Why Are Mexicans So Much Happier Than Serbs?

/ 04.10.2007. u 02:21

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I had one the absolute happiest times of my life these past two months in Serbia... the air, the greenmarket, the architecture, the friendly and social people, the air of relaxation (after routine 80 hour work weeks in the US). Serbia is a wonderful place. I just wish it was happier for its citizens.

According to a 2004 study (ok it's dated and Serbia has come a long way since 2004) of global happiness, Mexicans were the second happiest nation on the planet. Surveyed citizens said they were (a) happy and (b) satisfied with the way their lives were going. America was #15 on the list, Slovenia was #38, Croatia was #42 and Serbia slunk in at #61. Better than Zimbabwe, but hardly impressive.

If you don't know much about Mexico, you may be surprised to find it has more in common with Serbia than you think. People don't have much money (except for the uber-rich), there's been quite a bit of government and police corruption, in the past the populace were little more than downtrodden peasants crushed by various outside empires (notably Spain) for eons, cities have bad air pollution in part from old cars, extended families often live together (grandparents, parents, kids), Mexicans have a sense of color and artistry I've often seen in Serbia, they appreciate trumpets in Mariachi bands, etc. OK, so they are Catholic and live in a mostly warmer place, obviously not everything is similar to Serbia.

The key to me is, Mexicans are self-professedly SO much more happy than Americans are. You might think a very wealthy, democratic, educated, less-corrupt, never-conquered country would have happier citizens than its very poor neighbor. You would be wrong.

Which leads me to think personal happiness is not only about your wealth, your government, your police, your educational status... it's partially about your attitude.

The funny thing is, when I first saw this happiness study, I expected to find Serbia far higher up on the list. Why? Partly because my Serbian step-daughter had the best trip of her life when she went to Mexico on a school trip run by her American High School a couple of years ago. She came back glowing. "It reminded me of Serbia!" she said, "It felt just like being back home." For a homesick kid from Sombor, that's quite a statement.

Now you can (and I bet some people will) respond to this post with a "Life in Serbia is much harder/worse than you know..." attitude.

Yes, life in Serbia is not easy. But, neither is life in Mexico. The difference is when you meet a Serb acquaintance on the street, and ask them how they are, a stream of complaints will spout from their lips. Money is bad, health is bad, etc, etc. Only if you ask them many questions, pushing and prodding, will you hear about the good things in their lives. If you meet a Mexican acquaintance walking down the street who has the same lack of money, the same family squashed into a little flat, etc., and you ask them how things are going, they will smile happily. And tell you about the good stuff.

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Dragan Vujanović 02:53 04.10.2007

A wonderful place ..!

" " Serbia is a wonderful place. " "

I pored svih kritika nekih pojava - Srbija je stvarno " a wonderful place ".

Pozdrav, Rosemary

bobo 02:54 04.10.2007

Mexicans

live in a mostly warmer place

There you go...
Mexicans just amaze me.
Sense of colours is very different from Serbian in my opinion.

DejanOz 02:57 04.10.2007

Don't worry, be happy

Look at the "world's happiest countries" from Rosemary's link:

1. Nigeria
2. Mexico
3. Venezuela
4. El Salvador
5. Puerto Rico

Nigeria, no. 1! The same Nigeria beset by the whole catalogue of societal problems, violence, health issues, and on top of it all, a life expectancy of 47 (!) years. You have to think yourself happy in a place like that.

One thing that is obvious about the top 5 "happiest countries" is - the warm climate. So, forget your worries about global warming - we'll all be so much happier! ;-)

nestorijanac 03:04 04.10.2007

Happiness

is a hard thing to find, if the one who is looking for it is not already happy...

oldtajmer 03:32 04.10.2007

Serbs and Mexicans

If you don't know much about Mexico, you may be surprised to find it has more in common with Serbia than you think.

I recently discovered another thing Serbs and Mexicans have in common - we're always late! :)

iza suda 04:22 04.10.2007

Why Are Mexs So Much Happier Than Serbs?

Because Mexicans have never had it better, while Serbs have.

Temerin 18:04 04.10.2007

Re: Why Are Mexs So Much Happier Than Serbs?

Precisely, serbs lived much much better and poverty is induced recently, by usa and other western countries, their embargo, divide and conquer strategy, criminal bombing campagns against their allys in last two world wars.

