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You're being needlessly pedantic. The top-level comment is saying that they could only live in a big city for {reasons}—it's very very clear that a small town o

You're being needlessly pedantic. The top-level comment is saying that they could only live in a big city for {reasons}—it's very very clear that a small town of 5000 doesn't count for them. In that context, the commenter that started this subthread is clearly using "rural" to describe everything that isn't in a big city—places where there are hour-sized gaps between small towns count as rural when it's used to distinguish from "big city". Trying to insist on a different dividing line between categories is not useful in this context where OP was already clear that they believe a small town doesn't work for them.

vel0city 2y ago
> In that context, the commenter that started this subthread is clearly using "rural" to describe everything that isn't in a big city That's not the term for rural though. That's small towns and villages, not "rural". These are real words with real meanings. If I started saying the furry 30lb animal in my house that goes "bark" is an elephant it's not the right term to use and I'd welcome you calling out my improper usage. Most Americans have never really experienced "rural" living. But I guess you'd prefer for people to just continue to ignorantly use improper terms. Better get off the computer tonight and fly my elephant around the galaxy. Or walk my dog around the block. Words have no meanings anymore, it's all pedantic.
- rascul 2y ago
  Which definition of "rural" are you referring to?
  - vel0city 2y ago
    NCHS codes, RUCC codes, census designated places, ZIP code designations, take your pick. All of those are generally OK by me. Something other than just "small towns and villages exist", as both easily get classified as urban or suburban. I've got loads of data backing up my assertion tons people think they live in a rural area don't live in a statistically classified rural area. People overly misuse the term rural and don't really understand a truly rural area.
    - lolinder 2y ago
      > Something other than just "small towns and villages exist", as both easily get classified as urban or suburban. Even if you're being pedantic (which, as noted, is pointless and silly), small towns aren't necessarily urban or suburban. For the census, 2000 housing units or a population of 5000 are required to count, and my town is the only one that made it onto the census list within an hour of me. 20+ small towns, 6 county seats, only 1 urban area. And that urban area has only 10% of the total population of those six counties! In other words: 90% of the people within an hour of me live in rural areas even according to the census. And, again, as noted, I think it's silly to insist on a term of art in colloquial usage. Most people, on hearing what I just said, would agree that my town is a rural town in the middle of rural counties. But even if we do use pedantic definitions, you're objectively wrong. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/g...
      - vel0city 2y ago
        So instead of all this complaining of me being a pedant you could have replied to this question with just a "yes" and far fewer ink would have been spilled. Who was really being pointless and silly in this exchange? > Yeah but on the census is your area rural or urban? > And, again, as noted, I think it's silly to insist on a term of art in colloquial usage I disagree. If you ever call the furry creature in my home an elephant I'll correct your usage regardless of if you somehow feel it's the proper colloquial usage. Using the term incorrectly is using the term incorrectly. If we just make up whatever "rural" means to you personally then it'll be hard to actually use real statistics to understand our populations and cities. If we're just going to go by vibes for our definition of rural, tons of places can be rural. I live a short walk from a fishing hole, there's a big wooded area near me, loads of big pickups driving around, people in cowboy boots and cowboy hats everywhere, I drive past farms every day, and I'm constantly next to a large horse stable. I guess I'm in a rural area! If I get a few friends to agree and use the term I guess it's right. What's that? It's a city of a population of 120k and a density of >4,000/sq mi and is deep in one of the largest US metros? Hmm, doesn't sound very rural, but it's vibing right, so must be. It's absurd 30% of people who live in suburbs think they live in a rural area, and it does affect their lives.

vel0city 2y ago

> In that context, the commenter that started this subthread is clearly using "rural" to describe everything that isn't in a big city That's not the term for rural though. That's small towns and villages, not "rural". These are real words with real meanings. If I started saying the furry 30lb animal in my house that goes "bark" is an elephant it's not the right term to use and I'd welcome you calling out my improper usage. Most Americans have never really experienced "rural" living. But I guess you'd prefer for people to just continue to ignorantly use improper terms. Better get off the computer tonight and fly my elephant around the galaxy. Or walk my dog around the block. Words have no meanings anymore, it's all pedantic.

rascul 2y ago
Which definition of "rural" are you referring to?
- vel0city 2y ago
  NCHS codes, RUCC codes, census designated places, ZIP code designations, take your pick. All of those are generally OK by me. Something other than just "small towns and villages exist", as both easily get classified as urban or suburban. I've got loads of data backing up my assertion tons people think they live in a rural area don't live in a statistically classified rural area. People overly misuse the term rural and don't really understand a truly rural area.
  - lolinder 2y ago
    > Something other than just "small towns and villages exist", as both easily get classified as urban or suburban. Even if you're being pedantic (which, as noted, is pointless and silly), small towns aren't necessarily urban or suburban. For the census, 2000 housing units or a population of 5000 are required to count, and my town is the only one that made it onto the census list within an hour of me. 20+ small towns, 6 county seats, only 1 urban area. And that urban area has only 10% of the total population of those six counties! In other words: 90% of the people within an hour of me live in rural areas even according to the census. And, again, as noted, I think it's silly to insist on a term of art in colloquial usage. Most people, on hearing what I just said, would agree that my town is a rural town in the middle of rural counties. But even if we do use pedantic definitions, you're objectively wrong. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/g...
    - vel0city 2y ago
      So instead of all this complaining of me being a pedant you could have replied to this question with just a "yes" and far fewer ink would have been spilled. Who was really being pointless and silly in this exchange? > Yeah but on the census is your area rural or urban? > And, again, as noted, I think it's silly to insist on a term of art in colloquial usage I disagree. If you ever call the furry creature in my home an elephant I'll correct your usage regardless of if you somehow feel it's the proper colloquial usage. Using the term incorrectly is using the term incorrectly. If we just make up whatever "rural" means to you personally then it'll be hard to actually use real statistics to understand our populations and cities. If we're just going to go by vibes for our definition of rural, tons of places can be rural. I live a short walk from a fishing hole, there's a big wooded area near me, loads of big pickups driving around, people in cowboy boots and cowboy hats everywhere, I drive past farms every day, and I'm constantly next to a large horse stable. I guess I'm in a rural area! If I get a few friends to agree and use the term I guess it's right. What's that? It's a city of a population of 120k and a density of >4,000/sq mi and is deep in one of the largest US metros? Hmm, doesn't sound very rural, but it's vibing right, so must be. It's absurd 30% of people who live in suburbs think they live in a rural area, and it does affect their lives.