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I lived in cities all my life and never lived in suburbs, but can't imagine cities being much better, as there's literally almost no community at all in cities

I lived in cities all my life and never lived in suburbs, but can't imagine cities being much better, as there's literally almost no community at all in cities either. People just don't do stuff with their neighbors or largely don't even talk to them. The older ones, who've been in the building for decades, at least know the names of the other older ones and maybe a little bit about them (where they work, what's their family structure etc.). Younger gen is mostly completely isolated though. At least that's my experience.

toyg 6y ago
Indeed, but this is not new. There is plenty of literature about one of the main allures (and perils) of moving to the city: being free from your neighbours’ judgement and relationships. For many, this is still a desirable characteristic. Arguably, there might have been recent developments that removed even the last shreds of compulsory relationships, but we already were 90% of the way there. When it comes to relationships, cities just work on a pull model, where small towns worked on a push model.
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- etrautmann 6y ago
  Interesting idea, but most cities I’ve lived in have even closer compulsory relationships via homeowners associations. Even if you rent it’s hard to get away from your neighbors if you want that.
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  - toyg 6y ago
    I grew up in a block in Europe. The equivalent body met once a month at best, you could even delegate someone to attend for you. I don’t think that’s anywhere near the sort of web you end in when growing in a small town, particularly if your folks have been around for more than a generation.
yardie 6y ago
I live in the city and can’t agree with this at all. Prior to the pandemic our building hosted mixers, Halloween parties, winter and summer parties. Our building is 70% renters / 30% owners. The tenants are constantly bemoaning the lack of community. But rather than engage their community most would rather drive back out to the suburbs and spend time in that community. BTW, I was just about to agree with you. But I just realized that we’ve been social distancing for almost a year. It felt like centuries ago since I had more than a 5 minute conversation with my neighbors.
cafard 6y ago
Except for a couple of years spent in apartments, this is not all my experience, either of cities or of suburbs. In my childhood and teens in the suburbs, kids would gather in a yard or a drive to play games--tag, hide-and-seek, kickball, touch football, basketball--and so one got to know them and their families. Now, in a city, and on a block mostly of free-standing houses, I know by name somebody or everybody in most of the houses on the street, and know some of them pretty well.
throwawayboise 6y ago
Agree. Lived in an apartment building in Chicago. Never knew anyone's name but the doorman. I could count on one hand the number of times I encountered a neighbor in the hall. It was like living in a hotel.

toyg 6y ago

Indeed, but this is not new. There is plenty of literature about one of the main allures (and perils) of moving to the city: being free from your neighbours’ judgement and relationships. For many, this is still a desirable characteristic. Arguably, there might have been recent developments that removed even the last shreds of compulsory relationships, but we already were 90% of the way there. When it comes to relationships, cities just work on a pull model, where small towns worked on a push model.

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etrautmann 6y ago
Interesting idea, but most cities I’ve lived in have even closer compulsory relationships via homeowners associations. Even if you rent it’s hard to get away from your neighbors if you want that.
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- toyg 6y ago
  I grew up in a block in Europe. The equivalent body met once a month at best, you could even delegate someone to attend for you. I don’t think that’s anywhere near the sort of web you end in when growing in a small town, particularly if your folks have been around for more than a generation.

yardie 6y ago

I live in the city and can’t agree with this at all. Prior to the pandemic our building hosted mixers, Halloween parties, winter and summer parties. Our building is 70% renters / 30% owners. The tenants are constantly bemoaning the lack of community. But rather than engage their community most would rather drive back out to the suburbs and spend time in that community. BTW, I was just about to agree with you. But I just realized that we’ve been social distancing for almost a year. It felt like centuries ago since I had more than a 5 minute conversation with my neighbors.

cafard 6y ago

Except for a couple of years spent in apartments, this is not all my experience, either of cities or of suburbs. In my childhood and teens in the suburbs, kids would gather in a yard or a drive to play games--tag, hide-and-seek, kickball, touch football, basketball--and so one got to know them and their families. Now, in a city, and on a block mostly of free-standing houses, I know by name somebody or everybody in most of the houses on the street, and know some of them pretty well.

throwawayboise 6y ago

Agree. Lived in an apartment building in Chicago. Never knew anyone's name but the doorman. I could count on one hand the number of times I encountered a neighbor in the hall. It was like living in a hotel.