NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi all!
Wow, I was really surprised how many replies I got to my first poll;and from that poll I've gotten an idea.
What do you prefer; city or country?
I have to live in the city because I depend on public transpertation to get around.

I'd prefer the country, and screw the part about getting around. A cottage in the rolling hills will suit me fine for the rest of my days.

Though my parents are both London-born, I can't stand cities. I avoid them wherever possible, only heading to London for funerals.

I'd prefer the country, and screw the part about getting around. A cottage in the rolling hills will suit me fine for the rest of my days.
Your kidding me.

I would prefer the city, simply because it has more things to do.

I prefer the city because stuff actually happens there. And I just cant stand the countryside.

Cities, definitely. I've had the misfortune of living out in the middle of nowhere before.

I'd rather live by a steel mill running at full production in a rather large population center than a house surrounded by hills and trees. The thought of only having a few people around is depressing.

Your kidding me.
You say that as if the very idea of preferring the country is ridiculous?

The country, more specifically the mountains.

Cities are foul. They're filthy, grey, smoky and noisy. Gimme somewhere green. It doesn't have to be the middle of nowhere, a small town will do.

Countryside anytime, i grew up in Wiltshire and was surrounded by countryside and loved it because if you were bored you could go for a walk whereas, when i moved to the town i live now i hated it and still do.

I prefer the city because stuff actually happens there. And I just cant stand the countryside.

Stuff happens in the countryside, you know. You may have to look for it though because Nature doesn't have a lot of neon.

city...or atleast suburb type thing...

I need people around, but I do miss seeing the stars at night.

You say that as if the very idea of preferring the country is ridiculous?

Yes. nobody would want to live in the middle of nowhere. nothing ever happens there and there is nowhere to go.

Cities are foul. They're filthy, grey, smoky and noisy. Gimme somewhere green. It doesn't have to be the middle of nowhere, a small town will do.

Visit San Francisco, and tell me it's filthy, grey, smoky, and noisy (it might be a bit noisy downtown, but that's it).

The city. I like the country for a week on vacation now and then, but I feel locked in there soon enough... you are completely dependant on cars for the smalles things (I don't even have a driver's licence), there's nothing to do at all, only things to look at, nowhere to go... no, give me the city anytime.

I'd prefer the country, and screw the part about getting around. A cottage in the rolling hills will suit me fine for the rest of my days.

Definitly,especially in the Scotish Highlands,beautiful countryside there.

Yes. nobody would want to live in the middle of nowhere. nothing ever happens there and there is nowhere to go.

There's really everywhere to go, actually. If it's that hard for you to handle peace and quiet, bring an mp3 player or a gameboy.

Cities are foul. They're filthy, grey, smoky and noisy. Gimme somewhere green. It doesn't have to be the middle of nowhere, a small town will do.
Visit Warsaw and tell me its fith, gray, and smoky. Oh yea, its not. It may be noisy though, but its easy to get used to that.

I have lived in both, I prefer the country, there really is something to be said about being 2 or 3 miles away from anyone in either direction. Right now I live in the inner-city and my house is about 6 feet from my neighbors, it's terrible. At least in the country if you have idiot neighbors you only see them on Saturdays at the grocery store.

Yes. nobody would want to live in the middle of nowhere. nothing ever happens there and there is nowhere to go.

Well 46.15% of the people who have voted so far would prefer the countryside. That isn't nobody, that is 46.15% of the respondants.

Edit: Make that 53.33%;)

I prefer the country, by far. Probably going to go to London or Sheffield for University. That'll be fun, given my vitriolic hate of the urban.:rolleyes:

Countryside every single time. I prefer the mountains, especially Wales and Scotland, although since I live in Wales I spend more time there.

I have lived in both, I prefer the country, there really is something to be said about being 2 or 3 miles away from anyone in either direction. Right now I live in the inner-city and my house is about 6 feet from my neighbors, it's terrible. At least in the country if you have idiot neighbors you only see them on Saturdays at the grocery store.

I share a wall with my neighbours, and see them maybe once a month. If at all.

Country is better. You can go hunting and fishing , enjoy clean air, low crime rate, it's nice and peaceful there, so by far I would choose the country.

I prefer cities. Whether they're small (towns with 35K+ pop.) or major cities like NYC with 8-12 million people. Right now I live in a suburb just 50 miles outside of NYC and I really wish I lived in NYC because it's more of an environment I'd enjoy.

Yes. nobody would want to live in the middle of nowhere. nothing ever happens there and there is nowhere to go.
There is everywhere to go. In cities the only way to go is out.

Country is better. You can go hunting and fishing , enjoy clean air, low crime rate, it's nice and peaceful there, so by far I would choose the country.
Seconded.

Country is better. You can go hunting and fishing , enjoy clean air, low crime rate, it's nice and peaceful there, so by far I would choose the country.

You can do all of those things in Vancouver, and so much more.

There is everywhere to go. In cities the only way to go is out.
liar.

There is everywhere to go. In cities the only way to go is out.

