4 ms·

If urbanization makes people depressed and anxious, why do millennials seem to prefer cities? How does this jive with the "safety in numbers" feeling young peop

by nether 11y ago

If urbanization makes people depressed and anxious, why do millennials seem to prefer cities? How does this jive with the "safety in numbers" feeling young people usually use to explain why they want to live in cities? I'm starting to think that the desire to live in cities in our newest generation has been implanted by marketers. Keep humans in a constant state of rushing and anxiety, then quell them with gastropubs and single-origin coffee and other urbane pleasures, in order reinforce a permanent state of discontent. The goal is to have an insatiable working class that will do anything to afford their $1,500/month Brooklyn closet, without realizing that you can be much happier and more relaxed anywhere else.

chrismealy 11y ago
In Britain and other places people have the right to roam, but in America nature walks are generally most accessible to city dwellers. Seattle has loads of easily accessible natural areas (off the top of my head, Karkeek, Magnussen, Seward, Ravenna, Schmitz, Discovery, Lincoln, Arboretum). Where I grew up in the sticks walking in the woods meant trespassing, angry dogs, and barbed wire, or a long drive to a state park.
optimusclimb 11y ago
Googling defines millennials as 18-34 for me. Reasons I think people in that age range would prefer to live in a city: 1 - More people, more events and places to socialize == more opportunities to find a mate 2 - Since people in those age groups right now are sacked by debt, or working jobs lower on the totem pole (or even super low paying internships)...living in a city means they can avoid car ownership 3 - This might sound ridiculous, but...along with point 1, socializing frequently means drinking, and in suburbs, that usually goes hand in hand with drunk driving. Not an issue in the city. Honestly modern suburbs just make you feel isolated.
collyw 11y ago
Jobs, and singles would be my guess as to why young people prefer cities.
seszett 11y ago
It seems like I'm one of those millennials, according to some definitions. This group of humans that are so different, alien and impossible to understand, it seems? Well, almost everyone around me prefers to live in the countryside. I do, too. The thing is, most jobs in IT and other domains that were pushed on the young at school are not in the countryside, and telecommuting jobs aren't plentiful either. A sizable amount of people dream of having a small farm or something in the mountains, some of my friends actually have done it, but it's not easy. Some people prefer cities, but the only reason you might think all "millennials" do, is that more of them have worked for a shorter time yet, and do not yet miss a better environment.
kristiandupont 11y ago
People prefer lots of things that make them depressed and anxious like sugar, drugs, gaming etc. It might be from brainwashing but it might also just be because these things offer short term rewards, with costs being more long term. I prefer to be in a city because I like the things cities offer, but I am aware that it would probably be better for my health to live in the country side.
kaybe 11y ago
In most areas of Europe (which is what I know), a park is never far away, and the cities are kind of narrow and not built for cars. A short bike ride will carry you to the fields with a lot of paths, or a forrest also full of streets (well, utility roads, but you're free to use them). There could be a lake for swimming in biking distance (or use local transport). Some of the bigger cities have been created from several towns, and at the seams there can be a lot of greenery (Frankfurt, for example). Thus, you do not need a car to get around and can reach a good number of places, and you still have access to city culture. Not all cities are made equal.
normloman 11y ago
Not having a nearby park makes one feel depressed. But so does commuting an hour a day to work. The best thing would be living in a city or walkable town with tons of transit and tons of nearby parks.
Mikeb85 11y ago
> why do millennials seem to prefer cities? Do they? Most of the people who live and work in mountain towns are millennials, and I see far more millennials hiking, camping, and generally doing things outdoors than the older generations. Granted, I'm sure far more millennials live in cities, but many also prefer a 'simpler' life. On a separate note though, the allure of cities is that they're nicer to live in than the suburbs. And they're where most jobs are. I think it's necessity more than anything.
eli_gottlieb 11y ago
>If urbanization makes people depressed and anxious, why do millennials seem to prefer cities? Because urbanization makes some people depressed and anxious, but not others. Also, wage-density and productivity are now substantially higher in urban areas than in suburbs or rural villages. "Urbanization" and "concrete jungle" with "a constant state of rushing and anxiety" are also very different: I now live in, what is it, the 4th or 5th most densely-populated city in the United States (Somerville, MA), and it's downright pleasant and leafy. We have parks, tree-topped walk/bike-ways, long trails that go out into marshlands and riversides (even though I don't particularly like marshes), and greenery everywhere in town. We also have hipster shops and a reasonable commute to a large number of professional, high-paying workplaces. Of course, our housing is pretty unaffordable, but that's because the bloody NIMBYs won't let anyone build more of it.

