I know it. And I certainly didn't intend to speak directly for every individual, although I can see how it would easily come across that way. I kind of meant "we" as in "amorphous Western society".
Anyway, good on you for kicking over the metaphorical white picket fence.
Clearly it is what people want. It would just be weird if that was their focus ten years ago. Also society is regressive and neoconservative this decade.
You know why I wanted (and now have) a house and two cars? Because living in an apartment sucks (financially as well as in terms of space/land/customization/privacy) and because with two cars, no one ever gets trapped at home - we both have the freedom to do what we want (including go to work and share the chores that require a car...)
I can appreciate that. But it's not really the house and the cars (personally, I'd prefer the downtown apartment from which I can walk) that are bothering me, it's the whole system of isolation and segregation. It's the green lawn moat and the generational rifts and the taboos about speaking of sex and violence. It's the whole notion of living on our little islands in rigidly-defined social roles.
'd prefer the downtown apartment from which I can walk
To where? Not everyone works within walking distance of where they live, even in the downtown, especially not when there are two workers in the family. Moreover, in some cities, living downtown isn't a reasonable option for many people. We could live within walking distance of WSU - we could have a house there, even, since Detroit's real estate is so depressed, or an apartment, or condo, or whatever. We looked at it when we moved here. All of the apartments and condos in that area are gated, high-security buildings, and the houses are old and run down. Living there would mean Steve would be able to walk to work, but it would also mean not being able to safely walk outside after dark or send Arthur to public school. And we would still be 30 minutes by freeway from my current job
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> To where? Not everyone works within walking distance of where they live, even in the downtown, especially not when there are two workers in the family.
Brad didn't say "we should all prefer the downtown apartment from which we can walk", he said what he would prefer. I assume this is because the places to which he would personally like to walk, with his own two feet, are within range and it would please him to do so.
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Anyway, good on you for kicking over the metaphorical white picket fence.
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I'm oversimplifying, of course.
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To where? Not everyone works within walking distance of where they live, even in the downtown, especially not when there are two workers in the family. Moreover, in some cities, living downtown isn't a reasonable option for many people. We could live within walking distance of WSU - we could have a house there, even, since Detroit's real estate is so depressed, or an apartment, or condo, or whatever. We looked at it when we moved here. All of the apartments and condos in that area are gated, high-security buildings, and the houses are old and run down. Living there would mean Steve would be able to walk to work, but it would also mean not being able to safely walk outside after dark or send Arthur to public school. And we would still be 30 minutes by freeway from my current job ( ... )
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Brad didn't say "we should all prefer the downtown apartment from which we can walk", he said what he would prefer. I assume this is because the places to which he would personally like to walk, with his own two feet, are within range and it would please him to do so.
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