A man's comparison between open air vs gated societies: Security, amenities or human connection?

A social media post comparing gated societies with open neighbourhoods has triggered a debate over whether better security and amenities necessarily translate into stronger community ties. A man behind the Instagram account ‘Bebaak AP’ has argued that while gated developments may provide greater convenience, residents in open neighbourhoods can sometimes have deeper connections with the people and surroundings around them.

In the video, he contrasts the facilities available in the two settings and then shifts the focus to what he considers a less visible difference: the way residents interact with their wider community.

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What gated societies offer that open neighbourhoods may not

Explaining his comparison in simple terms, the man points to several practical differences between the two types of neighbourhoods.

In an open area, he says residents may not have dedicated security, a boundary wall or organised parking. By comparison, gated societies generally provide features such as controlled access, basement parking, security personnel and lighting.

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He also points to the difference in how services are managed. In open neighbourhoods, cleaning and other civic services can depend on government systems, while gated developments typically rely on privately managed arrangements funded through maintenance charges paid by residents.

‘The situation for both is the same’

The man argues that these advantages do not completely separate residents of gated communities from those living outside them.

“Their security is limited to inside the house; their security is limited up to this gate. The situation for both is the same: as soon as he goes out of this gate and he goes out of the house. These people also share the same air, these people also share the same air,” he says.

His argument then moves away from physical facilities and towards neighbourhood relationships, suggesting that infrastructure does not automatically create a sense of shared responsibility.

Why he says open neighbourhoods can feel more connected

While describing an open neighbourhood, he points to the familiarity residents can develop with people and animals around them.

“This child is from our street, this cow is in our street, so we feed them food,” he says, using the example to illustrate what he sees as a stronger sense of collective ownership.

He also recalls an incident involving animals during summer. According to him, he once suggested to residents of a gated society that they should keep water outside or install a trough so animals would not suffer in the heat.

“It is very hot outside the society, let's place a bowl, let's install a type of trough so that in the heat the animals do not face any trouble,” he recalled suggesting.

He claims the proposal led to an argument among the residents, saying, “All of them fought with me.”

‘The difference starts from how you take care of the people around you’

The man concludes that the real distinction lies not simply in facilities, but in how residents treat others around them.

“The difference starts from how you take care of the people around you,” he says.

He argues that people in some open neighbourhoods may know one another well and be more likely to come together when someone faces a problem. By contrast, he says apartment living can sometimes leave people socially disconnected.

“If something happens to me in this society, no one will help me. In this location, if something happens to me, everyone will stand up,” he says.

The caption accompanying the video also clarified that the comparison was not intended as an argument against gated societies. Instead, it questioned whether greater comfort and security can sometimes come with reduced social interaction.

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Social media users debate the trade-off

The post drew a range of responses, with users weighing infrastructure and convenience against community ties and everyday civic responsibilities.

One user highlighted the financial side of living in a gated society, writing, “One Major difference. Charges. Society pays heavy chatges to govt from day zero, then pay maintaince etc. But other side rarely pays any muncipal charges.”

Another agreed with the central argument, saying, “So true...genuine human connection matters way more than just infrastructure.”

A user who said they had lived in both settings wrote, “I think an open neighbourhood is any day better...I've lived in both and I'd prefer an open neighbourhood anyday!”

Another commenter focused on the role of civic services and taxes, writing, “So basically you are paying heavy taxes and in return get nothing from government. Even you have to manage your own water supply, clean air, cleaning of roads,management of parking and other basic necessities.”

Not everyone agreed that open neighbourhoods were preferable. One user argued that some people avoid villages and similar communities because of what they described as excessive involvement in others’ lives.

“You know lot of people don’t like villages because those people peak too much into others’ lives. That’s why gated communities can be peaceful. Educated people are easy to deal with,” the user wrote.

Another commenter raised a separate concern about gated communities, saying, “Gated wil have dog lovers and they will bring in stray dogs inside.”