by nether 11y ago

chrismealy 11y ago

In Britain and other places people have the right to roam, but in America nature walks are generally most accessible to city dwellers. Seattle has loads of easily accessible natural areas (off the top of my head, Karkeek, Magnussen, Seward, Ravenna, Schmitz, Discovery, Lincoln, Arboretum). Where I grew up in the sticks walking in the woods meant trespassing, angry dogs, and barbed wire, or a long drive to a state park.

optimusclimb 11y ago

Googling defines millennials as 18-34 for me. Reasons I think people in that age range would prefer to live in a city: 1 - More people, more events and places to socialize == more opportunities to find a mate 2 - Since people in those age groups right now are sacked by debt, or working jobs lower on the totem pole (or even super low paying internships)...living in a city means they can avoid car ownership 3 - This might sound ridiculous, but...along with point 1, socializing frequently means drinking, and in suburbs, that usually goes hand in hand with drunk driving. Not an issue in the city. Honestly modern suburbs just make you feel isolated.

collyw 11y ago

Jobs, and singles would be my guess as to why young people prefer cities.

seszett 11y ago

It seems like I'm one of those millennials, according to some definitions. This group of humans that are so different, alien and impossible to understand, it seems? Well, almost everyone around me prefers to live in the countryside. I do, too. The thing is, most jobs in IT and other domains that were pushed on the young at school are not in the countryside, and telecommuting jobs aren't plentiful either. A sizable amount of people dream of having a small farm or something in the mountains, some of my friends actually have done it, but it's not easy. Some people prefer cities, but the only reason you might think all "millennials" do, is that more of them have worked for a shorter time yet, and do not yet miss a better environment.

kristiandupont 11y ago

People prefer lots of things that make them depressed and anxious like sugar, drugs, gaming etc. It might be from brainwashing but it might also just be because these things offer short term rewards, with costs being more long term. I prefer to be in a city because I like the things cities offer, but I am aware that it would probably be better for my health to live in the country side.

kaybe 11y ago

In most areas of Europe (which is what I know), a park is never far away, and the cities are kind of narrow and not built for cars. A short bike ride will carry you to the fields with a lot of paths, or a forrest also full of streets (well, utility roads, but you're free to use them). There could be a lake for swimming in biking distance (or use local transport). Some of the bigger cities have been created from several towns, and at the seams there can be a lot of greenery (Frankfurt, for example). Thus, you do not need a car to get around and can reach a good number of places, and you still have access to city culture. Not all cities are made equal.

normloman 11y ago

Not having a nearby park makes one feel depressed. But so does commuting an hour a day to work. The best thing would be living in a city or walkable town with tons of transit and tons of nearby parks.

Mikeb85 11y ago

> why do millennials seem to prefer cities? Do they? Most of the people who live and work in mountain towns are millennials, and I see far more millennials hiking, camping, and generally doing things outdoors than the older generations. Granted, I'm sure far more millennials live in cities, but many also prefer a 'simpler' life. On a separate note though, the allure of cities is that they're nicer to live in than the suburbs. And they're where most jobs are. I think it's necessity more than anything.

eli_gottlieb 11y ago

>If urbanization makes people depressed and anxious, why do millennials seem to prefer cities? Because urbanization makes some people depressed and anxious, but not others. Also, wage-density and productivity are now substantially higher in urban areas than in suburbs or rural villages. "Urbanization" and "concrete jungle" with "a constant state of rushing and anxiety" are also very different: I now live in, what is it, the 4th or 5th most densely-populated city in the United States (Somerville, MA), and it's downright pleasant and leafy. We have parks, tree-topped walk/bike-ways, long trails that go out into marshlands and riversides (even though I don't particularly like marshes), and greenery everywhere in town. We also have hipster shops and a reasonable commute to a large number of professional, high-paying workplaces. Of course, our housing is pretty unaffordable, but that's because the bloody NIMBYs won't let anyone build more of it.