Are things really that bad in SA?

You get two kinds of people, those that enjoy being rogered by their government, and those that don't.. :laugh:
 
Probably made it using daddys/others money and inheritances or insurance payouts.
 
Bassist said:
Did you see the question mark after the title :)
I think it's bad in SA unless you are able to apply a formula, like some have, and make things successful for you. Obviously you need the right ingredients in the mix, and SA seems to have the basics to get you started (weather, etc). You'll need to be in survival mode until you do, though.
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Yes - I did. Let us see how the thread goes.. :popcorn:
 
pb41 said:
A certain proportion of South African society is ambitious, hard working, driven, responsible, self-disciplined, entrepreneurial, adaptable and resilient. This is probably a combination of upbringing, education, life experience, societal pressure and influences and an understanding of the basic requirements for success and getting ahead in life. I don't think this is nearly as common in Europe and possibly the USA. Some of the Far Eastern countries share these characteristics and it shows in their superior economic performance and quality of their workforces..
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Yes. That is getting towards my point. I suspect their "formula" has got to do with the above.

Why leave SA when you could still try to apply that formula?
"ambitious, hard working, driven, responsible, self-disciplined, entrepreneurial, adaptable and resilient" -> are you NOT like this? If not, why not?
(you = any person wanting to leave)
 
saor said:
Ja, but those aren't the people you were talking about. Go read your first post again. You were referring to a specific group of people which is what I'm responding to with frog analogies.
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No I was referring to anyone with those characteristics.

Your problem in your thinking is that you assume, because those people are producing successful output and living the life associated with that, they MUST HAVE come from growing up in the lily pond, i.e. privileged. You are looking for an excuse why they are like that, in the sense of their background or upbringing. I'm not saying they all had horrible background, and some probably had lily pond backgrounds soo, but many grew up "normal" like me. What is normal? Middle class.

Here is the characteristics I have gathered so far, for those success people:
- friendly, positive, charismatic
- resourceful, outgoing, helpful, innovative
- physically attractive.
- young
- knows many friends, have a huge support network, both career-wise and private/social
- very witty and street wise
- does some form of active sport
- strong mental energy. "Get up and go" attitude
- travel a lot, even if on a tight budget
- socialise with other people to maintain/expand their network, instead of staying home and playing games / watching Netflix.
 
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Shaun108 said:
Probably made it using daddys/others money and inheritances or insurance payouts.
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This is a popular misconception that I want to make a very clear point of, that it is largely false for many of the people I know who are like that.
 
abzo said:
They probably have really well grounded chakras from walking barefoot on Kloof Street.
Also, hipsters always have someone else’s money.
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Pretty sure you would contract aids from doing that.
 
Bassist said:
If you are "happy" (by your own terms) in SA then you will stay in SA.

I'm trying to figure out by what measure or means a select group of people are, that remain in SA, so that I can try that too and come back to SA.
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No matter if you work it out just do not come back if you have children or are planning on having children.
 
eg2505 said:
Grass is greener due to all the Sh*t in it.

same thing when we went to Toronto, yes its safe, you wont get mugged.
and yes, their aren't Insane taxis everywhere, actual police doing their jobs properly.

but then one sees how miserable people are in Canada, literally lost the will to live.
cold weather and snow doesn't help a bit.

I suppose in the long run, its all about compromises as @Ancalagon says, you cant have everything in the world.
either you have a "functioning" government, or you have space and "relative" freedom in SA
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Are you back in SA?
 
Bassist said:
I get bombarded by messages from friends on Whatsapp and FB, just showing how nice lifestyles they are living. Photos galore.

They are not necessarily rich. And most don't live in The Boord or Constantia. But they have struck some formula for being successful in SA. It has a lot to do with networking, the right attitude, and some luck.

They have jobs they can go to and evenings they chill in Kloof street, barefoot, in frokkies, bearded, and drive hip cars. They have friends with holiday homes and they get the best women. They have qualifications (or not) and can travel to Europe. It seems they always get help somewhere from someone, especially good leads for business, specials, deals, or taking care of their dog while they jet around the world.

They live the best lifestyle in SA, in Europe they would not have been able to afford such a lifestyle.

Discuss. What is their secret formula?
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You answered your own question.

''Its not what you know, its who you know.''

Be it knowing someone to get you in on a tender or a friend/relative willing to give you a job opportunity.

In a country like South Africa where the real unemployment rate is closer to 40% (yes, nearly half of working age adults can't find a job), knowing the right people becomes all the more important if you want to live the life you have depicted.
 
eg2505 said:
yes, for many years,
was a while overseas, and in the limited time I was there always compromises.
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Thanks, the reason I asked is that if I ever decide to leave to would be to join my son in Toronto.

Truth to tell if he lived in a warm climate I'd have gone long ago. Would take my chances in Spain, Portugal, a Caribbean island but not keen on Canada.
 
maumau said:
Thanks, the reason I asked is that if I ever decide to leave to would be to join my son in Toronto.

Truth to tell if he lived in a warm climate I'd have gone long ago. Would take my chances in Spain, Portugal, a Caribbean island but not keen on Canada.
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what I did enjoy in Toronto,
safety, very safe there, just across the "lake" from the US. (NYC state, almost a daytrip to the Big apple)
also did enjoy the Public transport from just about everywhere to just about everywhere.
buses, Trams (yes those) and subway system.

what I didn't enjoy,
Miserable weather, -18 for quite a long time during the year. and during the summer, clouds of mosquito's that breed in the melting snow.
almost like Lockdown was here, except you cant even walk around the yard.
as you don't have one, and to get inside and out is a mission with so many layers you need to put on/take off.

nanny culture,
Random people will come up to you and tell you to stop smoking,
or random people will look at you strangely if you talk on a phone in a public place.

so again, not all bad, but compromises as it always is.
 
Daruk said:
Nobody can travel to Europe. How can you be bombarded daily by pics of people travelling to Europe? :ROFL:

But on a serious note I don't see how anyone can enjoy their money knowing they live a few KM from people who can't afford to eat a meal a day.
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I'll tell you how to enjoy your money knowing you live a few KM from people who can't afford to eat a meal a day - just think about SAs open borders. That helps me a lot :)
 
thestaggy said:
You answered your own question.

''Its not what you know, its who you know.''

Be it knowing someone to get you in on a tender or a friend/relative willing to give you a job opportunity.

In a country like South Africa where the real unemployment rate is closer to 40% (yes, nearly half of working age adults can't find a job), knowing the right people becomes all the more important if you want to live the life you have depicted.
Click to expand...
Correct.

So what is the problem/challenge?
 
Bassist said:
I get bombarded by messages from friends on Whatsapp and FB, just showing how nice lifestyles they are living. Photos galore.

They are not necessarily rich. And most don't live in The Boord or Constantia. But they have struck some formula for being successful in SA. It has a lot to do with networking, the right attitude, and some luck.

They have jobs they can go to and evenings they chill in Kloof street, barefoot, in frokkies, bearded, and drive hip cars. They have friends with holiday homes and they get the best women. They have qualifications (or not) and can travel to Europe. It seems they always get help somewhere from someone, especially good leads for business, specials, deals, or taking care of their dog while they jet around the world.

They live the best lifestyle in SA, in Europe they would not have been able to afford such a lifestyle.

Discuss. What is their secret formula?
Click to expand...
Interesting post after joining 11 years ago. Where do you live?
 
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