An Anonymous Crowd

[sanctus]

Humanity is experiencing a new loneliness; it is not in the face of a hostile nature which it has taken centuries to subdue, but in an anonymous crowd which surrounds men and women and in which they feel themselves to be strangers. Urbanization, undoubtedly an irreversible stage in the development of human societies, confronts humanity with difficult problems. How are men and women to master its growth, regulate its organization, and successfully accomplish its animation for the good of all?

Pope Paul VI, 1971

 

[tanakar]

Humanity is experiencing a new loneliness; it is not in the face of a hostile nature which it has taken centuries to subdue, but in an anonymous crowd which surrounds men and women and in which they feel themselves to be strangers. Urbanization, undoubtedly an irreversible stage in the development of human societies, confronts humanity with difficult problems. How are men and women to master its growth, regulate its organization, and successfully accomplish its animation for the good of all?

Pope Paul VI, 1971

This is a pretty wise bit of observation..

 

[tamarin]

There are too many of us. And we've cleverly put together systems of law to make it difficult to diminish our numbers. Something in us longs for other days. Forest, stream, blue sky. Something primitive, simple and satisfying. The same territorial influences that direct all other creatures but lie suppressed in us are part of our personal havoc. We think we're different. We're not.

 

[AmberEyes]

Whenever I think of overcrowding I think of the recent movie "Crash." If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.. unless you cry easily, then maybe it's a bad idea. Basically it touches on the idea that because we're in such close proximity to each other in cities, we hide ourselves.. we don't say hello, we don't smile, we just hunch our shoulders and walk along the grey streets like everybody else.. and so we crash into one another, not just in the literal sense, but figuratively as well.. we force ourselves into trouble just to feel again.

I can't stand cities. I have such a fear of crowds.. I have to stay in the less populated areas just to stay calm.

 

[Sparrow]

I love a big city to visit and spend a few days but I am alway happy to get back home (a town of approx. 18,000) between Montreal and Quebec. I wouldn't mind spending the winter in Montreal but when summer comes give me my wide open space.

 

[tamarin]

Amber, well said!
Sparrow, summer with all its promise lies just ahead. Can't wait!

 

[sanctus]

I love a big city to visit and spend a few days but I am alway happy to get back home (a town of approx. 18,000) between Montreal and Quebec. I wouldn't mind spending the winter in Montreal but when summer comes give me my wide open space.

I am a 100% city boy. I love cities and dislike small towns. I am opposite, small towns are nice to visit...but I could not live in one. Give me concrete all the time. I see wild forests and wonder why they don't cut down the tress and put up a mall

 

[selfactivated]

I am a 100% city boy. I love cities and dislike small towns. I am opposite, small towns are nice to visit...but I could not live in one. Give me concrete all the time. I see wild forests and wonder why they don't cut down the tress and put up a mall

LOL I live in the burbs! But I was brought up country. hmmmmm think theres a corralation in our belief systems Padre?

 

[sanctus]

LOL I live in the burbs! But I was brought up country. hmmmmm think theres a corralation in our belief systems Padre?

Hmmm...at least in our views on the city

 

[selfactivated]

Hmmm...at least in our views on the city

*giggle* ok

 

[AmberEyes]

I am a 100% city boy. I love cities and dislike small towns. I am opposite, small towns are nice to visit...but I could not live in one. Give me concrete all the time. I see wild forests and wonder why they don't cut down the tress and put up a mall

Probably because it'd rid of our oxygen supply... that wouldn't be very good -_- I like to breathe most of the time ^.^

I have a feeling I'll have to learn to love the city life.. I'll be going to university soon, and the school I'll be at (hopefully) is in the middle of Vancouver... way too big for me, but I'll cope I'm sure.

 

[sanctus]

Probably because it'd rid of our oxygen supply... that wouldn't be very good -_- I like to breathe most of the time ^.^

I have a feeling I'll have to learn to love the city life.. I'll be going to university soon, and the school I'll be at (hopefully) is in the middle of Vancouver... way too big for me, but I'll cope I'm sure.

Trees are fine, as long as they are in neat little rows as designed by people..growing wild and free-very bad

 

[AmberEyes]

Trees are fine, as long as they are in neat little rows as designed by people..growing wild and free-very bad

Aww, I like the wildness of the forests. Anything too trim and tidy reminds me of how uptight people can be about their perfect little gardens. Gimme weeds and bugs to keep the pests away! No chemicals for me...

 

[selfactivated]

Probably because it'd rid of our oxygen supply... that wouldn't be very good -_- I like to breathe most of the time ^.^

I have a feeling I'll have to learn to love the city life.. I'll be going to university soon, and the school I'll be at (hopefully) is in the middle of Vancouver... way too big for me, but I'll cope I'm sure.

Come to Richmond lil one the univercity is 10 mins away from forest and river

 

[sanctus]

Aww, I like the wildness of the forests. Anything too trim and tidy reminds me of how uptight people can be about their perfect little gardens. Gimme weeds and bugs to keep the pests away! No chemicals for me...

not me, and that is why I know I'm a city boy...I am suspicious of "organic" hah hah hah

 

[selfactivated]

not me, and that is why I know I'm a city boy...I am suspicious of "organic" hah hah hah

Well THAT is true

 

[AmberEyes]

not me, and that is why I know I'm a city boy...I am suspicious of "organic" hah hah hah

lol! Well, organic stuff doesn't make me as sick as the normal cheap stuff.. that's why I try to grow a lot of my own veggies. I can't imagine living in a city with little room to grow anything... my green thumb wouldn't get any practice

I don't necessarily hate cities.. just the amount of people. I love some of the architecture found in the bigger cities, it's amazing how we can build towers so tall that can withstand heavy winds and earthquakes. But I don't like the increased crime, I don't like the closness of everybody.. I panic and break down.. it's not a pretty site. I'm sure I'd like cities just fine if I weren't so afraid of crowds.

 

[selfactivated]

lol! Well, organic stuff doesn't make me as sick as the normal cheap stuff.. that's why I try to grow a lot of my own veggies. I can't imagine living in a city with little room to grow anything... my green thumb wouldn't get any practice

I don't necessarily hate cities.. just the amount of people. I love some of the architecture found in the bigger cities, it's amazing how we can build towers so tall that can withstand heavy winds and earthquakes. But I don't like the increased crime, I don't like the closness of everybody.. I panic and break down.. it's not a pretty site. I'm sure I'd like cities just fine if I weren't so afraid of crowds.

Panics atrnt very fun Ask an old pro. But thats why I chose the burbs its a middle ground (I panic at the grocers)

 

[canadarocks]

Humanity is experiencing a new loneliness; it is not in the face of a hostile nature which it has taken centuries to subdue, but in an anonymous crowd which surrounds men and women and in which they feel themselves to be strangers. Urbanization, undoubtedly an irreversible stage in the development of human societies, confronts humanity with difficult problems. How are men and women to master its growth, regulate its organization, and successfully accomplish its animation for the good of all?

Pope Paul VI, 1971

There is a great deal of wisdom in these words from this former Pope. We are in such denial of our humanity in cities. We live together as strangers, and the lonliness is, I think, causing some of the odd behaviour we see in people nowadays.