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> But, there is a level of social isolation here, and a lack of a sense of allies and someone who "has your back", even if at the same time someone else is tryi

by phil21 9y ago

> But, there is a level of social isolation here, and a lack of a sense of allies and someone who "has your back", even if at the same time someone else is trying to "take you out". This nails it I think - which then creates a myriad of social issues that end up being a feedback loop. I do also strongly feel the US "suburban" style of living is a large driver of this. The more I travel and the more places I experience I've come to the conclusion that density matters. A lot. Even small towns were dense walkable communities in many ways until recently. The forced day to day social interactions naturally built up social cohesion and trust - and those cannot be replaced by scheduled human engagement. The lack of "community" in the US is quite concerning. There are many reasons, but being locked into various boxes (house, car, cube/office) through pretty much 100% of your day has to add up. The natural ebb and flow of a socially vibrant neighborhood just is nonexistent in I'd posit the extreme majority of the US.

paganel 9y ago
> The more I travel and the more places I experience I've come to the conclusion that density matters. A lot I live in an 8-storey high building in an Eastern European capital, and about a couple of hours ago my gf called me telling me she had gotten stuck in the elevator. I was still at work, my work is 20 minutes by foot from home, but not 5 minutes pass and my gf calls me again telling me that a neighbor had helped her get out of the elevator. So, now I know that at least one of my neighbors (whom I don't even know) would be kind enough to get me out of a stuck elevator if I'd ever need it. Also, the small talk you usually do from time to time with your neighbors helps a lot when you're living life as a single person, had I lived in a suburb instead of a very dense neighborhood after my divorce I would have had an even worse depression.

by phil21 9y ago

paganel 9y ago

> The more I travel and the more places I experience I've come to the conclusion that density matters. A lot I live in an 8-storey high building in an Eastern European capital, and about a couple of hours ago my gf called me telling me she had gotten stuck in the elevator. I was still at work, my work is 20 minutes by foot from home, but not 5 minutes pass and my gf calls me again telling me that a neighbor had helped her get out of the elevator. So, now I know that at least one of my neighbors (whom I don't even know) would be kind enough to get me out of a stuck elevator if I'd ever need it. Also, the small talk you usually do from time to time with your neighbors helps a lot when you're living life as a single person, had I lived in a suburb instead of a very dense neighborhood after my divorce I would have had an even worse depression.