Cities have always been describe as worse than the country side, even as far back as Epicurus.
I would argue the main issue nowadays is that people born and raised in cities are so disconnected from nature that it seems hostile to them, they lost all the connections rural people grew with and learned to love. All they want is instant gratification, convenience at all price, least amount of friction and physical work, constant internet connection
I remember watching the stars with my grandma when I was 6 or so, we'd get deckchairs, a cup of tea and warm blankets and stare at the sky for hours, she told me about the moon, stars, the milky way, satellites, potential alien life out there &c. It was magical. It was absolutely silent, public lights were switched off after some time so the light pollution was very low. There was nothing better than waking up with the sound of owls or cicadas
I went mushroom picking with my dad every year, learning about the right timing and conditions for optimal mushroom growth, learning which ones are the best, which ones are comestible but not very tasty, which ones will make you sick or kill you, we'd see wild animals, their tracks, their skeletons, &c.
We had a garden in which I spent a lot of time, you could notice how the different seasons had effects in the flora, which insects, birds, small mammals came out of their hiding spots and at what time of the year. Seeing how vegetables were growing, bending down and snacking on the strawberries you planted yourself.
Living in the country side means living in sync with the seasons, you witness their impact on the world surrounding you, trees, plants, insects, wild animals, type of food you have access to, occupations you can enjoy. In the city you're kind of locked into a sort of constancy, sure it gets cold or warm, you have more or less sunlight, but that's about it, everything else stays the same, same activities, same dull concrete jungle, same cars going the same way every day, same dark empty sky, same constant noise
Now I live in a city, I never get a single minute of silence no matter what time of the day or night. I can't see stars, let alone the milky way. Insects are pretty much gone besides the occasional fly or mosquito. Pigeons and crows make up about 99% of wild animals you can spot
I very often go for walks late at night, covid was a blessing for that, the streets were virtually empty. During that time I've seen a howl, foxes hunting for rats almost every day, hares, some kind of weasel, a beautiful heron enjoying the lack of tourist boats. Now that people and tourists are back life has disappeared again and the noise/cars are back to pre covid level
I truly pity people who did not experience this, I wouldn't be surprised if it is a big part of the modern alienation a lot of people seem to go through
It really depends on the city. Mine has a lot of green space, and a lot more outside of it if you hop on the train. It is not lacking in gardeners, bird watchers, hikers and the other varieties of nature lovers. Mushroom picking is pretty big amd I do look at the stars from my balcony, though they're nothing like those you see in the sticks.
I would argue the main issue nowadays is that people born and raised in cities are so disconnected from nature that it seems hostile to them, they lost all the connections rural people grew with and learned to love. All they want is instant gratification, convenience at all price, least amount of friction and physical work, constant internet connection
I remember watching the stars with my grandma when I was 6 or so, we'd get deckchairs, a cup of tea and warm blankets and stare at the sky for hours, she told me about the moon, stars, the milky way, satellites, potential alien life out there &c. It was magical. It was absolutely silent, public lights were switched off after some time so the light pollution was very low. There was nothing better than waking up with the sound of owls or cicadas
I went mushroom picking with my dad every year, learning about the right timing and conditions for optimal mushroom growth, learning which ones are the best, which ones are comestible but not very tasty, which ones will make you sick or kill you, we'd see wild animals, their tracks, their skeletons, &c.
We had a garden in which I spent a lot of time, you could notice how the different seasons had effects in the flora, which insects, birds, small mammals came out of their hiding spots and at what time of the year. Seeing how vegetables were growing, bending down and snacking on the strawberries you planted yourself.
Living in the country side means living in sync with the seasons, you witness their impact on the world surrounding you, trees, plants, insects, wild animals, type of food you have access to, occupations you can enjoy. In the city you're kind of locked into a sort of constancy, sure it gets cold or warm, you have more or less sunlight, but that's about it, everything else stays the same, same activities, same dull concrete jungle, same cars going the same way every day, same dark empty sky, same constant noise
Now I live in a city, I never get a single minute of silence no matter what time of the day or night. I can't see stars, let alone the milky way. Insects are pretty much gone besides the occasional fly or mosquito. Pigeons and crows make up about 99% of wild animals you can spot
I very often go for walks late at night, covid was a blessing for that, the streets were virtually empty. During that time I've seen a howl, foxes hunting for rats almost every day, hares, some kind of weasel, a beautiful heron enjoying the lack of tourist boats. Now that people and tourists are back life has disappeared again and the noise/cars are back to pre covid level
I truly pity people who did not experience this, I wouldn't be surprised if it is a big part of the modern alienation a lot of people seem to go through