Can anyone name one real benefit of big cities?

a reply to: deadlyhope

We often deny our animalistic roots - including territory but I think real problems would be fixed if everyone spread out.

People are social animals, they like proximity to other people . The best hospitals best jobs best services. are in the city. Regional and country centre often get less resources (out of sight out of mind). Every one has free choice when it comes to where you decide to settle done. I prefer more land to grow stuff

In spreading out people, roads have to be built, land cleared, services installed. The price of developing land factored into the rural blocks. What's wrong with cities anyway? They became a way of life for us when we stopped migrating/hunter gatherers a few thousand years ago.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Oh for the record I live in a town of a hundred people, in the middle of no where, with skies that are sought after by astronomers and photographers, and mountains that millions a year visit. I'm no where near fast food or Walmart, and I'm glad!

I have had both experiences, country and metropolitan city.

For me...grocery shopping.

In rural areas, you drive miles to get to a grocery store and your choice is a crappy Walmart or some run-of-the-mill chain store with five or six isles and not a lot of variety.

In the city, grocery shopping is more of "an experience", an afternoon in a smorgasbord of choices, people watching, smells, entire sections of wine choices, a whole section devoted to various cheeses and international foods....oh, I could go on and on! (And I HATE to cook...lol!)

a reply to: Kalixi

You see, that brings up another point.

America is meant to be based on small business, small towns in my opinion. More people, more money, more business owners.

Instead, everyone flocks around target and Walmart and pretty much anyone wanting to go into retail is screwed. Large cities seem to give rise to mega corporations that efficiently serve large cities. Walmart would go out of business where I live - but I like our local small store owners and feel better supporting them anyways.

originally posted by: MysterX
a reply to: woodwardjnr

There's always the sheep?

Now now

a reply to: MrSpad

I'd argue large cities give less variety overall, just more concentrated. If LA was replaced with a thousand small cities, you'd actually get more restaurants, more individual stores, etc, just spread out over hundreds of miles.

I'm not against a medium sized city being the meeting hub for many surrounding cities - it's a good model in my opinion.

originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: deadlyhope

It concentrates the scum and idiots in selected areas, so that rural areas are nicer places to live.
I guess it is a benefit to those that don't live in the city.

No it doesn't. There are plenty of scum and idiots to go around in rural areas too. Stupidity knows no boundaries.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

I'd say you are both right. The worst crimes exist everywhere, and while the country offers seclusion for certain practices, even the worst ones - statistically, cities have more crime per capita, gangs become a problem, I'm sure police corruption and such are much higher. Its not the only place that has bad people, but statistically speaking, higher crime per capita.

a reply to: deadlyhope

I have to disagree about the corruption thing. For one you have the notorious good ole boy system in rural areas, which is a form of corruption in its own, but the biggest corruption these days is usually drug corruption. Well drug corruption goes where the drugs go, which is everywhere (though lately the rural midwest is being devastated by them)

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Drugs aren't the worst crimes, though. Homicide, rape... Drugs are only a crime because they are illegal and made into a crime. Your recent post on the front page illustrates the point well.

As things are, point taken.

As things could be - drugs shouldn't be nearly the problem they are.

originally posted by: deadlyhope
Walmart would go out of business where I live - but I like our local small store owners and feel better supporting them anyways.

There is not one Walmart in the city of New York.

As a matter of fact, the two best supermarkets in New York are local companies, D'Agostino's and Fairway. There are tens of thousands of independent businesses that cater to all types of clients and ethnicities in regards all of their requirements. Your generalization is not even remotely accurate.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

Hmm, interesting to know.

Why not? Or is that answer not cut and dry ?

a reply to: deadlyhope

Most New Yorkers do not want it as they see its monolithic go to market as anathema to what urban life is supposed to be, which is diversity.

originally posted by: Thecakeisalie
a reply to: MrSpad

People that like to live in cities tend to be looking for more opportunities, more culture, more excitement, more variety in life etc.

That's where they are wrong. Is Starbucks and Netflix and chill culture? Young white women are truly living the life of Riley.

I live in a small town where I have fauna at my footsteps and a star studded sky where I can see meteors that leave a beautiful emerald green streak in the sky. The problem with metropolitan areas is that they attract all the doctors and medical specialists for that same reason- 'oh look at all the pretty lights and and bars with their dackeries! and coffee stops and places to shop!' Big Cities are heartless places.

It sounds like you haven't been to a big city. You'll find a plethora of family-owned eateries with histories dating back several decades. You'll find museums, art galleries, symphony orchestras, theatres (referring to live plays), ethnic areas like "Chinatown" where you can experience a microcosm of different world cultures.

