I tend think the transition to living online is basically a repeat of the transition to living in cities. That is, from villages to cities is the same as cities to online. There's more of everything - people, stuff, contact, density, access, coincidences. I wonder if we can learn anything from the previous transition.

Yes, i really dig this analogy. It also shows that the transition is potentially a game changer of extraordinary significance given the immensity of that global digital city. Even lingustic barriers will soon be a thing of the past.

Its interesting to note that cities were despised from their very beginnings and even today many people cant tolerate them.

But many many social inventions may provide interesting and useful analogies: zoning rules, police, firefighters, quiet areas and parks, thoroughfares. Also, the privacy one enjoys in the countryside is reduced but not eliminated - despite the density people still have private spaces.

ghetto and fenced community are not that great. If you deal with unrest be sure to build large boulevard to replace the narrow streets. Those are more efficient to bring troops quickly and harder to barricade.