Image transcript:

The “we are not the same” meme template, but here it says, “You want dense, walkable, transit-oriented cities because you love the vibrancy and convenience of urban life. I want dense, walkable, transit-oriented cities because I don’t want endless suburbs to encroach on the peace and tranquility of rural life. We are natural allies.”

  • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
    144·
    8 months ago

    Cities are loud even without cars. People shouting. Music playing. Dogs barking. Sirens. And then there’s the light pollution.

    And it’s not just the noise I dislike, it’s the constant presence of people. It stresses me out. I’d rather have a million bugs as my neighbors than a million people.

    • Kage520@lemmy.worldEnglish
      41·
      8 months ago

      People are telling you your mind is different. It’s not. I enjoy visiting cities because I enjoy seeing and experiencing that. But I wouldn’t want to live there. It’s like you step outside your door and you are constantly seen, so you must act appropriately. You can’t fully relax that way.

      I enjoy backpacking because of the solitude and closeness with nature. I enjoy more rural housing (not crazy rural… maybe an acre per home) for that same reason. I also don’t want to worry I’m bothering the neighbors inside my own home if I walk too loudly, or am watching a movie.

      Lemmy loves compact cities and I see the arguments, but maybe you’d have had to grow up in one to really appreciate it.

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
        32·
        8 months ago

        I’m glad somebody gets it. Seeing and hearing other people and being seen and heard by them is uncomfortable for me.

        Though an acre per house is still way, way, way too urban for me. My favorite home was over a mile down a dirt road and so far from anyone I didn’t see any other houses.

        That felt safe.

        • t_jpeg@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          8 months ago

          Wait but this doesn’t necessarily mean you disagree with the post? You can still be a pastralist and support dense cities as a way to preserve rural areas which is what the post implies…

      • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
        51·
        8 months ago

        Emergency vehicles. Even without cars there will still be ambulances and fire engines.

        I also didn’t mention delivery and garbage trucks, which are also incredibly loud and would also be in a car free city.

        Oh, and air traffic.

        • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.netEnglish
          151·
          8 months ago

          I don’t think sirens need to be anywhere near as loud without cars. The only reason they are so loud currently is to be heard over the roar of the highway.

          Will cities be as quiet as the countryside? Probably not. But they will be dramatically quieter than they are now. Not Just Bikes took some decibel measurements of urban areas with and without cars and the difference is pretty huge.

          • Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social
            2·
            8 months ago

            I don’t doubt that they’re a lot quieter without cars, since I’ve seen that video, too. But it won’t ever be enough for me, especially because as the city gets quieter I stop being bothered by the noise and start being worried other people are bothered by mine.