Rosemary:

so this is what you really think of serbia - and probably any other eastern european country; knowing the amount of anti-mexican racism in us of a this can only be taken as offence. moreover, you are mistaken on many of your shallow comparisons. to name just a few ridicilous constatations:

>>> in the past the populace were little more than downtrodden peasants crushed by various outside empires (notably Spain) for eons - vojvodina, part of serbia, was as far from this as you can be; vojvodina had a very urban
serbian community in austro-hungary for several centuries, ever since the big move under carnojevic; the rest of balkan was mostly rural, but that is true indeed true for most of the world. the backward turkish empire, that lived in feudal age for perhaps 300 years more than rest of europe has, has been defeated in 1804 and 1815 and serbia started its freedom for much of 19. century, even before greece, who had similar destiny. rural peasants of spain and sicily are probably more similar to mexicans, and they have similar climate. serbia is quite a bit different.

>> cities have bad air pollution in part from old cars - so does new jersey and many rotten places in usa or ex
soviet union or half of the world. but i doubt mexico has that much pollution caused by depleated uranium bombs,
bombing of pancevo oil rafinery etc, which has polluted serbia's natural food, unsurpassed in europe by its quality,
conveniently for western companies. nothing to say about the rising cancer rates, a direct consequence of the
nato agression and criminal bombing, a lot to be happy about

>>extended families often live together (grandparents, parents, kids),
this is plain ridicilous. "extended families" in serbia have little similarity to the large rural families that
("seoska zadruga"

that existed here long time ago, and are probably to be found in mexico. "extended
families" that in fact include a granny or grandparents only in case of housing shortage, typical of big cities,
are something you will find in most of europe, italy, russia, germany etc. in fact, it is a typical anglo saxon
abnormality to have kids out of house by age 17 (college age), this does not exist nowhere in the world,
not in japan or asia, not in most of europe, nowhere except at the most selfish parts of the world. ever heard
of "mamism" in italy? this is not a similarity between mexico or whatever, it is a skewed point of view

lastly, unlike mexicans, serbians do not consider us heaven on earth, in fact, most of them prefer canada europe
or even serbia (at least as it was until sfry was destroyed twenty years ago, according to divide and conquer
policy of the west),

if you want to compare serbia to some latin american country, poorer even than mexico, and not cause offence, try cuba. cuba, with its free education system and health care most americans (such as mexican immigrants, oh soo happy to have arrived to us) can only dream about, an attitude of defiance, a charismatic leader (castro is so much like late president tito) that usa hates, etc. cuba, just like serbia, lived in socialist system, and its corruption is of similar type, as is in easter europe, serbia was a bit happier place than cuba during these communist times, but
cuba had a better climate. everyone was equal in cuba, and in serbia too, soo unlike mexico under us-sponsored banana dictators. and then, berlin wall fell, and cuba was isolated and under sanctions just as serbia or iraq or so many places usa has enveloped in black.

mexico is a corrupt state leaning to us-sponsored fascist dictatorship, with extra rich and poor living in slums.

serbia, and cuba for that sake, was a socialist country, people never lived in slums, value system is completely different. education system in socialist countries is something us would envy but of course, us has a deliberately dumbing education system for the underclass (of mexican so-happy-to be immigrants, white trash and other undesirables).

some similarites do exist - for mediteranian people, and balkan people, are just as easy going and relaxed as south americans are, a climate if you like, and so is south of usa, where people are just as friendly as people in serbia.
but few of these countries had undergone such decline, induced from abroad, as serbia.

next time you see an unhappy serbian, try to figure out how many relatives has he lost to cancer due to nato bombing, how many friends have been destroyed in western encouraged wars of dissolution of sfry, how much
he had just 20 years ago and how much humiliation and loss has endured, so that usa well off could live in their happy little worlds and make ridicilous racist comparisons and generalisadions off top of their misguided arrogant
heads.

vucko 19:22 04.10.2007

Vojvođani ratuju? neee...

Jel ovo opština Temerin objavila rat opštini Sombor, pa sad Temerinci maltretiraju somborske snajke ovako?

MaNdRaK 01:14 23.10.2007

Re: Why Are Mexs So Much Happier Than Serb

Dude, next time You feel like firing a Big F**king Gun, at leasi point it against enemy.

nsarski 04:27 04.10.2007

Happy as a Mexican with a leaf blower

I watched one guy spend 45 minutes blowing a stamp-size yard and a single-lane driveway; I could've raked the space twice in that time with a pocket comb. My friend was curious about the Mexican motivation to use leaf blowers. I quoted my old co-worker Miguel, whose response to the question "How you doing?" was always, "Happy as a Mexican with a leaf blower." I also theorized that the leaf blower is a status symbol for a supervisor who has been promoted off the lawnmower, or maybe it was just a macho thing to piss the gringos off.
Thus, my theory is that Mexicans are happier than Serbs, because Serbs do not use leaf blowers!

