Why does South Africa set such low standards for everything?

[bassplayer]

2. A decent music industry doesn't exist here - there are no famous festivals, there's minimal music coverage, and there isn't any creativity to music. I wish we could have bands like the Clash here in South Africa

I dont agree with you. Ever heard of Oppikoppi? Voted the 10th best festival in the world, and thats with only having 1 or 2 international bands a year. Definitley the most unique in the world being in the bushveld. Also, SA has some of the most talented and amazing bands. The problem lies with the local industry. Its small, its saturated and there isnt really any room for much growth.

There are so many unique local bands arround. You just need to get out more and go to festivals such as Oppikoppi, Mieliepop and Synergy.

 

[Tekken]

The South African CA qualification is one of the best in the world. Stellenbosch also ranks internationally. Looks like you set low standards when it comes to researching a topic.

 

[ToxicBunny]

The South African CA qualification is one of the best in the world. Stellenbosch also ranks internationally. Looks like you set low standards when it comes to researching a topic.

Nah, it thinks overseas is all milk and honey and everything will just work for it overseas.

 

[shogun]

You sound like the typical dropout - blaming your environment instead of yourself. You criticise our universities yet you are incapable of even graduating with our low standards. Your not going to get far in life until you stop the blaming.

^ This. When you come back here, listing the businesses that you've started, why they failed, and how exactly how this country let you down, then we might take you seriously.

@OP: Your point of view literally pi$$es me off as you are part of the problem, and not the solution. Now get off your ass and start something new. Break a sweat and get it going instead of this pathetic blame game. Government might not give a rats ass about SA entrepreneurs, but guess what... that's part of being an entrepreneur. How do the entrepreneurs in the rest of the world get it right? What about the business leaders from the last few hundred years? Think they all had a cushy silicon valley helping them along?

If you need a silicone valley to be a success, then you are not an entrepreneur worth his salt. I'd love to see how you'd cope against 100 times the competition you'll find here, if you can't even complete a varsity degree.

Dammit you make me angry.

/rant

On a side note: good luck with the website.

 

[nic777]

You are limited, not because of the country that you live in, but by the fact that you're a pessimist.

You could be great, if you believe in grand and novel things, yet you create an entire post full of excuses of why you aren't.
The secret lies not in the country, or the culture, but within you, your choice...

+1!

 

[ponder]

The thing with the americans is they sell/market themselves over the top, they tell everybody they are the best & they do it all the time. People have come to accept this as truth.

We (& others) are way more modest and we don't like blowing our own trumpets, we're not big on boasting.

 

[captainEO]

FFS get over it. If you do not like his viewpoint depart in style and find another thread to waste your precious time in. The only troll I see in this thread seems to be yourself!

Chevron seems to be against me

look, you play the hand you're dealt. If you passionate and committed, you will realise your application. If it is to be successful is another matter.

But contact people, BOTHER them, if you see your application can be used by them. Throw out your nets and try; the worst thing that can happen is them saying "no".

Every so often I come up with a new idea and just spam people. I'm kinda getting the rep of someone who can get things done by thinking outside the box. No real money coming in yet, but that's soon to change fingers crossed! Either way, I'm passionate about the things I do so that is payment enough for now.

Just go for it man, don't look back nor let your circumstances be an obstacle for what you want to do.

Yes, I will. Thanks for the advice.

We have some of the best and most unique MTB trails, scenic cycle routes and beautiful marathons.
Just get out a little more and experience it.

Yeah, I guess that's cool. I know SA isn't that bad

And something I tune myself whenever things become heavy:

That's definitely a cool quote and outlook

You dropped out of Uni? You're gonna have a hard time emmigrating...

Yeah, I know. Though, even if I had gotten a bachelor's, emigrating would still have been tough.

Luckily, America offers relatively long lasting visitor visas. Eventually, I want a green card.

 

[captainEO]

You do realise that South African doctors are the pioneers of medicine ? granted they go to the western universities like harvard and london but thats because they have more money than our universities

We also the head runner for research on TB and HIV on the world stage. Dont underestimate South African standards sir

But the fact that they have to leave goes to show how it's more difficult for us to achieve things if we were only to stay here.

Some SAfricans do have cool achievements, but it's just not the norm

Wow, your ignorant. You really think South Africa is no platform for the global market. Cape Town has many startups that have changed the web world. I've had the pleasure to work with the best in the industry and these guys are all still in Cape Town.



... LOL ... another killer $100 billion site in the making ....



