Can Tokyo’s charms be replicated elsewhere?

Post by soared » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 3:06 AM UTC

balsam wrote: post #68

tkgally wrote: post #58

The linked article focuses on the physical features of Tokyo. For me, even more attractive is the economic dynamism that they enable. I moved to Tokyo in 1983 and have lived there and in nearby Yokohama ever since. Until 2005, I worked as a freelancer—mostly translation, but also advertising copywriting and other related occupations. I did my work at home, but I was often out and about in Tokyo to visit clients, atte…

Seems similar to Jane Jacob’s vision for Greenwich Village(at least, haha). Anyone knows if parts of NYC (besides academia —-grant-drenched NYU, Columbia,&c) had that organic dynamism, at certain points in time, maybe?

Post by barry-cotter » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 3:09 AM UTC

mattzito wrote: post #80

JasonFruit wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're describing the Midwest. People clear sidewalks and driveways for each other after a snow, unasked and uncompensated. People let each other off public transportation before crowding on. And... there are drunks everywhere. So two out of three. But what I'm aiming at is this: in less urbanized areas of the United States, the sort of shared ideas that allow successful coexistence exist. It's largely the ma…

> It's largely the major cities where you cannot find it. I would argue differently, and say that it's entirely a factor of density. The more people that are crammed into a small area, the more you will see the spectrum of human behavior in any given situation. So, in the midwest you might see people clearing sidewalks and driveways for each other - I'm more familiar with the HOA that sends threatening letters to peo…

Post by barry-cotter » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 3:13 AM UTC

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #61

largepeepee wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not a race thing, it's a trust and culture thing. There are diverse countries that have similar levels of safety like Singapore. If your government sucks, laws are poorly enforced or even maliciously enforced - there is low trust among the people, no respect for public spaces and no one follows the social norms.

Singapore's achieves "harmony" in their diverse city-state through severe authoritarian control. There's harmony because the state dictates their vison of harmony which all must abide by.

Post by crowbahr » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 3:14 AM UTC

mradek wrote: post #66

Yeah but then you need something that people seem to get upset over. Culture. And that doesn’t mean getting stoned or acting weird or being narcissistic af, but having some basic moral and virtuous behavior. You see old people come out and start cleaning the stairs after a rain. I saw it first hand and thought wow this would never happen in the US. You see people get in line and let the people onboard the train out b…

Post by decafninja » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 3:18 AM UTC

barry-cotter wrote: post #83

mattzito wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's largely the major cities where you cannot find it. I would argue differently, and say that it's entirely a factor of density. The more people that are crammed into a small area, the more you will see the spectrum of human behavior in any given situation. So, in the midwest you might see people clearing sidewalks and driveways for each other - I'm more familiar with the HOA that sends threatening letters to peo…

> I would argue differently, and say that it's entirely a factor of density. The more people that are crammed into a small area, the more you will see the spectrum of human behavior in any given situation. Then why are New York and Chicago so much worse in this regard than Tokyo? They’re all big, dense, highly populated cities.