Big cities or small towns?

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CollegeReader
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Big cities or small towns?

Post by CollegeReader »

So I was asking Linda and Derek about how they liked Long Island and they both mentioned that it was growing and they wished it were smaller. It got me thinking ... who prefers those small, quaint towns over the big city or vice-versa?

What are the positives and negatives about both?
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Post by DeletedUser »

I live in the Atlanta area and it seems that urban sprawl has spread to nearly every corner of northern Georgia. Towns that were small and quaint and had their own special charm have been replaced by concrete carbon-copies of small consumer metropolises. There doesn't seem to be any distinction between the many suburbs and the outline boonies anymore. It's all become a bigger extention of Atlanta. It seems as though you have to drive 2 hours out of Atlanta to experience the pleasures of a small town.

Conversely, I do enjoy living close to a big city. Having the chance to take in the spectacle and opportunities that a bigger city can offer. Such as going to big league sporting events, or taking in a show at renown theaters, or high culture at the many museums, galleries and venues. I vehemently hate the traffic congestion but I can't see myself moving back to a small town.
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Post by sleepydumpling »

Well Brisbane can't by any stretch of the imagination be called a big city. It is a city, but it's more like a giant country town. I like it, because everything is at my finger tips, especially as I don't drive. But I do also like that everyone is kind of connected to each other here, which you wouldn't get in a real big city.

The biggest city I've ever been to is Sydney. I didn't like it at all as far as actually staying there was concerned. Nice to visit, but ugh, I couldn't live there. Too anonymous, too crowded, too pushy.

I grew up in country towns, and while I kind of like the peace and the fact that you know so many people there, I HATED some of the narrowminded people, the isolation and the fact that you had to drive forever to get any decent goods or services.
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Rebeca Darklight
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Post by Rebeca Darklight »

I like both. I grew up in a small city where everybody knew each other, very secure and comfy. Now I live in a big city (Monterrey) that has lots of things that my hometown doesn't (or didn't) have (it has grown a lot in the last 10 years) and I like that about here. I like to drive a lot, so I like the fast highways here and get a kick when the townies drive like crazy (it's one of the city's characteristics), it's fun to watch. Man, if I could, I would applaud them every time I see them their risk their lives and the lives of the ones surrounding them (stupid people indeed :roll: ) while doing their complicated stunts with their big cars (lots of Mercedes, lots of BMWs), but doing that while driving can't be safe, hahaha, so I just stare in awe and disbelief (because most of the time nobody gets hurt, thank you for small miracles). And Starbucks, Satan's plan B to take over the world, just put another one of their sinful places near my house. Oh how much I love you Starbucks! You must be really evil deep inside if I love you this much! How many places here in just a year? 10? 12? Starbucks, I love you. *insert "heart" smilie here* Now, if you want to be really bad, put one of yours in the big avenue near my house. That would be really special.

The only thing I don't like now is the drug related killings in this city. 10 years ago it was very quiet and peaceful for a big city (the people is very nice, even if they drive like if they were on very heavy and groovy drugs), but 3 years ago apparently the drug cartels started a war for controlling the bizz and this year there have been almost daily executions in broad daylight (here's the thing: since the city was so cool, they decided to live here and have their business somewhere else, in those typical cities that are mentioned in every movie that deals with the Mexican cartels. They brought their fight here now). They are killing each other, not innocent people, but it's not nice to watch it or hear about it, especially since I have been to all the places the last killings took place (restaurants for the most part), and sooner or later, innocents will get killed in the crossfire. I bet you have heard about it in the news. My country was very peaceful when it came to drug related violence, what's going on??? Darn drug wars!!!


Dear drug lords:

Why can't you leave the dead bodies of your enemies inside the trunks of abandoned cars outside the city like you did 3 years ago? Every now and then, a couple of dead people per month, that's was kind of ok. That added to the mystery and made you look kind of professional when it came to your silly little vendettas. What's the point of showing off in public places now? Who do you think you are? You are no Corleone family, you are tacky. I hope justice gets you soon!

Yours,

R.


Thankfully the police presence has grown as well and they are fighting back. I even admire policemen now, something I didn't do before (although I did like them because in this city they were always nice to me). They are working really hard. Poor guys. They and their families will be in my prayers.
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Post by awelker »

i love the letter to the drug cartels.

me i like both. i love the little town feeling, everyone knows everyone. but i also like going to the city. I mean there are a lot of things that a large city can offer you that a little town couldn't for the most part. i don't think that i could ever live in a large city although it might happen one day. but for right now i like it in my little town on the river/lake.
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Post by Scott »

That's a shame about the drug wars. It could be avoided if drugs were legal. Illegalization hasn't reduced the number of people taking drugs, and now violent gangbangers and mafias get all the money out of the multi-billion-dollar industry. I'm no fan of CVS, but I'd rather have the pharmacy down the street selling drugs and making money than gun-bearing street thugs.

The Camel guy never shoots at the Marlboro guy at the cigarette counter.
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Post by awelker »

Scott Hughes wrote:That's a shame about the drug wars. It could be avoided if drugs were legal. Illegalization hasn't reduced the number of people taking drugs, and now violent gangbangers and mafias get all the money out of the multi-billion-dollar industry. I'm no fan of CVS, but I'd rather have the pharmacy down the street selling drugs and making money than gun-bearing street thugs.

