Guess the Happiest State in the Union. How About the Kinkiest? Most Virginal?
- Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:32pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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The happiest state in the union is the former home of Aretha Franklin, Justin Timberlake, and Andrew Jackson.
That’s right, residents of Tennessee are full of smiles–at least according to twitter.
According to Cambridge University PhD student Alex Davies, residents of Tennessee are happier than natives of any other states – if their Twitter feeds are anything to go by, that is.
Mr Davies analysed the use of happiness-related words such as ‘nice’ and ‘best’ and found that Tennessean tweets were littered with positive language….
The roots of Tennessee residents’ happiness is difficult to judge from Mr Davies’ research, as the most frequently-used positive Twitter terms include ‘happy’, ‘love’ and ‘thanks’ – rather than something more specific such as a lottery win or sporting victory.
Their sadness is easier to explain, however, with references to illness, the music of Adele and, strangely, ‘burgers’.
Colorado came second–followed by North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Interesting: southeastern states seem to be the happiest. Could warmer climates and proximity to the coast encourage people to express themselves on twitter more merrily? Perhaps.
Meanwhile, the home of Harry Reid–Nevada–ranked dead last in happiness.
Another interesting tidbit from the study:
While Louisiana and New York City are home to the most female and male virgins, respectively, residents of western California, West Virginia and New Mexico are the kinkiest Americans.
The entire state of Wyoming, however, is the least kinky, with men and women using the least racy language in their dating profiles.
The findings are part of DuBois‘ series ’A More Perfect Union’, which is organised according to similar parameters as the U.S. Census, with dating profiles arranged into congressional districts and analysed.
The maps are intended to create a ‘romantic atlas’ of the U.S., with some showing how four different adjectives – ‘kinky’, ‘shy’, ‘funny’ and ‘lonely’ are spread across the nation among men and women.
DuBois also drew up state and city maps with place names replaced by keywords from dating profiles – his map of Massachusetts features the words ‘Obsessed’, ‘Elephants’ and ‘Bugaboo’, among others.
Here‘s a video on DuBois’ study contents.
R. Luke DuBois: A More Perfect Union from H. Paul Moon on Vimeo.
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Comments (58)
NetGear
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:44pmTexas used to hold that spot, but now we have too many damn liberals coming here for employment. To Hell with the stinkin’ beastards. They trash their native states, then they come in here whining like babies. But we won’t allow them to trash Texas. We’ll kill them with kindness and send their miserable butts back from whence they came. {I feel a parenthetical ramble coming on… And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for true conservatives coming to Texas. Heck, many of those that fought for Texas in the Alamo were from the Southeast; especially Tennessee and Kentucky. But to all you pissant liberals, stay the Hell out. You will not like it here. We’re a culture of Religion, Guns, Fighting to the death for freedom, if necessary, and stuff like BBQ and hot peppers. Don’t venture here unless you plan to fit in. Multiculturalism is dead. Fit in or get the Hell out. Got it?}
Report Post »jmmulkey
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 5:40pmAmen netgear!
Report Post »kentuckywonder69
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:08amWonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the South is considered the Bible belt?
Report Post »pwatkins
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:34amNC will move on up the Happy list when 2012 gets here and we can get rid of our go-green loving Obama spending democratic Governor and our slack @$$ US President. Looking forward to #1 in the Happy catergorY. Congratulations Tennesse, love your state, makes me happy too when I visit.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:00amNext’s week report, states that have: Most gaseous citizens, most with a facial tic, most with females with facial hair, most prone to speaking in tongues.
Report Post »entropy
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:52pmYou see, liberal progressives ruin a state and then they flee to other, more conservative states. After they have voted morons into office that have ruined the place, they leave to screw up another area. They should not be allowed to move. They should have to stay there and reap what they have sown. I hear alot of prog idiots from CA are moving to Colorado. They have already made a difference for the worse there.
Report Post »auntbea
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:46pmPlease don’t tell anyone about Colorado. We’re happy here and would like to keep it that way.
Report Post »entropy
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:33pmMy buddy went to West Virginia on a hunting trip once. He was there for a week. He said that he did not see ONE good looking girl while he was there. He said they all looked “inbred”- You know, tight jawed and ugly. Like they mated with their brother or something. So, this story does not suprise me.
Report Post »Prestonian
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 7:12amPerhaps those were the only girls who found your friend remotely attractive. The pretty ones did not want to bother with a self-important out-of-state hunter.
Report Post »goatkid
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:15pmHow is this news?
Report Post »MadMaxxTimes
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:09pmNow I feel bad, should give Harry more money for some good old Cowboy Poetry!!!!
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:58pm“the home of Harry Reid–Nevada–ranked dead last in happiness”
That’s what happens when you reelect tyranny! BAD karma!
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:54pmJust figured why LA the most populated Female Virg state
“Mama….mama say dems womens da debil”
Either that or there’s plenty people telling plenty lies.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:27pmIf TheBlaze continues to post garbage like this, TheBlaze will quickly consume itself.
Only the LEFT is consumed with such trash, stop attempting to infect the right with this sickness.
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:00pmThen why did you choose to read it? You could have chosen NOT to read the story.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:24pm338LAPUA
same here in Mt. except for the PEOPLE REP OF MISSOULA
Report Post »this is a wild and happy state
matt708
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:07pmcheck the headlines at Drudgereport about Soros and Pelosi
Report Post »matt708
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:06pmhey people guess what ,we have found the rat.. Nancy Pelosi is a speaker at the George Soros meeting in NH and we also have 2 FCC commissioners showing up. Let’s let Nancy know that she is a traitor and that we want her to resign now. Now you know where Soros has the influence in the Senate NANCY
Report Post »BeeGirl
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:01pmLOL I live in West Virginia…. must be the mountain air that brings out the kinkiness.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:07pmI want Wisconsin added to the most kinky. Except for Madison…..we are a WILD bunch!
