We live in an age when the most unobjectionable and necessary ideas for progress can give rise to paranoia and fear. If the most innocuous, unoriginal possible idea can fuel paranoia, how can we hope to have a sensible discussion about the future of our places?

  • argv_minus_one@beehaw.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    More compact cities tend to have more people on the streets (stranger danger!)

    I thought that’s why they carry guns?

    less space for the cars

    Okay, that’s a problem if you need to drive somewhere.

    often force them to park and leave (!) their car minutes (!!) away from their destination.

    That’s a serious problem if you’ve got a bum knee or something. Not everyone who’s disabled can afford to get a diagnosis and placard, nor will they get one in a timely fashion even if they can afford it.

    Let’s not even speak of public transportation, where dozens (!!!) of strangers get crammed into the same box.

    That’s also a serious problem if there’s a deadly airborne disease going around. We just had one of those, and another one could happen at any time.

    That didn’t stop people from flying during the pandemic, though…

    Ah, but what about their fore-forefathers’ time? Anyway, that’s not menacing… for those who can’t get pregnant (men, and celibate, post-menopausal, etc. women).

    That, however, I will not sympathize with. They are horrible people if they believe that.