Which real-world countries could you most tolerate living in?

[Blue3]

And why?

Assume you're poor, and don't have a high social status either.

You can choose up to 5 of the options.

(Did I miss any that deserve to be on this list? )

[Antonio the Sixth]

Iran doesn't seem all that bad if you are male and not too libertine.

[tpfkaw]

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Libya, China

Note that this is mostly about acquiring enough wealth to emigrate.

[RedSLC]

Russia and China. Most of these other places are just too damn hot, while Pakistan is too entrenched in religious fanaticism, and if I went to North Korea, I would probably be brainwashed.

[DC Al Fine]

Russia & China would be passable on their own and Saudi Arabia has it's Western enclaves.

[barfbag]

I'd live in whichever one could offer me the best food because I don't want to throw up all the time.

[Del Tachi]

To live on the Caspian Sea in Iran would be nice.

But I'm also a huge Russophile.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have their Western enclaves.

So...those four for me.

[Blue3]

So, who voted for Pakistan, North Korea, and Somalia, and why?

[barfbag]

So, who voted for Pakistan, North Korea, and Somalia, and why?

They were probably joking unless they support terrorism, communism, or starvation.

[H. Ross Peron]

Russia, China, Libya. If not for my religious beliefs I might add Iran and Saudi Arabia too.

[dead0man]

Only Russia....maybe Hong Kong or Macau.  Iran if I can borrow a time machine to go 40 years into the past or 30 years into the future.

[Torie]

Living in Shanghai would be tolerable, and if Hong Kong counts, more than tolerable. The rest would drive me nutter, although maybe Russia if I lived on the Black Sea might hack it.

[politicallefty]

Living in Shanghai would be tolerable, and if Hong Kong counts, more than tolerable. The rest would drive me nutter, although maybe Russia if I lived on the Black Sea might hack it.

That's pretty much what I was thinking as well. North Korea is obviously unacceptable, as are the Sharia law countries (or those Muslim countries that are basically de facto Sharia).

I wonder who gave North Korea its sole vote in this poll.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Russia and Iran might actually be interesting or even nice in some ways--parts of them, anyway--if I kept my head down.

[© tweed]

living in Petersburg or Moscow would be cool enough.  I've long considered trying to beat exchange rates by moving to Western Europe after my family dies. 

[anvi]

I picked Russia, Iran and China.  China I would find the easiest place to live among them by far, since I know the place and can make my way in the language already, and Russia could be fine too.  I think Iran would be livable--mostly because all the friends I have from Iran are wonderful people, so it would be a matter of finding the right group to hang out with.  The rest of the places would be, for me, just too dangerous. 

[Peter the Lefty]

Russia and China would be the most passable.  If I were in Iran, I'd just have to keep my head really low and keep my sexual orientation in the closet.  Egypt would be nice if it weren't for all the unrest. 

[freefair]

Russia and China.

[Pessimistic Antineutrino]

As many have said, Russia and China are fine as they are. Parts of Saudi Arabia and Iran might be passable. That's about it. I also voted for Libya, but there's really nowhere I would be able to tolerate. Everywhere else is either too dangerous or (in the case of North Korea) downright insane.

[LastVoter]

living in Petersburg or Moscow would be cool enough.  I've long considered trying to beat exchange rates by moving to Western Europe after my family dies. 

Explain?

If I were poor only Russia & maybe Saudi Arabia would be livable. I'm assuming you won't be a minority in either country.

[© tweed]

was a typo, meant *Eastern Europe.

[Velasco]

Russia is cool if you have money, specially in Moscow, which is an incredibly expensive city. The OP says "assuming that you are poor" and with that assumption I think it's surprising how many people picked Russia, bearing in mind that climate is harsh and you need money to pay the heat and keep yourself warm in winter. Every winter season a certain number of homeless die. I would rather choose southern Crimea (it's Ukraine but the Russian Navy is still there), the Iranian shore of the Caspian Sea or a mild climate region in China.

[Consciously Unconscious]

Russia and China.  I would've said Egypt, but right now that doesn't look like a good idea.

[Sec. of State Superique]

I haven't seen the poor thing. If so, I would have changed from Russia to Iran, no taxes, oil welfare :/