If you don't have a car, there's nowhere at all to go.

I prefer cities. Whether they're small (towns with 35K+ pop.) or major cities like NYC with 8-12 million people.
You call 35,000 people a small town?! Good grief!

The city. Especially Belfast. Love living here.

Although, being no more than a 10 minute drive from the country no matter where you are does help.

Or living in the last road within the city boundary (so a 2 second walk from the nearest field), but still having a regular bus service also is good.

Tokyo would be perfect for me, really. 33,000,000+ people, it has fucking everything, and it's very, very large in square mileage. It's also really clean.

If you don't have a car, there's nowhere at all to go.
Thats right.

I share a wall with my neighbours, and see them maybe once a month. If at all.
ah, but my neighbors are idiots, loud idiots, loud drunk fighting idiots. The cops are here at least twice a week to pick one of them up, thier dog gets in my back yard, thier kids come to my house looking for first aid, they don't have a phone so whenever they need to call 911 they come over here, I wish I could build a big electric fence to keep them off my property, did I mention that if I don't get my paper out of the yard before 7am they steal it?

I hate my neighbors...

at least I only have a few more months of saving up before I can go look for a new house. I am going to buy one far far away from here, on at least 5 acres.

If you don't have a car, there's nowhere at all to go.
Get a bicycle then.

You can do all of those things in Vancouver, and so much more.

I've been there once, it's a nice place, you are right.

Tokyo would be perfect for me, really. 33,000,000+ people, it has fucking everything, and it's very, very large in square mileage. It's also really clean.
Someone who hates cities because they think all cities are very dirty should hear that.

If you don't have a car, there's nowhere at all to go.

In the country you have everywhere to go. A car will only limit you to the roads. On foot you can explore every prt of what the country can offer.

I share a wall with my neighbours, and see them maybe once a month. If at all.
hell, I share a bathroom with my floormates, and I still have never seen some of them, and its been what...6 months?

But I do hear my neighbor and his girlfriend. at 4 AM. :mad:

If you don't have a car, there's nowhere at all to go.
I don't have a car. I walk most places, and most of Southern England is within 10 kilometers of a bus stop or train station.

ah, but my neighbors are idiots, loud idiots, loud drunk fighting idiots. The cops are here at least twice a week to pick one of them up, thier dog gets in my back yard, thier kids come to my house looking for first aid, they don't have a phone so whenever they need to call 911 they come over here, I wish I could build a big electric fence to keep them off my property, did I mention that if I don't get my paper out of the yard before 7am they steal it?

I hate my neighbors...

at least I only have a few more months of saving up before I can go look for a new house. I am going to buy one far far away from here, on at least 5 acres.

Oh, we used to have that when we were living in an apartment block back in Germany.
Actually, both my mum and I agreed that it was always 1st rate entertainemend when the cops came to one of our neighbours. The things you got to hear... it was fun.

In the country you have everywhere to go. A car will only limit you to the roads. On foot you can explore every prt of what the country can offer.
Exactly! Just grab a bergan and see how far you can go before you have to come back.

You call 35,000 people a small town?! Good grief!When the town next to yours has 450,000 people, then yes... 35,000 is small.

In the country you have everywhere to go. A car will only limit you to the roads. On foot you can explore every prt of what the country can offer.
yeah, but there are only so many times you can drive the same roads, and hiking at night is a bad idea usually. And kinda boring. And gas is expensive.

I do miss driving tho

I don't have a car. I walk most places, and most of Southern England is within 10 kilometers of a bus stop or train station.

10 km to carry home groceries? Sounds like a dream indeed :p

Yes. nobody would want to live in the middle of nowhere. nothing ever happens there and there is nowhere to go.
why would you need to go anywhere anyway?

you know what they say "if you are bored then you are boring."

I used to spend summers on a relatives farm, they didn't live in a "city" in fact they didn't have an address, they had to get thier mail in a PO Box at the nearest town with a post office which had a population of 90. It was great. We would head to the town once every 2 weeks for groceries, and the rest of the time hang out on the farm, pretty much when you got done working you were too tired to want to do much else anyway. ;)

Get a bicycle then.
With todays high car ownership rates, it would be suicide there considering that very often in the countrysidet he only street is a major road.

In the country you have everywhere to go. A car will only limit you to the roads. On foot you can explore every prt of what the country can offer.

I somehow doubt it has a lot of libraries to offer, or cinemas, or theaters, or opera houses, or museums. Am I right?
If it does, I must have been to the wrong parts of the country before...

I somehow doubt it has a lot of libraries to offer, or cinemas, or theaters, or opera houses, or museums. Am I right?
If it does, I must have been to the wrong parts of the country before...

But you don't see the stars and the sunsets quite right in the city.

10 km to carry home groceries? Sounds like a dream indeed :p
When I was 10 I walked 16km for charity, without so much as a blister. I'm older and taller now, and if I had the time I wouldn't mind stuffing a backpack full or provisions and seeing how far I could go.

Get a bicycle then.

