Why do White People seem so happy most of the time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The suicide rates of whites are second only to the suicide rates of Native Americans:
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/statistics/rates02.html

I am half White and half Native American. I am not the happiest of people. Although, I am much happier than most NA. NAs have a hard life! As I get older I understand why my dad always told me to tell people I was white....life is much better and you do have more advantages!!

[Anonymous]

I love that people are responding to this thread as though it was a serious statement from the OP. This is clearly a joke. Come on, you think "why do white people seem so happy most of the time" was a serious post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people (mostly white women) appear to be the unhappiest group of people to me.

Perhaps pressure to fit into the White American beauty standard contributes to their seeming unhappiness.

Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are all more common among white women.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?Volume=160&page=1326&journalID=13

I wasn't talking specifically about looks (although many white women do seem obsessed with being pencil-thin). The white women I know seem overly preoccupied with what other people think of them. Also, they really seem to obsess over what's wrong in their lives. They never seem content with who they are and what they have and it appears to cause so much stress and unhappiness.

Well they've been found to have the lowest self-esteem. I suppose that's why they never seem content.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White people (mostly white women) appear to be the unhappiest group of people to me.

Perhaps pressure to fit into the White American beauty standard contributes to their seeming unhappiness.

Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are all more common among white women.
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?Volume=160&page=1326&journalID=13

I wasn't talking specifically about looks (although many white women do seem obsessed with being pencil-thin). The white women I know seem overly preoccupied with what other people think of them. Also, they really seem to obsess over what's wrong in their lives. They never seem content with who they are and what they have and it appears to cause so much stress and unhappiness.

I agree with this. The phenomenon of going off to "find myself" is definitely a white thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The suicide rates of whites are second only to the suicide rates of Native Americans:
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/statistics/rates02.html

I am half White and half Native American. I am not the happiest of people. Although, I am much happier than most NA. NAs have a hard life! As I get older I understand why my dad always told me to tell people I was white....life is much better and you do have more advantages!!

Good point. This reinforces the point about white privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not believe that on average white women bottle up their emotions. People express emotions differently.

If people express emotions differently, why can't some people accept that others don't choose to walk around smiling at everyone they pass, and that it's not a reflection of their happiness?

I'm a smiley person, by the way, but I don't find fault with others for not smiling at me as we pass on the street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:White privilege: whiteys are raised to believe that success and an improved lot in life are just around the corner. Because of white privilege and the encouragement to scapegoat people of color, white people learn to blame others for setbacks or hardships and credit themselves and their hard work for successes.

The flip side is the entitlement attitude: all the grouchy white people I meet in DC are grouchy because they don't believe they are getting "what they deserve" in terms of money, prestige, access, recognition, whatever.

Wow, you don't get it at all. Even if all white people were raised to think that success is just around the corner don't you think that by 40 most people would stop thinking that? Either they feel successful or they don't but I don't know any white people over the age of 25 who think the magic is just going to happen for them any day now.

And white people learn to blame others for their setbacks? Whom? You think white parents tell their kids that if they get a C it must have been the fault of some non-white kid in their class?

Not the PP, but-

I've actually heard quite a few people express they believe all nonwhites get into every college to which they apply with a full scholarship because of affirmative action.

And white privilege doesn't have an expiration date.

AA in college is one small area of life and you have "heard a few" people. From this you are willing to draw the conclusion that white people in general blame others for their disappointments and downfalls?

PP wasn't talking about white privilege. She or he was suggesting that white people are happy because they have an attitude that everything will just come to them. If you think white privilege is enough to make for a happy life, you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find younger white women to be happy (20s and 30s) and 30s- mid aged white men to be. OP, how old are the people you are speaking of?

OP Here. In my experience it does not appear that age is a factor. I've seen young white women (20s and 30s), young white men (30s), older white men and women (50s and 60s), young children too, all happy go lucky...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The suicide rates of whites are second only to the suicide rates of Native Americans:
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/statistics/rates02.html

I am half White and half Native American. I am not the happiest of people. Although, I am much happier than most NA. NAs have a hard life! As I get older I understand why my dad always told me to tell people I was white....life is much better and you do have more advantages!!

Good point. This reinforces the point about white privilege.

Uh yes! White privilege is real. No doubt about it. I have often been thankful no one can tell I am part NA. There is a lot of hatred of NAs out West.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not believe that on average white women bottle up their emotions. People express emotions differently.

If people express emotions differently, why can't some people accept that others don't choose to walk around smiling at everyone they pass, and that it's not a reflection of their happiness?

I'm a smiley person, by the way, but I don't find fault with others for not smiling at me as we pass on the street.

I don't necessarily agree with those who say that everyone should smile all the time but one question is how you express your emotions, probably to friends and family, and the other question is what is considered appropriate and professional in the workplace, say, where I do think many people, not just white people, believe it is impolite to walk around grouchy all the time.

[Anonymous]

^the first pp quoted in the above exchange was indeed talking about white privilege. And no one said anything about white privilege making for a happy life. Have you read the posts at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to think that white people were generally happy. But I've learned they aren't....at least not the women. Many are incredibly self-conscious about their appearance/weight/etc and just seem really sad "inside". It is masked very well, but it usually comes off as fake and/or desperate. I'm convinced that white women bottle up too many emotions which is why they age so damn fast! Think of the white women who don't have a problem expressing their emotions (Italians, Jews)...they age great (for the most part)!

Wait, im sorry, but other than Sophia Loren, can someone please show me a good looking older Italian or Jewisj person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^the first pp quoted in the above exchange was indeed talking about white privilege. And no one said anything about white privilege making for a happy life. Have you read the posts at all?

This post was in response to 13:11

[Anonymous]

I was going to say that most whites in this area have quite a bit of money so they are able to use it for things they want rather than just what they need. If I had the money, I would plan an awesome vacation to a sunny, warm place and be happy about it for the 6 months prior. If I felt tired and run down, I'd plan a trip to the spa and that would make me happy. Etc. Disposable income really helps. Lower income means you are just trying to pay the bills each month w/ nothing extra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm white. I'm not happy or care free. I wish I was.

+1 Maybe we are just better at faking it than you. Don't assume that we are all cavalierly priveleged and carefree. I WISH.

+2