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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.”
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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
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.
“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
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
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
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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What do you think ?
Michael Largey 1 year ago
You have to remember that the cafe owner is also working on something cool - earning a living.
G A 1 year ago (edited)
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 1 year ago
The sweeping generalization is the problem, whether it's made by an American or a European.
Load More Replies...
Maisey Myles 1 year ago
Don’t most hotels have free WiFi for guests? And as everyone else is saying, go to a library. Squatting and squandering on someone else’s euro is rude. I wish ALL restaurants and cafes would ban cell phone usage. Unless you’re a doctor on call or waiting for an organ transplant, leave the phone in your car or on silent.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
A lot of free hotel wifi is poor in order to get people to pay for the faster paid tier, and they are very often hijacked by malicious actors. Library is the better option.
Load More Replies...
arthbach 1 year ago
I'm part of a group, 'Shut Up and Write'. We go to a cafe for about 1-1.5 hours on a Saturday. We chat for a little while, then start writing. During this time, each of us will normally have a couple of hots drinks, and often a cake, or pastry. Before the group was set up, the cafe owner was asked if he was okay with this. He was very happy with this set up. . . .. . . If we were buying one coffee each, and staying for 5-6 hours, I don't think he'd be quite so happy.
Carrie de Luka 1 year ago
That's exactly it. You're not there for hours on end spending nothing and table blocking.
Load More Replies...
Verena 1 year ago
Yes, I have seen these and totally understand why. 1. The atmosphere of a Café is usually a chatty one and people go there to have a good, relaxing time on their own or with friends, a break from work. Being flooded with single people occupying a whole table while staring at a laptop is not cosy. 2. The business owner makes a living from selling as much beverages and snacks as possible, not by offering free office spaces. It might be an option to require the laptop-guest spending the average per hour his table would usually make with normal guests. As a plus, this might prevent the place from being flooded by people staring in laptops. 3. Still wanting to work on a public place? Then go look for a Vienna coffeehouse old style type, where people go to read papers.
JLo 1 year ago
I stopped going to a coffee shop (USA) to just hang out and talk for this very reason, You can't get a place to sit! Why anyone would want to work in a coffee shop is beyond me! People can look over your shoulder and see your screen, you have lots of noise, and the tables are often small. Why does no one want to work at home?
Load More Replies...
Vinnie 1 year ago
There's a gorgeous cafe in my home city that rents out booths by the hour for those who want to linger that long. Otherwise, one gets a seat by a coffee table or standing room if all seats are taken.
Load More Replies... Miki 1 year ago (edited)
Coffee shops are not a free working space. On the other hand, my SO is totally against this ban and after I told her about them she is fuming with anger.
aubergine10003 1 year ago
There's a really cute coffee shop near my NYC apartment that serves great coffee and snacks. However, I almost never go there because it's always FULL of laptop zombies, and there's never a spot to sit.
Michael Largey 1 year ago
You have to remember that the cafe owner is also working on something cool - earning a living.
G A 1 year ago (edited)
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 1 year ago
The sweeping generalization is the problem, whether it's made by an American or a European.
Load More Replies... Maisey Myles 1 year ago
Don’t most hotels have free WiFi for guests? And as everyone else is saying, go to a library. Squatting and squandering on someone else’s euro is rude. I wish ALL restaurants and cafes would ban cell phone usage. Unless you’re a doctor on call or waiting for an organ transplant, leave the phone in your car or on silent.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
A lot of free hotel wifi is poor in order to get people to pay for the faster paid tier, and they are very often hijacked by malicious actors. Library is the better option.
Load More Replies... arthbach 1 year ago
I'm part of a group, 'Shut Up and Write'. We go to a cafe for about 1-1.5 hours on a Saturday. We chat for a little while, then start writing. During this time, each of us will normally have a couple of hots drinks, and often a cake, or pastry. Before the group was set up, the cafe owner was asked if he was okay with this. He was very happy with this set up. . . .. . . If we were buying one coffee each, and staying for 5-6 hours, I don't think he'd be quite so happy.
Carrie de Luka 1 year ago
That's exactly it. You're not there for hours on end spending nothing and table blocking.
Load More Replies... Verena 1 year ago
Yes, I have seen these and totally understand why. 1. The atmosphere of a Café is usually a chatty one and people go there to have a good, relaxing time on their own or with friends, a break from work. Being flooded with single people occupying a whole table while staring at a laptop is not cosy. 2. The business owner makes a living from selling as much beverages and snacks as possible, not by offering free office spaces. It might be an option to require the laptop-guest spending the average per hour his table would usually make with normal guests. As a plus, this might prevent the place from being flooded by people staring in laptops. 3. Still wanting to work on a public place? Then go look for a Vienna coffeehouse old style type, where people go to read papers.
JLo 1 year ago
I stopped going to a coffee shop (USA) to just hang out and talk for this very reason, You can't get a place to sit! Why anyone would want to work in a coffee shop is beyond me! People can look over your shoulder and see your screen, you have lots of noise, and the tables are often small. Why does no one want to work at home?
Load More Replies... Vinnie 1 year ago
There's a gorgeous cafe in my home city that rents out booths by the hour for those who want to linger that long. Otherwise, one gets a seat by a coffee table or standing room if all seats are taken.
Load More Replies... Miki 1 year ago (edited)
Coffee shops are not a free working space. On the other hand, my SO is totally against this ban and after I told her about them she is fuming with anger.
aubergine10003 1 year ago
There's a really cute coffee shop near my NYC apartment that serves great coffee and snacks. However, I almost never go there because it's always FULL of laptop zombies, and there's never a spot to sit.
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