Cycling through the Irish rain, bags of groceries dangling from the handlebar, on Irish roads... it's not only unpleasant, it's downright dangerous.

But you don't see the stars and the sunsets quite right in the city.

Why would I want to?

With todays high car ownership rates, it would be suicide there considering that very often in the countrysidet he only street is a major road.
Round here at least village and town centres are often only open to buses, predestrians and cyclists. Cars have to take the bypass, or park at the edge if they want to stop.

Well I'm glad you city people like the cities, actually. It gives me more room to enjoy the nice clean countryside.

When I was 10 I walked 16km for charity, without so much as a blister. I'm older and taller now, and if I had the time I wouldn't mind stuffing a backpack full or provisions and seeing how far I could go.

Somehow, I can imagine more pleasant things to spend my hard-earned weekend on...

I grew up in the country and all I wanted to do was get out of there (country being the closest bus stop was 5 miles away and only past by twice a day). Once I got out of there at 16yrs old, all I've wanted to do is get back to the country side. It's been 10yrs since I've been trying to get back and still not got there....oh hum.
The nearest village had a population of 500. Everyone knew everyone's business so the gossip was great! We had a butchers, a pub and a post office - that's all u needed!
Although either u needed to be rich enough u didn't need a job, or u could work from home, or u didn't work at all, but the internet opens so many doors these days, we were the first to get internet in our area, everyone thought we were well weird!

But you don't see the stars and the sunsets quite right in the city.

Who freaking cares?

I'd select the third option if there was one: suburbs.

Cities are often noisy, filthy, and estranging with public places full of homeless people and other nutcases. Countryside is peaceful, but peace is the death of the soul. There are people in cities, which makes them interesting. Suburbs combine the benefits.

Why would I want to?
Some people find nature more attractive then tens of square kilometres of concrete and decaying buildings.

Why would I want to?

Because it's beautiful? Relaxing? Inspiring? Romantic? Cheaper than movie tickets and soggy popcorn?

ah, but my neighbors are idiots, loud idiots, loud drunk fighting idiots. The cops are here at least twice a week to pick one of them up, thier dog gets in my back yard, thier kids come to my house looking for first aid, they don't have a phone so whenever they need to call 911 they come over here, I wish I could build a big electric fence to keep them off my property, did I mention that if I don't get my paper out of the yard before 7am they steal it?

That's because you're in the fucking Bible Belt. Move outta that shithole already.

Who freaking cares?

Well I hate to state the obvious but apprently Megaloria does, otherwise they wouldn't have mentioned it.:rolleyes:

I'd select the third option if there was one: suburbs.

Cities are often noisy, filthy, and estranging with public places full of homeless people and other nutcases.
Not all. warsaw definately is clean.

Because it's beautiful? Relaxing? Inspiring? Romantic? Cheaper than movie tickets and soggy popcorn?

Many things are beautiful, city scapes among them. Even as a painter, I never ever found a sunset or stars very inspiring. Romantic things tend to bore me. And I currently pay 17 Euros a month to see as many movies as I like, so that really won't send me to the poor house. Plus, I like stories, not settings.
No popcorn, thanks.

Well I hate to state the obvious but apprently Megaloria does, otherwise they wouldn't have mentioned it.:rolleyes:
But nobody else does.

Not all. warsaw definately is clean.
Unfortunately most of the posters here haven't experienced the clean Eastern European cities, and instead are just familiar with the high-rise slums of Western Europe or America.

Some people find nature more attractive then tens of square kilometres of concrete and decaying buildings.

Decaying buildings have something very inspiring indeed about them... places that can tell a story. Oddly illuminated by streetlights and neon, slightly eerie, places of utter quiet among the general noise and buzz...

But nobody else does.

Poll looks pretty even, fella.

But nobody else does.
Well I do, hence my post earlier. Why do you find it so hard to believe that some people prefer stars and sunsets to neon lights? I wouldn't expect a Firefox user to be so closed-minded.

Unfortunately most of the posters here haven't experienced the clean Eastern European cities, and instead are just familiar with the high-rise slums of Western Europe or America.

And yet, I would prefer even those to the country life any day.

I'd love to go to the countryside for the summer but it's not a place I'd like to live, mainly because of transportation and the lack of activity.

Some people find nature more attractive then tens of square kilometres of concrete and decaying buildings.
If you want nature whats wrong with just going to the park?

Decaying buildings have something very inspiring indeed about them... places that can tell a story. Oddly illuminated by streetlights and neon, slightly eerie, places of utter quiet among the general noise and buzz...

I understand the appeal of stories in cities, but we have them in the countryside too. Caves, mountaintops, plateaus...they're right there with your broken down buildings and backalleys for mystery potential.

Decaying buildings have something very inspiring indeed about them... places that can tell a story. Oddly illuminated by streetlights and neon, slightly eerie, places of utter quiet among the general noise and buzz...
Oh, don't get get me wrong - I love the occassional abandoned theatre or (more likely in the countryside) decaying church or barn. What I hate is the delapidated council houses and high-rises that plague British cities.

If you want nature whats wrong with just going to the park?

