But to me probably the most interesting thing about the discussion is that, I mean the whole concept of community is incredibly complex. Sociologists back in the 19th century were talking about organic community and associative community and some communities which, like country towns, grow organically and the kind of community that stamp collectors around the world are. In a way LambdaMoo seems closer to the stamp collectors community say than to a home town community. I find it rather interesting. I suppose it's interesting tensions, contradictions in this whole thing.
Most murderers know their victim or are relations of their victim.
So you'd expect that in a close-knit community where everybody knows everybody else the potential for violent crimes like murder would be much higher. Whereas where you do have surveillance in the street there's certainly an impression of safety and probably a reduction of property crimes. But the idea of safety and crime and not linking that to things like murder and the known things about murder that it is people that you know that tend to carry out the crimes. It sort of raises interesting issues about community which I don't think people really think about.