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There are good things in there, and then there is this: “Where every city is a village, every block a community, and every kitchen table a conversation. ” Did

There are good things in there, and then there is this: “Where every city is a village, every block a community, and every kitchen table a conversation. ” Didn’t he get the memo that many people explicitly want to be in cities for the very reason that they are disturbed by the social dynamics of villages (everyone knows everyone and is involved in everyone’s business)? I love Airbnb but I would hate if every city becomes a village. Also, this talk about building an infinite company. I’d argue that in the current public debate about tech’s power, this actually can sound a bit threatening.

pgodzin 9y ago
At the same time, many people in cities are disillusioned with the dynamics of cities (everyone is in a rush to get somewhere and there is little close-knit community). Maybe the implication is that everyone should have the option for either if they want it.
TallGuyShort 9y ago
Not sure what memo you're referring to - I generally hear people who like big cities reference the ability to walk to a lot of things you can do.
- matte_black 9y ago
  This has been my impression as well. If this advantage were removed there’d be little appeal to living in a city.
- clw8 9y ago
  That's why I moved to Chicago, and staying at Airbnbs while looking for an apartment was fantastic. It was hostel style so while most people were tourists, I also met friends who were in the same position as me.
- TeMPOraL 9y ago
  The "ability to walk to a lot of things you can do" implies your agency. You have lot of options, but you're not automatically attached to anything; you can choose what to get involved in. Whereas in villages, "everyone knows everyone and is involved in everyone’s business"; you're attached to everything whether you like it or not, with all the social consequences coming from attachment.
  - TallGuyShort 9y ago
    No I get that, I'm just saying I've only heard that from 2 HN users, and not from anyone else who chose to live in NYC or SF in the years I lived there. It's not exactly an obvious memo that AirBnB didn't get.
    - TeMPOraL 9y ago
      Fair enough.

pgodzin 9y ago

At the same time, many people in cities are disillusioned with the dynamics of cities (everyone is in a rush to get somewhere and there is little close-knit community). Maybe the implication is that everyone should have the option for either if they want it.

TallGuyShort 9y ago

Not sure what memo you're referring to - I generally hear people who like big cities reference the ability to walk to a lot of things you can do.

matte_black 9y ago
This has been my impression as well. If this advantage were removed there’d be little appeal to living in a city.
clw8 9y ago
That's why I moved to Chicago, and staying at Airbnbs while looking for an apartment was fantastic. It was hostel style so while most people were tourists, I also met friends who were in the same position as me.
TeMPOraL 9y ago
The "ability to walk to a lot of things you can do" implies your agency. You have lot of options, but you're not automatically attached to anything; you can choose what to get involved in. Whereas in villages, "everyone knows everyone and is involved in everyone’s business"; you're attached to everything whether you like it or not, with all the social consequences coming from attachment.
- TallGuyShort 9y ago
  No I get that, I'm just saying I've only heard that from 2 HN users, and not from anyone else who chose to live in NYC or SF in the years I lived there. It's not exactly an obvious memo that AirBnB didn't get.
  - TeMPOraL 9y ago
    Fair enough.