I'm a fan of city and county (not music, of course.) I live in the suburbs. My early and latter life experiences have been extremely varied and plentiful. We're currently seeking out a location to purchase at least a few hundred acres of rural land to retire on eventually, and vacation on in the meantime. I wouldn't ever consider raising my children far from "civilization", nor would I ever consider not giving them ample time every year out in the country.

originally posted by: deadlyhope
a reply to: Krazysh0t

Drugs aren't the worst crimes, though. Homicide, rape... Drugs are only a crime because they are illegal and made into a crime. Your recent post on the front page illustrates the point well.

As things are, point taken.

I mean yea, but there is a lot of money involved with the illegal drug market and those criminals still try to buy favors from people with that money.

As things could be - drugs shouldn't be nearly the problem they are.

Agreed. The drug corruption problem would evaporate over night if drugs were legalized.

I like the overall vibe of a big city. But I'm comfortable enough with my own abilities and personality; that I can be successful anywhere; all I need is a wifi connection.

But the competition in a city makes life more vibrant and exciting.

Still, I live in a small village and commute to my office in town most days.

Seriously? You already know some of the reasons, which is why you deliberately excluded convenience. But let's see:

More jobs, usually much better paying jobs, dependable public transportation, and variety variety variety! You can eat authentic cooking from all over the world at cultural restaurants, or go to one of the numerous international markets to get other products not normally stocked here. You can go to the farmer's market to get fresh, organic, local foods; or go to any number of corporate stores and get the newest, processed stuff available to society lol. Or you can do like my Mom & sister, and do all of the above while also having their own organic urban gardens. And that's just the food.

There's also nearly every kind of nightlife and hobby imaginable. Want to train in Brazilian jiujitsu or Karate? Or boxing? Or yoga? Or glass making? Or painting? Or ballet, scuba diving, music production, video production, or acting? No? Ok what about different classical dance styles? Want to join a rock band, or a pop band, or a country band, or a spoken word poetry circle, or just do amateur karaoke?

Oh you're the type that'd rather join a local sports league (amateurs), a local gambling ring, or just go bar/club hopping? Oh my bad, you said "cliff hopping". Hmmm, let's see if there's a mountain climbing class, free running class, or skydiving class nearby. Is that close enough? Or do you actually want to join the local base jumping community? They're a bit crazy so I might not join you with that one lol.

The variety in large cities can be mind boggling. And having lived in both large metropolises and really tiny towns, I think they each have their merits. Something else I love about large cities is that I'm only alone if I want to be. Depending on the city, you can visit a new section or "side" and be in a completely different community. In other words, you can travel all over the metropolis and never run out of new people to meet and new opportunities to jump into.

I've lived in big cities, suburbs, and small towns. But I love the city. At heart I am a city boy. It's where I've chosen to live & work (my line of work is kind of big-city-only work), and where the heart of the music scene that I grew up with was. But I've chosen the city for reasons beyond work & music.

The reasons for loving city life seem endless… as others have stated, the cultural influence is wonderful. I like feeling embedded with humanity. Not isolating myself because 'other people' are just too much. You really learn from all different types of people. Different cultures & food, escaping the limitations of chain stores & restaurants (which in truth seem much more prevalent outside of big cities... strip malls anyone?). Having access to the beauty of art and bearing witness to human expression (art, architecture, music, personalities, etc.). Mass transit. Being able to find anything I would need only a short distance away (at all hours of the night). Different views and being able to discuss them face to face like real people as opposed to isolated armchair-warrior style.

The appeal of a huge dating pool. Not limited to the very few options that a small town offers (what are the chances that someone who is right for you is actually represented in 10-15 options?).

The options for learning are thousands of times more available in cities (especially during the pre-internet age). Museums, opportunities to see great thinkers/philosophers/scientists etc. speak regularly in person, academic institutions, etc.

Make no mistake though, I grew up in a family that camped out in the middle-of-nowhere all the time. I love the 'great outdoors' as well, and can rough it for weeks without a car in sight carrying everything I need to live on my back. Luckily, every city I've lived in had remote wilderness only a stone's throw away from it. I do believe in a balance. I need escapes to the most remote landscapes I can find. My parents taught me to appreciate nature and understand our place in it all. And to respect it.

My heart is in the city, and my soul (for lack of a better term) is wandering lush green mountains where all I hear is wind, a flowing creek, and our animal pals (& hopefully not a grizzly that is pissed about my city escape).

originally posted by: woodwardjnr

So in a nutshell...you look weird and have a crap fashion sense, but in town nobody cares, cos most people are pretty freaky themselves anyway. That, and the ready availability of skirt (weird and unfasionable as they might be) and transit links you don't use, but is there just in case you eventually might want to?

a reply to: MysterX

Pretty much, but there are no women at all in the countryside or they're married off at the local barn dance

Yip I moved back to the sticks and i hate it , if you are not married by 21 here with kids there has to be something wrong with you

And frigging expensive for everything

I am off back to the city fk this