[Eddy_Viscosity2]

I have a theory about this. Its the 'Del Boca Vista' theory of manufactured discontent. The idea is that when people achieve a lifestyle where all the basic needs are met as well as some luxuries coupled with ample free time, that they run out of legitimate things to complain about. So they start making them up. They create new rules for every conceivable slight (see most homeowners associations) and enforce them with religious fervor. They get angry over the most minor things because everything else is kinda great. But they need to have something to rail against, to be mad about, to fight against. It's human nature. In poorer communities people devote that energy to trying to survive. In wealthy communities it gets redirected at the rules about the wrong color door or calling CPS on kids out by themselves on public transport.

The craziness and restrictiveness of their expectations of others is directly proportional to their overall high standard of living. If they are complaining about kids on subways, its because everything else in their lives is already awesome.