Happy man:

Doctor Wu 10:11 04.10.2007

What do they call it, then?

Blow job?

nsarski 13:31 04.10.2007

Re: What do they call it, then?

That's exactly right, Dottore! Not enough blow jobs!

smizibizi 04:44 04.10.2007

why?

I think the fact of our Slavic routs what makes us a little less happy... you have to hear the song from Djordje Balasevic called "Moja dusa slovenska"and let somone try to translate it to you and maybe then you will understand...sometimes we just like to sufer a little bit with a glass of vine,looking somewhere far away...Turks left that melancholy to us too...so I guess that is the thing that makes us different than Mexicans...
and yet then at the end all those "happy"Mexicans dream of day to go across the border to less happy America.Why?I wonder.If I was happy in Serbia the way I am now in US,I would never leave...
and yeah I found a different list of happiness for you :):

The meta-analysis is based on the findings of over 100 different studies around the world, which questioned 80,000 people worldwide. For this study data has also been analysed in relation to health, wealth and access to education. 1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
13. Costa Rica
14. Malta
15. The Netherlands
16. Antigua and Barbuda
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
19. Norway
20. The Seychelles
...somehow this list makes more sense to me(I didn't even try to find Serbia)but if you wish to do so here is the link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061113093726.htm

Srki 06:08 04.10.2007

slicnost...

je dosta nategnuta...

Ali evo jedne: jedini srecni Meksikanci koje sam imao prilike da vidim su oni koji su uspeli da se umuvaju u US. Slicno je i sa Srbima...(ne pricam napamet, bio sam u Meksiku pre par godina...a i zivim u kraju sa puno komsija iz Meksika)

Cisto sumnjam da iko sa malo mozga u glavi moze da bude srecan u zemljama kakve su Srbija i Meksiko - eto jos jedne slicnosti...

Meni se cini da autorka zivi u Srbiji pod staklenim zvonom...

Pozdrav.

Mungos 08:30 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Only similarity I can see between Mexican and Serbs are following:
Sers - The "Slivoitz(a)" - The Krkanluck - Zurka / Veselje / Guca
Mexicans: - Tequilla - Burittos / Tacos / Enchiladas - Fiesta
Both: Good & responsible workers If paid well; the time is veeery relative; don't give a damn; great friends.

Serb would hardly "walk " a leaf blower, neither clean the toilet... Serbs rarely work zillion hours a week
Mexicans would hardly take a weapon and go to fight seriously (although they fight easily w/ each other; they love golden teeth and jewlery...
In the USA, Mexicans feel as they are riding on a space-ship. (There is huge difference between Mexico & Serbia, at all!)

smizibizi
For this study data has also been analysed in relation to health, wealth and access to education.
1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
13. Costa Rica
14. Malta
15. The Netherlands
16. Antigua and Barbuda
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
19. Norway
20. The Seychelles

The list is such a crap!:) There is no way that Bahamas, Brunei, Bhutan, Costa Rica and Malta are ahead of i.ie. Netherlands, New Zealand or Norway. Neither Seychelles could be as a 20-th! I know that country, so well...:)

Mungos, The Margarita-lover

P.S. Mr. Brown, health care is accessible in Serbia as much as in the USA. Don't forget that almost everyone is Serbia is guaranteed the health care, in contrast to the USA where officially(?) 60 million (1/5th!) people do not have an access even to the basic H/C! Even with a good health insurance, you have to pay a wealth for for moderately serious medical treatment.

Atomski mrav 09:36 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

P.S. Mr. Brown

Mungos, you talk/write in English like a true Mexican :)
It's Mrs. Brown, not Mr. Brown... Rosemary is a she :)
By the way, what is it with American bloggers here - they post something and that's it; no communication with the rest of us (boranija - green beans)... hello, blog is an interactive form of communication :)

tnosugar 10:01 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

I guess in The Seychelles and The Bahamans, the locals don't count as people...

DejanOz 10:41 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Atomski mrav
By the way, what is it with American bloggers here - they post something and that's it; no communication with the rest of us

That's just C.I.A. gathering the range of responses... no need to interact at all. ;-) We all just end up filling their databases.

Atomski mrav 10:44 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

I don't give a damn about people who don't give a damn about me :)

DejanOz 11:43 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Atomski mrav
I don't give a damn about people who don't give a damn about me :)

Way to go. I agree.

