NJ may be the most stressed state
Filed under: Simplification
We New Jersey residents are awfully proud of leading the country in car insurance rates, property taxes and political corruption. Now no less of an august authority than the University of Cambridge claims that modern life has turned my fellow residents into balls of stress.According to a press release issued by the U.K. university, "New Jersey is one of the highest-scoring states for "neuroticism"; a personality trait normally associated with anxiety, stress and impulsive behavior. So, instead of the Garden State, maybe we ought to refer to ourselves as the Woody Allen State. By that I mean the funny Woody of the 1970s and 1980s and not the weird, creepy guy we see today.
We New Jerseyeans have issues: a governor forced to resign after admitting that he had an affair with another man, a dentist who allegedly decided to dispose of his medical waste at sea so that it washed up on the Jersey Shore. Then there's the jokes. People think that most residents in my state are a cross between Tony Soprano, Bruce Springsteen and Fred Flintstone. Bedrock certainly was a prehistoric stand-in for Bayonne or maybe Jersey City.
Researchers at Cambridge -- led interestingly by a native of Louisiana -- tried to create a personality map of the United States. The point of this exercise escapes me. I mean, did you need a study to prove that people in the Northeast are more uptight that people in the Midwest. It's common sense, no. The Cambridge researchers insist that they are about more than perpetuating stereotypes.
"Obviously it's not as simple as saying that a person is guaranteed to be more anxious if they come from West Virginia or more religious because they happen to live in New Mexico; but we did find pretty clear signs that there are meaningful differences in the personalities of people living in different areas of the United States," said Dr. Jason Rentfrow, the lead researcher, in a press release.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-08-2008 @ 4:24PM
alsax36 said...
frankthebum.com has a list of reasons why New Jersey is a giant hunk of crap
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9-08-2008 @ 8:47PM
JerseyGirl42 said...
Dear Alsax: What the f? I live in NJ, and it is so overcrowded, and why is that, because people from all over continue to move here. We have ideal weather, almost never any snow and not too cold, and we can be at the beach from just about any area of NJ within an hour; to Atlantic City to gamgle in 45 minutes, to the mountains to ski and sled in 3 hours, to New York in an our, to Philadelphia in 20 minutes, to DC in 3 hours. Have you ever vacationed at the Jersey Shore? If you haven't, then you don't know wht you're missing. Please, the only reason people make derogatory, ignorant comments is because they are jealous of what we have.
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9-12-2008 @ 6:20PM
lisa said...
well i grew up and every one made fun of jersey! as got older i learned that southern jersey has farms not everyone has big hair too much perfume on. jersey gets a bad rap but still you jersey and people say oh gawd your from jersey i saw this because being from new york we came 2nd to jersey as far as oh gawd you live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! there. be proud now n.c girl by accident still proud here
9-11-2008 @ 10:36PM
Lynn said...
A-MEN!
9-09-2008 @ 8:51AM
Vejadu said...
Every state or region has a stereotype attached to it. Unless you've ever been there it's hard to see past the stereotypes, though my wife works in a call center and she's said that the rudest people are usually from New Jersey.
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9-11-2008 @ 8:31PM
Victoria said...
She works at a call center? Is it a call center where she is calling us and bothering us at home? If that is the case, of course New Jersey people are the rudest! We don't like being bothered because we are so stressed from paying our taxes due to our corrupt politicians and dealing with overcrowded roads at rush hour. When we get home, we want quiet; not someone harrassing us.
BUT if she works for a call center that has nothing to do with soliciting... then I apologize... lol.
9-09-2008 @ 8:59AM
Jodi said...
No matter where you live, there are stereotypes. But I have to say that NJ is one of the best places to live, if you ask me. You have EVERYTHING you could ever want. Just yesterday, I went for a run through my neighborhood park and passed a family of deer, a flock of geese grazing, a crane and another grand bird that I am unfamiliar with. This morning, I hopped on the train to NYC where Fashion Week is going on. This weekend, I'm heading to the Poconos for a weekend in the mountains. Last weekend I went to the beach. This winter I'll go skiing. And you know what? I'll never go more than an hour and a half drive away from my house. Once you get out of Newark (which is even shaping up), Bayonne, Jersey City and Camden, NJ is very similar to the Upper Peninsula of MI where I grew up. "God's Country" as the locals call it. So, please, no judgements until you can make educated ones.
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9-12-2008 @ 12:38AM
Peter William said...
Yo Jod - u r correct a mundo.
9-11-2008 @ 11:52PM
jen said...
i lived in south amboy new jersey and i have to say jersey is a amazeing state to live in. i went to the amusement park kingsburg in jersey. they have a park kennedy park and it is huge. the people there are so friendly. at kennedy park i get close to the ducks and the swan. its always so much fun. they have so much stores to shop in.
9-11-2008 @ 8:03PM
Tom said...
I lived in new jersey 20 years to long !! maybe 42 too long -I'm 42 and am blessed to have found paradise in Kauai Hawaii !!
Stress is a true killer !!
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9-11-2008 @ 11:28PM
don said...
I cant see what you see in Hawaii over New Jersey. That was a mistake bringing them in to statehood.
9-11-2008 @ 8:16PM
Joe said...
Why does New Jersey have the most toxic waste dumps and California the most lawyers?
Because New Jersey got first pick!
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9-11-2008 @ 10:38PM
Billy Bob said...
Yo Joe - great fn joke man.
9-11-2008 @ 8:28PM
Sharon said...
I hope they don't blame stress for their lack of driving skills. They are the most unsafe drivers in America.
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9-11-2008 @ 8:36PM
Victoria said...
No, research has shown the worst drivers are from NY State. They command the least knowledge of driving rules.
9-12-2008 @ 8:07AM
Baylou said...
First, there is a reason why NJ is so crowded. JerseyGirl42 and Jodi said it well. Furthermore, our suburban areas have the best public school systems in the nation. Go ask elite institutions like West Point, where a disproportionate amount of their open slots are awarded to Morris, Somerset, & Hunterdon County students.
True, NJ is the most crowded state, hence we do get a little testy at times. We have to wait a little longer in the grocery line than our friends in neighboring states. But with all of these people, our state manages to function day after day...and all because we know how to cooperate. And yes, we are polite.
If you put NJ traffic patterns in any other state, the good ol' boys will be pulling out their shotguns and go off on a shooting rampage. We Jerseyans just mumble a few curses and move on.
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9-11-2008 @ 8:35PM
Victoria said...
NJ is not a pile of crap. As others have stated, we have it all here. We have beautiful mountains, the shore, short distance to NYC, Philly or even the Poconos. If you only have driven on the NJ Turnpike, then you can't judge the state. There is way more to the state than the NJP.
If you haven't seen the entire state - you can't judge it.
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9-14-2008 @ 4:12PM
Lin said...
there is no place like it on the face of the earth and i am a happy and arrogant JRZ GRL
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9-12-2008 @ 7:48AM
Joseph said...
I have to admit, I have not always been a fan of NJ.
But as the previous posters stated, we do have everything.
There are rude people in all places of the world. We sometimes can seem impatient or pushy because our pace is faster then even a few hours ride into Pa. Mis understood is a better term. I have met some great people here and my children are getting a top notch education at a public school.
I could do without the obscene taxes and corruption. That is probably the only serious flaw about NJ.
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9-11-2008 @ 9:06PM
DonR said...
Our state is so bad that every summer you see cars coming from Canada,Northern New England and other states to enjoy our beautiful seashore! We are the traffic hub from Canada to Florida,California and all points west to NYC. Do us a favor,stay the hell out of our state so we can have some peace and quiet!!
DonR
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