8 ms·

> And before you bash Texas, its not perfect. But its pretty diverse, and it seems that folks with opposing viewpoints can still coexist here. I like that... I

> And before you bash Texas, its not perfect. But its pretty diverse, and it seems that folks with opposing viewpoints can still coexist here. I like that... Interesting point. It reminded me that in his past he has also left South Africa, and yet South Africa could also be described pretty accurately as "its not perfect. But its pretty diverse, and it seems that folks with opposing viewpoints can still coexist here." Now I'm fairly certain based on his interviews that the reason he "left South Africa" was more to do with him wanting to move to the US since it increased the odds of success of his entrepreneurial dreams. So I suspect his move to Texas might be along similar lines? > I suspect something must be going on for several high profile folks moving out. Interesting question you raise there. If that were indeed true, what would you guess might be the cause? I'd guess it might have to do with freedom of some kind.

lotsofpulp 6y ago
I've met quite a few people who moved out of South Africa to the US and UK, and the reason I was always given was something to do with the common advice being to not stop your car at night or at remote intersections lest you get carjacked or worse.
- herodoturtle 6y ago
  Yeah that's good advice if you're in a dangerous part of town, but it does on occasion also happen in what are considered the safer suburbs. Crime is South Africa's biggest pusher-outer-of-citizens. But those that have been to Cape Town and its surrounds understand why so many still choose to live there. It's a tough compromise!
  - lotsofpulp 6y ago
    Of course, South Africa (and the surrounding countries, and quite frankly much of Africa below the Sahara that I have visited) is gorgeous and unparalleled in almost all aspects. If it wasn't for the lack of a high trust society, I would actually look into moving to Cape Town myself.
    - herodoturtle 6y ago
      Agree with your sentiment to the fullest. If you can afford it, perhaps consider purchasing a small beach-front studio apartment along the Atlantic Seaboard of Cape Town. Then should South Africa evolve into a high trust society you'd feel comfortable living in, go spend a few months in Cape Town during its spring/summer (October to March) and check out the local beaches and mountains. Clifton Beach and Devil's Peak in particular.
  - threeseed 6y ago
    Crime was always going to be significant in South Africa when you have such a large gap between the rich and the poor. You have massive slums of people with no hope or future less than a 100 miles/kms away from the billion dollar French Riviera esque lifestyles of Camps Bay. And with so many refugees coming in from the rest of Africa it almost seems like an unsolvable problem.
    - herodoturtle 6y ago
      For sure. I guess it comes down to your risk appetite. In South Africa you the most gorgeous landscapes that are freely accessible public landscapes on everyone's doorstep - irrespective of their financial position in the steadily recovering historically unequal society. Yeah, there will continue to be crime until balance is had, but there are plenty SaaS opportunities, and the forested cliff-side hiking trails ending in tranquil beaches are an awesome way to experience nature. Refugees are welcome in South Africa. The media has its paws in everything.
- Rapzid 6y ago
  I've heard similar sentiments from Brazilians haha!
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
cestith 6y ago
For one thing, Texas has no personal income tax.
- herodoturtle 6y ago
  Does it have visible inequality? I've never been there.
  - boardwaalk 6y ago
    Texas is huge. It’s hard to make any sort of generalization. But there are homeless camps in particular places in cities if you go looking; with the weather, it’d be surprising if there weren’t. But from what I understand it’s still not as bad as some places in SF/LA. All I come in contact with, living in middle income suburbs, is panhandlers at intersections.
    - herodoturtle 6y ago
      > All I come in contact with, living in middle income suburbs, is panhandlers at intersections. Not sure what you mean by "panhandlers" - please clarify?
      - TheAdamAndChe 6y ago
        In my region(southern MO), a panhandler is someone who stands on the side of a street or sidewalk and begs for money. They often hold a sign.
  - nyolfen 6y ago
    not as visible as california
  - cestith 6y ago
    Does anywhere not? It was visible when I lived in Missouri. It was in Illinois. It was visiting Baltimore, Atlanta, LA, the Bay, Buffalo, Cincinatti, Flint, Indianapolis, Topeka, OKC, Denver, Little Rock, Arlington, Milwaukee, Nashville, Memphis, Toledo, Sioux City, Davenport, and Louisville. Here in Houston there are $500 per month apartments and $25,000,000 estates within the same city limits, yeah. There are some homeless folks, but not like Sacramento or San Francisco. Some people who work make less than $8 per hour right now. Other people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in just insurance premiums. I fail to see the devastating difference in Texas when cities in California are adding to their own homeless populations by refusing to allow more housing to be built. Austin is a little more strict than here, but in Houston there are practically no zoning laws.