Kazezoze 13:44 04.10.2007

Mungos,

vidi shta kazhu za Bhutan;-)

Mungos 16:25 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Atomski mrav
P.S. Mr. Brown

Mungos, you talk/write in English like a true Mexican :)
It's Mrs. Brown, not Mr. Brown... Rosemary is a she :)

I apologize, deeply! Ispalo mi "s", s oprostenjem!

Mungos, The Clamsy

Mungos 16:28 04.10.2007

Re: Mungos,

Kazezoze
vidi shta kazhu za Bhutan;-)

Da, kada su svi nafurani na religiju & uduvani 48 sati dnevno!

Mungos, The Ne Prima Se

Mungos 16:33 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Atomski mrav
P.S. Mr. Brown

Mungos, you talk/write in English like a true Mexican :)
It's Mrs. Brown, not Mr. Brown... Rosemary is a she :)
By the way, what is it with American bloggers here - they post something and that's it; no communication with the rest of us (boranija - green beans)... hello, blog is an interactive form of communication :)

And you didn't notice that I have dropped "b" from Serbs and "V" from "slivovitz"?
:)) Ima se, moze se!

Mungos, The Shame On Me

Atomski mrav 16:43 04.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Well, I didn't want to risk anything... someone might say I'm nationalist or something even worse...

Kazezoze 17:00 04.10.2007

Re: Mungos,

Da, kada su svi nafurani na religiju & uduvani 48 sati dnevno!

jok bre, budisti... nego ono je zanimljivo : "Gross National Happiness," he declared, "is more important than Gross National Product."
oni to imaju u zakonu.. sreca im vazhna, ko i meni uostalom

))

Rosemary Bailey Brown 01:19 05.10.2007

Re: slicnost...

Didn't mean to be silent -- I've been on plane after plane for the last 18 hours on a business trip, unable to get to a computer... or any decent food. I would like to state for the record that I'm not one of the minority of Americans who dislike Mexico. I think it rocks. I also don't think it's identical to Serbia -- just that people don't have things easy, yet they have an attitude that Life Is Good that I sincerely appreciate and wish more Serbs and Americans could emulate. The insight I most appreciate in this comment stream so far is the one where it was pointed out that Mexicans never had it much better (not in living history anyway) but Serbs can remember the glory days of Yugoslavia all too well. I've heard many Serb relatives talk about the "golden years" in the 1970s and 1980s... and how different things are now.

In the 1970s and early 1980s when life SUCKED for many Americans due to recession, inflation, rising divorce rates, pollution problems, lack of faith in the future and government,etc., our country fantasized about the US 1950s...and early 1960s, our "golden" years. It's not nearly comparable to Serbia's downfall perhaps, but tough still for Americans who were used to the future always being better than the past.

It's always amazed me too, how my husband and I are the exact same age and yet he grew up in a country he considered Heaven, the best on the planet, and I grew up in a country that was so deeply depressed about itself at that time.

zzz 09:46 04.10.2007

"never better!"

Several years ago I’ve heard one advice: “When someone asks you how are you tell him “never better” so that he can die under torture!” LOL
I think people are less happy here because they know, they remember better life.

@mungos
Why you think that people from Brunei should be less happy than someone from The Netherlands? I don’t think so, especially with Brunei (I know I wouldn’t be). Namely Brunei is small, religious country (sultanate) with very (!) wealthy economy based on oil industry; medical service is provided by government and is free of charge as well as education … I know I’d be happy :)

tnosugar 09:58 04.10.2007

Correction

never-conquered country would have happier citizens than its very poor neighbor.

Your collective memory does not extend too far back. America is a country (geographically speaking) that was gradually conquered by European empires and nations, who almost completely destroyed and subjucated the land's indigenous people.

And you're right. It's not all about wealth. In a country in which 25% of the people is Evangelist-Fundamentalist (src. Jesus Camp documentary, as well as several globe-trotting Americans from the southern states) and you get spanked for watching the demonic Harry Potter, I'd rather live in Mexico... or Serbia.

fixer 10:30 04.10.2007

is god a poor designer? :

poor mexico: so far from god, so close to the united states

poor serbia: so far from united states, so close to the mexico & god

poor united states: so far from god & serbia, so close to the mexico

..

Atomski mrav 10:33 04.10.2007

Re: is god a poor designer? :

Ah, neki kanda u Srbiji misle po onoj Njegoševoj... "Bog visoko, Rusija daleko..." :)
Što se mene tiče, što dalje od Rusije, što dalje od Amerike, a što se Boga tiče, tu mi je svejedno.

yu1bcd 13:30 04.10.2007

500 godina pod Turcima, bre!

