Randoms don't wander in. There is, at the minimum, an illusion of security with a security guard.

Security is security: the more you have, the more difficult target you look. It doesn't necessarily make you safer, but the illusion exists on both sides.

Unless the neighborhood is actually paying for a living human to stand guard, it’s just a premium for the illusion of security. They just want to feel like the “others” can’t just waltz in.

Once they couldn't do redlining anymore, racist homeowners decided to sequester themselves and set up little clubs where they can control who moves into the neighborhood...or at least pressure less desirable folk into leaving.

It’s called response effort. The idea is that an action in particular is less likely to occur because it’s more effort than you’re motivated to spend in that moment.

Ever have a few things you could easily do, you’ve done them before, you’ll do them again another time, but that one time the extra steps make it not worth the effort?

It works a surprisingly large amount of the time especially where impulsive behavior is concerned.

Similar thing with locking our doors etc however there are additional motivational forces at play. Yeah they aren’t vaults, but if this one is locked and barricaded and it’ll take 10 minutes to negotiate vs the next one down being open…it’s an easy choice.

Your probably white. They weren’t made to keep you out.

Cable guys and pizza delivery people know how to get into every gated complex in the city.