Can you elaborate on what's so bad about it? I lived in Toronto for a while and rarely had to drive because most things I needed were ~15 minutes away by subway/walking. It was awesome! It's not like someone is going to put an ankle monitor on you to prevent you from going further for stuff if you want to.

Can you elaborate on what you want me to elaborate on? I've been to Toronto, its another "sick town" and nothing I say is going to change your mind if you think living like an ant is "awesome!"

This is all very vague. "Sick town", "living like an ant". Can you actually explain what you mean by any of this?

I'll give you a specific example of why I think Toronto is good. Almost any night of the week I can catch a subway to a music venue - listen to some live music, drink a few beers, socialize a bit. Then I can get home without paying for a taxi or breaking the law by driving intoxicated. What's the equivalent weeknight activity in the suburbs? Sitting on my ass and watching TV all night? How is that less "sick" than what I described? This contrast is especially stark in Canadian winters when the weather and early sunsets make outdoor activities less desirable.

In every conversation I've had on this subject, urbanites discuss the "lack of nightlife" as a problem. My opinions are twofold on this:

A) If you need beer and nightlife to distract you from living in an urban dystopia, there is not much I can do. B) Most folks that want to leave the cities want space to do things with their families.

1) At night in my semi-suburban setting that I live in now, I work with my kids on things in my garage. Before we had kids, I did the same. My property allows me to spread out and have a woodshop, metalshop, lab, garden etc. 2) In the springtime/summertime tend to my garden (yes at night) so that I can eat natural foods without needing to share an "urban farm". Again, kids are included in this now. 3) Teach/play instruments without the restrictions of an apartment. 4) In the winter sure, if you want nightlife, there isnt much of that.

I don't drink and only listen to gaussian white noise so perhaps I'm not the right person to ask if you're looking for a "nightlife" centered activity/answer.

I truly don't get this perspective. The value of living in a city is proximity to people and amenities. If you value something different, that's totally understandable, but why wouldn't you just move to the country?

Heh, they always say "You're free to leave any time you want".

When all we have is Maglev trains that go from one walkable city (e.g. jail) to another, how will you move to the country?

Well, looking around I see nothing but freeways and cars, so I don't think we're in any danger of the utopia you describe

Yea yea, but you'd change it if you could and then say the same thing that every despot has always said since the beginning of time:

"You're free to leave if you want".

I think you slightly overestimate my power as a hn commenter

Its not like you have to be confined within the 15 min city if you dont want to. You an always take the train or the bus to the 7-11 1 hour away to get your beer. Its just convenient to be in a place where you dont have to drive far away to get your basic amenities. Any East asian city should be a pretty good example.