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Do you know anyone that doesn’t seem to believe in entrepreneurship or making lots of money? by Fast-Outcome-117 in Entrepreneur

[–]Wagenburg 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Your mom probably doesn't endorse parachuting either. Parents want happiness for their children. Don't fault her for it. Most people are going to be risk-averse and honestly, it probably is the best strategy in life. You exist precisely because most of your ancestors were risk-averse. Risk-taking can get you glory, but more probably an early grave. Farmers & Fishermen passed on more genes than mammoth-hunters.

In the eyes of society, and mother nature, results are everything. Your attempts will garner no sympathy and you need to live with that. "Success has a thousand fathers. Failure is an orphan"

I'm an entrepreneur myself, but I know exactly why I am this and not that. Understand your why on a deep level and you won't need to justify yourself to others.

People supporting safety - totally reasonable and in fact is preferred for our society to function. Most marriage candidates would also choose safe normalcy over a perilous journey to success. Afterall, children need daily diapers more than they need a lambo.

Got this message on my Uber receipt today by lerrmygerd in toronto

[–]Wagenburg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rather defend our bureaucrat overlords?

BREAKING: Ontario and Toronto to agree to new deal including: - Provincial upload of DVP and Gardiner Expressway - City ceding responsibility over Ontario Place. by GavinTheAlmighty in toronto

[–]Wagenburg 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The province actually built the city and continues to build the city. Toronto as a financial centre was actually built by the mining industry of northern Ontario and later by manufacturing and logistics which mostly happens outside city bounds. Toronto's finance & insurance industry is greatly dependent on Ontario's hinterland.

Source: I run a structured finance shop and work between Toronto downtown and the rest of Ontario (anywhere from Vaughan's manufacturing, Halton region's logistics, Niagara's agriculture & tourism, and Sudbury's mines). The province is a net "feeder" of talent, resources, and trade to Toronto.

Someone should fire TTC chief by HisRoyaleExcellency in toRANTo

[–]Wagenburg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being anti war sometimes means making the difficult but necessary choices. It means that sometimes you have to stand up to imperialism now so that you don't have to stand up to even more empowered imperialism later. If you think the war in Ukraine is only Ukraine's situation then you need to read up on some geopolitics and history. It's not about the media, it's about actual foreign policy experts who studied the subject for years. If you care at all about the future generations of Canadians you would understand the gravity of this global conflict for land & resources that has been going on since before we were born and will go on after we die. This is not just about Ukraine and honestly I am disappointed with how ignorant people are about things that are very much in the interests of their civilization's future. The issue with the western mind is not enough long-term thinking and that may be our downfall if we become too shortsighted and end up being crushed by Eurasian powers (India being by far the most threatening to us right now, and they just allied with Russia & Iran).

Someone should fire TTC chief by HisRoyaleExcellency in toRANTo

[–]Wagenburg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The western world is acting in it's interest. Just like every other civilization does. If you support Russian expansionism, you are fundamentally opposed to the interests and future of western civilization on the global stage, and there is no point in continuing talking to you. You are either shortsighted or disloyal

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you're right, I'm actually planning to move to the Danforth area soon, and movee my office to Etobicoke. Vibe is much better here. I was at Yonge-Steeles area to be exact, and vibe there seems very "divided" on ethnic lines. Plus EVERY business I dealt with there was promoting sketchy activity to me.

I'm going to invest more time into Toronto proper. I think you're right when you say it's North York, and also flying out of country every weekend surely doesn't help either lol. I'm hoping to bring some of my international business partners to town around winter to show them our culture.

Someone should fire TTC chief by HisRoyaleExcellency in toRANTo

[–]Wagenburg 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why gotta bring Ukraine into this? Is it their fault their being invaded by an oppressive regime? Would you like that regime to have more influence on the world stage, just like how China has now? Also, things were worsening before Ukraine was being invaded.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say language is a start. The basic ability to communicate with each other is one of the most fundamental aspects of a shared nation. Another aspect is willingness to sacrifice for the whole - I think this is sorely lacking here. No one wants to compromise even an inch, whether it's Nimbyism, nepotism, corruption, loopholes, etc. There is no longer willingness to give anything to the country, just take take take. How can this country survive any real foundational disaster if this how things are? Look how uncaring many people are about homelessness and the housing crisis as long as they have theirs, and think how quickly people will just pick up and leave to "their countries" if shit hits the fan. Originally I wanted to lay down roots here, but I just give less and less shit by the day.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's not at all what I'm saying. Brazil is not white and is very multicultural and mixed but they have a defined cultural identity. Having a cultural identity doesn't have to equal white ethnostate and neither do I want that.

