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People On This Group Are Sharing Examples Of ‘Urban Hell’ That Look Like A Dystopian Movie But Are Sadly Real (40 New Pics)
4.2 billion people live in cities worldwide. That's more than half of the population. By 2050, it's projected that more than two-thirds of us will reside in urban areas.
But denser doesn't mean better. This environment can pose a lot of challenges, including noise and air pollution, lack of green spaces, and inadequate transport. And there's a photography subreddit that documents them.
It's called 'Urban Hell' and the people running it say it's dedicated to "all the hideous places human beings built or inhabit." They invite us to go there for aesthetic appreciation of the darker side of the cities, towns, and villages in our world, promising rural and suburban curses as well. So let's do that and take a look at the pictures that have recently popped up within the subreddit.
For more, check out Bored Panda's earlier articles on it here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Dhaka, Bangladesh
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#2
This Is The Most Apocalyptic Image Of Modern Cairo, Egypt, I Have Ever Seen Anyone Take
DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago
If I saw this without the pyramids in the background, I'd tell you it was from an apocalyptic movie.
Of course, city living has a lot to offer. From local coffee shops and restaurants to attending cultural events and meeting people from diverse backgrounds, spending your days in a metropolis can be exciting.
But some of the issues that are evident in these pictures don't just look bad. They also damage our health. And we're not talking about minor annoyances. Constant stimulation from a busy city living can take a big toll on your mental well-being.
#3
The Before And The After Of My Hometown, Hungary
#4
One Of My Most Hated Buildings Finally Got Destroyed And Replaced By Something Beautiful
Compared to rural residents, researchers have discovered that urbanites are 21 percent more likely to have anxiety disorders and 39 percent more likely to have mood disorders. A 2017 meta-analysis also found that rates of the following conditions were also higher among those living in urban areas:
- PTSD;
- anger management;
- generalized anxiety disorder.
The same was true for more serious disorders like schizophrenia and paranoia.
#5
Welcome To Texas
#6
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
#7
There's Cities, There's Metropolises, And Then There's Tokyo
Psychiatrists think it's because the constant stimulation of city life can put you in difficult situations where you get the fight-or-flight response, which in turn alters how you cope with stress.
But the problems don't end there. City living can also chip away at your psychological immune system, which can be precarious for those with a family history of mental illness. According to experts, this environmental stress can increase their risk of developing a psychiatric condition, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
#8
50 Lane Traffic Jam - China
#9
(Oc) Hebron’s Multi-Story Borders: Ground-Level Palestinians Construct Fences Above Their Streets To Protect Themselves From Upper-Story Israeli Settlers Who Throw Trash, Furniture, And Rocks Down On Them
#10
Concrete Canyon In Manhattan
Nunya Business 2 years ago
I've never been to a city so large that the buildings block out the sun. I think I'll keep it that way.
#11
18000 People In A Single Building. (Saint Petersburg, Russia)
But even though urban life may lead to emotional distress, shame and stigma can stop young adults from talking about their struggles. This may explain why they feel lonelier than older generations, according to a Cigna study. What's more, young adults, especially millennials, often feel burned out.
Some folks view them as incompetent adults who shy away from responsibility, but as Anne Helen Peterson explained to Buzzfeed, millennials have "errand paralysis" and think they should always be working.
#12
Lagos, Nigeria - The Overcrowding Is Terrible
#13
Egypt, What Is Wrong With You?
#14
Newly Built Housing. Samara, Russia
#15
Saint Petersburg, Russia
adiiantryx 2 years ago
these type of compact apartment townships are becoming quite popular throughout the world
City life can also affect our physical health. A 2017 study suggests too much exposure to air pollution and city noise may cause damage to a person's cardiovascular health.
For instance, never-ending traffic noise may interfere with our sleep quality and cause cortisol, the stress hormone, to spike. Over time, elevated levels of this hormone can increase our risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
#16
Do Not Show Partiality To The Poor Or Favoritism To The Great, But Judge Your Neighbor Fairly
#17
New Residential Block In Malaysia
#18
View From The Bathroom Window, Belgrade
Red rockin lobster 2 years ago (edited)
When I lived in Belgrade, I had a similar view from the bathroom. Maybe some won't understand, but for me it was nice. I knew everone who lived around, it was cosy and safe. The feeling of home, if you thought of asking for toilet paper, I'm sure someone would throw it to you through the window. The outer side od buildngs where the rooms, kitchen and living are, had an open view. Kinda miss it
#19
Why Does Delhi Looks So Dystopian
It also seems urban dwellers may be more prone to insomnia and sleep difficulties. In a survey of more than 15,000 individuals, researchers found that the bright lights of a city can dampen a person's ability to get a good night's rest.
According to the survey, 6 percent of people living in highly lit, urban areas slept less than six hours each night. Furthermore, 29 percent of these urbanites were dissatisfied with the quality of their nighttime rest.
#20
Christmas In Grimsby City Centre, UK
#21
Infinite Amount Of Concrete…
#22
"Ocean Access" + Suburbs In Florida
#23
It's Hard To Capture In Two Photos, But Here Is A Brand New KFC Sat In The Middle Of Cleared Rainforest In Malaysia, Ready For A Development To Be Built Around It
#24
Trying To Cross The Street? Bummer. The Street Is Only For Cars. Tehran
#25
A Lovely Day For A Picnic...
JJ 2 years ago
As someone who grew up in a big coal and industry city in between other big coal and industry cities, I can relate and say that those small green spots and the view on industry are not as bad as this picture seems. You get used to it and if you move, you kind of even miss it. It has some weird sense of peace.
#26
Each Of Those Houses With A Garden Are £1+ Million. The Grass In All Gardens Is Astroturf
#27
A Homeless Man Sleeps Next To A 50 Gallon Drum Of Burning Scavenged Wood In Front Of The World Trade Center Under Construction, New York City, 1970
#28
Vorkuta, Russia. The Coldest City In Europe (Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded At -52 C)
#29
Jakarta's Chinatown 1940s vs. Now
Final score:
112points
#30
No Need To Worry, Elite Architects Were At Work Here
#31
Advertisement On A Commercial Building, South Korea
#32
One Of The Worst Traffic And Pollution In The World. Tehran, Iran
#33
I Just Want To Get To The Other Side Of The Highway Man
WilvanderHeijden 2 years ago
In the Netherlands it's the other way round. You can get anywhere in a city in 5 minutes by bicycle, but it will take you 30 minutes by car to get there.
#34
A Spiral Parking Lot Somewhere In Chongqing, China
#35
Duisburg, Also Known As The Ugliest City In Germany
#36
The Entrance To A Shopping Mall That Is Still Alive And Well, Despite The Visual Evidence To The Contrary
#37
One More Lane Will Solve This. Cairo
Tristan Kenyon 2 years ago
The sign says Carve Your Getaway. , Yup gonna need to carve out of that traffic 🙄
#38
An Apartment In Istanbul Is Attached To Another Building
#39
Abu Eir, Alexandria, Egypt
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
Most of these pictures give me anxiety. So many people, so cramped, I'd die. I'm already stressed about having to deal with one neighbour, I can't imagine having to deal with so many people.
Devil's Advocate 2 years ago
As depressing as the number of homeless Americans in full time employment?
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Demi Zwaan 2 years ago
Most of these pictures give me anxiety. So many people, so cramped, I'd die. I'm already stressed about having to deal with one neighbour, I can't imagine having to deal with so many people.
Devil's Advocate 2 years ago
As depressing as the number of homeless Americans in full time employment?
Load More Replies...
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