Damn lies and statstics
 

According to a posting on msn.com, The Villages is one of the most stressed out places among U.S. cities.

3. THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA
> Total population: 114,350
> Poverty rate: 9.3%
> Avg. weekly hours worked: 39.3
> Unemployment rate: 7.7%
> Violent crime rate (per 100,000 people): 421
> Pct. of adults in fair/poor health: 14.8%

I flunked statistics and suspect the person who compiled these data did so too. Poverty? Yeah, no income other than savings and social security. Unemployment? Sure, we're mostly retired. Violent crime? Yeah, those damn line dancers again. Health? Well, I do see a lot of my neighbors at the doctor's. Comes with this time of life, doesn't it? Surely some surrounding communities were included. Our population isn't this high --- yet.

Most crime statistics are accumulated by political subdivision. I find these to be suspect. Three counties, Three Cities. How were the boundaries of The Villages Determined???

Perhaps the employment data excluded retirees? The population figure seems low I am told its more like 130,000 and I suspect the health data is wrong also seems too low for an aging population .
I do not know what violent crime means ????

finally studies like this and the best city in America best place to retire etc are seldom meaningful. and in this case stress"" the operative word in this study is subjective

I remember a friend of mine used to say, "a horse and a chair have four legs". Therefore a chair is the same as a horse?

Statistics can be manipulated, anyway a person wants something to look like. IMHO

I don't put much faith into some findings especially health and food studies. Again, they can be slanted towards the view, the writer wants to take.

If anyone wants lessons on statistics, look@ the old soviet union, with their 5 year plans everything looked great till the house of cards collapsed !!

here is the link to the online article -> 25 Most Stressed-Out Cities - 24/7 Wall St.

You might want to read this book: Amazon.com: How to Lie with Statistics (9780393310726): Darrell Huff, Irving Geis: Books

I know many of these cities and I don't believe they are among the most stressed. A crime rate comporable to Houston, TX and Detroit? No way! Stress? Which course to play? Work hours? I guess if they count golf and MahJong.

yep, the stats are totally off. if hours worked were 39/wk then everyone living here is still working full time. that alone is enough to impeach all the stats. if it does in fact represent the residents then that avg would have to be more like 2 hours a week, and that might be high !

:spoken:You know the old saying numbers don't lie? Forget it. Numbers don't lie people lie! I'm thinking of a number rite now. I'm holding one hand up. Guess how many fingers are up? That's what I think about statistics unless I compile them myself. :spoken:

Perhaps they monitor TOTV and see how stressed out the populations on this site gets every time a new 'Doggie Poop' thread starts up.

Reminds me of the old adage: "There are liars, damn liars, and statisticians."

Just the listed hours worked makes me not believe it untill they explain the working people they are talking about. Does it include non residents?

The Villages 3rd most stressful city
 

The Huffington Post reported that The Villages was the 3rd most stressful city in the country. Hard to believe.

Top 10 Most Stressed-Out Cities

what's there to be stressed at other than poor drivers

I just looked at it and it must include the poverty and crime in lady lake and wildwood.

I know that I for one am stressed every morning when I get up and have to decide what I want to play today. As opposed to the previous forty years when I did not have to make any decision. Just knew I had to go to work no matter what.

I just knew that dog poop, round-abouts, "speeding" golf carts, non-use of turn signals, and chair saving would eventually get to us all!!:popcorn:

OP, don't get stressed out over this report because The Developer and his staff of lawyers will handle this issue for you. Carry on. Fore.

Obviously much research was done prior to publishing these results. The Huffington Post is the source I will now go to for accurate information. :bigbow:

Don't get stressed out
 

2B, I like your friends analogy. I doubt any of TOTV posters are going to loose any sleep over this report.

After carefully considering Detroit, East St. Louis, Chicago, Harlem, Baltimore, and south central LA as the place we will retire to and enjoy the rest of our lives, we opted for The Villages. I didn't realize the last six years were so miserable. On to Rio I guess...

7 of the 10 most stressed out cities are in Texas.

Looks like they are overworked and under paid.

.

Must be talking to Andrew Blechman. Andrew D. Blechman - author of LEISUREVILLE and PIGEONS

I cannot get the reasoning for this? Too many people on the golf courses at once? Cannot find a seat at Bonefish Grill? Yankees losing? Patriots winning? Overdue library book?

Just a thought but seems to me more & more of The Villages geriatric population are arming themselves. I don't know about you but this is stressing me out.

Can you please share what specifically led you to that conclusion?

[QUOTE=RickeyD;1237804]Obviously much research was done prior to publishing these results. The Huffington Post is the source I will now go to for accurate information. :bigbow:[/QUOTE

Right on the money. Makes me wonder…..
Who did they poll/interview? "Stand your ground" seat savers at the Market square concerts around happy hour?

I really thought I was having the best time of my life. Thank goodness the smart folks in the DC Beltway can set me right… :(

The Huffington Post is setting the stage for their suggestion that we would all benefit if Section 8 Housing was forced into each zip code of the Villages .

Most of these already were armed except maybe for the woman I know who heard a noise near her closet and shot her vacuum cleaner. I guess she had not put it away right. And she had a loaded revolver near her night stand.

Just must have thought she was a Soprano or Corleone.

The Huffington Post made a suggestion about us benefitting from Section 8 housing? How did you arrive at that? Hope it's not wishful thinking.

I hope it has nothing to do with my 224 613 Project? That would be associated more with Reno, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rohnert Park, CA; Palm Harbor, FL; Itasca, IL; and some other places more than with the Villages, FL. DC, NYC, LA, Denver, Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, and other cities as well. To see what I mean Google Taltarzac725.

The documents rarely mention the Villages, FL. And I have been doing a lot of work on Facebook and I could really be anywhere in the world to post on there.

I suspect this article was originally intended for The Onion. They said they used the two main causes of stress- money and work - to determine the listing. With the Villages unemployed index being listed as 7.7% I am stressed thinking that I am part of the 7.7%...and 9% of us are poor....

And the data was all taken from Government indexes...so that sort of makes the weekly reports on unemployment and poverty somewhat suspicious...

The Villages is a CITY?
You've got to be kidding!

The "source" is the Huffington Post - hardly a source
I would take seriously.

How about if we insist Section 8 be put next to Arianna Huffington's house (mansion).

I furrow my brow every time someone critiques The Villages? What is it about this place that draws so much attention good or bad?

Perhaps its because I am well settled in or perhaps its because I have never been enamored by celebrity, status, class, or glitz. Many cities have unique markers, history, attraction transportation methods.

This is stressful news. I think I'll take a nap.

Following your lead.

I have decided that most of the stuff that floats in from outside is suspect, including most interpretations of the news.

I believe in the goodness of the folks who surround me and in the serenity of this lovely place I live.

Here's the factors:
Total population:114,350
> Poverty rate: 9.3%
> Avg. weekly hours worked: 39.3
> Unemployment rate:7.7%
> Violent crime rate (per 100,000 people): 421
> Pct. of adults in fair/poor health: 14.8%

I thought the health factor would have been the big one. Surprise; unemployment rate (must include surrounding areas), violent crime high (cc anyone). Not surprising; poverty rate (average SS $1000+- per month?)

My favorite comparisons are the best places to retire to: I think Alaska was in the top three in a recent one!

Take the chairs out of the village squares And the violent crime rate will drop in half

Looking at the statistics, my gut tells me these numbers are for The Villages MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) which is essentially all of Sumter County.