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Survey: The world’s most stoic nation is…

“The implications for an emotionless society are significant,” wrote Jon Clifton, a partner at Gallup and director of the Gallup Government Group. “To continue to be competitive in today’s world, Singapore must begin focusing on behavioral-based indicators that move beyond GDP.

“The bottom line is that Singaporeans are productive, highly disciplined citizens who are not enjoying their lives much,” he wrote in an accompanying article for the Gallup Business Journal. “This culture has won historically, but it will not move to the next level until its leadership takes wellbeing seriously.”

Trailing right behind Singapore were nearly half of the 15 former Soviet republics: Georgia and Lithuania, with 37%; and Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with 38%.

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Questions included whether people felt well-rested or enjoyment, smiled and laughed or felt worry, sadness, stress or anger.

The 36% in Singapore who reported feeling anything is the lowest in the world, the Washington-based research and analytics organization found.

On the upside, not much manic-depression either!

Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 23, 2012 at 10:22 PM

And the least stoic is America – because getting serious about trillion dollar math just isn’t any fun!

beatcanvas on November 23, 2012 at 10:23 PM

Oddly enough at 60% the Philippines is where you are most likely to get stabbed.

tom daschle concerned on November 23, 2012 at 10:24 PM

And the least stoic is America – because getting serious about trillion dollar math just isn’t any fun!

beatcanvas on November 23, 2012 at 10:23 PM

It’s why Funyuns sell, while Responsibilityums languish on the shelves.

Ladysmith CulchaVulcha on November 23, 2012 at 10:28 PM

Well, if I knew I could get fined for chewing gum or not flushing a public toilet, I’d probably not wear my emotions on my sleeve either.

Remember the punk who was caned for “tagging”?

Not the merriest bunch of folks, methinks.

hillbillyjim on November 23, 2012 at 11:54 PM

“The bottom line is that Singaporeans are productive, highly disciplined citizens who are not enjoying their lives much,” he wrote in an accompanying article for the Gallup Business Journal. “This culture has won historically, but it will not move to the next level

This study is such crap. From first hand experience, it’s a delightful place. The people work 3 jobs if they must, but they will not depend on the demeaning handouts and labor from someone else’s back. They are most polite, nice, friendly, clean. The parks, streets, shops, markets are wonderfully pleasant and quiet. The cultural mix, the myriad of languages, all is incredibly ecclectic. The food is superb. The variety of people all respect each other. The gov’t runs things efficiently and the British civilization is evident all over, and welcome. Go over the border and you’re immediately in hell, in Malaysia. It’s like day and night.

The people of Singapore are not unhappy. They are tough and decent human beings, to be admired.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Only this part should have been in quotes, above.

“The bottom line is that Singaporeans are productive, highly disciplined citizens who are not enjoying their lives much,” he wrote in an accompanying article for the Gallup Business Journal. “This culture has won historically, but it will not move to the next level

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 11:55 PM

Not the merriest bunch of folks, methinks.

hillbillyjim on November 23, 2012 at 11:54 PM

Dear hbj, they are actually very pleasant people. Not for dictatorships of any kind, not even benevolent ones. One never knows when the “benevolent” part gets dropped. However, this study is bunk. Singapore is a wonderful place on Earth and the experience begins at the airport.

The taxidrivers are all educated, polite, friendly and helpful.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 11:58 PM

They were tortured by all kinds of scum, historycally, and have overcome a lot. The Japanese were swine in so many regards, the same in Singapore.

Singapore is a great friend to the USA and there are way more ‘goodies’ there than will ever be known.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 11:59 PM

What happened on Nov. 6 is a direct result of lack of stoicism and a huge decline in the USA, a la Rome.

Discipline, decency and shame are out the window in the USA.

Thuggery and charlatanry rules now…and lazyness.

Schadenfreude on November 24, 2012 at 12:01 AM

Dear hbj, they are actually very pleasant people. Not for dictatorships of any kind, not even benevolent ones. One never knows when the “benevolent” part gets dropped. However, this study is bunk. Singapore is a wonderful place on Earth and the experience begins at the airport.

The taxidrivers are all educated, polite, friendly and helpful.

Schadenfreude on November 23, 2012 at 11:58 PM

I’m sure that they’re wonderful people; I was commenting more on the things that are unacceptable there that make me think that they’re more tolerant of a regimented order than most societies.

I’m not crazy about chewing gum myself, but to have banned it seems quite stern. I understand their reasons (clean-up costs for example) but it is unusual to be sure.

hillbillyjim on November 24, 2012 at 12:11 AM

but it is unusual to be sure.

hillbillyjim on November 24, 2012 at 12:11 AM

True, indeed.

When there, however, gum is not on anyone’s mind. They are all very busy…working, eating, walking, going to a variety of praying/meditation places…it’s a most interesting small place on Earth.

Schadenfreude on November 24, 2012 at 12:24 AM

They are all very busy…working, eating, walking, going to a variety of praying/meditation places…it’s a most interesting small place on Earth.

Schadenfreude on November 24, 2012 at 12:24 AM

That, plus their fortunate location, is why they are a prosperous folk — and from what I understand, very happy and content compared to most.

It sounds like you’ve been there. Color me envious.

hillbillyjim on November 24, 2012 at 12:41 AM

That, plus their fortunate location, is why they are a prosperous folk — and from what I understand, very happy and content compared to most.

It sounds like you’ve been there. Color me envious.

hillbillyjim on November 24, 2012 at 12:41 AM

All true. On the latter, it is an unforgettable experience. Of the Asian places it is the most elevated of them all, along with Japan.

Schadenfreude on November 24, 2012 at 1:17 AM

This was a study designed by The Onion.

Singapore solution: More liberalism. More multiculturalism. More dependency. Require students to major in victimology and transgender studies. Require all males to cry at least 30 minutes daily.

petefrt on November 24, 2012 at 2:27 AM

I have always found Singaporeans to be rather snobby, but I have met some who were very friendly. They have a very good education system, and they send many talented students to American universities. If only they didn’t have such cocky, haughty personalities.

bluegill on November 24, 2012 at 3:44 AM

Come to think of it, few Singaporeans I have met have ever been very warm.

bluegill on November 24, 2012 at 3:46 AM

Survey: The world’s most stoic nation is…

“The implications for an emotionless society are significant,” wrote Jon Clifton, a partner at Gallup and director of the Gallup Government Group. “To continue to be competitive in today’s world, Singapore must begin focusing on behavioral-based indicators that move beyond GDP.

You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.

Stoics may have believed in apatheia, but that doesn’t mean they were proponents of apathy. Good grief.

Stoic Patriot on November 24, 2012 at 6:01 AM

Oddly enough at 60% the Philippines is where you are most likely to get stabbed.

tom daschle concerned on November 23, 2012 at 10:24 PM

You do violence to the facts.

The crime rate in the Philippines is low compared to industrialized countries…
According to the INTERPOL data, for murder, the rate in 2000 was 7.85 for the Philippines, and 5.51 for USA. For rape, the rate in 2000 was 4.21 for the Philippines, compared with 32.05 for USA. For robbery, the rate in 2000 was 8.06 for the Philippines, 144.92 for USA. For aggravated assault, the rate in 2000 was 15.10 for the Philippines, 323.62 for USA. The rate for motor vehicle theft in 2000 was 3.26 for the Philippines, compared with 414.17 for USA.

http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/rwinslow/asia_pacific/philippines.html

itsnotaboutme on November 24, 2012 at 6:28 AM