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Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by idoby on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @01:17PM (#22618941)
> I live in a densely packed city. I have no idea who lives in my neighborhood.

This is ironic, but I hear it a lot from people living in big cities. I live in a sparsely packed city, but mostly know who lives in my neighborhood. We were unhappy with the last city government, so we replaced them, and it took a lot less people to do so, in absolute terms (which matters because the relative size of your movement only comes into play if you can manage to have a movement at all, and that depends on the absolute size of the movement (1000 people are easier to convince and coordinate than 10K)). My metropolis-dwelling friends keep sharing how lonely they are all the time.

I never got the logic behind living in the perpetual cocktail party/high school that is a big city.

Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by mthoms on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @02:16PM (#22619629)
>I never got the logic behind living in the perpetual cocktail party/high school that is a big city.

I'm really struggling to interpret that charitably but I'll try -

Some reasons to live in a big city: (1) It's where your friends and (perhaps elderly) parents live. (2) It's where your job is. (3) You can't afford, (or don't want to own) a car. (4) You're single (especially true if you are LGBTQ). (5) You like the cultural opportunities it affords. (6) You have access to specialized medical treatment. (7) You run a business. (8) You're getting an education. (9) You're too poor to move. (10) You don't like narrow minded, holier-than-though attitudes that tend to be more common (IMHO) in smaller towns.

Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by refurb on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @04:02PM (#22620679)
You don't like narrow minded, holier-than-though attitudes that tend to be more common (IMHO) in smaller towns.

Have you ever been to San Francisco?

Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by ygjb on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @05:17PM (#22621342)
well, yeah, but in a big city you can choose which group of narrow minded, holier-than-though folks you want to associate with. In smaller towns or cities you just don't have that option...
Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by freeone3000 on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @01:34PM (#22619130)
Access to high-paying jobs within walking distance. Increased cultural events (concert tours stop in your city, your city makes new concerts...). Better public transit. "cocktail party/high school" sounds like an odd descriptor, especially since those two situations are defined by social interactions, the one thing city living has significantly less of.
Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by smoe on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @04:34PM (#22620952)
I'm metropolis-dwelling primarily because of the cultural offering and diversity. I don't have to adjust my life to what are the popular views of just 1000 people.

For me it is the small places that are the perpetual cocktail party/high school where I "have" to get along with everyone instead of picking my preferences.

Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by jniedrauer on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @09:58PM (#22623630)
Unless we intend to depend on unsustainable transportation technologies forever, dense cities are a requirement. I live in a sparsely populated city, and I have to drive 15 minutes to get anywhere. Without a car, this city would be unlivable.
Re:Covid-19 projects looking for volunteers by dominotw on Wednesday March 18, 2020 @02:29PM (#22619757)
not sure about others but i live in the city because i can't drive due to some personal health reasons.

I've tried to live out in the burbs but it was really hard for me without a car.