4 ms·

You know, I've never liked articles which take the position that X sucks, or tries to say that X sucks. There are some things that don't really have any redeemi

by st3v3r 10y ago

You know, I've never liked articles which take the position that X sucks, or tries to say that X sucks. There are some things that don't really have any redeeming qualities, but those things are few and far between. Most of the time it's just that this person doesn't like it. I'm not much of a fan of suburbia either, but there are plenty of others who do like what suburbia offers, and don't like densely urban areas.

TillE 10y ago
Everything that people "like" about American suburbia, rural Germany (for example) is better at. Big houses with big yards, but just a quick trip from an actual town, and not much further from some kind of city. It's a garbage design in just about every way. A huge mistake.
- daxorid 10y ago
  Absolutely correct, but modernity has elevated convenience to the level of an unassailable requirement of life. Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure, but the decreased convenience makes them instant no-go zones for most in The West.
  - johan_larson 10y ago
    > Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure... What is it you love about the countryside?
  - st3v3r 10y ago
    "Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure" No, they aren't. I value access to culture and having many different types of restaurants available to me, so I can eat many different types of food. Rural areas absolutely fail at that.
    - kazinator 10y ago
      Not to mention rural Canada. Drive 45 minutes out of Vancouver, BC and you're pretty much completely screwed when it comes to dining.
- drewrv 10y ago
  I visited rural Holland as a teenager and my mind was blown by the fact that you could live somewhere rural yet get around by bicycle. Most Americans don't know what they're missing.
  - jjawssd 10y ago
    The most underrated comment in the whole thread
  - eric_the_read 10y ago
    I love the netherlands! It's a lovely country, full of fantastic people and tasty treats. I lived there more than 30 years ago, and I still miss poffertjes and lament to all and sundry the lack of fresh stroopwafels in the US. But it's roughly the size of the Front Range in Colorado. It's tiny. Serious question: how many places in .nl are > 10km from a city of moderate size? I'm going out on a limb here and suggesting "not many".
  - AnimalMuppet 10y ago
    One thing about Holland: It's flat. Not everywhere is like that. That can make bicycles significantly less attractive to someone in his 50s... Disclaimer: I've visited Holland, but never lived there.

by st3v3r 10y ago

TillE 10y ago

Everything that people "like" about American suburbia, rural Germany (for example) is better at. Big houses with big yards, but just a quick trip from an actual town, and not much further from some kind of city. It's a garbage design in just about every way. A huge mistake.

daxorid 10y ago
Absolutely correct, but modernity has elevated convenience to the level of an unassailable requirement of life. Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure, but the decreased convenience makes them instant no-go zones for most in The West.
- johan_larson 10y ago
  > Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure... What is it you love about the countryside?
- st3v3r 10y ago
  "Rural areas are superior to urban areas by nearly every possible measure" No, they aren't. I value access to culture and having many different types of restaurants available to me, so I can eat many different types of food. Rural areas absolutely fail at that.
  - kazinator 10y ago
    Not to mention rural Canada. Drive 45 minutes out of Vancouver, BC and you're pretty much completely screwed when it comes to dining.
drewrv 10y ago
I visited rural Holland as a teenager and my mind was blown by the fact that you could live somewhere rural yet get around by bicycle. Most Americans don't know what they're missing.
- jjawssd 10y ago
  The most underrated comment in the whole thread
- eric_the_read 10y ago
  I love the netherlands! It's a lovely country, full of fantastic people and tasty treats. I lived there more than 30 years ago, and I still miss poffertjes and lament to all and sundry the lack of fresh stroopwafels in the US. But it's roughly the size of the Front Range in Colorado. It's tiny. Serious question: how many places in .nl are > 10km from a city of moderate size? I'm going out on a limb here and suggesting "not many".
- AnimalMuppet 10y ago
  One thing about Holland: It's flat. Not everywhere is like that. That can make bicycles significantly less attractive to someone in his 50s... Disclaimer: I've visited Holland, but never lived there.