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Bogotanian here. This is one of the most unlivable cities there is. As soon as you step out the door you're aggravated in a thousands ways through your day. Bog

by alpeb 13y ago

Bogotanian here. This is one of the most unlivable cities there is. As soon as you step out the door you're aggravated in a thousands ways through your day. Bogotá and Colombia usually score high in the "happiness" rankings because of a servitude mentality that dates back to the colony. Inequality is very high even for Latin American standards and people are taught to accept and embrace it. You'll rarely see protests in this country despite the rampant corruption and nepotistic governments. People don't have the notion that democracy is supposed to empower them, and don't know things can and should be better. And of course blind catholic fanaticism only helps to keep them contained. So they think they're "happy".

merraksh 13y ago
I don't think the article has any intention to depict Bogotá as a happy city in absolute terms (although yeah, the author calls Peñalosa the "Mayor of Happiness"), but rather that the changes brought by its mayor in recent years have made it happiER. I would be curious about your opinion in this sense: despite the rampant corruption and all other problems, has the city's quality of life actually improved over the past years?
- alpeb 13y ago
  Indeed, Peñalosa was an extraordinary mayor ans his transportation system improved the standard of living. But as the article hints at the end, the follow up has been terrible (e.g. one mayor indicted) and the city has gotten out of hands.
Samuel_Michon 13y ago
> they think they're "happy" Not to discount the rest of your comment, but ‘happiness’ is a state of mind. You can live in squalor and be happier than someone living in a mansion. I think that good living conditions, privacy, and civil rights make for happier people. However, in a community that’s homogenous, sharing the same values and needs, it only takes for their needs to be met to be pretty darn happy.
Shorel 13y ago
People here is not really happy, just drunk. About half the people I know without a degree drink all their wage the very day they get it. It is very usual for them to be very drunk the next day (if the payday is Monday, they will be drunk Tuesday). Also, their wives will fight with them for that very reason. It is not luck that the most powerful private company from Colombia is Bavaria.

by alpeb 13y ago

merraksh 13y ago

I don't think the article has any intention to depict Bogotá as a happy city in absolute terms (although yeah, the author calls Peñalosa the "Mayor of Happiness"), but rather that the changes brought by its mayor in recent years have made it happiER. I would be curious about your opinion in this sense: despite the rampant corruption and all other problems, has the city's quality of life actually improved over the past years?

alpeb 13y ago
Indeed, Peñalosa was an extraordinary mayor ans his transportation system improved the standard of living. But as the article hints at the end, the follow up has been terrible (e.g. one mayor indicted) and the city has gotten out of hands.

Samuel_Michon 13y ago

> they think they're "happy" Not to discount the rest of your comment, but ‘happiness’ is a state of mind. You can live in squalor and be happier than someone living in a mansion. I think that good living conditions, privacy, and civil rights make for happier people. However, in a community that’s homogenous, sharing the same values and needs, it only takes for their needs to be met to be pretty darn happy.

Shorel 13y ago

People here is not really happy, just drunk. About half the people I know without a degree drink all their wage the very day they get it. It is very usual for them to be very drunk the next day (if the payday is Monday, they will be drunk Tuesday). Also, their wives will fight with them for that very reason. It is not luck that the most powerful private company from Colombia is Bavaria.