Do Gated Communities Threaten Society?

[sharon]

This is an excerpt from a much longer article discussing the pros and cons (and self deception) of gated communities. I live in a gated community.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/04/do-gated-communities-threaten-society/1737/

People who care about the way our cities and suburbs are built and organized have been no exception. In a post on Better! Cities and Towns, Robert Steuteville posited that “a poorly planned, exclusionary built environment” was a factor in Martin’s death.

The Retreat at Twin Lakes, where Martin died, is the kind of place where people choose to live when they want to be safe – from crime, from outsiders, from economic uncertainty. Of course, it doesn’t always work that way. By fostering suspicion and societal divisions, the argument goes, gated communities can paradoxically compromise safety rather than increasing it. And because they cut residents off from the larger community, writes Edward Blakely, author of Fortress America, they can “shrink the notion of civic engagement and allow residents to retreat from civic responsibility.”

The prevalence of gated communities has steadily risen across the United States and the world since the 1960s. Firm numbers are hard to come by, but Blakely cites census figures showing that between 6 and 9 million Americans live behind gates.

 

[Daktoria]

What do you believe the article's trying to say by "civic engagement" and "civic responsibility"?

 

[Slartibartfast]

This is an excerpt from a much longer article discussing the pros and cons (and self deception) of gated communities. I live in a gated community.

Do Gated Communities Threaten Society? - Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities

People who care about the way our cities and suburbs are built and organized have been no exception. In a post on Better! Cities and Towns, Robert Steuteville posited that “a poorly planned, exclusionary built environment” was a factor in Martin’s death.

The Retreat at Twin Lakes, where Martin died, is the kind of place where people choose to live when they want to be safe – from crime, from outsiders, from economic uncertainty. Of course, it doesn’t always work that way. By fostering suspicion and societal divisions, the argument goes, gated communities can paradoxically compromise safety rather than increasing it. And because they cut residents off from the larger community, writes Edward Blakely, author of Fortress America, they can “shrink the notion of civic engagement and allow residents to retreat from civic responsibility.”

The prevalence of gated communities has steadily risen across the United States and the world since the 1960s. Firm numbers are hard to come by, but Blakely cites census figures showing that between 6 and 9 million Americans live behind gates.

Honestly, suburbs are often built in such a way that we don't know our neighbors anyway, as we drive everywhere instead of walking which reduces our opportunity for chit-chat. Why would gated communities make any difference in that? I don't see them as any worse.

 

[sharon]

The question is .. did the environment play a part in the Trayvon shooting?

Rich Benjamin, author of Searching for Whitopia, wrote in The New York Times:


Gated communities churn a vicious cycle by attracting like-minded residents who seek shelter from outsiders and whose physical seclusion then worsens paranoid groupthink against outsiders.


“It’s not a panacea,” he says about erecting gates. “You’re just as likely to be burgled by your next-door neighbor, especially if there are teenagers.” Criminals from outside are also quick to figure out how to get in. “They learn the code from the pizza guy,” says Schneider. “The effects of gating decay over time.”

 

[sharon]

Honestly, suburbs are often built in such a way that we don't know our neighbors anyway, as we drive everywhere instead of walking which reduces our opportunity for chit-chat. Why would gated communities make any difference in that? I don't see them as any worse.

The gated community I live in actually has a good bit of foot traffic and easy access to public transportation beyond the gates.......

 

[Daktoria]

The question is .. did the environment play a part in the Trayvon shooting?

Not primarily.

That situation was racially provoked, but you see the same insider-outsider dynamic between white elites and white trash.

 

[Slartibartfast]

oh, its a martin/zimmerman thread

uhh the butler did it.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

Moderator's Warning:

Thread moved to appropriate location

 

[Slartibartfast]

The gated community I live in actually has a good bit of foot traffic and easy access to public transportation beyond the gates.......

This is unusual I think.

 

[Daktoria]

oh, its a martin/zimmerman thread

uhh the butler did it.

Yea, I was trying to keep the discussion universally minded, but w/e.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Yea, I was trying to keep the discussion universally minded, but w/e.

I just avoid these threads (and the case) as a rule as I think the whole thing is a mountain out of a molehill. People kill each other for stupid reason every single day.

 

[sharon]

What do you believe the article's trying to say by "civic engagement" and "civic responsibility"?

Perhaps that these gated enclaves tend to isolate us from each other.

To tell you the truth I dont feel particularly "safer".. I am not much of a worry wart, but over the past 18 months there has been an increase in burglaries and car break ins.


Florida's problematic gated communities - CNN.com

 

[Daktoria]

I just avoid these threads (and the case) as a rule as I think the whole thing is a mountain out of a molehill. People kill each other for stupid reason every single day.

