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Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

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Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Old stools broke as well, but the ones that broke don't exist any more. Only the really good ones remain.

A good example of survivorship bias. I'm sure there's 70 year old IKEA furniture out there too. I think anyone CAN make a good stool like that if they can find the materials and some hand tools, it's just that nobody can be bothered and nobody wants to pay someone to put in the effort. Or that nobody has access to tools and/or a space to do the work. There does seem to be a bit of a renaissance in woodworking though.

I commonly find second hand IKEA sideboards in teak here in Sweden, mid-century design is still sought after and nicer IKEA furniture from the 60s/70s sells for quite a mark-up.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. I've lived in various mostly developing countries for the past 7 years, and I'm not one to get hung up on the "white privalege" that's currently talked about in the west, but it is hard not to feel guilty at times at the tremendous advantages…

> I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.

This. I don't think they are seeing as taking advantage of something. I am pretty sure they are seen as tourists.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#43
I don't think I want to go back working on a laptop on random furniture. I did it for almost two years, and as soon as I got a bigger place I bought two desks, a big giant chair, 32" monitor, fancy keyboard, external webcam, mic, etc etc - and I love it.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. I've lived in various mostly developing countries for the past 7 years, and I'm not one to get hung up on the "white privalege" that's currently talked about in the west, but it is hard not to feel guilty at times at the tremendous advantages…

> I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.

It's international gentrification isn't it? Replacing facilities that locals would use with Western style overpriced apartment rentals, overpriced coffee, and overpriced, insufficiently spicy food.

Some digital nomads chafe at being charged "farang prices"(foreigner's prices) but the alternative is that locals are priced out.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#46
post #28

I’ve been around Digital Nomads for a long time and I’ve been working digitally and remotely for periods of time most of my life. The sense of eradication Nomads are looking for can bite you back quite bad. This is something seldom discussed in DN circles, especially by hyper-positive (or toxic positive) digital Bromads of the “I dropship therefore I’m an Internet Entrepreneur” variety. Digital Nomadism is also very…

>Digital Nomadism is also very often a form of postcolonial and Western privilege. A lot of DN-targeted content focuses on the individual radical choice of going against the typical societal expectations (settle down, get a house, own stuff). What they mostly miss is how this choice is made possible by the inequalities between the West and the rest of the world. It's something that came about as a result of domestic…

> Digital Nomads wouldnt be anywhere near as common if property/rents werent sky high back home.

The vast majority of digital nomads I’ve seen absolutely /do not/ have money problems. They’re all really well-off with good safety nets.

Moreover, potential lack of privilege in their home countries is not really comparable to the massive privileges that come with this kind of nomadism.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#47

I’ve been around Digital Nomads for a long time and I’ve been working digitally and remotely for periods of time most of my life. The sense of eradication Nomads are looking for can bite you back quite bad. This is something seldom discussed in DN circles, especially by hyper-positive (or toxic positive) digital Bromads of the “I dropship therefore I’m an Internet Entrepreneur” variety. Digital Nomadism is also very…

Being a digital nomad is not that hard as to be unattainable for non-western people. Well, it depends what you consider "the West" to be.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.

This. I don't think they are seeing as taking advantage of something. I am pretty sure they are seen as tourists.

Yes, the locals who work in industries that directly benefit from the influx of foreign spending love it. The criticism will come from a few directions I think:

1. The same people who are highly concerned about economic inequality and "social justice" within western countries today.

2. Locals of developing countries who do no benefit from the foreign spending or are even hurt by it (e.g., middle or upper class locals who lose their relatively privaleged status to foreigners).

3. Local men who see foreigners as "stealing" their women.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. I've lived in various mostly developing countries for the past 7 years, and I'm not one to get hung up on the "white privalege" that's currently talked about in the west, but it is hard not to feel guilty at times at the tremendous advantages…

> I suspect in the next 5-10 years there's going to be a big backlash against people from western countries exploiting their economic privilege by living in developing countries. What kind of backlash are you thinking of? When I think of a digital nomad, I'm thinking of a rich white kid spending their money in a holiday destination year round.

Rent, property and living prices being adjusted to the purchasing power of the western visitors driving the original low income population away from whichever region gets more popular.

Its similar to what I call hipsterization. Rich and privileged persons moving to an undeveloped area they deem cool, fancy cafes are opened and real state prices skyrocket.

Re: Help I can't become a digital nomad, I have too much stuff

#50
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A good example of survivorship bias. I'm sure there's 70 year old IKEA furniture out there too. I think anyone CAN make a good stool like that if they can find the materials and some hand tools, it's just that nobody can be bothered and nobody wants to pay someone to put in the effort. Or that nobody has access to tools and/or a space to do the work. There does seem to be a bit of a renaissance in woodworking though.

I commonly find second hand IKEA sideboards in teak here in Sweden, mid-century design is still sought after and nicer IKEA furniture from the 60s/70s sells for quite a mark-up.

My office desk is an IKEA butcherblock beech top on IKEA legs, our former dining table. A wedding gift from my mother 33 years ago. I think 70 is entirely plausible. One good sandbank and re-oil and it's good for 40 more.
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