You have been long enough in Serbia to hear standard excuse! I guess Spaniards and English were better ocupiers

extended families often live together (grandparents, parents, kids)

Nothing wrong with this in old cultures respecting elders! Not liberal though...

DejanOz 13:55 04.10.2007

Re: 500 godina pod Turcima, bre!

yu1bcd
extended families often live together (grandparents, parents, kids)Nothing wrong with this in old cultures respecting elders! Not liberal though...

This smacks of crude cultural relativism (which would make sense in the light of your other contributions, anyway).

m.agrippa 14:40 04.10.2007

Family

The self-centered Anglo-Saxon 'me me me!' mindset doesn't fathom the value of family.

DejanOz 15:12 04.10.2007

Re: Family

m.agrippa
The self-centered Anglo-Saxon 'me me me!' mindset doesn't fathom the value of family.

And what exactly is the value of family? Could you elaborate, please. How it is that "me" is not valuable, and "family" is? Exactly who has decided so?

Srki 15:17 04.10.2007

Re: Family

m.agrippa
The self-centered Anglo-Saxon 'me me me!' mindset doesn't fathom the value of family.

Phrase. And quite incorrect in my opinion. Despite the fact that young people normally leave their home by 18 to start their own life, I haven't observed any lack of love and compassion toward their families. At least nothing short of "worm" Slavic "mindset", for example, or americanized Latinos, or anybody else's.

yu1bcd 20:00 04.10.2007

Re: Family

I was thinking of Chinese, the largest and one of the oldest. I also appreciate American way of gaining independce at 18 when entering college faraway from home. The worst case are Italians staying with MAMA until 40.

Still relative for you, Dejan of Oz?

DejanOz 01:52 05.10.2007

Re: Family

yu1bcd
I was thinking of Chinese, the largest and one of the oldest. I also appreciate American way of gaining independce at 18 when entering college faraway from home. The worst case are Italians staying with MAMA until 40. Still relative for you, Dejan of Oz?

If I were able to understand what you actually mean, I would be happy to respond. However, now I don't know what you're saying, and will refrain from reading anything into your messages.

Sepulturero 13:32 04.10.2007

Envy of the gods

Perhaps the Serbs are following the old Greek saying that you should not talk about how happy you are in order not to provoke the envy of the gods.

jinks 15:44 04.10.2007

Pitty

that people that admire and love their country end up "building some other's home" or "painting some others house", i.e. working, living, spending, building, raising family, ... , in some other country. The place you live at is as much happier place, as much more you work on it. It seems silly that you love one country, and build some other's (ussually, a .... pit).

P.S.

I supose that the same thing goes for Mexicans ... they love Mexico but every now and then crowd up Mexico-USA California or Texas borders.

schneetzla 16:09 04.10.2007

,...

Happiness is overrated.

dunjica 16:46 04.10.2007

What is happiness?

What was the definition of happiness when the study was made? What does it have to do with real circumstances? With our expectations? With sanity and lucidity of the members of the target group(s)? ...

iza suda 18:14 04.10.2007

Re: What is happiness?

dunjica
What was the definition of happiness when the study was made? What does it have to do with real circumstances? With our expectations? With sanity and lucidity of the members of the target group(s)? ...

One interesting definition of Happiness is given in the movie “Ljubica” (btw, starring Bozidarka Frajt, for you “old school”):

Happiness = (What You Get) / (What You Wish).

Obviously, the more you get the happier you are. Also, the less you wish the happier you are.

Both (What You Get) and (What You Wish) are related to the characteristics of the environment you live in. The more developed the environment is, the higher chances for you to get more. The drawback is that you’ll see more of affluence around you and you’ll wish more too.

This is the first math movie I’ve seen.

I believe that this definition fits nicely into any of these rankings.

We all focused on how well the country is doing to how happy its citizens are. I believe that there are other factors to consider:

It’s What You Do Not What You Have

We all know that kids with all toys are more spoiled and less happy than kids with one or two toys. Same holds for adults.

Temper

Temper 1 – You’ll see many Latino/Mediterranean nations high on the lists. It is just the way to approach life. Give them basics (including music) and don’t harass: they’ll be happy.

Temper 2 – Northern nations: “Man, thank God they invented central heating.” The life taught them to be disciplined and appreciate what they have.

Temper 3 – Caribbean countries: “Dolce Far Niente” attitude. Funny how that doesn’t work in Bermuda (I know, I live there). It may be explained with the following factor.

Shocks

Shock is any significant change in the living conditions. It’s amazing how positive shocks do not increase the happiness as much as the negative ones kill it. That’s what I believe put us very low in the rankings.

Regional Factors

Must be in the water.

