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It does seem to me that there is an exurban culture and an urban culture and the two are becoming ever more segregated. These cultures have nothing to do with ethnicity--but rather philosophy and politics, or even a world view. Generally, urban cultures embrace, "creativity, novelty and excitement," where these are eschewed by the outer-ring suburban in favor of the virtue of par.
What's more, with ever more fragmented entertainment and news, each culture is caught in a reinforcing feedback loop and further diverging (e.g. Columbus Underground.) Why don't I see exuburbs as great egalitarian meccas where everyone can achieve par--just by following simple rules? To me, they seem so boring and contrived; built for planned obsolescence.
I'm a product of the outer-ring suburbs; but where I grew up was a historic district built to support a farming community--well built for livability. Now much of that historic district has gone out of business and through my life, a bedroom community of ticky-tacky and strip malls have risen in its place. There is actually an ordinance that requires all new commercial buildings to be covered in faux brick. It's not the suburb that I hate--it's the lack of quality and the lack of creativity. Luckily, I seldom have to visit them and do my best to keep that mindset from encroaching on what I see as my oasis--but understand why they work.
I recently had to take a management class where we took a (not very scientific) personality profile called True Colors. It occurred to me that all the reasons I don't like 'gold personalities' are the same reasons I don't like the suburbs. A gold personality values rules, routines, order, security, duty and procedure above all else. Bman--I have a feeling that while because of your sexual orientation, you don't exactly fit this profile--but do so more than anything else?
I believe I see what people in the suburbs want and why the suburbs are a good fit for them. I would be much more accepting of their existence if there was more of an emphasis for them to be economically and environmentally sustainable--and not in some distant future.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.