The sound of traffic, maybe. Or the loud music people bring along for picnics.

Well I do, hence my post earlier. Why do you find it so hard to believe that some people prefer stars and sunsets to neon lights? I wouldn't expect a Firefox user to be so closed-minded.
Theres more to the city then just neon lights

The sound of traffic, maybe. Or the loud music people bring along for picnics.
Go to warsaw

If you want nature whats wrong with just going to the park?
Covering a couple of hectares with grass and putting a lake in the middle is not nature. It's a pale immitation of the countryside whose existence shows awareness of something lacking in the lives of many city-dwellers.

I understand the appeal of stories in cities, but we have them in the countryside too. Caves, mountaintops, plateaus...they're right there with your broken down buildings and backalleys for mystery potential.

No human angle.
Caves and mountains an plateaus only tell the story of geography, flora and fauna (in most cases. Unless you're talking about a celtic ritual site or an Idian cemetary... ). I don't relate to that too well.
I'm interested in humanity, from all sides and all angles. I'm interested in culture, I'm a story addict (hence the library and the cinema). Sure, nature has breathtaking sceneries, but when you come down to it, they're little more than fantastic backgrounds with nothing much going on in the foreground. Like a movie with too many special effects, but no story. It's nice to see once, but it's rather boring to see it again.

No human angle.
Caves and mountains an plateaus only tell the story of geography, flora and fauna (in most cases. Unless you're talking about a celtic ritual site or an Idian cemetary... ). I don't relate to that too well.
I'm interested in humanity, from all sides and all angles. I'm interested in culture, I'm a story addict (hence the library and the cinema). Sure, nature has breathtaking sceneries, but when you come down to it, they're little more than fantastic backgrounds with nothing much going on in the foreground. Like a movie with too many special effects, but no story. It's nice to see once, but it's rather boring to see it again.

I feel the same way. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the inherent hollowness of nature.

With todays high car ownership rates, it would be suicide there considering that very often in the countrysidet he only street is a major road.

Hahahahaha.........I'm sorry, but that has to be the dumbest use of logic I have seen in awhile.:rolleyes:

No human angle.
Caves and mountains an plateaus only tell the story of geography, flora and fauna (in most cases. Unless you're talking about a celtic ritual site or an Idian cemetary... ). I don't relate to that too well.
I'm interested in humanity, from all sides and all angles. I'm interested in culture, I'm a story addict (hence the library and the cinema). Sure, nature has breathtaking sceneries, but when you come down to it, they're little more than fantastic backgrounds with nothing much going on in the foreground. Like a movie with too many special effects, but no story. It's nice to see once, but it's rather boring to see it again.
I agree

Oh, don't get get me wrong - I love the occassional abandoned theatre or (more likely in the countryside) decaying church or barn. What I hate is the delapidated council houses and high-rises that plague British cities.

Ok, now you do start to come across a little clicheed, sorry to say that.

Those delapidated council houses and high-rises are just what I was talking about. Temporary, ugly from the start, commonplace, dirty, run-down and yet closely connected to the everyday life of a great number of people, scenes of crimes, scenes of love, scenes of despair, scenes of life; surreal in their ugliness, but more real than that picturesque church or barn ever have been.

No human angle.
Caves and mountains an plateaus only tell the story of geography, flora and fauna (in most cases. Unless you're talking about a celtic ritual site or an Idian cemetary... ). I don't relate to that too well.
I'm interested in humanity, from all sides and all angles. I'm interested in culture, I'm a story addict (hence the library and the cinema). Sure, nature has breathtaking sceneries, but when you come down to it, they're little more than fantastic backgrounds with nothing much going on in the foreground. Like a movie with too many special effects, but no story. It's nice to see once, but it's rather boring to see it again.

Ah, but there are people in these places. people like me who like them so much.

Ok, now you do start to come across a little clicheed, sorry to say that.

Those delapidated council houses and high-rises are just what I was talking about. Temporary, ugly from the start, commonplace, dirty, run-down and yet closely connected to the everyday life of a great number of people, scenes of crimes, scenes of love, scenes of despair, scenes of life; surreal in their ugliness, but more real than that picturesque church or barn ever have been.
Once again, I agree.

The country tends to lack in bars, interesting people, concerts, educational facilities, and anything superfluous but fun. I like the city because we tend to actually want more than self-sufficiency.

Ok, now you do start to come across a little clicheed, sorry to say that.

Those delapidated council houses and high-rises are just what I was talking about. Temporary, ugly from the start, commonplace, dirty, run-down and yet closely connected to the everyday life of a great number of people, scenes of crimes, scenes of love, scenes of despair, scenes of life; surreal in their ugliness, but more real than that picturesque church or barn ever have been.

Tell me... Do you also like decaying, abandoned steel mills? I find those very interesting.

Ah, but there are people in these places. people like me who like them so much.

But they are few and far between. You have to go a very long way indeed to find the next intersting story, whereas in the city, it's sometimes quite enough to have thin walls.

