Amen.

I grew up in a subsidized development. Tiny houses (850-1000sqft) by the standards then (1978), never mind today. Everyone knew everyone else on the block. Everyone's kids played with everyone else's kids. When someone built a pool, or a deck, or sided their house all sorts of neighbors went over to bring food for a picnic and to help out.

A few years ago I moved towards Boston and lived in a gated apartment community that originally was supposed to be sold as condos. Most of the new tenants were those ditching their homes in the economic downturn, but still a lot of parked M3s, M5s, 911s and even a Ferrari 430.

I took a walk every day. When passing someone else I would say hi and not even be acknowledged. When someone's dog was loose and I went to leasing to reunite him with the owner, they seemed to be BOTHERED that someone interacted with their dog. When I attempted to introduce myself to the neighbors with a fresh batch of brownies, only 1 of 4 neighbors answered the door. 360 units, all filled, and no one can be bothered to interact.

When someone moved in they had knocked on doors to see if there was a vacuum they could borrow. I was the only person that answered the door, and I certainly loaned him my vac. Ended up being the only neighbor I ended up getting to know.

I ended up moving into the city later on. Nice place, and it's a building. At least with the forced running into people in the halls people say hello, but no one will hold a door for you. Oh well, at least everyone's dog is friendly and likes to say hello.

Friends who come over to visit notice the same thing. And when I go their tenements, every one of their neighbors I encounter is friendly. I'm honestly curious what psychological/sociological phenomenons cause this.

I spent some time in Turkey and you get to talk more with people in the street than with some of your neighbours back home.