Look at us, Yugoslavian countries, in the first ranking:

38. Slovenia
42. Croatia
51. Bosnia
61. Serbia
64. Montenegro
67. Macedonia

and please tell me what “Sto juznije to tuznije” mean.

dunjica 18:25 04.10.2007

Re: What is happiness?

the less you wish the happier you are.

I think that´s the key to happiness.

Rosemary Bailey Brown 01:26 05.10.2007

Re: What is happiness?

Great stuff! There have been psychological studies about shocks - or dramatic change - in life as it relates to stress. Big changes such as moving house, changing careers, getting married, having a first child, having a close relative die, etc., are all rated by stress level. The shrinks say even if the stress is from a "happy" change, it's still stress and stress does not make for happiness. Which explains a lot.

snezana mihajlovic 07:01 05.10.2007

Re: What is happiness?

something I've read about stress
it is not stress that "kills" us, but our reaction to it
the same goes for happiness - and I think it is not just partly about our attitude
joy vs. satisfaction

Emir Halilovic 12:20 16.10.2007

Re: What is happiness?

iza suda

It’s What You Do Not What You Have

It's what you are not what you have. As long as your happiness depends on external factors you'll never be happy.

dunjica 17:58 04.10.2007

nothing to grouse about

If you ask an average German how is (s)he doing, probably the most positive answer you could get would be: "There is nothing to grouse (meckern, Germ.) about."

Atomski mrav 18:40 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Grouse? Jarebica, tetreb? :)
Kao, ne žalim se ni na šta?

dunjica 18:45 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

grouse = meketati? barem je meckern (njem) = meketati

Atomski mrav 18:50 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Jedini prevod za grouse što sam našao je tetreb ili jarebica?!
Znači, ni Nemci neće reći da su dobro, već da se ne žale ni na šta. Nisu happy, već content. Dobro, nije ni to loše...

nsarski 19:06 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Ima i ovaj grouse:

Atomski mrav 19:16 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Pa skontaj šta je na slici, tetreb :) E sad, možda ima glagol to grouse ali zašto bi "meketati" zvučalo isto kao "tetreb"? Možda u Nemačkoj tetrebi mekeću (lukavo, da zavaraju trag) :)

dunjica 19:26 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Atomski, Nsarski, sad ste me zbunili max. Moj LEO kaže da je grouse = meckern. A meckern = meketati. Očito ne valja prevoditi ovako iza ćoše. Onda da pojasnim. U našem prijevodu, Nijemci kažu, kad im je sve potaman, super, kao po loju, zdravo, veselo, bogato, uspješno, ...: "Nemam za šta meketati." Preveli bismo kao "Nemam zašta kukati." Stvarno hiper-optimizam, pokušala sam ironično poručiti.

Tako je to kada se vic pokuša objasniti

nsarski 19:35 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Grouse je ta prepelica ili kojagod je to ptica.
Grouse je takodje i sinonim za complain.

Main Entry:noun
grouse
Pronunciation:
ˈgrau̇s
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural grouse or grouses
Etymology:
origin unknown
Date:
1531

: any of various chiefly ground-dwelling birds (family Tetraonidae) that are usually of reddish-brown or other protective color and have feathered legs and that include many important game birds

Main Entry: intransitive verb
grouse
Function:
intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s):
groused; grous·ing
Etymology:
origin unknown
Date:
1887

: complain, grumble

dunjica 19:41 04.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Uf, spasi mi Nsarski čast. Thx, hvala!

Drugi put koristim samo grumble.

Atomski mrav 06:50 05.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Hvala, nsarski... čovek svaki dan nešto nauči :) Dunjice, sledeći put koristi complain da te ceo svet razume :)

dunjica 08:13 05.10.2007

Re: nothing to grouse about

Atomski, slijedeci put koristim srpski da me cio svijet razumije ;-)

The sushi club 19:55 04.10.2007

Generalization

Generalization is a dangerous thing. Surely a beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Rosemary Bailey Brown 01:28 05.10.2007

Re: Generalization

Ah, but is a rose beautiful even if no one is there to see it?

Atomski mrav 06:53 05.10.2007

Re: Generalization

Rosemary, I think there is no point in being beautiful if nobody is there to see it... :) Unless you think that roses are self-conscious beings so that they can enjoy their beauty by themselves... :)

vucko 09:13 05.10.2007

Re: Generalization

Unless you think that roses are self-conscious beings so that they can enjoy their beauty by themselves

But then the roses will be narcisses? :)

Atomski mrav 10:04 05.10.2007

Re: Generalization

Touche, Vučko :)

ugly 09:16 06.10.2007

Stranger than Paradise...

