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We tend to know the same number of people total, so when you're in a more densely populated area, you're dividing the same number (or even a larger number) by a
by tomkarlo 13y ago
We tend to know the same number of people total, so when you're in a more densely populated area, you're dividing the same number (or even a larger number) by a much, much larger number of people around you. Maybe it's not that people in small towns are more social; they just have a smaller pool.
- johngalt 13y agoExactly, the smaller number of total people results in meeting people you know more often. This is exactly what happens. I wasn't trying to imply that rural people are different, merely that the setting creates more opportunities to have social interaction.
- tomkarlo 13y agoHaving fewer places in town results in meeting people you know more often. Having fewer people doesn't - your probability of meeting someone is the number of people you know (which is arguably larger in a city) divided by the number of places they could be. The number of people you don't know in a place is mostly irrelevant.
- presidentender 13y agoIt's anecdotal, but I went to high school in a town of 1300 people, and I'm comfortable having friends of all ages. My friends from Denver, Seattle, and DC tend to associate exclusively with people closer to our ages (mid-20s).