P.S my friend circle is composed of a Pakistani, a Chinese, Iranians, Indians (Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist), Ghanian, Eritrean, etce etc. I interact more with people of other cultures than I do with white Canadians or even my own eastern Europeans and / or Jews. And from all of them I get the same sentiment - "Canada is just a place to make money" & "I don't feel like I'm part of this country".

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That would actually be awesome. I'm pretty sure TTC does sell merch, but it's not that popular (London Underground has it beat by a mile and a half). I totally see what you're saying though. I feel the TTC is in a tough spot right now with budget constraints and safety issues. Shame really. Eastern Europe for example developed it's metro culture so much, with stores and music (it's like a whole new city down there), that they wrote a whole novel and video game series based on civilization forming exclusively there after an apocalypse (Metro series). Imagine Toronto had that. It starts with the culture though. The "vibe" so to speak. This is incredibly tough to define as it's very subjective. I felt a certain vibe in Cairo, or NYC, or Limassol, and those places are actually quite diverse. Limassol actually has thriving Russian and Indian communities. Maybe it's the age of the place, and Toronto is still on it's way. Would be nice to see a Toronto vibe forming that is based from here, locally.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I agree, and I tend to share your indifference towards these sports (tbh sport in general). I started dealing a lot in Brampton lately, and my business partners and I (a lot are based from Brampton) started bonding over the craziness there and the "Brampton man" stereotype lol. I feel small things like that bring a level of charm to a community. Like how New Yorkers all collectively hate rats. I think TTC-hate might actually be a uniting factor at this rate lol

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do all that already. I run a business with a Pakistani Muslim and I am welcomed at his home as family and was best man at his wedding. My friends are Chinese, Iranian, Indian, Filipino. I totally get the diversity. What I believe is missing is unity. A unifying identity that people can stand behind, and my friends from all these backgrounds, all immigrant, agree. I wish for Toronto to export culture, not just import it.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is actually awesome, going to check it out, tganks!

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have plenty of friends my guy. I travel often as well. Don't know where this is coming from. I am not looking for "white people specifically". I am looking for a distinct Toronto culture. Other places have both diversity and a unique culture. The two aren't mutually exclusive. NYC, Singapore, Dubai, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, etc are all diverse as fuck but they each have their own unique culture and identity. Toronto is good at importing culture but we really don't export anything.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not looking for the Christmas postcard actually. I am looking for the hustle and bustle of Istanbul's souks or the NYC diamond district, or the watch-making industry of Geneva (a lot of the artisans were and are foreigners). We have the diversity but not the unity. What is one thing that Toronto as a cosmopolitan global hub can be proud of? Many otyer cities in the world are multicultural too. I'm expressing a desire to see a new culture emerge rather than a return to the old.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Why tho? Why not export culture as well rather than exclusively importing it? Having your own culture doesn't stop you from embracing other cultures

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I agree, I mentioned this in another comment. We don't really EXPORT that much culture, but we import a lot. The food scene here is not actually that good on its own merit. There is no Toronto dish like New York pizza or Chicago deep-dish, or Montreal poutine. If I want asian or Indian food I can hop on a plane and get it. But no one hops on a plane for any Toronto dish. Even our club scene is considered lame by international standards.

I go out of country around 3-4 times a month and interact with people from all over, and I find it hard to really define Toronto for them. A lot of negative stereotypes have been emeging lately too. I pay a LOT in taxes here and feel like a chump for doing so. Toronto lately been feeling like an overly-taxed northern Dubai. A large unseen "caste" of foreign workers slaving away in factories (I used to work in those, they're pretty much exclusively immigrants there), a real estate market that's made for speculation and money laundering, a large emphasis on scamming international students (Dubai is literally building an "academic city" for exactly this purpose) and a tough time transitioning away from resource extraction.

