[Ailist] The Happiest States of America - a point about measurement

[Roger Davies]

Hi All,

I find this kind of thing both interesting and disturbing for the same
reason. Why do we feel it necessary to attempt to measure happiness? The
only possible use for such data would be to increase or decrease the degree
of happiness measured in a particular location. I'm fairly certain that
modern western economies (which govern large scale demographics) are not
pre-disposed to doing things that make people happy. It does things that
make money.

Happiness is an individual emotion and, following the principles of Ai once
we experience happiness we will subconsciously try and recreate those
circumstances since we will always (I would assume) desire to be happy. 

The purpose of measurement is to express something in a quantitative way. It
takes wisdom to convert it into meaningful action. Wisdom on the other hand
does not require quantitative measurement in order to be used effectively. A
fact sadly missed by most of industry and many aspects of society.

Measurement is an important tool but like all tools requires skill in use
and has the capacity to do harm as well as good.
If you doubt that maybe one should take a look at all the AIG measured
indicators that told them they were doing great in August of last year.

A question I have is (somewhat rhetorical) - What other ways are there to
understand that are not expressed in terms of quantitative measurements?

Roger
 

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of Robyn
Stratton-Berkessel
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 5:12 PM
To: Ailist Inquiry
Subject: [Ailist] The Happiest States of America.


Very cool data coming of the Gallup- Healthways Well-being Index.   
Guess which is the happiest state!

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/the-happiest-states-of-america
.

Poke around the links in the article.  Some really interesting demographics
and other things.

Kind regards,

Robyn.
Robyn Stratton-Berkessel
Creator, Positive Matrix www.positivematrix.com Founder, L.I.T. Global
www.litglobal.com
+1 732 291 0462
+1 917 816 5597 (mobile)
Skype: robynsb

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