1. Mexicans are (so) happy because they're so close to freakin' US and can hop the fence any time they wish, but they don't have to live there. And if they do, they don't pay taxes :)

2. Quote: "I had one the absolute happiest times of my life these past two months in Serbia... the air, the greenmarket, the architecture, the friendly and social people, the air of relaxation (after routine 80 hour work weeks in the US). Serbia is a wonderful place. I just wish it was happier for its citizens."

a) Yeah, the green market is great, especially the enriched Uranium. Serbia used to be #1 producer of plums, now it's an import item. Corn hybrids were some of the best in the world (even better than US), now that's gone down the drain, too. In US if you stay away from large grocery chains, you can get great tasting organic produce all year round, but at a cost ($$).

b) The air? Are you being sarcastic, or you're haven't taken your gas mask off yet? Hmm... Wait till December, and report back.

c) Architecture? Which architecture? Many years ago famous architect Le Corbusier said about Belgrade that it is the ugliest city built on one of the most beautiful locations. I guess, you can't have it all... For architecture, try Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Florence...

d) And why did you work 80 hours/wk in US? Money? When is enough enough? You are really the only one who sets the bar and if you really do that then "enough" could be reached in less than 80 hours, trust me. But faithful slaves to consumerism find it hard to accomplish that and it's never enough. BTW, in case you haven't noticed, 80hr weeks are coming to Serbia, too. Perhaps, you're hanging out with a different crowd? You know, the ones that don't have to work too hard, with thick chains, fancy cars and hot chicks... For a change, I can point you to quite a few people that work longer hours than anyone in US I know (but still have less). You can't get something for nothing. The choice is yours.

DejanOz 11:49 06.10.2007

Re: Stranger than Paradise...

ugly
Many years ago famous architect Le Corbusier said about Belgrade that it is the ugliest city built on one of the most beautiful locations

Granted, Le Corbusier would know "ugly" if he saw it - he was expert at it. The man who thought of buildings as machines for accommodation, said that all building should only be white, and wanted to help Mussolini redesign Addis Ababa after il Duce conquered it using nerve-gas. An insult from such a man should be worn as a badge of honour. I am not surprised that a fascist sympathiser such as him has missed all of Belgrade's unique charm (you actually need a soul for that)

ugly 12:07 06.10.2007

But, Sir...

Le Corbusier's true place in the history of art is debatable (personally, I am not his fan). But what is not [debatable] is the haphazard, mediocre architecture of today's Belgrade, a result of two devastating processes:

1. Numerous destructions throughout its recent and not so recent history.

2. Half a century of socialism and its intrinsic "appreciation" for beauty, art and pre-communist era tradition and preservation of history (Nazi-like principle - "the history starts with us"

.

It is, threfore, hard to figure out who damaged Belgrade's architectural image more - its conquerors or its "liberators".

You may disagree with Le Corbusier's esthetic standards, but he was hardly the only one who had a problem with Belgrade's architecture. Apart from a few decently preserved buildings whose style had been influenced mostly by Viennese (Secessionist) art and Romanticism (the stretch btw Slavija and Kalemegdan), the bulk of Belgrade's buildings are plain ugly, even scary. Tragically few beauties from the earlier times are still standing (e.g. "Konak Knjeginje Ljubice"

. Forget about Le Corbusier, just take a look around.

DejanOz 12:29 06.10.2007

Re: But, Sir...

I never said (or implied) that Belgrade is a catalogue of architectural masterpieces, nor would I recommend a visit to Belgrade specifically with the purpose of admiring its buildings. I could agree that the destructive processes you mention indeed were bad, especially the second. But (western) Europe is virtually packed with glittering, glorious and cities swamped with the actual architectural masterpieces (the kind that is being studied at universities) - that leave one feeling pretty empty and, frankly, bored. Much of these famed attractions are on the verge of not being much more than expensive, lavishly maintained tourist traps. Take central Paris as an example. Take my beloved Venice as the opposite - you can almost watch it sinking (what "almost", I actually had to walk through water on its streets). Many buildings are slanted and look less than safe, for all sorts of reasons its permanent population is far from being rich and is not able to afford extremely costly maintainance and repairs that would be required as a matter of urgency. Still, nowhere in the whole world have I seen a place more magical and enchanting, nothing comes even close to Venice. Now, it would be a great stretch to compare Belgrade with Venice in any respect, but the point is, damage and destruction doesn't take the spirit away, if anything it makes it shine through more clearly. (And the further away you are, and in more glittering, glossy and polished cities you live in, the more obvious this is). In summary, though Belgrade may be architecturally challenged, especially in some newer parts, sterile and boring it is not.

ugly 12:41 06.10.2007

Oh, that sex...

