GarryP

GarryP, on 2012-05-16 09:52:49, said:

Shall we take this outside?

I have to wait until the dog has finished it's online banking.........................

Quote

At first I thought the OP was talking about farangs in my own Moo. I refer to the above types as "Mr Thailand's" now, always going on about where to find the best strimmer/water pump/restaurants etc.

Driving to the golf club a few days back quite early in the morning and we passed a recently opened cash & carry supermarket, the car park was empty and the shops shutters were all down.
One of our group said " I knew that would not last - crap place"
Me - "Jim, it opens at 9 o'clock"

garrya, on 2012-04-04 16:43:21, said:

Our literary talents

The issue here is Racism from Thai’s against Westerners and does it exist in limited amounts.
In the very same manner I’m sure it exists in some Westerners in Thailand against Thai’s. In fact I hear racism against Thai’s far more commonly in Thailand from Westerners.

Have I experienced it? I’m sure I have, but I probably shrugged it of as dealing with some idiot.

In Thailand we as Westerners can get treated quite terribly and far worse than a Thai might in the same situation. It is also true that as Westerners in Thailand we can and often do get treated very well and better than Thai’s in the same situation.


Generally however, we simply get treated the same as other people, sometimes it takes a little extra effort due to language and cultural differences, however, in most cases the effort is there to be treated not any better or not any worse but just enough to get the task done. Mostly I see simply indifference, a take it or leave it attitude and why should be we treated any better or worse than anyone else who behaves normally?


As a Side Note: Those working for institutions generally have a capacity to look down on everyone, there appears to be a ‘shit rolls down hill’ attitude and if you do not work for the Police, Immigration, a Thai Public company (i.e. TOT, PTT etc) and need something, the bureaucratic brick wall is efficiently universal. In these cases a special approach is necessary and each Thai has their own way of Kraeng-Jai (brown-nosing) to by pass this. Westerners often lack this locally necessary skill, some officials accept this as one of our idiosyncrasies, others place further brick walls until we can learn.

In these situations those who have the power can exercise what ever attitude they please against whom they please until they fear or become aware that this may backfire on them.

People want to be respected – this is universally the most common human trait, transcending culture and race.

Short story and on the Topic of Being Respected by Thais: I was in a bar with a number of close friends (Thai’s – some of them Police).  One guy, whom I knew but was not so close to brought a girl along. We were all introduced, she wai’d everyone except me. Her boyfriend did nothing, my friends scolded her and asked her why she wouldn’t wai me. Her response was that she doesn’t like Farang’s because they think all Thai girls are hookers…. My response was to ask her if she was a hooker !...  very funny, the girl has said something highly stupid and was called on it, everyone laughed (even the other girls), lots of cheers and chinking of glasses… moved on, next subject, enjoyable remainder of evening....

The point here is: some people will be disrespectful and we can’t do anything about that. We can’t reeducate the world, when these issues occur we can only take them lightly – In most cases if handled well the majority around us will favor our response.

beano2274, on 2012-03-16 11:42:07, said:

It is 50 baht.  Say that again to yourself.  Then think how ridiculous it sounds to say no way will you pay that in the official taxi queue (which I have used countless times and never had a problem with).

It is 50 baht.  One English pound.  

Unbelievable.

buhi, on 2012-03-25 20:03:41, said:

I realise you have no intention of doing this......

I have made the decision that my children will have the chance to be children, playing among their famiy and friends in the relatively safe environment of the village. An environment where my wife can enjoy a break if the children go and play with their cousins down the road, where my children can roam and have fun

My wife is intelligent and gives additional schooling at home, even then I have told her not to push too hard, the children are already at school all day, they deserve to have fun, when they want to learn, as they often do, they will absorb the information easier and it is more likely to stick

There is a long working life ahead of most children.......I say the important factor in their youth is to let them enjoy their childhood, before you start conditioning them for the upcoming economic slavery, if that enjoyment is to be found in Thailand so be it

In order to remain on topic, at first my children were possibly seen as different, but because they are always playing in the company of cousins neighbous and friends, older and younger, they are accepted for what they are, Thai children with a farang father

KarenBravo, on 2012-03-22 15:43:12, said:

do you have children karen? Yes the schools maybe better in the west but what gaurantees have you got of getting them into a good school,my english daughter couldnt get into a good school because of the area we lived now she goes to the school i went to which is right next to a rough council estate and where the teachers are still shite after all these years.

                    Another point is the west is mess right now and everything is so expensive and maybe they have a good life in Thailand and everyone is happy then you move to lets say the uk,you have less money,its cold,your thai wife hates it there.So you and the wife are arguing everynight,neither of you want to be there but your son might be getting a better education.But is he happy? seeing his mum and dad arguing all the time,his mother crying saying she wants to go back to Thailand.

                       What effect does all this have on there son? My guess is they would be alot happier in thailand and as long as their son is accepted by the other thai kids they will have a happy family life.

Canuckamuck made a good point,what about some teaching at home too,you learn something,your son learns something and he will appreciate it when he is older.

