9 Comments
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E2's avatar

When I was seven (through ten), I was independent for a couple hours after school. There were several shops I could visit on the way home, including a pizzeria with slices (and a jukebox, where I first heard Prince and Eurythmics).

Ryan M Allen's avatar

Sounds like a great time.

Interested Party's avatar

“de moine” lol

Ryan M Allen's avatar

Ha don’t know how that one slipped through the editor!

User's avatar
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Mar 28, 2025
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Ryan M Allen's avatar

Death rates for kids did definitely drop over time. So that is partially just a recognition that things were dangerous. We do not have to accept that.

User's avatar
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Mar 30, 2025
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E2's avatar

Where does the social construction come from? I find that many people just accept the implications of their local built environment.

Ryan M Allen's avatar

Mostly small incremental erosion over time. Basically the boiling frog metaphor. By the time we noticed, it was too late. Was all around us.

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Apr 3, 2025
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Ryan M Allen's avatar

I actually don't always like the comparisons between Amsterdam and the US, or really any other country. It's better to look at our own past. As you rightly mention, some places have not changed. Those are often our favorite places, such as old street car neighborhoods. Old principles of land use that don't demand long setbacks or wide forgiving streets. The fact is there has been fundamental redesign of our places through standards, zoning, and other regulations. Time to go back to traditional American style. https://www.ft.com/content/27169841-7ee3-481e-919d-41b247e401f6