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We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

shafyy.com

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Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#31

Post by merpnderp »

enraged_camel wrote: post #18
dmortin wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's strange that a rich area can't take care of this problem. E.g. supporting the homeless some way, cleaning them up and helping them to find some job and housing.

The argument most commonly put forth by NIMBY types is that providing services for homeless people simply encourages more homeless to move to that city. Here in Austin, the City announced plans to build a new community center to help the homeless. Nearby residents are losing their fucking minds over it.

I have a friend who's neighborhood had a community center for the homeless put in, but with strict rules on violence and drug usage. So homeless people migrate to the neighborhood to get into the shelter, but are often quickly turned out because they can't stop fighting or shooting up. And because of this, my friend's neighborhood is now a dangerous, very crime ridden place to live. Two weeks ago he and his wife were leaving for work and a junkie walked around from their backyard, leaned into his wife's open car window and reached for her purse before he could jump out of his car and run the guy off. They're losing their fucking minds over this.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#32

Post by shafyy »

dmortin wrote: post #20
shafyy wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like a great place to work. In Turkey, it's also quite easy to get a staying permit, even if you don't plan on being emplyed by a Turkish company (e.g. if you just want to work on your startup). Just need to show that you have $500 per month you want to stay on your bank account.

Did you consider other cheaper countries like in Eastern Europe (Hungary, Slovenia, etc?)

Yeah we looked at a couple of options, including South East Asia and South America. In the end, the fact that I spoke Turkish, had a cultural connection, the closeness to friends and family in Zurich and the great cuisine did it for us :-)

To be clear, you'll have a harder time if you don't speak (or willing to learn) Turkish in Bodrum, whereas more people speak English in Istanbul.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#33

Post by tim333 »

andreygrehov wrote: post #17
superpermutat0r wrote: post #4

I can't even work in SF. The time wasted to drive to work kills me, I can't get desensitized to all the homeless shitting on streets, stabbing themselves with needles, talking schizophrenically in a dead language, every time I go grab a coffee or lunch in a cheaper area, it's like watching animal slaughter every day. Quality of life definitely much better in Mediterranean city I live today.

Homelessness should be illegal.

That only really works if you combine that with the government providing homes for those with no money.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#34

Post by justaguyhere »

shafyy wrote: post #25
superpermutat0r wrote: post #4

I can't even work in SF. The time wasted to drive to work kills me, I can't get desensitized to all the homeless shitting on streets, stabbing themselves with needles, talking schizophrenically in a dead language, every time I go grab a coffee or lunch in a cheaper area, it's like watching animal slaughter every day. Quality of life definitely much better in Mediterranean city I live today.

Oversimplifying here, but the homeless probem arises due to high housing cost and poor health care system. In addition to fighting the symptoms (which is already being done ok-ish), we need to fight the mentioned root causes. Unfortunately, the health care problem goes back to CA or even on a national level. Often times, mentally ill or people that lost their jobs for another reason become homeless, and from there th…

Can't remember where, but I remember reading stats that a huge percentage (like a third) homeless people are military veterans :(

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#35

Post by analogmemory »

superpermutat0r wrote: post #4

I can't even work in SF. The time wasted to drive to work kills me, I can't get desensitized to all the homeless shitting on streets, stabbing themselves with needles, talking schizophrenically in a dead language, every time I go grab a coffee or lunch in a cheaper area, it's like watching animal slaughter every day. Quality of life definitely much better in Mediterranean city I live today.

Cool. Good to see the privileged viewpoint of white folks still exists. I'd imagine it's much easier to judge others over the internet that to actually find ways to help them. And yes I'm being purposely judgemental of you. Have you taken the time to understand why these states happen for transient folks? Our mental health system is broken and the federal government refuses to grand basic health care for all its citizens. The state does offer free health care, but you have to jump through hoops to get it. As a former person who was homeless, I got to experience it first hand. Also just because you happened to work in the common areas where the homeless are gathering doesn't mean nothing is happening. The city is trying things but often they are only able to help a small percentage. And are often hamstrung by lack of funding and indifference by the larger population. Drug use is rampant because they want to feel something to escape the shit situation they are in. They just lack the care and monetary means to move on to get help.

So in short, fuck your shortsided indifference.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#36

Post by [deleted] »

natalyarostova wrote: post #19
dmortin wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's strange that a rich area can't take care of this problem. E.g. supporting the homeless some way, cleaning them up and helping them to find some job and housing.

They spend vast amounts of money on the problem, but the way they approach the problem makes the solution intractable. To the extent the drug addicted and severely mentally ill homeless can want things, and want the right to continue their current life, they are afforded that right. That is to say, it is their fundamental right to use drugs, live, and defecate on the street (I know these things are illegal, but reall…

[deleted]

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#37

Post by treis »

tzakrajs wrote: post #14
superpermutat0r wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Split, Croatia. Weather is equivalent, smaller city, lots of foreigners, and a growing IT industry. For a foreigner it's also very easy to just come and live in Croatia, they give staying permits to anyone who comes to just live and spend money (not work) but after you find work, getting an EU blue card is a piece of cake.

What if we don't speak any language other than English? Is it difficult to live and work there as such?

Every cheap country (Vietnam, Nicaragua, Thailand, Bali, etc.) will have a hodge podge of backpackers, ex-pats, retirees, etc. Enough locals will speak English to support providing necessities and socialization can happen with the other ex-pats.

Working there is a different story, but generally you don't want to work there since the reason they're cheap is that the people are poor. The local jobs are low paid. The trick is to be able to work remotely or more rarely as a well paid employee of a foreign company.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#38

Post by conanbatt »

dmortin wrote: post #13
superpermutat0r wrote: post #4

I can't even work in SF. The time wasted to drive to work kills me, I can't get desensitized to all the homeless shitting on streets, stabbing themselves with needles, talking schizophrenically in a dead language, every time I go grab a coffee or lunch in a cheaper area, it's like watching animal slaughter every day. Quality of life definitely much better in Mediterranean city I live today.

It's strange that a rich area can't take care of this problem. E.g. supporting the homeless some way, cleaning them up and helping them to find some job and housing.

California and San francisco are amongst the most corrupt states I know. Believe me, I am from Argentina, I can smell corruption a mile a way.

2.5 billion dollars spent on a broken bus station, and they are going to fix long-term homelessness with 800 million, and a poop patrol that earns 100k+ a year per employee?

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#39

Post by maximente »

skyraider wrote: post #8

I'm looking to move to Bodrum from NYC for many of these same reasons :-) Turkey has a lot of potential to be a remote work hub.

you do you but i'd highly recommend moving to a non-income tax state (and city) beforehand, alongside drivers license, cell phone bill in new place, etc. NYC and NYS tax authorities are getting more and more relentless as upper/middle class ppl leave the city, so you'll need serious documentation that you aren't just leaving and coming back soon if you want to avoid getting stuck still paying them.

Re: We moved to Turkey from San Francisco to continue working on our startup

#40

Post by nr152522 »

tedajax wrote: post #27
ghaff wrote: post #2

>Obviously, VR will transform the nature of remote work. The rest of the post makes perfect sense given their situation. This, however, is pretty silly. I do firmly believe that there is a need for better remote collaboration tools. I see pretty much zero evidence that VR is an essential part (or even an optional part) of that.

Sweating in a VR headset for 8 hours a day sounds great doesn't it?

Ahhh, but not with anti-sweat technology :)
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