Definitely. Inner city ghetto gang wars are another perfect example. Likewise, you have hunting accidents in the middle of the woods.

The question is, "How do we prevent stupidity?"

 

[sharon]

Not primarily.

That situation was racially provoked, but you see the same insider-outsider dynamic between white elites and white trash.

That's true, isn't it?


From another article on the same subject.

The screed from our homeowner association manager arrived in our mailbox printed inside a cheery holiday border. The message continued: "Our neighborhood is as safe as we make it. Make no mistake about it, you must be on your guard! Report suspicious behavior or individuals that do not belong in our community."

The call to arms echoed the strident sentiment of neighbors left nervous by the robbery of our home the day before. While we slept unaware at the back of an upscale gated community in Windermere, Florida, intruders came through the front door, took our big-screen TV, laptops and all of the presents from under the Christmas tree.

No matter that we hadn't activated our security system and most likely forgot to lock the door. Hysterical efforts to fortify the perimeter were in full swing.

Florida's problematic gated communities - CNN.com

 

[Daktoria]

Perhaps that these gated enclaves tend to isolate us from each other.

To tell you the truth I dont feel particularly "safer".. I am not much of a worry wart, but over the past 18 months there has been an increase in burglaries and car break ins.


Florida's problematic gated communities - CNN.com

The article talks about paranoia, but doesn't understand that everyone isn't paranoid the same way.

Many people are paranoid because they're selfish, but other people are paranoid because they're traumatized. If we simply tear down gated communities, it will expose both groups.

 

[sharon]

The article talks about paranoia, but doesn't understand that everyone isn't paranoid the same way.

Many people are paranoid because they're selfish, but other people are paranoid because they're traumatized. If we simply tear down gated communities, it will expose both groups.

Yes. I suppose it would..

What happens when it becomes abnormal or suspicious to see a person walking ???

"When you discourage drive-through traffic and pedestrians, it becomes abnormal to see someone walking. And now you've created a situation where two people alone are hazardous to each other because there's no one else around, no cars driving by, no eyes on the street, " Harris added.

 

[ttwtt78640]

The idea of gated communities is not new, in fact, they allow more interaction, especially among the children that are more likely to be let out to play and socialize within the added safety of those gates. Many neighborhoods have EACH home fenced, gated and some even have bars on every window and door. The intent, in ALL of these cases, is to make it harder for criminals to take their "fair" share, to make YOUR person and property just a little more secure than the average.

The attempt to tie this in with the Martin case is lame, at best, as NO mention of ANY crime committed by the residents of gated communities, or their private security officers was included. To assert that people who choose to live in gated communities OR to take other PASSIVE home security measures are somehow "separatists" is INSANE, and simply an attempt of guilt by association. The implication of the article, is to establish a "motive" of walling the world out or segregating themselves from it, while ignoring that other fences, gates or home security measures taken, on individual residences, are the SAME thing, but "excluding" even the neighbor (and their kids) from right next door, as well.

In short, when crime comes down, so will many of the urban/suburban gates, fences and bars. Until then, focus on what these folks wish to include in their lives, at least while they attempt to have some "time out" from crime, at home WITH the neighbors. Instead of walling EVERYONE out, a gated community attempts to include at least a few neighbors inside their walls, fences and gates.

 

[sharon]

You have made excellent points.. Its also possible that some of the burglaries were perpetrated by other residents... as mentioned in the second article I posted.

There are school children and teens in my gated community so a person or persons on foot is not perceived as abnormal..

I also agree that it makes it somewhat safer for children to play outdoors..

The Retreat has undergone huge changes. Property values slashed by half, 40 units empty, lots of foreclosures and evictions.. lots of renters and some Section 8.

The idea of gated communities is not new, in fact, they allow more interaction, especially among the children that are more likely to be let out to play and socialize within the added safety of those gates. Many neighborhoods have EACH home fenced, gated and some even have bars on every window and door. The intent, in ALL of these cases, is to make it harder for criminals to take their "fair" share, to make YOUR person and property just a little more secure than the average.

The attempt to tie this in with the Martin case is lame, at best, as NO mention of ANY crime committed by the residents of gated communities, or their private security officers was included. To assert that people who choose to live in gated communities OR to take other PASSIVE home security measures are somehow "separatists" is INSANE, and simply an attempt of guilt by association. The implication of the article, is to establish a "motive" of walling the world out or segregating themselves from it, while ignoring that other fences, gates or home security measures taken, on individual residences, are the SAME thing, but "excluding" even the neighbor (and their kids) from right next door, as well.

In short, when crime comes down, so will many of the urban/suburban gates, fences and bars. Until then, focus on what these folks wish to include in their lives, at least while they attempt to have some "time out" from crime, at home WITH the neighbors. Intead of walling EVERYONE out, a gated community attempts to include at least a few neighbors inside their walls, fences and gates.

