[UA] sorry but im thick

[Kevin Elmore]

> zone...) a gated 
> community is basically one walled off and protected from
> the rest of the 
> city. You can't get in except through the main gate,
> which is manned by 
> security people, and you need to be a resident or guest
> of a resident to get 
> it. 

Usually there are not security guards--at least in the more
affordable places.  There is just a gate with a badge
reader.  Or the residents have a remote control to open the
gate.  I'm sure the more affluent areas have 24-hour
security guards--or at least night guards.

The method of entry is limited to your imagination.  Just
about any method of controlled entry would be possible
(retinal scans are pushing it, though).

> 
> Basically, they're great for keeping "undesirables" out. 

I guess one handy use is to keep out salesmen as well.  But
then, I think the door-to-door salesman has gone the way of
the dodo since telemarketing is more cost-effective.

It could also be an obstacle for the PCs.  Someone they're
hunting lives in such a community.  If he's a typical UO
duke, then he probably doesn't own the house; he's probably
shacking up with a buddy who can hold a decent job.

> 
> A lot of these communities tend to have fairly strict
> rules about the 
> appearance of your house, acceptable behaviour, etc.

Definitely read "Joy and Sorrow" from _One Shots_.  I don't
think the author was exaggerating too much.  I haven't
lived in a strict community like that, but the suburb
experience I had with a simple neighborhood left a bad
taste in my mouth.  Grass had to be less than 4 inches
high, a car could not be in the same spot for more than a
week, etc.  Crank up those examples, and you probably have
a pretty accurate portrayal of a gated community.

Not to say that all gated communities are racist, but it's
easy to promote bigotry in such an area.  Since the rules
are so difficult to follow, you can easily catch an
undesirable breaking a rule and fine him.  Meanwhile,
white-bread upstanding citizen doesn't even hear a word
about his illegal lawn ornaments.

But I'm not the best person to ask.  I grew up in a suburb,
but it wasn't an affluent neighborhood.  I lived a couple
years in another suburb in Kansas City, but it was a poor
man's suburb--part suburbia, part white trash (and nowadays
I wonder if there is really that much difference).  Now I
live in a downtown apartment, so I've lost touch with
suburban life except when I go visit friends.

Kevin



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