You sound like the typical dropout - blaming your environment instead of yourself. You criticise our universities yet you are incapable of even graduating with our low standards. Your not going to get far in life until you stop the blaming.

Could you provide examples of these so called startups? Because I'm having a hard time believing that

And despite your skepticism, my site is looking quite great actually

And dropping out isn't necessarily a bad thing. Lots of successful people have dropped out, especially ones in the tech field. Frankly, there wasn't much they could teach me, and I didn't want to waste valuable years of my life there

Follow in the footsteps of Elon Musk?

Yeah. He's a perfect example of why leaving benefits you, as he wouldn't be where he is if it weren't for the States

The only person holding you back is yourself

Yeah, a lot of people in this thread keep saying that. But they're wrong, because I know what I'm capable of, it's just can't all be achieved here.

OP- there's a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path...

Lol, the Matrix?

 

[captainEO]

The level of naivety from the OP is staggering.

The location of your web business is irrelevant if its a good idea... the fact that you think SA is not the right place for you says you doubt your vision and are looking to piggy back on something that won't necessarily want or care about your vision. You seem to think Silicon Valley is this place of sweetness and light and its not, it will be brutal, it will chew you up and spit you out and piss on your idea... I would very seriously doubt you have the maturity to deal with Silicon Valley.

No, the location is important. The tech space in the US is much more advanced... let's see:

The amount of investors, the amount of money being invested, the internet infrastructure and penetration, news coverage, programming talent, the competitiveness and ambition etc.

I'm glad that everything is cutthroat there, because you'll be pushed further there than you could ever possibly be pushed here.

2. A decent music industry doesn't exist here - there are no famous festivals, there's minimal music coverage, and there isn't any creativity to music. I wish we could have bands like the Clash here in South Africa

I dont agree with you. Ever heard of Oppikoppi? Voted the 10th best festival in the world, and thats with only having 1 or 2 international bands a year. Definitley the most unique in the world being in the bushveld. Also, SA has some of the most talented and amazing bands. The problem lies with the local industry. Its small, its saturated and there isnt really any room for much growth.

There are so many unique local bands arround. You just need to get out more and go to festivals such as Oppikoppi, Mieliepop and Synergy.

I guess I was somewhat wrong. Oppikoppi sounds cool. But you said it yourself "The problem lies with the local industry. Its small, its saturated and there isnt really any room for much growth." That's definitely a limiting factor, which is exactly what I find disappointing, and what I feel limits or negatively affects me here when it comes to my tech aspirations.

^ This. When you come back here, listing the businesses that you've started, why they failed, and how exactly how this country let you down, then we might take you seriously.

@OP: Your point of view literally pi$$es me off as you are part of the problem, and not the solution. Now get off your ass and start something new. Break a sweat and get it going instead of this pathetic blame game. Government might not give a rats ass about SA entrepreneurs, but guess what... that's part of being an entrepreneur. How do the entrepreneurs in the rest of the world get it right? What about the business leaders from the last few hundred years? Think they all had a cushy silicon valley helping them along?

If you need a silicone valley to be a success, then you are not an entrepreneur worth his salt. I'd love to see how you'd cope against 100 times the competition you'll find here, if you can't even complete a varsity degree.

Dammit you make me angry.

/rant

On a side note: good luck with the website.

I want to be successful, so it only makes sense that I'd want to go to the place that would grant me the most opportunities to succeed. That's smart, and what a business leader should be.

You said "Government might not give a rats ass about SA entrepreneurs," which is exactly why it wouldn't be smart to stay here and why I'm complaining. It's because I've been disadvantaged by my location, and now have to deal with difficult US immigration laws.

And I want the competition. Competition pushes you. SA lacks competition and ambition which is why it doesn't compete on a world stage in most things, including tech.

Also, degrees aren't even that useful anymore. They just waste time you could have spent working on something practical.

I'm still young, so it was never my responsibility to build the tech industry here. I'm just disappointed that I don't have much support from the local industry/community to build something grand. It's so fledgling and basic that there aren't many avenues for me to proceed.

The thing with the americans is they sell/market themselves over the top, they tell everybody they are the best & they do it all the time. People have come to accept this as truth.

We (& others) are way more modest and we don't like blowing our own trumpets, we're not big on boasting.

Which is why we should boast more, and try to emulate them, or even better, try to beat them.

 

[FlatspinZA]

...

3. Everything culturally is just dull. It's unlike the USA, where you'll find massive subgroups of people - hipsters, hippies, etc. It's like all the defining movements of generations occur there

4. I recently looked at video game sales, and over the course of several months, the amount of consoles sold in this country were a fraction of the amount sold in the US in 1!!

