Talk:Slum

Proposed merge of Shantytown

A merge-tag was added 13Sep09, to discuss merging the article "Shantytown" into Slum. However, the term "slum" refers to any derelict section of a town, whereas a shantytown is composed of shanties, rather than old houses needing extensive repairs. In the USA, many American cities contain slum areas, in need of numerous repairs and landscape work to remove tall weeds or bushes from homes, businesses or sidewalks, but those slums have buildings made of brick or wooden-frame structures, with few at a shanty level. Similarly, a "tent" is very different from "log cabin". For those reasons, I am closing this 3-week topic, with the logical conclusion that slums are different from shantytowns, so: Don't merge. -Wikid77 (talk) 02:30, 4 October 2009 (UTC)

I agree with this distinction, but the articles should make it clear (they don't now) and utilize WP:summary style. MakeBelieveMonster (talk) 01:22, 30 August 2011 (UTC)

Brazil has 6% of its population living in slums, not 40%

A recent research of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics indicated that 6% of the population in Brazil live in slums (IBGE:2011). The map is outdated and wrong, since it shows that 30% - 40% of the population would be living in these conditions. The correct information can be found in another article of wikipedia: http://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/Favela

Other Sources: http://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/Favela http://gazetaonline.globo.com/_conteudo/2011/12/noticias/minuto_a_minuto/nacional/1066412-favelas-concentram-6-da-populacao-brasileira-com-11-mi-de-habitantes.html http://tribunadonorte.com.br/noticia/ibge-6-da-populacao-brasileira-vivia-em-favelas-em-2010/206602 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.55.62.247 (talk) 20:48, 2 March 2015 (UTC)

The map refers to the percentage of the urban population, not the percentage of the total population. 124.123.207.35 (talk) 13:21, 23 June 2016 (UTC)

Merge with shanty town

It seems to me that the concepts of slum and shanty town are nearly identical. As a sociologist, I don't recall ever reading any study which differentiated between those terms, which seem to be used as synonyms (nor was I able to find such a work in my search right now). Our articles seem to use those words in the same context (the article about slums talks about shanty towns, and vice versa). This very article (slum) even states "Numerous other terms are often used interchangeably with slum: shanty town, ...". It seems to me those articles should be merged. As to which article should be the target, I think the word slum is more popular (has almost three millions of hits on Google, compared to 70-80k for "shanty town"/"shantytown"). --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 03:16, 19 May 2015 (UTC)

See Talk:Slum#Proposed merge of Shantytown for previous discussion in 2011. Slums have a clear yet broad UN definition. Shantytown as I understand it mainly refers to the quality of building materials. Even if most shantytowns are slums, a separate article still makes sense, given that this is a very broad subject. Rather than merging I think it is cleanup that's needed. --ELEKHH^T 03:06, 3 June 2015 (UTC)

Hi Piotrus, I can see why this suggestion might make sense, but agree with User:Elekhh and others in prior discussions that the two terms, while overlapping, are distinctly different. All shantytowns may be slums, but not vice versa, viz. the decayed urban cores of many northeastern 'Rust Belt' cities in the US. DA Sonnenfeld (talk) 09:43, 3 June 2015 (UTC)

@Elekhh and DASonnenfeld: First, we need reliable sources to show that such differently defined entities exist. In my review of sources, I see those terms used interexchanginly, and this confusion continues in our articles (the two here, usage of those words on Wikipedia, and images on Commons). I think that while a minority of people distinguishes between those terms, majority uses them as synonyms. I think that, in the absence of sources that will allow us to distinguish between those words, we have no choice but to merge them. Again, I'd invite anyone to show me sources with clearly distinguish between those terms. Just to start, here is a source that uses the UN definitions, as well as the word shantytown as a synonym for slum: Donald C. Williams (2012). Global Urban Growth: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-59884-441-2. . And from [1]: "A shantytown, also commonly referred to as a slum, is defined by the United Nations as..."; this is from Habitat for Humanity publication. I contend that vast majority of sources see those terms as synonymous, and we should reflect that.--_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 10:06, 3 June 2015 (UTC)