I grew up in a very small town in Germany (70 000 inhabitants), and one thing I hated there among other things was that you couldn't choose the people to spend time with. There was only a limited number of people who would be "on your level" regarding interests, lifestyle, opinions etc., and they would all know each other. You couldn't do anything without the rest of them knowing about it. Sometimes it felt like Big Brother...
Bigger city, more choices.

Interesting, my "City" vote made the score 24 to 23 for City (at the moment) I think I like the city because I have always lived in the city. However, I would not be opposed to life in the country. Good topic...

I feel the same way. I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the inherent hollowness of nature.

Only before they are renovated to become high-priced apartment blocks ... they attain some sort of shallow poshness afterwards.
I like them graffitti-covered, their gates glued shut with several layers of posters, the windows smashed, old, rusty beer cans inside, cigarette butts, and maybe even an abandonned sleeping bag in one corner...

Ok, now you do start to come across a little clicheed, sorry to say that.

Those delapidated council houses and high-rises are just what I was talking about. Temporary, ugly from the start, commonplace, dirty, run-down and yet closely connected to the everyday life of a great number of people, scenes of crimes, scenes of love, scenes of despair, scenes of life; surreal in their ugliness, but more real than that picturesque church or barn ever have been.
I think that says it all better than I ever could. Lower East Side of manhattan, North End of Boston...my two favorite urban neighborhoods. they're the immigrant neighborhoods. Tiny tenaments, laundy lines hung from one building to the next, cramped, twisted streets, kids playing in the fire hydrant spray. The tears that seep from the woodwork from those who just can't take their 15 housemates anymore, the laughs of the children who find plenty of joy playing in a back alley, the promise of their future. Sure, it's "just" broken down buildings noone cares enough about to invest in and make pretty...but damn if there isn't a great story behind every one of them.

Only before they are renovated to become high-priced apartment blocks ... they attain some sort of shallow poshness afterwards.
I like them graffitti-covered, their gates glued shut with several layers of posters, the windows smashed, old, rusty beer cans inside, cigarette butts, and maybe even an abandonned sleeping bag in one corner...

Same here. Though when the time comes to renovate the buildings (when they really do get bad enough), I say actually renovate them, rather than tear them down.

Tearing down an old building and putting up a sleek, new one really takes the life away from a city block. That sort of thing happens all too often in America, and a lot of the big cities here feel really hollow.

Same here. Though when the time comes to renovate the buildings (when they really do get bad enough), I say actually renovate them, rather than tear them down.

Tearing down an old building and putting up a sleek, new one really takes the life away from a city block. That sort of thing happens all too often in America, and a lot of the big cities here feel really hollow.

But the tradeoff is sort of necessary, to keep people from falling through rotted-out floors or gangs overtaking them. I think cities can be beautiful too, but I can't say I'm opposed to their modernisation. Once in a while I get really industrial and head out to take in the refinery.

Same here. Though when the time comes to renovate the buildings (when they really do get bad enough), I say actually renovate them, rather than tear them down.

Tearing down an old building and putting up a sleek, new one really takes the life away from a city block. That sort of thing happens all too often in America, and a lot of the big cities here feel really hollow.
my dream is to one day own a true loft apartment...exposed brick, wood floors that are banged up from the old machinery, the elevator that you are never really sure if it will make it...those just feel alive in a weird way.

Visit San Francisco, and tell me it's filthy, grey, smoky, and noisy (it might be a bit noisy downtown, but that's it).

Bet it doesn't have any forests though.

Same here. Though when the time comes to renovate the buildings (when they really do get bad enough), I say actually renovate them, rather than tear them down.

Tearing down an old building and putting up a sleek, new one really takes the life away from a city block. That sort of thing happens all too often in America, and a lot of the big cities here feel really hollow.

True. The European way is to renovate them and normally the entire area with them. They invaribly turn out absolutely gorgeous and great places to live, but they only have enough character left to fit on a postcard. Very much like the delapidated chruch and barn mentioned earlier.

Bet it doesn't have any forests though.
you say that like it is inherently bad.

Bet it doesn't have any forests though.
That does not mean anything.

Bet it doesn't have any forests though.

Forests have ticks.... *shudders

True. The European way is to renovate them and normally the entire area with them. They invaribly turn out absolutely gorgeous and great places to live, but they only have enough character left to fit on a postcard. Very much like the delapidated chruch and barn mentioned earlier.

True, but if they aren't renovated, they soon become extremely dangerous. It eventually does become necessary to renovate, though not to the extent most contractors do.

you say that like it is inherently bad.

It is bad for me. I like forests.


That does not mean anything.

No. "sdjkfhskdjhfkjdshf" doesn't mean anything. What I said has a very clear meaning.

What do you prefer; city or country?
Given the option, I much prefer the country. If I had my way ( and the fracking money! ) I would buy a thousand acres, plop a compound down in the middle of it, make it as self-sufficient as humanly possible, arm myself to the teeth, and never leave! Mwahahaha!

