[HEmanZ]

In America, people believe there are only two ways to live: Manhattan high-rise or suburban McMansion.

My pet social theory is that an unbelievable amount of our societal woes stem from this false dichotomy in the American mind, and the cities we end up designing because of it.

[tptacek]

Most suburban homes look nothing like "McMansions". They're simple Cape Cods on small lots packed 30 to a block.

[trgn]

> My pet social theory is that an unbelievable amount of our societal woes stem from this false dichotomy in the American mind

Agreed, it's a failure of imagination. Americans, for whatever reason, cannot make that leap in their mind's eye.