Oppose merge. See p. 1374, Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures, ISBN 978-0415131889: "Shanty town and slum denote different urban phenomena". Or see, p. 136, Key Concepts in Urban Studies, ISBN 978-0761940982: "Shanty towns can be slums, but they are also different". IOW, the terms are sometimes used synonymously, but many scholars consider slums more established, large settlements, while shanty towns are often smaller, newer, temporary squatting clusters. As Elekhh and DAS note, shantytowns may be slums, not vice versa. Instead of merge, add a section explaining the similarities and differences. ThomasJessica (talk) 04:24, 9 June 2015 (UTC)

@ThomasJessica: Thank you for finding quality sources to shed light onto that. Would you mind drafting a section on differences, using them? --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 06:04, 9 June 2015 (UTC)

Urban population living in slums, as of 2001.

Hi All, Don't you think it's about time this data and map is updated? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.74.186.109 (talk) 13:15, May 16, 2016‎ (UTC)

Of course it should. Do you know where we can find up to date data and a person who could create a map for Wikipedia? See also here. --_{Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus| reply here} 08:36, 16 May 2016 (UTC)

UN-Habitat references return error 404

UN-Habitat references return error 404. This can be fixed by changing "www." to "mirror." (e.g. http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf → http://mirror.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Bluraygun (talk • contribs) 16:25, 7 January 2017 (UTC)

Lancet

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31650-6 and doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31848-7 this week. JFW | T@lk 13:30, 3 February 2017 (UTC)

diktat

government priority number one for all concerned.

within a closed schedule please.

gracias.

the governor general. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 106.192.146.136 (talk) 20:45, 5 May 2017 (UTC)

map

the map about the percentage of people living in slum isn't fine, at least for argentina, it says that that 30-40% of the population live in slums, that just ridiculus, and the cite is broken, according to this study http://www.infobae.com/politica/2017/05/23/mapa-de-las-villas-en-argentina-juntas-son-mas-grandes-que-la-ciudad-de-buenos-aires/ there is 1.340.272 people living in slums, that is in country of more than 40 million, far less than 30-40%. is about 3% 2800:810:4A7:5E8:D5EB:7820:86E2:FABA (talk) 02:17, 2 June 2017 (UTC)

I just read a similar pose about brazil, and just for clearing, argentina urban population is about 95% — Preceding unsigned comment added by 186.19.23.46 (talk) 02:21, 2 June 2017 (UTC)

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 6 external links on Slum. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110206143558/http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf to http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110206143558/http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf to http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4625_51419_GC%2021%20What%20are%20slums.pdf
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20131126045403/http://www.convergence-lr.fr/evenement/1/hlm-ideesrecues-2012.pdf to http://www.convergence-lr.fr/evenement/1/hlm-ideesrecues-2012.pdf
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110728132453/http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/article/detail/766/ to http://www.imcworldwide.org/content/article/detail/766/
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20111027063706/http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/Sida.pdf to http://rru.worldbank.org/Documents/PapersLinks/Sida.pdf
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130317043415/http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4631_46759_GC%2021%20Slum%20dwellers%20to%20double.pdf to http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/4631_46759_GC%2021%20Slum%20dwellers%20to%20double.pdf

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Copied some content from here to developing countries

This Wikipedia article seems to me of very high quality, thanks to everyone who has worked on it so far! I have just copied some information across to the article on developing countries as I am working there on a section about common characteristics in developing countries. Take a look at what I have copied across and let me know if there are more key aspects (obviously I don't want to dublicate information, I just want to make sure that when people go to developing countries they read something about slums and know that there is a full article for more information. Thanks. EMsmile (talk) 01:22, 28 March 2018 (UTC)

Etymology?