Report Post »Highland
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 9:44pmMore like the Mountain Dew (and I don’t mean the kind Pepsi sells in green bottles).
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:00pmToo much of that medical marijuana out there.
Report Post »JJCon
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:54pmWhat the hell is “western California”?
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:06pmAlcatraz
Report Post »petie3
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 7:03pmYou can separate Washington, Oregon and California from the kinky coastal regions to the rural and conservative eastern half. Would you rather be in Bend or Portland? Seattle or Spokane? LA or Tahoe?
Report Post »There are exceptions, San Diego is pretty straight, and Sacramento is Bananas.
Marylou7
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:52pmWell my state came in 3rd for happiness and I’ll have to agree. We moved here from Fl where my husband was unhappy with most of his co-workers and here he cares deeply for all of them. Why? Because they befriended him right away and it has remained that way. They take friendship very seriously and so do we.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:46pmGuess which non story on the blaze has the least comments ever?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:58pmI have always defended The Blaze on their “non-stories,” but I was even tempted to say something about this being a slow news day!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:27pmSHOW:
Report Post »Not really a slow day, go to Drudge , Matt has a veritable plethora of story’s today, most of which I’ve “scooped” to the Blaze. There a Chrissy Christi story, a George Soros and Pelosi story, there is a lot going on.
The Rewd
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:46pmYay! I’m kinky! :D
Report Post »DoctorRon
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:46pmCould it be that the happiest states are the ones who have no clue what is going on in the world?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:54pmHaHAHAHA(oops)hahaha! Probably!
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:05pm…..most head trauma.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:18pmI don’t know .. I am in southwest FL and we are pretty active down here in the TEA Party and such .. maybe that makes us happy.
Report Post »commonsenseguy
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:45pmjust how much tax dollars were spent on this stupid poll, i think i will as the government for a lot of money to count all the anti american ,left wing nut jobs, anyone think they will give to me???? me neither, but what the heck they give it out for every other stupid survey .
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:56pmA better question is “How many of you guys are looking for the most virginal state?” (Bet it’s a cold one. I haven’t looked to see.)
Report Post »jmmulkey
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 5:38pmActually, SHOWTIME, if you think about it, the cold states are probably the least virginal ones. A lot of times there’s nothing else to do, because it’s too freakin cold outside!
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:41pmLots of people with guns in this state. I wonder if there’s a correlation.
Report Post »Alydia
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:22amProbably….I am from TN and yes, we do have a mighty lot of guns down here….
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:50amI’m gonna have to check it out. :) Sounds like a good place to live.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:40pmi can see nevada deal last with prince harry
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 6:52pmDid Harry Reid make Nevada the least happy, or did Nevada have anything to do with the Sad Sack himself?
If I lived in Nevada, I would take the first train/bus/boat/car/truck out!!! (Nope! No TSA for me, thank you.)
Report Post »AnAppealToGod
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:04pmwow this was a dumb story
Report Post »bobodu
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:18pmYes it’s dumb….but Beck is grasping at straws now. He’ll be picking up cans next week.
marine249
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:19pmWow I made 1st post for the 5th time darn am I getting good.
New Mexico the most kinky Bill Richards gov need I say more
I sure do enjoy tooting my own horn on being 1st
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:20pmTENNESSEE?!?!? Are you serious?!?!? “Nuthin’ SUCKS like a Big Orange!!!!!!”, I always say……….
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 7:49pmWith Reid depressing Nevada, it is little wonder they tried so hard to dump him last time. Hope on the next election they succeed
Report Post »mill
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:03pmTHIS IS ACCORDING TO who???????????????please get a life
Report Post »MontanaRob
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:30pmbobodu
Report Post »Posted: Yes it’s dumb….but Beck is grasping at straws now. He’ll be picking up cans next week.
—————————————————————————————————-
Oooh! I do hope he doesn’t cut into your collection money much. I‘d hate to hear that you couldn’t buy a YooHoo and some porn comics on your way back to your mommies basement.
BIG L LOOOOOOSER!
YouGottaProblemWithThat
Posted on April 6, 2011 at 8:31pmDoes anyone have a time machine I could borrow? I’d kinda like to have the last 5 minutes of my life back. Hey Blaze, slow news day?
Report Post »Suzee
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 1:53amI tella ya, Nevada got hood winked on the senate race; too many people keep saying they didn’t vote for him……………..We know many illegals were allowed to vote……..and many union workers who have since lost their jobs say they did because they were told to vote for him or be unemployed. Now the idiots are complaining because they were layed off shortly after the election.
Report Post »TnFirefighter
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 10:36amIts simple, we have charity (love) for our neighbors. Due to this parents, here, still teach their children MANNERS. We open doors for each other, both men and women. We stop and pick things up for people (including strangers) when they drop them. We watch out for other people’s (including strangers) children when they might be distracted. We make room for people to pull out from side streets, and then those people wave a thank you. We help people (including strangers) carry things in from their car. We have tolerance and empathy for our neighbor (every person on Earth).
It is all about the Charity we learn in our churches of every denomination and the manners we learn from our parents. It all boils down to one statement:
Can I help you brother.
If you live your life this way, you will be happy too.
NES
Posted on April 7, 2011 at 12:48pm@MILL
You mean, “This is according to WHOM?” Please learn grammar.
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