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‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

telegraph.co.uk

21–30 of 133 posts

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#21
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A whole of locals, from Lissabon to Bali, actually might disagree. Not to talk about the defacto visa and tax fraud some digital nomads commit. Nothing wrong with going to live and work in a certain place. But do it the proper way: get a work visa if you have to and register for taxes like everyone else. Otherwise your taxes not paid are an unfair advantage compared to locals, it is illegal and basically cheating.

My friend who started having a public affair with a local woman - Indonesia - could have easily gotten himself killed, TBH I’m surprised he’s still alive.

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Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#23

This looks like non news to me. People don't "hate" digital nomads (and the article itself does not even back up this claim from the headline). In fact, most people do not even notice them most of the time, as they don't make up for a significant percentage of the population anywhere. There will be always small and very vocal groups, complaining about effectively irrelevant things like this. That is not newsworthy. >…

There are problems with tensions between locals and digital nomads in several places, especially Portugal, but also in a lot of major cities where they are having a similar effect to Airbnb. A big issue is the strength of the US dollar simply makes it impossible for anyone else to compete and attracts so many Americans.

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#24

This looks like non news to me. People don't "hate" digital nomads (and the article itself does not even back up this claim from the headline). In fact, most people do not even notice them most of the time, as they don't make up for a significant percentage of the population anywhere. There will be always small and very vocal groups, complaining about effectively irrelevant things like this. That is not newsworthy. >…

One common thread among the people profiled in the article is that they are all "influencers". I do think there there's something unique to influencers vs other digital nomads. There's something off putting about the egoism of thinking you're giving back to the world by broadcasting your life. It's probably more that aspect that people "hate", not necessarily the digital nomad aspect.

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#25
I like to think that you are either consuming culture or contributing to it – if all you are there to do is consume, you may be better off in a place less foreign. I've found that taking the time to integrate with the people, learning the local language and overall just trying really hard to fit in with the rhythm around me has melded quite a different experience for myself. I have tried hopping around the world, doing a month at a time here or there and I've had mixed results - in Lisbon I felt like just another one in a pack of people taking the charm out of a small city that has a lot of resent toward digital nomads and the like, from younger folks to old. In Vienna and around Switzerland less so, as english didn't make me stick out like a sore thumb and there is much less of an influx in those places. On the other hand, during my last trip I stayed about 4 months in Buenos Aires, taking language courses with a teacher, working a bit less, and making lasting friendships with several people. Argentina felt very welcoming, but I think my efforts helped tremendously. If all you have time for is work, good luck in an Iberian or Latin city – these are slow places that do not have sympathy for people who revolve their lives around work as a city like New York or Zurich may.

As culture becomes more global, cities that are glossed over with the amenities digital nomads demand will all look one and the same. You can go to a city center in nearly any part of the world and get a pretty latte and an avocado toast, or go to a cute cowork. But why travel at that point?

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#26

'Hated by locals' is a stretch. I don't think the number of digital nomads is enough to have any meaningful impact on rents or real estate prices in most countries. This is just xenophobia in another form.

Digital nomads are a major problem in several countries including most of South East Asia and Portugal, and major cities in these regions are having inflated prices due to digital nomads.

every city has this same complaint about prices. at some point maybe we need to finally stop demonizing the bad group of the moment and look what is really causing problems

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#28
post #7

Are remote workers who don’t choose a digital nomad lifestyle somehow immune from being tired, lonely and hated by locals? As far as I can tell all of these issues are just as real for the average tech worker working in a big hub. The difference is being a digital nomad offers way more flexibility on how you live your life and the variety of culture you get to experience.

I work remotely in a rural ranching area. Since almost day one we've been fully integrated. The key is our kids. We all do the same sports and kids activities together. We even go to branding parties and help out a lot. It was a real commitment moving down here we didn't just decide to live in an area, we joined a community. I could see how things would be very different if we didn't do that.

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#29

'Hated by locals' is a stretch. I don't think the number of digital nomads is enough to have any meaningful impact on rents or real estate prices in most countries. This is just xenophobia in another form.

Digital nomads are a major problem in several countries including most of South East Asia and Portugal, and major cities in these regions are having inflated prices due to digital nomads.

It seems to me that locals are the ones inflating prices.

Re: ‘Tired’, ‘lonely’ and hated by locals: the reality for the digital nomad

#30
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Digital nomads are a major problem in several countries including most of South East Asia and Portugal, and major cities in these regions are having inflated prices due to digital nomads.

every city has this same complaint about prices. at some point maybe we need to finally stop demonizing the bad group of the moment and look what is really causing problems

In Europe and much of Asia, there is usually a core area that is very historic and very exclusive/desirable to live in, and of course by virtue it's hard to expand a historic area. These areas have been turned into a mixture of tourist areas and digital nomad areas, usually for Americans due to the strong dollar, and out-priced all the locals to the point that these areas have no life or character. I read complaints from Americans about how these areas are too expensive and have no life and how there are other European/Asian cities which are better, not realising that it is they themselves who are causing the problems.
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