Men happiest online, women prefer family time: poll

For men, bliss is often just a mouse-click away while quality time with family is guaranteed to put a smile on women's faces, according to an Australian study of what makes people happy.

The "Happiness Index" study, which polled more than 8,500 Australians aged 18-64 years, showed rest and relaxation were the most enjoyable activities while physical exercise was least likely to make people happy.

"Australians are made happy on a week-to-week basis, not by possessions and achievements, but by entertaining experiences and by meaningful interactions with others," said Karen Phillips, managing director of The Leading Edge, the business consultancy that conducted the survey over a week in August.

It is the same reason men like remotes, and gadgets...unless they are broken, they do what you tell them to do, reliably, without a complex series of "why?" and "Shouldn't you..." and other such discussions. And if they don't perform as advertised, you either replace the batteries or replace them.

I hate chatty barber/stylists; my wife can sit down for a half hour and come away knowing the girl's life story...how many kids, where she went to college, etc. (I tip well for just peace and quiet.) I love an ATM because you don't have to make small talk with a teller, when you are really there just to do your banking.

I want a waitron to show up soon after I sit down, take my order, bring it to me, and above all, not hover...if I am paying for the meal, I want to eat it, not be interrogated every two minutes about it. (If the food wasn't good, this restaurant would be empty and I wouldn't be sitting here. If I want more water, I will flag you down.) My dear bride, of course, would have five waiters if she could afford them, and no doubt by the end of the salad course, would know their names and where their kids go to college.

Am I accurate in that this is a man thing? Or was I just raised by politically active Vulcans?

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