[nothingnew]

It is probably largely because (a) life in crowded cities is artificial and inimical to the human psyche, (b) anonymity attracts criminal elements which would not fare well in villages, where "everybody knows your name". That's my theory.

Not a bad theory. Not bad at all.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Buckeye McFrog]

Pittsburgh used to be like a stitched-together quilt of little villages where everyone knew your name. My parents felt safe giving me free run of the neighborhood when I was growing up because if I caused any trouble someone who knew them (and quite possibly was related) would call them and rat me out.

That all changed in the 80’s when steel collapsed and we had that massive outmigration.