In the early 1800's people writing back to England from South Africa referred to the dirty, poor, unemployed areas of Cape Town (predominantly Muslim) as 'the salaams.' this later became 'slums.' — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:8003:3597:3400:7975:4A4A:6CCA:5992 (talk) 09:00, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

WP:SQUAT

Wikipedia:WikiProject_Squatting is a collaborative effort to improve Wikipedia's coverage of topics related to squatting. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Everyone is welcome, from beginner to experienced editor. Feel free to pass by with suggestions. Let's get it going again! Mujinga (talk) 18:45, 20 April 2019 (UTC)

Neutrality of the slum upgrade part

Part of the article, the last section of the slum upgrade part of the article deals with "government" and "Competetive Market" proposals, and goes out of its way to condemn any attempt at improving peoples lives without even linking to the sited persons properly. yet states no such actual proposals or if market are actually designed to deal with such problems. there is obious political agendas behind the inclusion in the article. which is fine if disclosed but neoliberal propaganda without any disclosure can be a breach of neutrality given the writers obious politcal views presented in educational urban article rather than a politics section even if the article might be at times interconnected/intertwined with politics. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Akiosn (talk • contribs) 13:33, 4 October 2019 (UTC)

Shanghai Slums are not slums

Those picture of Shanghai slums are urban villages, those are originally rural villages have been overrun by expanding city borders. They have their own water, electricity and sanitation but have narrow streets because they have been existing since pre-automotive era. And they are build on their own land, not illegally. Those urban village may contain huge mansion like buildings and tall housing but the roads are narrow, inherited for a long ass time. As far as i know, slums are rare in China because the migrants workers are to be provided proper housing by the employers. It is the law. Bizzarely why foreigners people call it slums, is it political or propaganda? Recently there is a drive to demolish buildings to replace them with newer one modern ones, citing earthquake hazard, unless it has historical value. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 219.93.225.5 (talk) 04:32, 3 February 2021 (UTC)

Eugene, Oregon USA image

This is an image of a homeless camp, not a slum. It does not meet the definition of "highly populated", which is in the first line of the article. This image is not at all similar to any of the other pictures surrounding it. I don't think temporary tent camps can be considered slums, which also implies permanent housing. Cities/urban environments across the world, regardless of wealth or style of government or geography, have homeless populations living in such situations, which should not be considered slums. Scotty1141 (talk) 10:39, 11 September 2021 (UTC)

WP:SQUAT

There are over one billion squatters worldwide and the phenomenon is under-represented on Wikipedia. Join Wikipedia:WikiProject_Squatting to help write articles about squatting in every country, or drop a message on the talkpage about something else you'd like to see covered. This is just one of many ways to counter systemic bias on Wikipedia! Mujinga (talk) 19:17, 29 November 2021 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for speedy deletion:

• Dubai slums.webp

You can see the reason for deletion at the file description page linked above. —Community Tech bot (talk) 20:52, 10 January 2022 (UTC)

Commons files used on this page or its Wikidata item have been nominated for deletion

The following Wikimedia Commons files used on this page or its Wikidata item have been nominated for deletion:

• Baltimore slums.jpg
• Slums in the mongolian capital city.jpg
• Turkmen slums.jpg

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 00:07, 18 January 2022 (UTC)

high-rise image

I've removed File:HK KMBus 968 Tour view Kln West Unique Square 天璽 The Cullinan facades Sep 2016 DSC.jpg from the infobox gallery of slums yet again. This image of a high-rise was uploaded to Commons by User:Waisihal Lauiwmg Kami but the description does not mention it being a slum. Without a reliable source stating that this building is considered a slum this image should not be included. Meters (talk) 01:59, 23 April 2022 (UTC)

"Poor housing" listed at Redirects for discussion

An editor has identified a potential problem with the redirect Poor housing and has thus listed it for discussion. This discussion will occur at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2022 April 27#Poor housing until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Steel1943 (talk) 19:21, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

Wikipedia Ambassador Program course assignment

This article was the subject of an educational assignment at Rice University supported by the Wikipedia Ambassador Program during the 2013 Fall term. Further details are available on the course page.

The above message was substituted from {{WAP assignment}} by PrimeBOT (talk) on 15:57, 2 January 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protection

How did this article fall under semi-protection? There is no record of the decision to be found Senior-banker (talk) 08:16, 21 June 2023 (UTC)

Moscow?

Soviet era built basic apartments are not slums. Cheap basic housing, true, but not slums. Владимир Казаринов (talk) 10:08, 11 October 2023 (UTC)

• This. Call me Russian troll, I just don't see how a government-built apartment block with electricity, water, heating and garbage collection is considered a slum. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gorgedweller (talk • contribs) 08:26, 14 March 2024 (UTC)