Nicing Up the City

With millions of people, Los Angeles -- like many big cities -- can be a rude place. And though it makes sense that the city can be impolite, it doesn't have to be, argues Amy Alkon in this op-ed.

1 minute read

February 11, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"[P]eople are rude - in L.A. and many other places - because we live in societies too big for our brains. In a small society in which everyone knows each other, you can't act out the way you can around strangers. If, however, you're around people you'll never see again, you can get away with all sorts of nasty behavior.

We can't shrink Los Angeles to a more polite population size, but we can bring back some of the constraints and benefits of the small tribal societies our brains are adapted for. This actually doesn't take much."

She says that making a place feel neighborly is as easy as being neighborly.

FULL STORY: Rude awakening

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 in Los Angeles Times

Community / Economic Development Social / Demographics California Los Angeles Neighborliness Rudeness Politeness View More

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