"Eutrusca the Hermit!" :D

No. "sdjkfhskdjhfkjdshf" doesn't mean anything. What I said has a very clear meaning.
I meant that the nack of forests does not change much about a place, bsides, forests have ticks.

It is bad for me. I like forests.



No. "sdjkfhskdjhfkjdshf" doesn't mean anything. What I said has a very clear meaning.

There are forests all around San Francisco. What the hell are you talking about?

It is bad for me. I like forests.



No. "sdjkfhskdjhfkjdshf" doesn't mean anything. What I said has a very clear meaning.
so? I want forest, I hop on the T or rent a car and hit the countryside for the day. Don't get me wrong, I grew up suburbs/country. I still enjoy all that stuff, but damned if cities don't have their perks.

Given the option, I much prefer the country. If I had my way ( and the fracking money! ) I would buy a thousand acres, plop a compound down in the middle of it, make it as self-sufficient as humanly possible, arm myself to the teeth, and never leave! Mwahahaha!

"Eutrusca the Hermit!" :D
Your kidding.

I meant that the nack of forests does not change much about a place, bsides, forests have ticks.

And cities have rats. We could play this game all day, but it would eventually escalate and the Ents would just knock over your tower.

And cities have rats. We could play this game all day, but it would eventually escalate and the Ents would just knock over your tower.

Nah, the millions of city dwellers would torch the hell out of the Ents. :D

Oh, and the country has field mice, massive spiders, snakes, and all those wonderful things.

And cities have rats. We could play this game all day, but it would eventually escalate and the Ents would just knock over your tower.
Not always. Go to Warsaw.

And cities have rats. We could play this game all day, but it would eventually escalate and the Ents would just knock over your tower.

*lol
When was the last time you were bitten by a rat? I had to have a tick removed only last summer, after my mum persuaded me to take a walk in the woods close to my home town. Nasty bloodsuckers, I hate them!
Oh, and as for the rats coming to my house : I've got a very nasty cat.

Not always. Go to Warsaw.

Sorry, but not even Warsaw is rat-free. Every city that has a sewage system has rats. But then again, so do most villages that have sewage systems...

I meant that the nack of forests does not change much about a place, bsides, forests have ticks.

It does change things about a place. And anyway, the original question was "which do you prefer?" NOT "which is inherently better?". Do you understand subjectivity?
I have never been attacked by ticks when I've been in the forest. Maybe I'm lucky, maybe they aren't many or any where I live.

There are forests all around San Francisco. What the hell are you talking about?

So then why wouldn't I just live around San Francisco instead of in it?

Also, why the hell would I know whether there are forests near it?

Actually Alberta is rat free, both in the cities and country.

Nah, the millions of city dwellers would torch the hell out of the Ents. :D

Oh, and the country has field mice, massive spiders, snakes, and all those wonderful things.

They wouldn't have the presence of mind to torch anything! All those people together means panic!

mice? harmless. Massive spiders? good for getting rid of flies. Snakes? mostly harmless and altogether neat! Wonderful things abound.

And cities have rats. We could play this game all day, but it would eventually escalate and the Ents would just knock over your tower.
any place that handles massive food service probably has both rats and roaches. They are restricted to cities.

So then why wouldn't I just live around San Francisco instead of in it?

Also, why the hell would I know whether there are forests near it?

1: Why not? There are nice satellite towns around the city. Plenty of hills, mountains, trees, and rivers.

2: I assumed you'd at least google it to find some pics, but I guess I was wrong.

They wouldn't have the presence of mind to torch anything! All those people together means panic!

mice? harmless. Massive spiders? good for getting rid of flies. Snakes? mostly harmless and altogether neat! Wonderful things abound.

1: Stupid people would panic. People who've seen LotR would gather the jerry cans, matches, and anything they could use as torches.

2: Mice... They carry diseases. Bad diseases. So do spiders, who love to live in your water wells. Wild snakes are evil bastards, especially the Copperheads in Texas countryside.

1: Why not? There are nice satellite towns around the city. Plenty of hills, mountains, trees, and rivers.

Does that count as city then? When I said "country" I didn't mean living in a tent in the middle of the wilderness...

2: I assumed you'd at least google it to find some pics, but I guess I was wrong.

Yes. I do a google search every time I reply to a post with a single sentence. That is, once I've finished looking through the set of encyclopaedias I bought especially for debating anonymously on the Internet.

2: Mice... They carry diseases. Bad diseases. <snip>

So do people, yet I don't see you running from the city.

So do people, yet I don't see you running from the city.

People in industrialised cities don't tend to carry distemper, rabies, and bubonic plague.

I grew up in a very small town in Germany (70 000 inhabitants)

I found that rather funny. I grew up in a very small town of 400 inhabitants.

Having lived in both, I have to say I'm a bit torn. I do love the peace and tranquility of the countryside. But I also like the range of things to do in the city. What I don't like about the city is the people. Having grown up in a rather sparsely populated area I don't like the huge crowds in cities. I've gotten used to it, but I'm still a bit uneasy at times.