Never had such an orgasm over a city (Venice), but quite a few good ones in Belgrade. In all honesty, that's what makes it more memorable for many, rather than its atmosphere of urban decay, lingering smell of coal dust and sauerkraut, BBQ & tobacco, mixed with a spirit of Phoenix (as in bird) that refuses to give up. Admit it - it's the people, stupid (chicks, if you will).

DejanOz 13:03 06.10.2007

Re: Oh, that sex...

No, actually, it is precisely the urban decay that I find appealing. Thanks for pointing that out.

ugly 13:27 06.10.2007

Straight from Vienna...

The affection for decay in Freud's book would be affection for thanatos, a traditional Serbian affliction (and affection).

But don't despair - the best things in Serbia are materialized through death:

sarma - dead cabbage
cevapcici - dead cattle
rakija - dead plums
nada - dead Tito & Zloba

DejanOz 13:44 06.10.2007

Re: Straight from Vienna...

I'd say you would need to update your reference books... Freud is badly out of date. I'd also suggest another thing - go easy on cynicism. It is rude to be condescending and to patronise strangers - so I'll use this opportunity to say bye to you.

ugly 14:01 06.10.2007

OK, then straight from the LoC...

DejanOz
ugly
...in Freud's book ...

I'd say you would need to update your reference books... and go easy on cyncicism.

If you're into psychology/psychiatry:
S.Freud: Jenseits des Lustprinzips (Beyond the Pleasure Principle) (1920)

If you're into comedy/tragedy:
Spomen knjiga posetilaca (1980)
http://www.vreme.com/arhiva_html/487/11.html
http://www.centartito.org.yu/aktivnosti.html

Once you're past Oscar Wilde's definition of cynicism (not applicable to the Serbia case), consider these two:

“It's hard to argue against cynics - they always sound smarter than optimists because they have so much evidence on their side”

“Idealism is what precedes experience, cynicism is what follows.”

iza suda 15:40 06.10.2007

Re: OK, then straight from the LoC...

DejanOz,

Take into account that ugly is a teenager. They are known to be pretty cynical.

Rosemary Bailey Brown 17:34 06.10.2007

Re: Stranger than Paradise...

Actually when it comes to architecture, air, relation, etc., I wasn't talking about Belgrade. I know that for many Serbs - especially those in Belgrade, the city is synonymous with the word "Serbia." This is not only annoying to those Serbs who live outside Belgrade, but also let's face it, untrue. Belgrade is important and marvelous in many ways, but I didn't live there.

DejanOz 02:12 07.10.2007

Re: Stranger than Paradise...

Rosemary Bailey Brown
Actually when it comes to architecture, air, relation, etc., I wasn't talking about Belgrade.

Just for the record, I was only replying to the comments specifically mentioning Belgrade, I did not make any assumptions as regards your location. It must be said, though, that the vas majority of foreigners who live in Serbia live in Belgrade, so that is only a very logical assumption in this particular case (although I'm not guilty of it).

ugly 07:05 07.10.2007

Never asume

You're wrong on both counts.

Cynics, from Diogenes to Oscar Wilde and many in between, none were teenagers. Neither am I.

Do not assume anything ever. Respond with a meaningful argument to the specific and pertinent statements. It's called discourse. Yours is off-course.

Rasina 09:02 21.01.2008

Dear Rosemary,

It seems that I find your topics amusing and interesting - not very impressed by the comments though, but nevertheless amused by your posting.

So, to contribute my 2 cents here - I think I nailed it. Here it is. Answer to the question "why are the mexicans..."... (results based on target Serbian population that was willing to participate in shallow and pointless "happyness survey"

;

I think it's a matter of wind control.
To elaborate:
- In my (somewhat limited) experience I've noticed that Mexicans do enjoy flatulence independent of place, location, audience or timing. In short - they are not "wind inhibited".
On the other side - Some Serbs (limited to your experience and survey target populus), seriously invested in impression they want to make on anyone and everyone (including especially foreign chicks) do tend to "hold it" indefinetely... And by doing so - they walk around full of hot air which creates cramps, abdominal pain and general self-awareness. Resulting in serious, one would think "frozen" facial impression. Look that one might easily confuse with "worry", "seriousness", "sadness". Even when we "let go", we tend to make it "sound nice".

That's it Rosemary. I've tried. Might be "way off mark" here, but it would be great if you can share some genuinly "western" (how funny) view on possible correlation between flatulance and happyness.

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