lotsofpulp 6y ago

I've met quite a few people who moved out of South Africa to the US and UK, and the reason I was always given was something to do with the common advice being to not stop your car at night or at remote intersections lest you get carjacked or worse.

herodoturtle 6y ago
Yeah that's good advice if you're in a dangerous part of town, but it does on occasion also happen in what are considered the safer suburbs. Crime is South Africa's biggest pusher-outer-of-citizens. But those that have been to Cape Town and its surrounds understand why so many still choose to live there. It's a tough compromise!
- lotsofpulp 6y ago
  Of course, South Africa (and the surrounding countries, and quite frankly much of Africa below the Sahara that I have visited) is gorgeous and unparalleled in almost all aspects. If it wasn't for the lack of a high trust society, I would actually look into moving to Cape Town myself.
  - herodoturtle 6y ago
    Agree with your sentiment to the fullest. If you can afford it, perhaps consider purchasing a small beach-front studio apartment along the Atlantic Seaboard of Cape Town. Then should South Africa evolve into a high trust society you'd feel comfortable living in, go spend a few months in Cape Town during its spring/summer (October to March) and check out the local beaches and mountains. Clifton Beach and Devil's Peak in particular.
- threeseed 6y ago
  Crime was always going to be significant in South Africa when you have such a large gap between the rich and the poor. You have massive slums of people with no hope or future less than a 100 miles/kms away from the billion dollar French Riviera esque lifestyles of Camps Bay. And with so many refugees coming in from the rest of Africa it almost seems like an unsolvable problem.
  - herodoturtle 6y ago
    For sure. I guess it comes down to your risk appetite. In South Africa you the most gorgeous landscapes that are freely accessible public landscapes on everyone's doorstep - irrespective of their financial position in the steadily recovering historically unequal society. Yeah, there will continue to be crime until balance is had, but there are plenty SaaS opportunities, and the forested cliff-side hiking trails ending in tranquil beaches are an awesome way to experience nature. Refugees are welcome in South Africa. The media has its paws in everything.
Rapzid 6y ago
I've heard similar sentiments from Brazilians haha!

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

cestith 6y ago

For one thing, Texas has no personal income tax.

herodoturtle 6y ago
Does it have visible inequality? I've never been there.
- boardwaalk 6y ago
  Texas is huge. It’s hard to make any sort of generalization. But there are homeless camps in particular places in cities if you go looking; with the weather, it’d be surprising if there weren’t. But from what I understand it’s still not as bad as some places in SF/LA. All I come in contact with, living in middle income suburbs, is panhandlers at intersections.
  - herodoturtle 6y ago
    > All I come in contact with, living in middle income suburbs, is panhandlers at intersections. Not sure what you mean by "panhandlers" - please clarify?
    - TheAdamAndChe 6y ago
      In my region(southern MO), a panhandler is someone who stands on the side of a street or sidewalk and begs for money. They often hold a sign.
- nyolfen 6y ago
  not as visible as california
- cestith 6y ago
  Does anywhere not? It was visible when I lived in Missouri. It was in Illinois. It was visiting Baltimore, Atlanta, LA, the Bay, Buffalo, Cincinatti, Flint, Indianapolis, Topeka, OKC, Denver, Little Rock, Arlington, Milwaukee, Nashville, Memphis, Toledo, Sioux City, Davenport, and Louisville. Here in Houston there are $500 per month apartments and $25,000,000 estates within the same city limits, yeah. There are some homeless folks, but not like Sacramento or San Francisco. Some people who work make less than $8 per hour right now. Other people pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in just insurance premiums. I fail to see the devastating difference in Texas when cities in California are adding to their own homeless populations by refusing to allow more housing to be built. Austin is a little more strict than here, but in Houston there are practically no zoning laws.