Are people from islands of a more tolerant, accomodating, more peaceful mentality than mainland residents?Why?

Question

People talk of people from small islands like Mauritius, Bahrain, the caribbean islands having a far better attitude towards other cultures/ people than mainland residents. Reasons like the moderating effect of the ocean, they themselves being non-indigenous are cited. Inputs, opinions, actual theories all welcome!

Answer 1

I now live in the Philippines and have stayed on many of the smaller islands. I believe that the people living on the small islands are more tolerant and accomodating. Perhaps it has more to do with surviving than anything else. When you need to have everything shipped in and depend on a neighbor if you run out you tend to be more a respector of others. Take away the neon lights, movies, bars and shopping malls you will naturally have more of a tendency to communicate with the people around you. Those that move to a small island and are happy were a different lot than most to begin with and those that were born on a small island and never left do not know any other way of life. It took me awhile to learn that I did more harm than good to those working for me In the past I would take employees with me on trips and give them the opportunity to experience finer restaurants, air travel, hotels, etc. I would pay wages more in line with my home country thinking if I had the funds to do so I should. Now I have witnessed the harm it has created when I moved on and they had to go back to the only life they knew before meeting me. Once they were happy and now they are not. I think those who can be satisfy with a more simple life are happier because it is far easier for them to find contentment.

I find the people around Manila on the Island of Luzon are no different than people on the mainland because they have the malls, movies, bars, neon lights, etc. They have adjusted to buying their entertainment and happiness therefore communication and relationship have less value.

Answer 2

I think they live in such natural beauty and simplicity and they have a content spirit because they are not striving to have a lot of material things. The saying is that they work to live rather than live to work. They are content to have less things and more just the necessities of life because they find enjoyment in family and friends and the sea and enough food and a simple roof over their heads. That is the true spirit of Aloha, a welcoming contentment.