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American Man’s Rant About European Cafés Banning Laptop Users Backfires
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American Man’s Rant About European Cafés Banning Laptop Users Backfires

American Man’s Rant About European Cafés Banning Laptop Users BackfiresMan Criticizes European Cafes For No-Laptops Policy, Gets Humbled By Internet“Laptop Squatters” Sparks Heated Debate After Viral French Café Sign ResurfacesMan’s Claim That American Cafés Are Superior To European Ones Backfires: “Laptop Squatter”No Laptops Allowed? European Vs American Cafe Culture Debate Divides Internet“Change Is Bad”: People Fume Over Sign In French Café Banning Laptop UsersViral French Café Sign Banning Computer Resurfaces And Sparks Debate Over “Laptop Squatters”
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A man’s claim that American coffee shops were superior to European ones due to their laptop usage positivity totally backfired. Amid growing reports of coffee shops across the European continent implementing a total laptop ban in their venues, the man’s viral rant sparked outrage.

Taking to their X page (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday (June 24), a man going by the username “Levelsio” ignited some heated debate after posting an image of a sign placed in what is alleged to be a French café forbidding the use of laptops.

Highlights
  • A man’s claim that American coffee shops are superior to European ones due to laptop usage totally backfired.
  • The viral image of a sign banning laptops in a French café received over 8.8 million views.
  • Observers ridiculed the man for reducing the entire continent of Europe into one problem in one country.

The sign, which received over 8.8 million views, cited “massive abuse” and, consequently, laptops were “no longer permitted in [the] shop.”

The X user wrote in the caption: “In Europe, many don’t allow laptops anymore.”

RELATED:

    A man’s claim that American coffee shops were superior to European ones due to their laptop usage positivity totally backfired

    Image credits: Caleb Minear/Unsplash

    Image credits: levelsio

    “In America they usually do and people are working on something cool!”

    A handful of people seemingly agreed with Levelsio, as a person commented: “What I learned over 30 years of running my own company is that new ideas are viewed very skeptically throughout Europe. 

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    “The mantra is: ‘Change is bad!’”

    Reports of coffee shops across the European continent implementing a total laptop ban have grown

    Image credits: Tom_Engels_Desk

    Image credit: gotitatguineys

    Another X user wrote: “Europe is turning into a retirement spot.”

    However, many other observers not only ridiculed Levelsio for reducing the entire continent of Europe into one problem in one particular country but also pointed to the “laptop squatters” impacting business.

    Someone argued: “This is because people buy one coffee and take the table for hours with the laptop.”

    “Laptop squatters” have become a problematic phenomenon in Europe’s most touristic spots

    Image credits: Atemkristall

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    Image credits: Janesca/Unsplash

    A netizen quipped: “Cafes are for having a small coffee and 4 cigarettes in the mid-afternoon not working on your bulls**t startup that sells underpants for dogs.”

    The viral image seemed to have resurfaced from an initial rant posted on the Digital Nomad Reddit community two years ago.

    Sharing the same sign, a Redditor wrote: “It’s happened several times already this past month alone.”

    Many observers ridiculed Levelsio for reducing the entire continent of Europe into one problem in one particular country

    Image credits: kmh

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    Image credits: ManojG7

    “It’s almost becoming a thing in Paris

    “Has anyone else encountered laptop hostility at cafes and coffee shops elsewhere as of late?”

    As it turns out, the use of laptops in coffee shops has become a problematic phenomenon that has increased, particularly in Europe’s most touristic spots, over the years.

    “This is because people buy one coffee and take the table for hours with the laptop,” someone argued

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    Image credits: Roman Kraft/Unsplash

    Image credits: Joshua Rodriguez/Unsplash

    For instance, in Spain, remote workers and their laptops have become undesirable customers, Euronews reported in May 2024.

    According to the news outlet, bars and cafes in Valencia, Santiago, and Barcelona have been cracking down on digital nomads who overstay their welcome.

    Owners have reportedly said that teleworkers have been hogging tables for hours, sometimes for the price of a single coffee.

    As a result, coffee shops and snack bars from Paris to Berlin have already established rules for so-called “laptop squatters.”

    The viral rant continued to ignite heated debates

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

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    Andréa Oldereide

    Andréa Oldereide

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com

    Karina Babenok

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    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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    Karina Babenok

    Karina Babenok

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    As a visual editor in the News team, I look for the most interesting pictures and comments to make each post interesting and informative through images, so that you aren't reading only blocks of text. I joined Bored Panda not that long ago, but in this short amount of time I have covered a wide range of topics: from true crime to Taylor Swift memes (my search history is very questionable because of that).In my freetime, I enjoy spending time at the gym, gaming, binging Great British Bake Off and adding yet another tattoo artist that I would love to get a tattoo from to my pinterest board.

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    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to remember that the cafe owner is also working on something cool - earning a living.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We go to cafes to chat and drink coffee, not to hear your zoom calls

    Anouk T
    Community Member
    5 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What’s the difference between overhearing a zoom call and a gossip about someone’s brothers girlfriend etc? Seriously this ‘issue’ ppl have with others working from the cafe is bizarre to me. What I see where I live and where I dare to work from my local cafe a few times a week is plenty of regulars like me coming back and spending money there ensuring the business is running. Never in my life I’ve seen a cafe that was overcrowded by people with laptops and believe me I’ve been to a fair few

    Load More Replies...
    G A
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One cafe in one country and this pillock makes out all of Europe isn't as good as the US, and then US people wonder why they get such a hard time when they make such sweeping generalisations? You see so many anti US threads and comments on here and then defensive ones, but people who post stuff like the OP deserve the hate.

    Tamra
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The sweeping generalization is the problem, whether it's made by an American or a European.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    Michael Largey
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You have to remember that the cafe owner is also working on something cool - earning a living.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We go to cafes to chat and drink coffee, not to hear your zoom calls

    Anouk T
    Community Member
    5 months ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    What’s the difference between overhearing a zoom call and a gossip about someone’s brothers girlfriend etc? Seriously this ‘issue’ ppl have with others working from the cafe is bizarre to me. What I see where I live and where I dare to work from my local cafe a few times a week is plenty of regulars like me coming back and spending money there ensuring the business is running. Never in my life I’ve seen a cafe that was overcrowded by people with laptops and believe me I’ve been to a fair few

    Load More Replies...
    G A
    Community Member
    5 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One cafe in one country and this pillock makes out all of Europe isn't as good as the US, and then US people wonder why they get such a hard time when they make such sweeping generalisations? You see so many anti US threads and comments on here and then defensive ones, but people who post stuff like the OP deserve the hate.

    Tamra
    Community Member
    5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The sweeping generalization is the problem, whether it's made by an American or a European.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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