City Vs Country: What do you prefer?

[Borderlands of Rojava]

My ideal city to live in would be Ann Arbor. I have friends who live there now because they're going to college at U of M and I gotta say they're lucky to be living in a place like that and not our shitty hometown.

[San Lumen]

My ideal city to live in would be Ann Arbor. I have friends who live there now because they're going to college at U of M and I gotta say they're lucky to be living in a place like that and not our shitty hometown.

I wouldn’t mind living in college town. My grandparents lived near Ithaca and I absolutely love that city. It feels much bigger than it really is.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

My ideal city to live in would be Ann Arbor. I have friends who live there now because they're going to college at U of M and I gotta say they're lucky to be living in a place like that and not our shitty hometown.

I wouldn’t mind living in college town. My grandparents lived near Ithaca and I absolutely love that city. It feels much bigger than it really is.

There's alot to do in a college town. Those places have an actual nightlife like all cities but tend to be of a more moderate size so you aren't literally drowning in people like you would in NYC or Los Angeles.

[Ethel mermania]

My ideal city to live in would be Ann Arbor. I have friends who live there now because they're going to college at U of M and I gotta say they're lucky to be living in a place like that and not our shitty hometown.

I wouldn’t mind living in college town. My grandparents lived near Ithaca and I absolutely love that city. It feels much bigger than it really is.

Ithaca is a lovely town. Just to cold for me.

[Spiritual Republic of Caryton]

Country, preferably a hamlet-sized town. I don't get why 'activities' are such a necessity for most people when opportunities are equally present in the country. The only difference is in the country, you have to put in the effort to make the activities you like a reality. Want to go biking? Build your own course. Want to go flying? The country is a better place than ever to take up paramotoring. Are you a swimmer? Find a lake, or build your own pool. Do you /have/ to have your whole foods? Start a small farm for yourself. I currently live in an extremely fast-growing suburban Arizonan city of more than 140,000 people, but I have fond memories of a quiet North Dakotan town of 700.

I think this thread is really saying that a lot of people who prefer the city are either lazy or short-sighted, imho. They see a plain and think of it as nothing when it's really the ultimate blank canvas. Build a business, go shooting, whatever. It's easier to pursue your passions when you're free of the rampant materialism and societally-set schedules that overtake the life of city people. Sure, you might not make as much money but at least your land is yours and your creations are, well, yours.

[San Lumen]

Country, preferably a hamlet-sized town. I don't get why 'activities' are such a necessity for most people when opportunities are equally present in the country. The only difference is in the country, you have to put in the effort to make the activities you like a reality. Want to go biking? Build your own course. Want to go flying? The country is a better place than ever to take up paramotoring. Are you a swimmer? Find a lake, or build your own pool. Do you /have/ to have your whole foods? Start a small farm for yourself. I currently live in an extremely fast-growing suburban Arizonan city of more than 140,000 people, but I have fond memories of a quiet North Dakotan town of 700.

I think this thread is really saying that a lot of people who prefer the city are either lazy or short-sighted, imho. They see a plain and think of it as nothing when it's really the ultimate blank canvas. Build a business, go shooting, whatever. It's easier to pursue your passions when you're free of the rampant materialism and societally-set schedules that overtake the life of city people. Sure, you might not make as much money but at least your land is yours and your creations are, well, yours.

How are they short sighted? I like having places to go and events to attend. I hate driving to go anywhere. That’s one of the main reasons I left the countryside for the city.

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

Megacities are too large for me. My ideal city has around 150,000 inhabitants.

Having lived in an urban pit of almost 20 million inhabitants, there’s no such thing as too large for me. :p

Everything’s more expensive in such a dense urban core, but otherwise I found it preferable in every metric I care about to living in the small regional centre (urban population ~1.4 millions) that I recently moved away from.

Even leaving everything else aside, the public transportation of a high-density urban area is worth its weight in gold.

[Pax Nerdvana]

Country. I can’t stand cities. There are too many people and buildings for my tastes. Also, there’s no where to safely shoot in urban areas. I’m starting to save money up to buy my own little farm, and get out of suburbia.

[Spiritual Republic of Caryton]

-me snip-

How are they short sighted? I like having places to go and events to attend. I hate driving to go anywhere. That’s one of the main reasons I left the countryside for the city.

I say short-sighted in that people would neglect to see the potential for self-determination in rural areas in favor of sheer convenience. The 'country' is an umbrella term, you could live in anywhere from a lone farm to a small town of 100 to a community of 10,000. Regardless, there are more opportunities for doing things that a person would like to do in the country, it's a blank canvas. If somebody is dead set on convenience like 'i live in cities because i /need/ a nightlife', then why not make your own nightlife? Assuming this hypothetical 'country' is somewhat populated, what difference is there in getting your neighbors together, (regretfully) rounding up the beers, and just dancing and eating and whatever all night? The short-sighted comes in because I believe people see the absence of anything as a sign of 'nope, can't do this and will never do this' rather than trying to work for what they want to do.

