[Vanders9]

The United States was very much like that when 90% of the population lived in communities of less that 500 people. In other words, before the majority adopted faceless and souless urban living.

[lmr]

In other words, before the majority adopted faceless and souless urban living.

Technology is ruining people too. Faceless and Souless people everywhere on the Internet and also piped into our TIVO and our cell phones. Vacuousness and Apathy are at an all-time high.

[ConservativeWarrior]

In other words, before the majority adopted faceless and souless urban living.

This is the primary difference. Americans who live in big cities are anonymous, for all intents and purposes.

This translates to zero moral public accountability, and in time the deterioration of personal accountability.

The people of a small US town hit by a flood react very differently than large US city dwellers. It sounds like large Japanese cities avoid this same pitfall by instilling a sense of community even in the cities.

My sister lived in Japan for 10 years. She saw these principles first-hand. There are small electronics on sidewalk tables outside many downtown stores, left there like Walmart would leave last season's clearance clothing.

They seem backwards in other ways, however. She had two children while living there, and not once did a man on the subway offer his seat to her, but instead watched her stand for the duration of the ride.

[exnavy]

True words.