THE traditional image of Scots as dour, doom-laden pessimists was shaken yesterday by a new Europe-wide survey showing them to be among the happiest people in the Continent.
The research, carried out across 24 countries, found Scots are failing to live up to their caricature. They are now the happiest in Britain and the third most contented in Europe, beaten only by the Swiss and the Danes.
Having experienced their hospitality in Copenhagen when Northern Ireland played there a couple of years ago, I’ll agree wholeheartedly, the Danes are shiny, happy people, who, more importantly, also like their beer and a good old sing-song....but the Swiss...seriously???!!!
Back to the survey:
The Scottish part of the survey was conducted between May and November last year, after the SNP came to power. It became a party-political issue yesterday, with Nationalists claiming their short time in government had been, at least partly, responsible.
Hmmm…and who conducted the survey?
As well as scotching some unwelcome national stereotypes, the Scottish Social Attitudes survey, carried out by the government-backed Scottish Centre for Social Research, also countered academic research findings which suggest that Scotland was, on average, a less happy place than the rest of the UK.
Double hmmmm....!
1 comment:
The Danes are possibly the nicest bunch I've met so far. A lovely country with a healthy respect for women, beer and liberty.
As for Scotland or Switzerland? Hm...
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