[San Lumen]

How are they short sighted? I like having places to go and events to attend. I hate driving to go anywhere. That’s one of the main reasons I left the countryside for the city.

I say short-sighted in that people would neglect to see the potential for self-determination in rural areas in favor of sheer convenience. The 'country' is an umbrella term, you could live in anywhere from a lone farm to a small town of 100 to a community of 10,000. Regardless, there are more opportunities for doing things that a person would like to do in the country, it's a blank canvas. If somebody is dead set on convenience like 'i live in cities because i /need/ a nightlife', then why not make your own nightlife? Assuming this hypothetical 'country' is somewhat populated, what difference is there in getting your neighbors together, (regretfully) rounding up the beers, and just dancing and eating and whatever all night? The short-sighted comes in because I believe people see the absence of anything as a sign of 'nope, can't do this and will never do this' rather than trying to work for what they want to do.

Not everyone likes the quiet. I like the diversity and culture of cities. I like going out with friends to a restaurant on occasion and trying new cuisine, going to gay bars, going to unique venues. Your not going to find that in a small town.

[Kilobugya]

Even leaving everything else aside, the public transportation of a high-density urban area is worth its weight in gold.

Indeed, I really love the fact that I don't need to own or drive a car, ever. Once or twice per year I'll use a taxi because I've something heavy to carry, feel sick, or want to move around late at night when public transport just don't do it, but how much I love to be mostly car-free. No risk of accident, no time lost driving, no car to maintain, no time lost in traffic jams or looking for a place to park, no pollution, saving lots of money, ...

[Pulsroth]

The town where I live is relatively large by rural standards (10,000 population or so), and we have decent public transport compared to a lot of similar towns in the UK. We're sandwiched right between 2 vaguely sizable cities as well, so we've got the convenience of an urban area which you can actually get to quite easily.

I've lived in a couple of large cities before (one of which is very large), but I've always preferred life in the country, which I'm more used to. Commuting is more of a pain out here than in the city, but the peace and quiet is too much for me to give up permanently.

[Spiritual Republic of Caryton]

-me snip 2-

Not everyone likes the quiet. I like the diversity and culture of cities. I like going out with friends to a restaurant on occasion and trying new cuisine, going to gay bars, going to unique venues. Your not going to find that in a small town.

I personally believe that all of those things are unnecessary in order to get fulfillment but everyone's different. If people want diversity and interesting venues and opportunities, they should stop abandoning small towns in the first place because that only makes the divide worse. I think it's good to get away from all of the moral softening of society and re-discover 'simplicity'. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, living in a city gives you no freedom. You're only allowed to do things within the confines of your backyard/studio apartment- and your paycheck. What's not going to a club to get smashed and railed when you can lead a fulfilling life that actually enriches you as a person? (my beliefs in prohibition aside).

[Stylan]

Kinda tricky. I honestly love both so much.

[Resilient Acceleration]

How are they short sighted? I like having places to go and events to attend. I hate driving to go anywhere. That’s one of the main reasons I left the countryside for the city.

I say short-sighted in that people would neglect to see the potential for self-determination in rural areas in favor of sheer convenience. The 'country' is an umbrella term, you could live in anywhere from a lone farm to a small town of 100 to a community of 10,000. Regardless, there are more opportunities for doing things that a person would like to do in the country, it's a blank canvas. If somebody is dead set on convenience like 'i live in cities because i /need/ a nightlife', then why not make your own nightlife? Assuming this hypothetical 'country' is somewhat populated, what difference is there in getting your neighbors together, (regretfully) rounding up the beers, and just dancing and eating and whatever all night? The short-sighted comes in because I believe people see the absence of anything as a sign of 'nope, can't do this and will never do this' rather than trying to work for what they want to do.

Well, for starters I'll need a job that suits my talents/passions and I ain't finding that in rural areas anytime soon.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Me and my family almost moved out to a rural area when I was 12. I'm kinda happy we didn't because I'd stick out like a sore thumb out there.

[Ethel mermania]

Not everyone likes the quiet. I like the diversity and culture of cities. I like going out with friends to a restaurant on occasion and trying new cuisine, going to gay bars, going to unique venues. Your not going to find that in a small town.

