Comments on: How deadly cold makes us warmer http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/how-deadly-cold-makes-us-warmer/ PR, social media, communication for social change, marketing plans, communication strategies Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:53:15 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: lmighton http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/how-deadly-cold-makes-us-warmer/#comment-7273 lmighton Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:28:57 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=288#comment-7273 Hi Travis, Really interesting to read that perspective from someone who's arrived here more recently than I did. I agree about Vancouverites being noticeably 'more socially active'. I wonder though if New York is so big and busy that people have to protect themselves by creating psychological space when there isn't an option for tons of physical space. So if Vancouver's warmth/caring seemed so in contrast to NY? On the other hand, I was thinking about my 'sorta-theory' the other day actually, in relation to Scandinavia... people from those countries are often perceived as being reserved, conservative, not warm... yet I don't think of the big cities there as having such harsh climates that people need to sometimes rely on others for survival because of the weather. So maybe I have to throw out my harsh-climate theory and try a new one that more northern parts of the world like Scandinavia are less warm to strangers, and southern parts of the world like South America, Latin America, are warmer? Or maybe it's just different cultures, and geography or harsh climates have no effect at all... Lisa Hi Travis,

Really interesting to read that perspective from someone who’s arrived here more recently than I did. I agree about Vancouverites being noticeably ‘more socially active’.
I wonder though if New York is so big and busy that people have to protect themselves by creating psychological space when there isn’t an option for tons of physical space. So if Vancouver’s warmth/caring seemed so in contrast to NY?

On the other hand, I was thinking about my ’sorta-theory’ the other day actually, in relation to Scandinavia… people from those countries are often perceived as being reserved, conservative, not warm… yet I don’t think of the big cities there as having such harsh climates that people need to sometimes rely on others for survival because of the weather.

So maybe I have to throw out my harsh-climate theory and try a new one that more northern parts of the world like Scandinavia are less warm to strangers, and southern parts of the world like South America, Latin America, are warmer?

Or maybe it’s just different cultures, and geography or harsh climates have no effect at all…

Lisa

]]> By: Travis http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/how-deadly-cold-makes-us-warmer/#comment-7272 Travis Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:55:28 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=288#comment-7272 I have definitely found Vancouver to be one of the friendliest cities I've ever been to. I wish more cities were like it. However, I think your theory is generally correct: harsh climates make for strangers more interested in helping each other out. But I think that good samaritans don't necessarily convert into good friends; and while you might not easily strike up a conversation with someone with whom you're in line at the bus, the way I often do in New York, I find Vancouver-ites overall to be warmer and more caring and more socially active. TTFN Travis I have definitely found Vancouver to be one of the friendliest cities I’ve ever been to. I wish more cities were like it. However, I think your theory is generally correct: harsh climates make for strangers more interested in helping each other out. But I think that good samaritans don’t necessarily convert into good friends; and while you might not easily strike up a conversation with someone with whom you’re in line at the bus, the way I often do in New York, I find Vancouver-ites overall to be warmer and more caring and more socially active.

TTFN
Travis

]]> By: lmighton http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/how-deadly-cold-makes-us-warmer/#comment-7264 lmighton Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:10:30 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=288#comment-7264 Wow, I missed this comment somehow. I agree with you. I think there are a big number of people here who are fascinated about other cultures and want to learn more, but other than volunteering with Host programs, there is no opportunity for them to meet or interact in real life. And maybe you're right, maybe Vancouver is geared to be superficial. People dress in sports/fitness clothes a lot more of the time than other places I've lived, there's so much focus on self-improvement and personal development and personal responsibility for health, which is all great, but makes us all pretty 'me me me' focused. And a lot of people don't want that, but don't know how to change it. I sometimes wonder if I was a social planner, what I would come up with for a northern hemisphere equivalent of I think it's called an agora. There's a big percentage - unusually high - of people who live alone in this city. I wonder how better community opportunities could be created for people to meet, interact, build community? My ramblings :) Lisa Wow, I missed this comment somehow.

I agree with you. I think there are a big number of people here who are fascinated about other cultures and want to learn more, but other than volunteering with Host programs, there is no opportunity for them to meet or interact in real life. And maybe you’re right, maybe Vancouver is geared to be superficial. People dress in sports/fitness clothes a lot more of the time than other places I’ve lived, there’s so much focus on self-improvement and personal development and personal responsibility for health, which is all great, but makes us all pretty ‘me me me’ focused. And a lot of people don’t want that, but don’t know how to change it.

I sometimes wonder if I was a social planner, what I would come up with for a northern hemisphere equivalent of I think it’s called an agora.

There’s a big percentage – unusually high – of people who live alone in this city. I wonder how better community opportunities could be created for people to meet, interact, build community?

My ramblings :)

Lisa

]]> By: Character Education http://lmighton.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/how-deadly-cold-makes-us-warmer/#comment-7259 Character Education Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:20:54 +0000 http://lmighton.wordpress.com/?p=288#comment-7259 Ya its true that friendliness does not depend upon the geographical proximity for any city. where the distances reduces the problems increase. people are not more willing to interact so frequently. Ya its true that friendliness does not depend upon the geographical proximity for any city. where the distances reduces the problems increase. people are not more willing to interact so frequently.

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