 

[ttwtt78640]

That's true, isn't it?


From another article on the same subject.

The screed from our homeowner association manager arrived in our mailbox printed inside a cheery holiday border. The message continued: "Our neighborhood is as safe as we make it. Make no mistake about it, you must be on your guard! Report suspicious behavior or individuals that do not belong in our community."

The call to arms echoed the strident sentiment of neighbors left nervous by the robbery of our home the day before. While we slept unaware at the back of an upscale gated community in Windermere, Florida, intruders came through the front door, took our big-screen TV, laptops and all of the presents from under the Christmas tree.

No matter that we hadn't activated our security system and most likely forgot to lock the door. Hysterical efforts to fortify the perimeter were in full swing.

Florida's problematic gated communities - CNN.com

You can't have it BOTH ways, sharon, you want EACH home secured, alarmed and walled off, but not the neighborhood. Perhaps ACTIVE security with armed guards IS the answer, if you must live in a virtual prison otherwise. Your blame the victim nonsense and hints of racial/cultural motives are getting really old. More people should arm themselves and stop crime ON THEIR PROPERTY permanently. Your let the thugs roam freely, but hide in your secured and alarmed home UNARMED, and dial 911 upon hearing any strange noise, is sad indeed.

The Trayvon Martins of this world SHOULD go extinct. Anyone prone to physically attack someone who may view them a suspicious is WAY out of line, and just plain needs eleimination. I have ZERO pity for "no-limit-niggas" or thug "wanna be" morons, that view anybody, even a "brother", as a threat if they get "eyed" or "dissed". Take this garbage to the proper thread if that is your "take" on security and neighborhood watch programs. Remember that one of the ORIGINAL neighborhood watch groups was the Guardian Angels, hardly a racist group. You do not bring skittles and an attitude to a gunfight twice.

 

[sharon]

You can't have it BOTH ways, sharon, you want EACH home secured, alarmed and walled off, but not the neighborhood. Perhaps ACTIVE security with armed guards IS the answer, if you must live in a virtual prison otherwise.

Your blame the victim nonsense and hints of racial/cultural motives are getting really old. More people should arm themselves and stop crime ON THEIR PROPERTY permanently. Your let the thugs roam freely, but hide in your secured and alarmed home UNARMED, and dial 911 upon hearing any strange noise, is sad indeed.

Good lord I posted this as a discussion of the pros and cons of gated communities and that they may in fact create a false sense of security ..having nothing to do with blaming the victims"...

 

[Daktoria]

You can't have it BOTH ways, sharon, you want EACH home secured, alarmed and walled off, but not the neighborhood. Perhaps ACTIVE security with armed guards IS the answer, if you must live in a virtual prison otherwise. Your blame the victim nonsense and hints of racial/cultural motives are getting really old. More people should arm themselves and stop crime ON THEIR PROPERTY permanently. Your let the thugs roam freely, but hide in your secured and alarmed home UNARMED, and dial 911 upon hearing any strange noise, is sad indeed.

That's a bit of an overreaction.

The point here is about civil engagement and responsibility which requires spontaneously optimistic communication, not isolation and monitoring.

You cultivate an organic community where people have social customs that allow them to trust each other.

Gated communities seem to inhibit this.

 

[joko104]

The article on gated communities was just some zippy pinhead trying to write a theory out of nothing.

Gated communities are really only gated communities in real terms if there is an occupied check-house that vehicles go through after being given permission by the gatekeeper.

Unattended automated gates are just nothing, everyone knows that, and don't really qualify as a gated community. It is just a sales gimmick and nothing less, other than it slows people down from racing in and out of the community, making the parking lot a bit safer.

 

[Daktoria]

The article on gated communities was just some zippy pinhead trying to write a theory out of nothing.

Gated communities are really only gated communities in real terms if there is an occupied check-house that vehicles go through after being given permission by the gatekeeper.

Unattended automated gates are just nothing, everyone knows that, and don't really qualify as a gated community. It is just a sales gimmick and nothing less, other than it slows people down from racing in and out of the community, making the parking lot a bit safer.

Perhaps that's part of the point - gated communities enjoy a slower pace rather than getting caught up in the excitement of regular society?

 

[joko104]

Perhaps that's part of the point - gated communities enjoy a slower pace rather than getting caught up in the excitement of regular society?

I wouldn't really call a car racing through an apartment complex parking lot "the excitement of regular society."

 

[tessaesque]

I've never lived in a gated community, and I'm not a big fan of them. I don't feel "safer" being inside coded security gates...I feel trapped.

As to the article, I'm undecided.