>"I wonder if this argument holds less weight now that people in blocks of flats in some metropolises have less interest in interacting with their neighbours th

>"I wonder if this argument holds less weight now that people in blocks of flats in some metropolises have less interest in interacting with their neighbours than decades ago -- in Helsinki for instance it is a faux pas to speak to one's neighbours, and some even claim that politeness demands you check through the peephole that the hallway is empty before going out, so you don't bump into a neighbour and make him/her uncomfortable." What evidence is there that people in "some metropolises have less interest in interacting with their neighbours than decades ago"? I can't speak for Helsinki but honestly the behavior you describe sounds borderline pathological. I've lived in many cities around the world and would not describe that as common.