Definition:
“Densely packed living” refers to residential environments where a large number of people live in a relatively small geographic area, with little space between households. This typically involves high population density and can be seen in urban centers, high-rise apartment buildings, and other compact housing arrangements.
Etymology:
The term “densely packed” combines “dense,” from the Latin “densus,” meaning “thick” or “crowded,” and “packed,” from the Old English “pacian,” meaning “to fasten” or “compress.” Together, they describe an area that is heavily populated and compact.
Herd Mentality:
The way most people live in densely populated areas is a prime example of herd mentality, as most people live in urban areas, meaning cities and towns. Of course, it’s not a choice for everybody, as many want to move out of these places, but are not able to. These areas are often advertised as desirable places to live due to the concentration of amenities, job opportunities, and cultural activities. Seeing many others choosing to live in these areas typically reinforces the belief that it is the best choice. However, many people are quite ignorant and poorly observant of how stressful it actually is to live clustered together with extreme numbers of people.
There are a few arguments for why it might be considered better to live in densely populated areas, but there are many more arguments for why it’s not. The clock causes a whole bunch of issues, starting with traffic, as everybody travels into town at the same time to get to school or work, and leaves school and work at the same time, causing extreme rush traffic. This means that most people spend a vast amount of time and money just on travel, which is something they are not getting paid for. Many urban areas are not capable of providing enough public transportation for everyone, resulting in people losing their jobs due to not being able to show up on time.
There’s also the problem of stores and services only being available while people are at work, meaning they rarely have time for it when they get home from school or work, as the lines become massive. Even though there are more job opportunities in cities, there’s also a lot more competition to get the desired jobs.
The cost of living is generally much higher in urban areas. Urban areas, especially major cities, often have higher demand for housing, which drives up both rent and property prices. The scarcity of space and the high demand for proximity to jobs and amenities contribute to elevated housing costs. The cost of utilities such as electricity, water, and internet can also be higher in urban areas due to higher demand and the infrastructure required to support dense populations. While public transportation is more available and often necessary in urban areas, the cost of using these services can add up, especially for daily commuters. Parking fees and the cost of owning a car (including insurance and maintenance) can be significantly higher in cities where parking space is limited. The cost of food and groceries can be higher in urban areas due to increased overhead costs for stores, including higher rent and wages for employees. Access to healthcare may be more convenient in urban areas, but the cost of medical services and health insurance can be higher. The cost of education, including private schools and higher education institutions, tends to be higher in urban areas. Daycare and preschool costs can be significantly higher in cities due to higher demand and operational costs. Dining at restaurants and cafés can be more expensive in urban areas, where the cost of ingredients, labor, and rent for establishments is higher. The cost of recreational activities, such as gym memberships, theater tickets, and other entertainment options, is often higher in cities. Some cities impose higher local taxes to fund urban infrastructure and services, adding to the overall cost of living. Urban residents may face additional service fees for amenities such as garbage collection, water, and sewer services.
Manila in the Philippines is the most densely populated area in the world, with over 40,000 people per square kilometer.
Dhaka in Bangladesh is the second most densely populated area in the world, with estimates ranging from around 30,000 to 40,000 people per square kilometer.
The way houses are built in densely packed neighborhoods is not exclusive to urban areas. This phenomenon can also be observed in suburban areas and even in many rural areas. The definition people use for “densely packed” may, of course, differ widely. Some money is saved on gas systems (for those that still use them), water systems, and electricity systems, as shorter transmission distances and centralized distribution systems contribute to lower costs. There are also savings when buying materials in bulk. There may be savings in building roads, but building houses completely isolated from each other is not the only alternative to building them densely packed.
However, the idea of living densely packed mainly comes from being told that it’s the best choice, which it may not be. We are told that it is cheaper to buy land if we build houses very close together. There is some truth to this regarding the actual building process, but land is a fictional concept. The reason land becomes cheaper when doing this is because authorities have decided that this is the rule, based on the belief that living densely packed is the most desirable way of living—a belief they have promoted to the population. The problem is that when someone buys a property away from other houses, they often have to buy a massive amount of land, which they can’t afford, otherwise someone will buy land and build right next to their house.
There is the argument that dense developments can support local businesses and amenities, such as shops, schools, and parks, making the area more attractive to potential residents. This argument is based on the assumption that living densely packed is the best choice.
It is understandable that people who don’t wish to live in urban areas choose to live in neighborhoods, as they can’t afford the luxury of a more private home. But when it comes to neighborhoods of densely packed million-dollar mansions, herd mentality is really the only thing driving the argument.
