Why is the British public so negative?

You might find this poll interesting:

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=585

Generally northern Europeans are happier than southern Europeans and Americans are the happiest and most optimistic of all people surveyed. It doesn't surprise me that the Greeks are among the most miserable of all Europeans. If you tell a Greek person about an idea you have, they almost always tell you why it will fail.

You might find this poll interesting:

http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=585

Generally northern Europeans are happier than southern Europeans and Americans are the happiest and most optimistic of all people surveyed. It doesn't surprise me that the Greeks are among the most miserable of all Europeans. If you tell a Greek person about an idea you have, they almost always tell you why it will fail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go9s_U0v2Wk&feature=PlayList&p=D17FDE23EC9720E3&playnext=1&index=15

look at that and it will explain it all nice and clear

Not really, optimism doesn't equate with happiness. And I don't think you can really show how happy a nation is when you've just suffered through probably the worst president in the 20th/21st century. It's not as simple as how you feel. I agree Britain aren't the happiest bunnies in the world, but we aint as miserable as we make out either.

Huh, what does the president have to do with anything? I liked GWB, hate Obama with a passion, but I'm still a happy person. I don't think presidents have as much influence on the electorate as people give them credit for.

I don't know how other populaces compare, but if you ever look at those 'leave your comments' thingys on the web, it's amazing how negative and petty they are and how critical they are of success.

Is this human nature or are the Brits really this sad?

I believe the idea of the british people as being negative stems not so much from any inherant negative mindset in the british people, but from disillisionment with their their country, and what has happened to it - in short, a sense of being let down by the establishment they fought for, trusted, and believed in. A sense that their history is ebbing away (and therefore its very foundation - we have no constitution). You only have to look to the victorian era to see just how ambituous and aspirational our ancestors were. Victorian england gave rise to the modern world - the industrial revolution and the rise of the big cities. In contrast to many of our european neighbours britain never opted for socialism - its people believed so strongly in the dignity of labour and that through hard work you really could better yourself and that everyone should have the ability to better themselves. (Compare with labours layabout benefits society). A small island does not create the largest empire in history through a negative mindset (let's not get into the moralising of this, this is not the thread for it and above all it is just boring).

That's a bit of a narrow view, many people embrace socialism in this country that's why we have a national health service, education for all regardless of income, and a benefits system which is based on earnings. WE embraced socialism ages ago, what we didn't embrace was communism or anything too left wing. The labour party before it turned into conservative lite was the peoples part, the working man's party and that is as intrinsic to British society as our outdated elitist attitudes are to our history.

Of course, we embraced elements of socialism esp after the horrors of ww2, but my point was that throughout recent history bar our current (soon to be over?) government, britain has tended towards right leaning capitalist governments.

I agree more then anyone our country has gone down the drain...

but all your points relate to the blair/brown years... and i'm not really interested in your personel politics.

I think howard said it best "it's a clapped out little has-been"

I'm pointing there has been a fundamental shift in the psyche of britain - once the envy of the world, a proud country of endless possibilites. Now a country turning to rot, run by a bunch of self-loathing t*ssers who hold the people they are supposed to serve in nothing short of contempt.

I don't know how other populaces compare, but if you ever look at those 'leave your comments' thingys on the web, it's amazing how negative and petty they are and how critical they are of success.

Is this human nature or are the Brits really this sad?