This rural/urban divide is probably a dynamic worth exploring regardless of region. The relative anonymity of large urban areas provides very different incentiv

This rural/urban divide is probably a dynamic worth exploring regardless of region. The relative anonymity of large urban areas provides very different incentives toward maintaining personal integrity than in a small rural town where reputation damage can result in real and permanent losses. I'm not arguing rural is better than urban; on the contrary, damage caused by idle gossip can permanently ostracize a person for reasons beyond their control and result in long term economic and social damage. The dynamic of smaller groups vs large anonymous groups is one worth exploring, in my humble opinion.