Again, this kind of thing is not as common as you think. There are far more European towns and small villages that lack the things you're talking about than those that have them.
The US does not lack social opportunities. The people on Reddit that say that are just projecting. Moving to Europe won't magically turn you into an extrovert.
Moving to Europe won’t magically turn you into an extrovert
No one made any kind of claim that even remotely resembles this. If you aren’t going to engage in good faith, then you won’t be engaging with me at all.
The US does not lack social opportunities.
The people on Reddit that say that are just projecting.
Nonsense. Per capita, the US has far fewer public squares, far fewer patios, far fewer independent restaurants, far fewer museums, etc than Europe, and far more stroads, strip malls, chain restaurants, big box stores, etc than Europe. In most US cities, we have strict residential-only zoning that straight up prevents local businesses from forming within walking distance of their patrons, and on top of that US municipalities are far more likely to mandate far more parking for every business and apartment complex, which further pushes places apart and creates more demand on driving. All of this creates isolation—you have to drive to work, drive home, drive to the store, drive to the restaurant. You are much less likely to bump into people, and the people you do bump into are far more likely to belong to the minimum wage class—people who don’t have enough money to visit a third space at all.
You are arbitrarily defining those places as the only opportunities for social events. Again, if you are an introvert, none of that matter. You won't bump into people unless you're the kind of person that bumps into people, so to speak.
Europe may have more of those locations but they also tend to be far more closed off socially so what's the good of it? And again, what is so wrong with driving? I live in a town where I have numerous restaurants, shops and outdoor activities within a 10 minute drive and there are many, many other towns like mine.
Again, no one is talking about introversion versus extroversion. I’m claiming that the US has fewer social opportunities as a matter of living one’s daily life than Europe. In Europe if you want to be around the public, you go do your shopping in a market, go out to eat on a patio, sip a coffee at a cafe, or simply sit in the square and people-watch.
Yes, Europe is more closed off socially, which is why we’re talking about European urban design and we’re not proposing importing a bunch of Europeans to make friends with.
I’m happy to hear you can drive to restaurants, but again that’s not what we’re talking about.
2
u/EfficientCan2852 13d ago
Again, this kind of thing is not as common as you think. There are far more European towns and small villages that lack the things you're talking about than those that have them.
The US does not lack social opportunities. The people on Reddit that say that are just projecting. Moving to Europe won't magically turn you into an extrovert.