[lionsiy]

It is an uncomfortable conclusion from happiness research data perhaps - but multicultural communities tend to be less trusting and less happy.

"People feel happier if they're with people who are like themselves. But the question is: what does "like themselves" mean? Trevor Phillips

Research by the Home Office suggests that the more ethnically diverse an area is, the less people are likely to trust each other.

The Commission for Racial Equality has also done work looking at the effect of diversity on well-being.

Interviewed on The Happiness Formula, the chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, Trevor Phillips accepts that people are happier if they are with people like themselves.

"We've done work here which shows that people, frankly, when there aren't other pressures, like to live within a comfort zone which is defined by racial sameness.

"People feel happier if they're with people who are like themselves. But the question is: what does "like themselves" mean?" Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...la/5012478.stm

So is this bollocks or is there some truth to the above? Personally I think that diversity is an asset when it is balanced with integration which is partly what the article suggests.

Please take the time to read the whole article before making comments.

Cheers

[KaterinaNJq]

Opinions!

[Amirmsheesk]

True. People preffer to live among its kind. Yes, they can accept to live with one or two different peoples, but when the "differents" become a flood, then there are problems.

[DYjLN8rF]

I suspect the problem isn't really racial/ethnic diversity. The problem is cultural diversity. People of the same culture/sub-culture are on the same page. So it's obviously easier to get along. What puts most people off about others isn't race but cultural characteristics that offend them.

True. People preffer to live among its kind. Yes, they can accept to live with one or two different peoples, but when the "differents" become a flood, then there are problems.

Although that should be taken account, also. It's a problem when the racial "others" flood into a community. It's a shock to the system.

[wooclosmercob]

I suspect the problem isn't really racial/ethnic diversity. The problem is cultural diversity. People of the same culture/sub-culture are on the same page. So it's obviously easier to get along. What puts most people off about others isn't race but cultural characteristics that offend them.



Although that should be taken account, also. It's a problem when the racial "others" flood into a community. It's a shock to the system.

For once, I can honestly cosign Anodyne. Couldn't have said it better myself. It's the culture shock that clashes, not the different races per se. Put a bunch of tribal Aztecs in the middle of Japan and see if they don't clash.

[vdw4Epsi]

Well, I agree on that, too. The "different" is more welcome if they share our cultural codes.

[vSzsgifP]

Thanks guys to response.

I think the root of the problem and social tension is not race but wealth. You put a bunch of rich blacks and white together, there won't be a problem. You put dirt poor blacks and white together, same result.

Some integrated societies function well, while others don't. Do not overgeneralize or force integration. Overriding the natures of free flowing human migration will not result in a happy ending.

For various reasons, there is a huge economic gap between the blacks and whites in the US, South Africa or Brazil, that is why the races are separated. However, do not try to solve this with socialism, for this will cause other horrible turmoil. The natural laws of capitalism lubricates any society.

In short, only natural diversity makes us happy.

[temansertewek]

I suspect the problem isn't really racial/ethnic diversity. The problem is cultural diversity. People of the same culture/sub-culture are on the same page. So it's obviously easier to get along. What puts most people off about others isn't race but cultural characteristics that offend them.

Exactly, but many people keep insisting that it's all about race. I don't know if they are too stupid or they have a hidden agenda.

[Tainlyferfara]

it makes me happy.

[peveballery]

I suspect the problem isn't really racial/ethnic diversity. The problem is cultural diversity. People of the same culture/sub-culture are on the same page. So it's obviously easier to get along. What puts most people off about others isn't race but cultural characteristics that offend them.



Although that should be taken account, also. It's a problem when the racial "others" flood into a community. It's a shock to the system.

I agree with most of what you said. There are times however when due to oppression a certain racial group can develop cultural traits that clearly separate it from a neighboring group of a different race; though they might have much in common in terms of culture/beliefs. A good example is the African-American community. Because they were brought here as slaves and continued to be slaves until the 1860's and then faced social/political discrimination their culture has somewhat diverged from that of white Americans, though they obviously still have many cultural traits in common (the language, the religion, etc...). So when it comes to black Americans and white American the barrier is still there despite living in the same country for centuries and sharing many cultural attributes.

[lierro]

"Does diversity make us happy?" If whole world was under the roman boot and 100% converted to latin stuff then I would be very happy...or german,they always have cool uniforms.

[byncnombmub]

"Diversity" doesnt make us happy or sad, the people involved do. I feel more comfortable around middle class white people than I do low income African immigrants, but I'd much rather live amongst middle class Africans or Pakistanis than poor "redneck/yobbo" white people.

[viagracheapest]

Diversity is good when there is different types of people but I wouldn't say it makes me happy nor sad, it's more like the person that will make you feel happy or not.

[RemiVedia]

Exactly, but many people keep insisting that it's all about race. I don't know if they are too stupid or they have a hidden agenda.

I would guess the latter.

[tussinelde]

What a lame thread!

[RLRWai4B]

The world has always been very diverse. We just have to deal with the fact that distances have become meaningless and people will come and go much more often than they did in the past (besides nowadays we have the internet, tv, films, telephone, etc), so our diversity will become even more obvious and people will have to cope with it one way or another.

[myspacecoo]

I live in country called Latvia, and there is social tension between two ethnicities - Latvians and Russians. Racially they aren't different. Wealth level is same. Culturally they aren't very different. Both are Christians (although belong to different branches - Latvians to Lutheran or Catholic, but Russians to Orthodox, but it doesn't have big impact). But yet there is big tension between Latvians and Russians. They don't trust each other at all. The reason of this tension is political.

And I agree that in multicultural societies people trust each other less. It applies also to Latvia, which is entirely white country.