I've always got this irrational, nagging feeling that someone is going to try and rob me or something. But that's probably because where I grew up we didn't lock our doors when we left, because there was no reason to. I know intellectually that most cities are relatively safe, but I still get that bad vibe. Although I get this vibe a lot less in European cities than I do in American ones, even though the only city I was ever mugged in was Marseilles, France.

1: Stupid people would panic. People who've seen LotR would gather the jerry cans, matches, and anything they could use as torches.

2: Mice... They carry diseases. Bad diseases. So do spiders, who love to live in your water wells. Wild snakes are evil bastards, especially the Copperheads in Texas countryside.

I don't think I'd live in the Texas countryside. I need some forests and hills and temperate climate, I think.

I don't think I'd live in the Texas countryside. I need some forests and hills and temperate climate, I think.

Yeah, all Texas is a desert with cacti and tumbleweeds. :rolleyes:

There are a lot of forests, rivers, hills, and plains in this state. And the climate is temperate in my general area, though it rarely snows (for snow, go to the panhandle).

Yeah, all Texas is a desert with cacti and tumbleweeds. :rolleyes:

There are a lot of forests, rivers, hills, and plains in this state. And the climate is temperate in my general area, though it rarely snows (for snow, go to the panhandle).

I didn't mean it like that, I probably should have elaborated. Being from Eastern Canada I've got a very...specific image of what I like, I guess. Also, there are other, less tangible reasons why I'd tend to avoid Texas anyway.

I didn't mean it like that, I probably should have elaborated. Being from Eastern Canada I've got a very...specific image of what I like, I guess. Also, there are other, less tangible reasons why I'd tend to avoid Texas anyway.
creepy catholic conservatives?

It's probably worth mentioning that living in the country in England doesn't mean really far from any civilisation. Consider:

The United Kingdom has a total area of approximately 245,000 km².
The United States of America has a total area of 9,629,091 km².

Really its just a matter of scenery unless you really do want to be far away from one or the other.

creepy catholic conservatives?

Baptist conservatives, actually. Ugh.

Baptist conservatives, actually. Ugh.

Them, and things like the crazy amount of executions, the gung-ho nationalism, and the Dallas Stars.

I like living in the city, but being in the country is also good. I'd have a hard time deciding if I was in a position to (right now at least because I'm probably going to have to decide by next year; which college to go to)...

Them, and things like the crazy amount of executions, the gung-ho nationalism, and the Dallas Stars.

Yeah, that's some nasty shit, really.

Though you hardly get any of that around Austin and most of Corpus Christi.

I somehow doubt it has a lot of libraries to offer, or cinemas, or theaters, or opera houses, or museums. Am I right?
If it does, I must have been to the wrong parts of the country before...
Well, I have lived in the city and now I live about 50 miles from a city. The library is 5 minutes away. You can interlibrary anything they don't have. The cinema is 15 minutes in either of two directions. I go to the city 5 times each summer for the live theater, been to the art museum three times in 16 years, can't stand opera anyway, Pro sports are an hour away.

In the mean time, I can urinate any time or place I choose. Complete freedom from prying eyes. I don't lock my doors or take the keys out of my car. I have car trouble and the first person that comes by stops and gives me aid. Everyone waves and smiles when you meet them. If you don't respond they will stop you and ask what the problem is and truly be concerned and truly offer aid if there is a problem. Restaurants have twice the food at half the price. (Never had a GOOD steak in a city restaurant yet.) Baby animals are outstandingly entertaining. The wild animals are facinating. I can see for three miles, it doesn't feel like jail in my own yard. No "neighborhood councils" telling me what I can and can't plant in my front yard, or if visitors can park their car overnight in my driveway, or what color I can paint my own house, or any of their other rules. I know every kid and most of the parents in my kids HS classes. My kids can go outside any time of the day or night and I have no worries about their safety. The children don't need to be taught about life and death and sex and where their food comes from. The nature of their existence is all around them. They know how to operate in both a city and country. City people don't have a clue about the country.

I grew up in the country but live now in the city. Unless you work in the trades or are an artist, it’s hard to get work in the country. I like being able to go to more than one store to shop for stuff. I like having a huge choice of restaurants and coffee shops. I can watch anything I want that’s playing at the movie theatre and there are many movie rental places, instead of renting movies at a gas station or the general store. I can go to whatever nightclub or bar I want, instead of going to the same old bar with the same old drunks every weekend. In the city, after you date a few women, you don’t suddenly exhaust the entire available supply. The entire city doesn’t watch everything you do and gossip about it.

On the other hand, I don’t like the criminal element in the city and the nasty impersonal nature that people have towards each other. Unless you’re perfectly suited for whatever good paying jobs are in the city you live in, you’re more than likely bound to be stuck in a McJob anyways. It’s sometimes nice to go places where you’re anonymous but if that’s all you do the city can get lonely, quick. I like to be a regular at the places I shop and prefer to know who I’m dealing with. Unless you’re tossing around enough money to earn fake retail smiles, it’s often hard to get that in the city. People in the city don’t own dogs; they own tiny dog replicas that aren’t worthy of the name. I get tired of the traffic and congestion. I don’t like the pollution. I don’t like the noise. I’m pretty torn between the two environments.

