position in everyday life? How did that particular author?

Virtually every major techological advancement of the last century, stuff we take for granted that makes our lives better, came about as a result of academic research, much of it "blue sky" untargetted research for the sake of curiosity. If you dont believe me, look it up on the internet (which itself is a result of these useless academics)

As for the square root of an orange...now that is bollox isnt it, makes no sense to me anyway.



Why do governments pay for these sort of studies? One argument is that the methodologies and data generated are used to analyse the effects of all the programs and policies that governments put in place, or to see if there are not lessons to be learned elsewhere that could help our own nation. The aim isnt necessarily to overtake other nations in the charts, although that happens, its more to develop a decent way of assessing how a nation is doing, better or worse then before, in order to decide if the money is being spent wisely / effectively.

The unfortunate side effect of these studies of course is the temptataion to score and rank nation vs nation is too strong, and then all this other nonscientific speculation comes about as a result of publishing tables of who is better than whom.

I don't believe I ever stated that academics were useless. Having said that, I do not believe that tax payers in Canada would view payment of the research referred to above as being a good use of funds.

I cannot imagine any major technological advancement resulting from a happiness scale.

I don't believe so. If what you have said above is correct, a major technological advancement could result from such "blue sky" research.

Have either of you actually read the report? Instead of coming back with facetious comments that make you look stupid, frankly, why don't you read some if it so that can interpret its value on more than just a superficial level.

Happiness in this report is linked to issues of social inclusion/exclusion in society, social policy on this and other matters, environmental/sustainability issues (in spite of Harper being a dickweed on the subject I for one am glad that Canada's grant award agencies are funding research on happiness and sustainability) and many other issues besides. Happiness is actually integral to much of this and I think it's really important that we study it. It's not as simplistic as what your suggesting ... But then if you'd bothered to read the report or some of it (big words or small words included) you may have recognised this.

Have you read the report?
I briefly skimmed over and like your reply above full of big words and buzz phrases.
I think most people know what makes them happy and they dont need a survey or study to tell them that.
Of course academics are valuable but like their egos they use lots of big words rather than conveying their findings in plain english terms. Perhaps us non university educated people are not actually supposed to read these reports or they are written for other academics perhaps like your answer above.
If this makes me look stupid then Im fine with that as I have a real job and deal with real persons from all sorts of backgrounds and educational qualifications. Would it surprise you that some of the most intellectual people I deal with are the ones with little or no street smarts. If they are so clever why do they ask where the exit is when there is a huge EXIT/SORTIE sign staring them in the face.
I suppose if we didnt have the oilsands then we could have moved up a couple of notches.
And again I ask how did this survey improve your life or outlook?
Answers in plain english please

It hasn't made any difference to me on an individual level, but it's not intended to. It's not a self-help guide on happiness. This was a report for the UN and it is based on research from many different areas.

You seem to be setting this up as "university educated versus the common person" debate. That's a mistake because I actually resent pretension and value intelligence of all kinds. There are people with PhDs who are a total failure in other walks of life, I agree. But similarly, I resent people who just dismiss academia which you seemed to be doing. The bottom line is that academia is a "real job" and without it we would all be at a loss. And that's a fact.

There are lies; there are damned lies and then there are happiness statistics.

If you notice in my reply I state of course academics are valuable.
I do have questions about this particular study though hence my somewhat sarcastic tone about this particular subject only, not all academia.
I somehow think Canadians and Canada will survive or carry on day to day living and would do so with or without this survey. I guess the Govt could use the results in the Immigration & Tourism side of things.
Come live in or visit the 5th happiest country in the World.

See my reply in post #20

As a wikidaemic my professional guess is somebody‘s just a little touchy over the UK coming in at #18.

They can't be that bloody happy as one of them jumped off the Burrard Street bridge as I going to get some petrol for my boat yesterday. The little ferry picked him up and took him over to the coast guard station where they gave CPR for about 30 minutes, I don't think he made it.

My sister got a cellphone years ago because people jumping in front of the skytrain held up her commute so often, and I once met a man who jumped off the Lions Gate and lived. There are millions of people there, it‘s to be expected some are going to do it.