The Camel guy never shoots at the Marlboro guy at the cigarette counter.
I agree. If they just legalized it there might not be this much violence in the world.
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Post by knightss »

I wrote a paper on the drug cartels in Mexico a while back.. it's a terrible shame really. Innocent people in new 'drug' regions are being killed for no reason. You hear about people being shot because of drugs in the U.S. all time but some of the fighting between cartels in Mexico can reach war like status. There are also a lot of corrupt officials (although Rebeca said she looks up to the police so maybe things are getting better?). I guess you can compare the cartels to gangs but on a more intense level. The cartels are trying to gain regions that will help them distribute throughout Mexico and also regions where they can easily distribute drugs across the border to the U.S. buyers who have the money and time to consume. Anyway, i feel bad that you have to be around that Rebeca, i hope things start to change.
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Post by Rowan »

I grew up in a smallish town. I love going to big cities and coming home to kids waving at me while I am driving down the street. Big cities are great to visit. I am not sure I could live in one.
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Post by Rebeca Darklight »

Scott Hughes wrote:That's a shame about the drug wars. It could be avoided if drugs were legal. Illegalization hasn't reduced the number of people taking drugs, and now violent gangbangers and mafias get all the money out of the multi-billion-dollar industry. I'm no fan of CVS, but I'd rather have the pharmacy down the street selling drugs and making money than gun-bearing street thugs.

The Camel guy never shoots at the Marlboro guy at the cigarette counter.
knightss wrote:I wrote a paper on the drug cartels in Mexico a while back.. it's a terrible shame really. Innocent people in new 'drug' regions are being killed for no reason. You hear about people being shot because of drugs in the U.S. all time but some of the fighting between cartels in Mexico can reach war like status. There are also a lot of corrupt officials (although Rebeca said she looks up to the police so maybe things are getting better?). I guess you can compare the cartels to gangs but on a more intense level. The cartels are trying to gain regions that will help them distribute throughout Mexico and also regions where they can easily distribute drugs across the border to the U.S. buyers who have the money and time to consume. Anyway, i feel bad that you have to be around that Rebeca, i hope things start to change.
I?m sorry I didn?t reply earlier, you are both very kind.

I totally agree with you Scott, I think that countries should really think about legalizing drugs, especially because all that drugs bring with them, the violence, the killings... They are never going to control the cartels now.

Thanks for your good wishes knightss! The thing is that this violence is new to the country. I was used to read it happening somewhere else in the world. Violence, guns and drugs are not common to us, not here, Monterrey, one of the biggest cities in the country, not in my hometown. Guns are not easy to find or get here; there are not stores like in other countries, and most of them come from the outside. There always has been violence in M?xico City, but the kind you see in other big cities, the problem is that M?xico City is one of the biggest in the world and the problem wasn?t controlled in time, so said problem is as big as the city. Also people tend to think that if something happens in a little town in one country that of course is happening in the rest of it, and that?s not true, but thinking that is just human nature.

So that?s the thing, what is happening now is new, and for us is terrible and sad and we want it to stop as fast as it started. We want our quiet lives back and the drug cartels out of the country, or at least to be discrete like before, because as long as they have clients, their business will never end and they will never disappear. If the actual lords are caught, new ones will be born in the moment if they still have something to work for. Something has to be done about the demand; that will kill the business.

The Police departments around the country have cleaned their houses intensely for some time now. The new policemen are fit and highly trained. They have also steadily improved their tactics and forensics team and the new government gave them a lot of support, morally and economically speaking.

The current politicians in charge seem to really want to make a difference and fight back, the new president seems to know what he is doing (that?s so refreshing!). That?s part of the problem, since now the authorities are doing something the drug lords don?t like it and that?s why the violence escalated too. It was bound to happen. Authorities are fighting back and they will suffer for it.

It wasn?t like that here. M?xico was quiet. Monterrey was a great city to live in, and still is, but even if it doesn?t affect you directly, you still feel its pollution. The drug cartels weren?t so powerful but they weren?t controlled in time and now they have become unstoppable. That happens when the people in charge are in denial. A government in denial is the worst thing that can happen to a country.

I really hope the countries involved would try to work together instead of playing the blame game. This is affecting everyone and everyone should do something about it. But again, human nature, people always think less of other people and refuse to work together. I hope that changes soon.
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Post by Dori »

I prefer small towns. I went to NYC (6 hours away from where I live) with a club that I'm in and I didn't like it at all. The only thing I enjoyed (and wished were more prominent in smaller towns) were the museums, such as the Met.

I live in the country next to a bunch of farms and such which is nice.
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Post by Rowan »

I am about to interview in a town that is 1/4th the size of my hometown. I think I can hear the corn growing folks. Yep.
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Post by Linda »

[quote="Dori"]I prefer small towns. I went to NYC (6 hours away from where I live) with a club that I'm in and I didn't like it at all. The only thing I enjoyed (and wished were more prominent in smaller towns) were the museums, such as the Met.
/quote]

really? i love NYC, just walking around is so cool to me.

I forgot im supposed to go to central park and look at the duck pond! lol it's definetly not how it is portrayed in movies but i still wanna live in an apartment someday probably downtown, it'll probably be the smallest living space ever and it'll be way overpriced but still NY city appeals to me.
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Post by Dori »

Linda wrote:
Dori wrote:I prefer small towns. I went to NYC (6 hours away from where I live) with a club that I'm in and I didn't like it at all. The only thing I enjoyed (and wished were more prominent in smaller towns) were the museums, such as the Met.
really? i love NYC, just walking around is so cool to me.

I forgot im supposed to go to central park and look at the duck pond! lol it's definetly not how it is portrayed in movies but i still wanna live in an apartment someday probably downtown, it'll probably be the smallest living space ever and it'll be way overpriced but still NY city appeals to me.
I'm not a modern person to say the least. I prefer getting lost in ancient monuments than in the streets of NYC :wink:
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Post by awelker »

my problem is that i like both. i like the convenience of the big city but i love the small town charm and closeness.
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