The Bruce

Your poll is too narrow. Frankly I have a hard time choosing one or the other.
I'm nostalgic for my time on the farm, but I love central urban living.

Unfortunately there is way too much of that ambigous netherworld called the suburbs in between the two. That's the only place I definately don't want to live.

Well, I have lived in the city and now I live about 50 miles from a city. The library is 5 minutes away. You can interlibrary anything they don't have. The cinema is 15 minutes in either of two directions. I go to the city 5 times each summer for the live theater, been to the art museum three times in 16 years, can't stand opera anyway, Pro sports are an hour away.

In the mean time, I can urinate any time or place I choose. Complete freedom from prying eyes. I don't lock my doors or take the keys out of my car. I have car trouble and the first person that comes by stops and gives me aid. Everyone waves and smiles when you meet them. If you don't respond they will stop you and ask what the problem is and truly be concerned and truly offer aid if there is a problem. Restaurants have twice the food at half the price. (Never had a GOOD steak in a city restaurant yet.) Baby animals are outstandingly entertaining. The wild animals are facinating. I can see for three miles, it doesn't feel like jail in my own yard. No "neighborhood councils" telling me what I can and can't plant in my front yard, or if visitors can park their car overnight in my driveway, or what color I can paint my own house, or any of their other rules. I know every kid and most of the parents in my kids HS classes. My kids can go outside any time of the day or night and I have no worries about their safety. The children don't need to be taught about life and death and sex and where their food comes from. The nature of their existence is all around them. They know how to operate in both a city and country. City people don't have a clue about the country.

I'm guessing the 5 minutes and 15 minutes are "by car"... I would simply hate to have to rely on an expensive, polluting commodity like that. I need to live somewhere where I can walk anywhere I need to go, or else have some good public transport system.

If steak is all you want, good for you. But I'm not very keen on that. I prefer to be able to get Sushi, Thai food, good curries, great Italian food, French cuisine and many more choices. Within walking distance.
I don't like people I hardly know taking interest in my personal affairs. I remember that well from growing up in my small hometown, and spending every summer in the even smaller village in Austria my father's from. No way to escape the constant gossip, no way to avoid the judgement of the community... I hated it. I felt constantly spied upon, constantly judged, every bit of information about what I was doing being observed and talked about in detail.... awful.
I don't have kids, nor do I want any, ever.
And I don't have any problems with any commitees, as I don't own the house, I'm renting.

I'm guessing the 5 minutes and 15 minutes are "by car"... I would simply hate to have to rely on an expensive, polluting commodity like that. I need to live somewhere where I can walk anywhere I need to go, or else have some good public transport system.

If steak is all you want, good for you. But I'm not very keen on that. I prefer to be able to get Sushi, Thai food, good curries, great Italian food, French cuisine and many more choices. Within walking distance.
I don't like people I hardly know taking interest in my personal affairs. I remember that well from growing up in my small hometown, and spending every summer in the even smaller village in Austria my father's from. No way to escape the constant gossip, no way to avoid the judgement of the community... I hated it. I felt constantly spied upon, constantly judged, every bit of information about what I was doing being observed and talked about in detail.... awful.
I don't have kids, nor do I want any, ever.
And I don't have any problems with any commitees, as I don't own the house, I'm renting.
damn...now I'm hungry.

that is the beauty of the city...I am less than a 30 second walk from mexican, thai, japanese, chinese, american, italian, cuban...extend it to a half hour walk or short T ride, and you can get anything...from some of the best Italian in the North End to a great Irish pub in Southie

And nothing will ever replace the sociological experiment that is public transportation.

Visit San Francisco, and tell me it's filthy, grey, smoky, and noisy (it might be a bit noisy downtown, but that's it).

That's because it is full of gays! Just kidding. I prefer cities.

Visit San Francisco, and tell me it's filthy, grey, smoky, and noisy (it might be a bit noisy downtown, but that's it).

Here here!

I prefer the city, though I like to go camping and go out to the mountains often.

San Diego is cool too.

Give me the city!

I moved from a major city to a tiny town on an island, and it's driving me crazy. I absolutely despise this place. The wildlife was nice to look at for about a month, and now it's just a bother, all the deer do is eat the plants in my yard, and the raptors and racoons eat the fish in my pond, and those fish were not cheap. The scenery is lush and green, but it never changes. And the oppressive quiet is the most unnerving part. The worst thing, though, is the small town teens. AAARRRRGH!! Never in any city I've ever lived in have I run into a bigger bunch of hooligans. Every single mailbox on my miles long street is either mangled, or been replaced by a brinks safe capable of resisting baseball bats. People here are just as rude as some you'll find in the city, but with the added bonus of resentmet directed at people who weren't born on the island. There's more, but I feel by blood pressure climbing, so I should stop now...

But, in a nutshell; I HATE the country, and I'm making plans to move back to the city as soon as I possibly can.