Goodfencemakesgoodneighbours"Goodfencemakesgoodneighbours."Itmakeslittledifferencewhetherafenceisanactualphysicalwoodenfence,achain-linkfence,acedarhedge,oraninvisiblebarriersuchasthespacebetweentwofrontdoorsinanapartmentbuilding:afenceisafenceisafence.Itisaconstantreminderof"keepyourdistance","nopryingplease",and"mindyourownbusiness,ifyouplease."Inacountryofoverabillionpeople,keepingyourneighbour'snoseoutofyourbedroomisnoeasytaskInlargecitiesacrossChina,high-riseapartmentbuildingsarepackinginpeoplelikesardines.Thecloserpeopleget,themorealienatedtheybecome.Thesenewurbanhermitscomeoutoftheirmoderncavesinthemorningtogotowork,anddisappearbacktotheircavesuponreturning.Theirsisaself-sufficientworld.Refrigeratorsorfreezersmakeitpossibleforthemnottodotheirhuntingandgatheringdaily.Radio,TVandtheInternetkeeptheminformedofwhat'sgoingonintheworld.TheInternetallowsthemtokeepupwithadistantrelationshipwithacquaintances,associalcontactgoesvirtual.Chinesehavealongtraditionofsweepingthesnowofftheirownfrontporchbutignoringtheiceontheirneighbour'sroof.Sonotknowingyourneighbour'sname,asdepictedinthispicture,isreallynotsuchabigdeal.Besides,youdon'twanttobehavelikeyouareworkingforthegovernment,checkingonwhetheryourneighboursaredoingsomethingillegalorbelongingtoanoutlawedreligioussect,doyou?