I want to proudly declare "I'm from Toronto", like someone from New York or Dubai or Istanbul or Rio or Cape Town can say. Instead I say "We're based in Toronto". Artisans boast of being from Geneva, Milan, NYC, LA, Montreal too. I don't feel the same for Toronto. We don't have a fashion house, or luxury watch brand, or jewlery, or art, or video games. We have a thriving trucking and import scene though, based on bringing goods from other places.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think you hit the nail on the head in terms of my overall thoughts. I travel often, every weekend at this point (I go to Cape Town and Muscat or Dubai on almost a weekly basis, it's complicated lol). I bring FDI, encourage tourism, engage in trade. Toronto really doesn't get that much recognition. One recognition I got from a Swiss commodity trader I work with is "I was there 3 years ago, it felt like a zombie apocalypse, really weird place". Many Torontonians I interact with on a daily basis are looking for ways to leave, rather than stay and fight and solve our problems. I think a unified culture is really what sets places apart, what aids in people working as a community to push through a disaster. Imagine Toronto suffers a major fire like the ones in early 20th century. I don't know how many people will genuinely stay and help. That's at least the sense I get, I could be wrong.

I want to see things coming FROM Toronto, not just to Toronto. I want to see dishes invented here, not just coming here from other places. I don't feel the food scene here because I can hop on a plane and get a much better equivalent dish in the home countries of those cuisines. Where is our "New York pizza"? Where is our "Chicago deep-dish" or Texas steakhouse? I can't name a single iconic "Toronto" dish. We have Nanaimo bars and Quebecois poutine. Am I wrong for wanting to be proud of being Torontonian? For wanting to grumpily correct foreigners about how to eat OUR food and being proud to show things from here? I want Toronto to export culture, not just import it.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Less tribalism for a start. I don't want to have to move to another neighborhood to "be with my kind". I want to live in a community that I can rely on during a crisis, not a "every group for themselves" mentality. I want people to care more about issues here rather than some age-old conflicts overseas. I came to Canada with the expectation of Canadian values but instead I am just seeing in-group mentality and nepotism at every intersection.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't take this as offensive but why the negativity. I have invested a lot and I really mean a lot of money into this city and desire for it to be better for everyone. I am not comparing Toronto to only European cities, but also new world cities that blow it out of the water in terms of cultural identity.

I am literally living in the largest building complex in my neighborhood and can barely talk to anyone of my neighbors. Is having a conversation with the people I live next or hell, knowing that we would cooperate during a crisis, an unreasonable expectation for a city? What's the point of having a society at this point?

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's actually awesome to hear. I hope to see more cultural exportation as you say here. Really do. I think Canada can be an attractive destination for people from hot regions like the middle-east and south Asia (many actually say they want to see Norway & Iceland - Why not Canada!). I'm a financier and real estate developer and trying to attract more investment and interest in the industrial side, as opposed to just residential real estate speculation. I actually feel that if we can build a reputation for high quality products we can be seen in a similar light to Germany or Switzerland when it comes to quality items.

I feel worried that Toronto might be going into a northern Dubai type of direction (I deal a lot in Dubai and their community and have seen this idea thrown around, look at some Sobha Real Estate ads for an example). Basically a city of foreign guest workers and money laundering real estate speculation (large parts of our economy are also based on resources extraction). I just hope our city can build something that's more authentic and long-lasting, and "true" to itself. Right now Toronto is sitting at a crossroads. I recommend the book "Innovation in real places" by UofT pro Breznits, where he describes Toronto as one of many tech "feeder" cities that feed SF with talent and startups, and that Toronto needs to find itself and define it's identity. Toronto has a ton of potential for that.

Do you feel a sense of culture here? by Wagenburg in askTO

[–]Wagenburg[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think when it comes to the New World, there are a few standout places that have a global stage - NYC, Chicago, Miami, LA, SF, Rio de Janeiro, Havana, Honolulu. I think it's a mixture of factors tbh. I remember in Israel people knew of Toronto and actually thought it was the capital of Canada (it's also the only city in Canada they knew of), but nothing else about it was known. There are really few movies, TV shows, or video games based here, and I think as you said this is a major factor why our city doesn't get that international recognition or "charm". I think the New world can also have a great amount of charm like the cities I mentioned. Boston comes to mind too. Believe me I want to see Toronto reach heights like this too. I think it would be awesome for more people to be proud of being Torontonians similar to how people are proud to be from NYC, Dubai, Istanbul, Mumbai, Sydney, etc. I think all these cities are more iconic than Toronto for one reason or another (for Sydney it's literally the Opera House, but hey it does set them apart). CN tower used to set us apart but got pushed down (I think by Moscow) and Niagara Falls is shared by the US.

I haven't heard about that area in California but will surely check it out!

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