But really, why it really upsets me is because I want to be a web developer/internet entrepreneur, and it's just so disappointing. I look at Silicon Valley, and then I look here, and it's an utter joke. It's honestly like nobody *****ing tries here.

There are only 5 million internet users here, a 10% penetration, versus America's 80%
Internet companies there get billion dollar valuations, and get sold for similar amounts - Instagram, Waze, Tumblr
And I'm *****ing stuck here, where I'll never reach a satisfying level.

I'm jealous of Americans. They come from a history of innovation and excellence. It's like everything happens there. It'd be so cool to know that a billion dollar company was started in your city, neighbourhood, or street by someone just like you. I'm so jealous.

Why isn't it like that here? Why can't South Africans be leaders? Do you ever feel grated by this country's lack of distinguishment?

I like this country, but I just wish it wouldn't limit me.

3. Dude, there are plenty of sub-cultures here. They might not be as noticeable as they are in the US, but I am damned sure you can find whatever sub-culture you're looking for in any of the major cities, and that even includes Slumtown.

4. You do know the US has 250 million people and we sit with around 60, of which 75% are probably unemployed, or retired?

About "nobody tries here" - tell that to Mark Shuttleworth. Plenty of people are making decent money in the tech-industry. What are you basing your facts on?

As for being jealous of Americans? We have tons of innovation here - maybe the means to mass-produce that innovation is not easily available, so you'll find us losing people like Elon Musk, and other entrepreneurs to countries where start-up capital is readily available, but it is here, nonetheless.

You're limiting yourself. If you can't make it here there's no way you'd make it anywhere else.

+1 Yeah, that's a fact. So many people come running back to SA with their tails between their legs because they think they're just going to waltz into a cushy job overseas. If they couldn't get one here, they're not going to get one overseas.

 

[azbob]

By your logic and reasoning in this thread so far, any University drop-out in America (especially near Silicon Valley) is going to become extremely successful.

:wtf:

Perhaps you should read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers to give you some perspective, because you definitely don't come across as one with your attitude.

 

[texo]

... Internet companies there get billion dollar valuations, and get sold for similar amounts - Instagram, Waze, Tumblr
And I'm *****ing stuck here, where I'll never reach a satisfying level.

Waze was started in Israel. So there's hope for you too

 

[noxibox]

For example:
1. Our high production TV series/films are mediocre - they're like TV movies in the US

So what, have you seen the poor standard of television in the US until very recently? There was a good reason why anyone who made it in film wouldn't go anywhere near television. When anyone did do television after they'd been in films it meant they'd failed. Other countries you had no choice because they had smaller markets, but television was still generally of a poor standard (in many cases the films weren't much better).

Anyway high production value is very expensive, so you do what you can with what you have.

2. A decent music industry doesn't exist here - there are no famous festivals, there's minimal music coverage, and there isn't any creativity to music. I wish we could have bands like the Clash here in South Africa

It does exist, within the financial limitations we have. People also need to realise that perhaps you don't constitute the majority and their tastes. There are however a huge number of good bands playing here. Most of them will just keep doing it, because they love it, even though their preferred style is basically a niche in South Africa. But you know what, if anyone is going to come up with something that crosses barriers it's going to be one them, not someone whining about the South African music scene stifling them.

3. Everything culturally is just dull. It's unlike the USA, where you'll find massive subgroups of people - hipsters, hippies, etc.

This is just plain bull****.

4. I recently looked at video game sales, and over the course of several months, the amount of consoles sold in this country were a fraction of the amount sold in the US in 1!!

Do you not grasp the concept of population size and wealth?

5. Lack of skyline, or skyline development in most cities.

Again you seem not to grasp that these things happen, over time. You think someone just came along and erected London or New York all in one go overnight?

Look at Shanghai! I wished I lived there!

You can go you know.

But really, why it really upsets me is because I want to be a web developer/internet entrepreneur

No, you don't. That's like someone saying they want to be a great musician, but sitting around bemoaning where they were born instead of actually doing the hard work of becoming a great musician.

I'm jealous of Americans. They come from a history of innovation and excellence.

But you wouldn't be part of that since you'd be complaining that you can't succeed because those other guys lived on a better street. If you had the attitude you'd be here telling us how you're going to succeed and be great in South Africa.

Why can't South Africans be leaders?

You got a mirror handy?

Also, SA has some of the most talented and amazing bands. The problem lies with the local industry. Its small, its saturated and there isnt really any room for much growth.