I personally believe that all of those things are unnecessary in order to get fulfillment but everyone's different. If people want diversity and interesting venues and opportunities, they should stop abandoning small towns in the first place because that only makes the divide worse. I think it's good to get away from all of the moral softening of society and re-discover 'simplicity'. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, living in a city gives you no freedom. You're only allowed to do things within the confines of your backyard/studio apartment- and your paycheck. What's not going to a club to get smashed and railed when you can lead a fulfilling life that actually enriches you as a person? (my beliefs in prohibition aside).

In yaphank, I can not go to the museum of broadcasting for a series of lectures on the films of Albert Hitchcock. Or the museum of American history for lectures on fossil finds in the American west. Nor can i get on a subway train, stop at each station and eat at the ethnic cuisine of the people who live there.

Depends on how we define freedom I suppose.

[San Lumen]

Not everyone likes the quiet. I like the diversity and culture of cities. I like going out with friends to a restaurant on occasion and trying new cuisine, going to gay bars, going to unique venues. Your not going to find that in a small town.

I personally believe that all of those things are unnecessary in order to get fulfillment but everyone's different. If people want diversity and interesting venues and opportunities, they should stop abandoning small towns in the first place because that only makes the divide worse. I think it's good to get away from all of the moral softening of society and re-discover 'simplicity'. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, living in a city gives you no freedom. You're only allowed to do things within the confines of your backyard/studio apartment- and your paycheck. What's not going to a club to get smashed and railed when you can lead a fulfilling life that actually enriches you as a person? (my beliefs in prohibition aside).

Your generalizing a lot here. Many small towns don’t have much diversity and interesting venues to begin with.

How does living in a city give you no freedom?

Backyard/studio apartment? Have you ever been to a city? If you had you wouldn’t make such a ridiculous generalized statement.

Are you saying city dwellers don’t live fulfilling lives?

[Wickart]

I think cities are fun and innovative, but I always find myself feeling claustrophobic and trapped when I'm in them. Especially with all the covid concerns, it always seems like big brother is watching...

[Northern Socialist Council Republics]

[...] all of the moral softening of society and re-discover 'simplicity'. [...] you can lead a fulfilling life that actually enriches you as a person?

Ah, you’re one of those romantic-reactionary types.

Define “simplicity” and explain why it is easier to achieve in a low-density area and why it is desirable. I live in an urban area with an 8-digit population and my life is pretty darned simple, in the sense of “lacks complex features”.

[Zul-ar]

I prefer the city. I don't like to drive, the city has more options for commute. I like the grid layout, makes finding my way easy.

It's very easy to find what you want in the city. Turn the corner, corner store. Down the block, deli. Across the street, supermarket. If you just keep walking you'll find it.

Hate the smell and the trash, but everywhere has its downsides.

[Spiritual Republic of Caryton]

snip

In yaphank, I can not go to the museum of broadcasting for a series of lectures on the films of Albert Hitchcock. Or the museum of American history for lectures on fossil finds in the American west. Nor can i get on a subway train, stop at each station and eat at the ethnic cuisine of the people who live there.

Depends on how we define freedom I suppose.

Freedom to pursue hobbies, to build your own life, to be self-reliant in a sense. Cities have laws and limitations. There's red tape and noise complaints.

[Zul-ar]

I think cities are fun and innovative, but I always find myself feeling claustrophobic and trapped when I'm in them. Especially with all the covid concerns, it always seems like big brother is watching...

Big brother is watching you whether you live in rural Alabama or NYC.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

I think cities are fun and innovative, but I always find myself feeling claustrophobic and trapped when I'm in them. Especially with all the covid concerns, it always seems like big brother is watching...

Big brother is watching you whether you live in rural Alabama or NYC.

Ever since phones and the internet were invented, the government has been spying on all of us equally.

[Nantoraka]

Country, preferably a hamlet-sized town. I don't get why 'activities' are such a necessity for most people when opportunities are equally present in the country. The only difference is in the country, you have to put in the effort to make the activities you like a reality. Want to go biking? Build your own course. Want to go flying? The country is a better place than ever to take up paramotoring. Are you a swimmer? Find a lake, or build your own pool. Do you /have/ to have your whole foods? Start a small farm for yourself. I currently live in an extremely fast-growing suburban Arizonan city of more than 140,000 people, but I have fond memories of a quiet North Dakotan town of 700.

I think this thread is really saying that a lot of people who prefer the city are either lazy or short-sighted, imho. They see a plain and think of it as nothing when it's really the ultimate blank canvas. Build a business, go shooting, whatever. It's easier to pursue your passions when you're free of the rampant materialism and societally-set schedules that overtake the life of city people. Sure, you might not make as much money but at least your land is yours and your creations are, well, yours.

This