Did you know that before they swarm, and ravenously destroy crops, locusts are grasshoppers? It is true. Before taking flight en masse to travel to, descend on, and mercilessly consume fields, they are harmless, lonesome grasshoppers munching on tiny and unnoticed bits of vegetation. But as those docile grasshoppers multiply, their density increases. When it gets high enough their personal space overlaps and they occasionally bump into each other.
Well scientists have now shown that it is exactly that contact–jostling in confined areas and bumping into others–that turns a pleasant, calm grasshopper into an asshole of biblical proportions. In this way I think humans and locusts are much alike.
Last week I was discussing the USA with Clair. One of the conversations into which we stumbled is how people are generally more calm and friendly in the US midwest and the south. Head to the east coast, especially New York City, and residents are more pushy and impatient. I think this is true in all countries: the people in rural areas are laid back when compared to city dwellers.
So, why is this? Well, there is something subtly bothersome about sharing space with strangers. I don’t think big city residents would describe themselves as annoyed with their surroundings. But their attitude suggests a subconscious pebble in their shoe. I our ancestral roots wandering the plains of Africa left in us animal desires for open space. At least occasionally.
I can tell you that I have seen the affect on me of having lived in two of the densest urban environments in the world: Singapore and Hong Kong. In Singapore pedestrians move at sloth pace. I suppose they evolved this form of non-movement from the heat. But in any case a westerner wanting to get somewhere on Orchard Road is forced to weave through Singaporeans like a mogul skier. It is frustrating I promise.
In Hong Kong bumping arms and hands is a very common occurrence; it happens to me 30-50 times a day. A receive (but deliver with twice the force) a hip check at least once a day. I know I mentally steel myself before walking through the Wanchai Market every morning.
So what does this environment do to me? Well, being on guard leaves a mental burr in my virtual socks. I would not say it consciously bothers me but I would be lying if I said I did not notice. But I also know how to release the pressure. To reduce the irritation. I need to relive a portion of my ancestral open air wanderings.
Thankfully I can do this in Hong Kong. We have over 100 kilometers of trails right here on the island. Just today, less than 1 kilometer from my house, I could hear no busses. I saw no people for minutes at a time. And I now feel a little more creative. A little more focused.
Outdoor exercise away from people is an easy part of our schedule to leave on the cutting room floor. Too many times in my life I have unwound with television or drink at a local pub. But I am now seeing, if not measuring, benefits of scheduled time alone in open spaces. That time is suppressing my metamorphosis into a human locust.
There are lots of cities more densely populated than Hong Kong where you should validate your theory.
Hey, Dad, I was just checking Wikipedia’s list of the densest cities in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_proper_by_population_density). Not many on that list look like fun places to live!
But number one is Manila. Which, for the sheer challenge, I wouldn’t mind trying some day. Thing is, Manila does not feel as dense as Singapore or Hong Kong. My guess is that the density measurement is dependent on how civil authorities draw city boundaries. Chinese cities are massive, for example, because mayors claim huge amounts of land surround the city center. That keeps population up but may depress density. You’ll notice there are no mainland China cities on the above list.
If you look at population density by country (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_by_population_density) you see a different perspective. Singapore and Hong Kong are three and four, respectively. But even that is misleading. Hong Kong famously has only developed 25% of its land (http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/facts.htm). So, the space in which people actually live in 4x denser. That number would be the highest in the world.
In any case, I believe the mix of density and space is key to my observation. The density makes a city convenient but crazy. The undeveloped space is central to sanity.
I wonder if you are treated differently? In other words, do they bump you more because you are an outsider (non-Asian) or do they treat you better by not bumping you as much? What do you think?
Interesting thought. I do not believe I am treated differently in this respect. I see the same dodging and near-misses among locals. But I’ll have to refer to my local cultural translator (Bill Cheung) and see what he thinks. I’ll forward this to him.
Interesting dialogue here and maybe I will chiam in and share my thoughts…
1) Growing up in HK, you are raised being used to the density of ppl around you. We may not like the fact that someone’s elbow is in my ribs during a ride on the subway, but we deal with it and do not react much other than fridgiting a little without even giving a dirty look to the intruder. This may take on a completely different outcome if it is in NYC Subway with some very in your face comments from the disturbed party. The point is that we are certainly accustomed to the closeness in body distance and dont think twice about it whereas in the West, the distance tend to be two/three folds as a norm.
2) Walking and bumping with other people on the street is, like Scott says, a very common occurence here in HK. Main reason being the pedestrian walkway is much narrower here as compared to the US, and pedestrian density is also much higher and therefore it is very hard for us to snake thru a crowdy street without bumping into other people. Again, when that happens, I do not even turn around to say sorry or find out who it was, unless I felt that the other party purposely tensed up and bumped into me forcefully much like a linebacker would. If body bumping happens in NYC, again, I think we will get the bird or hear a mouthful.
3) Cultural difference…from a cultural point of view, Asian are taught to conform and respect group/family harmony and via hierarchy and other social yardstick, we learn to coexist with others that we know or not know with a relatively higher degree of acceptance or respects – case in point, you see a lot of younger people giving up their seats on subway or bus etc to some elderly or pregnant women. Whereas North American culture tend to be much more individualistic and therefore the tendency to sacrifice your own for others who maybe more in need is relatively less in occurance. This extends to questions that a Westerner may get asked by a Chinese friend like what is your salary, how much rent you pay where as Westerner will not even ask these questions which are viewed very personal and “none of your business”. So in the context of personal information exchange, this personal “distance/space” is also much closer in Asian as compared to Western and therefore some aspect of this closeness also extends to physical distance in some way.
My two cents…
An interesting discussion. I’ve traveled to Asia regularly over the last 15 years. In the beginning I made a conscious decision to get into what I call “Asia Mode”. I know that I will be operating in environments more densely packed with people and my normal sense of personal space must change. An elbow to my rib cage delivered in SoCal in all probability will get an Fbomb response. In Hong Kong, its nothing personal, just a product of confined space. If I got annoyed at every one, I couldn’t enjoy this fabulous city. I suspect if I actually lived there, I might get used to it, but feel as though Scott does – that I just need a quiet run/bike ride to recharge.