There are so many unique local bands arround. You just need to get out more and go to festivals such as Oppikoppi, Mieliepop and Synergy.

What people have to understand is that we have a small population with money to burn and that most of the population is not white teenagers. Someone who wants to make money can, doing exactly what you do in a place like the US - you go with what is the most popular. One problem we do have here is that people will spend hundreds to go see some overseas band, but they can't be bothered to go to the clubs and venues to see the local bands. They don't even want to pay a few bucks to get in to see several bands. Then they'll say there are no good South African bands.

 

[RiaX]

Well we all cant simply run away because of fears of what this country will become or might become because its future is dependent on us. If we abandon SA then she will become useless with no skill sets. Something I think that has been lost with people is that they are extremely selfish the older generation fought and survived to make SA better for todays generation however if we cut and run what will be left for the next ?

At some point you need to grow up and think outwards

 

[FlatspinZA]

Well we all cant simply run away because of fears of what this country will become or might become because its future is dependent on us. If we abandon SA then she will become useless with no skill sets. Something I think that has been lost with people is that they are extremely selfish the older generation fought and survived to make SA better for todays generation however if we cut and run what will be left for the next ?

At some point you need to grow up and think outwards

Some people don't have a choice, you're right, but it's unreasonable to expect anyone with half a brain to have a patriotic duty to a country that does nothing but try to screw them over at every opportunity.

This is a beautiful country, and I love it. I hate my Internet, and that has caused me to proclaim, very loudly, that I am leaving.

In retrospect, I might have been overly-emotional. Now, I am just moving to somewhere else, for now.

To say that SA lacks anything that any other country has, beyond reliable services, is not fair. We have so much talent here it's not funny. What people choose to do with that talent, is their choice.

 

[jambai]

South Africa is weak in internet and human resources.Everything else is a function of the size of our developed population

 

[bvonfintel]

Have a listen to Adii from WooThemes: http://businessofsoftware.org/2013/...-a-business-of-software-conference-2012-talk/ - talking about making it happen no matter if you are stuck in South Africa

 

[Milano]

More opportunities in the US or South Africa: US
More limitations in the US or South Africa: SA
Is it possible to succeed in the US: Yes
Is it possible to succeed in SA: Yes

After that it's all about preferences, perspectives, opinions, personal circumstances, pride, patriotism, shame, endless really...

Best of luck

 

[RiaX]

Another thing that you need to understand is support. If you leave you wont have the comfort of family and knowledge of the land. This can create stress and misfortune and make it even harder to succeed.

WRT to medical research yes they have to go overseas not because SA doesnt have the systems oh no its because they are taken with dollars, euros and pounds. Secondly our funding for research has taken a hefty hit due to the cost of HIV and TB management. SA is in the midst of a pandemic dont forget that and for a disease riddled country it still doing exceptionally well.

We can blame our government as much as we like but if you keep up with US politics its actually not that much different. Honestly the difference I see is that our politicians sound stupider.

If you look at the republican party in the US they just as daft as the ANC
and the british fund homopathy with their government health budget which is madness and these are just 2 examples.

It took a south african doctor to pioneer a revolution in medicine working out in london medical univeristy .... and it was a check list a pre operation checklist. So yeah its not all sunshine and rainbows in the first world

 

[cguy]

Yeah, I know. Though, even if I had gotten a bachelor's, emigrating would still have been tough.

Luckily, America offers relatively long lasting visitor visas. Eventually, I want a green card.

How does that help? You can't work or start a business with a visitor visa.

I want to be successful, so it only makes sense that I'd want to go to the place that would grant me the most opportunities to succeed. That's smart, and what a business leader should be.

And I want the competition. Competition pushes you. SA lacks competition and ambition which is why it doesn't compete on a world stage in most things, including tech.

Also, degrees aren't even that useful anymore. They just waste time you could have spent working on something practical.

I've spent the better part of a decade in Silicon Valley. It definitely has the opportunities, but it also has more competition then you can possibly imagine. A little competition pushes you - a lot of competition pushes you under a bus. Unless you are some sort of prodigy, you shouldn't discount SA.

As for degrees not being that useful anymore - that is beyond naive. Look at the job requirements in Silicon Valley.

The thing with the americans is they sell/market themselves over the top, they tell everybody they are the best & they do it all the time. People have come to accept this as truth.

We (& others) are way more modest and we don't like blowing our own trumpets, we're not big on boasting.

Which is why we should boast more, and try to emulate them, or even better, try to beat them.

Boasting is stupid - thinking that the USA has nothing to boast about, and that SA is just modest... Seriously?