WinnieTheKhwai, on 2012-03-15 23:10:17, said:

As WTK alluded to, we both hold down full time jobs.  She also handles most of the laundry, the cooking, manages the bills, and helps me with the yard work.   I was raised to understand that marriages are a partnership.   I have no problem with helping out around the house and doing my fair share.  I also care enough about my girlfriend that I don't mind doing a bit more than my fair share so that she can have extra time to unwind, go shopping, or spend times with her friends.

I know she really appreciates how hard I work and how much I help out around the house.  Because of this, any time I want to go out drinking or hang out with my friends, I don't get all the grief from her that alot of other expats get from their wives.  Also she understands that Sunday is my day to rest and she handles all the errand running etc, without dragging me along.

Anyway, I know others will probably disagree with me, but I respect my Thai gf/ wife as a full partner in the relationship, and not as my personal maid/ slave.

-Mestizo

HardenedSoul, on 2012-03-15 14:37:02, said:

The problem is that so many farang men DO lead with their wallets, and to excess, this sets a precedent and it becomes expected of every Farang.
I am not rich at all, but I have enough for a comfortable existence for myself and my family.
I don't buy drinks or give cigarettes to anyone who asks and I don't throw money around.
The funny thing is that some of the villagers here who can't muster enough Baht to jingle in their pockets look down on me and call me farang kee nok.
My missus is happy with the lifestyle that she has with me but is under constant pressure from others who question why she is with a farang and not loaded down with gold etc.
For sure we have more money and a better life than everyone else in this village and it is enough for my lady, but it seems not enough for others whose opinions I couldn't care less for. Unfortunately for many Thais with this obsession for status and losing face, peer pressure can push them into demanding more than the farang can deliver.
Not all Thai women are mercenary but peer pressure can turn them into monsters.

The Grim Reaper came for me last night, and I beat him off with a
vacuum cleaner. Strewth, talk about Dyson with death.

Paddy says: "Mick, I'm thinking of buying a Labrador ." "Sod that"
says Mick: "have you seen how many of their owners go blind"

I've just had a letter back from Screwfix.  They said they regretted to
inform me that they're not actually a dating agency.

My girlfriend thinks that I'm a stalker. Well, she's not exactly my
girlfriend yet.

I woke up last night to find the ghost of Gloria Gaynor standing at
the foot of my bed. At first I was afraid....... then I was petrified.

A wife says to her husband: "You’re always pushing me around and
talking behind my back".
He says: "What do you expect? You’re in a wheelchair".

I was explaining to my wife last night that when you die you get
reincarnated but must come back as a different creature.
She said: "I would like to come back as a cow".
I said: "You're obviously not listening".

Doctors have just identified a food that can cause grief and suffering
years after it's been eaten. It's called wedding cake.

I was in the pub with my wife last night and I said: "I love you".
She said; "Is that you or the beer talking?"
I replied: "It's me talking to the beer".

The wife has been missing a week now. Police said to prepare for the worst.
So I've been to the charity shop to get all her clothes back.

They've opened a new shop across the road selling camouflage clothing
but I have my suspicions something weird is going on. Yesterday I saw
20 people go in but I never saw anyone coming out.

I've been on the phone for ages trying to book tickets for an Elvis
tribute act, but it keeps asking me to press 1 for the money, 2 for
the show......

I just brought a friend of mine a new fridge, should have seen his
face light up when he opened it

A friend of mine moved into a new house at the weekend so I took him
over a couple of radiators. Just a little house warming present.

I've just heard the window cleaner shouting and swearing outside my
house.  I think he's lost his rag.

I went to my allotment last week and found someone had covered it with
2 inches of soil.  I went again yesterday only to find it covered
again with another 2 inches of soil. The plot thickens!!!

A mate of mine recently admitted to being addicted to brake fluid.
When I quizzed him on it he reckoned he could stop any time.....

I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I
was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a
coffin... 3 hours later and they're still walking about with it...  I
thought to myself, these idiots have lost the plot!!

A new middle east crisis erupted last night as Dubai Television was
refused permission to broadcast 'The Flintstones'.  A spokesman for
the channel said....'A claim was made that people in Dubai would not
understand the humour, but we know for a fact that people in Abu Dhabi
Do.'

My son's been asking me for a pet spider for his birthday, so I went
to our local pet shop and they were £70!!!  B*ll*cks to this, I
thought, I can get one cheaper off the web.

Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarves are not happy.

I start a new job in Seoul next week.. I thought it was a good Korea move.

I was driving this morning when I saw an RAC van parked up. The driver
was sobbing uncontrollably and looked very miserable. I thought to
myself 'that guy's heading for a breakdown'.

Ian, for gods sake keep your clothes on!

Grab a banana leaf or something....

^  duct tape

Small husband and wife team  are endangered wildlife smugglers discussing their next mission....
Her.... How are we going to smuggle the small python dear.
He...... I know Ill just drug it and wear one of those big coats and tie it  around my waist
Her..... what about the miniature skunk then
He...... I know.. why don't you wear one of those big hoop dresses that are in fashion now and you can stuff it down the front of your knickers
Her....... Owwww. what about the smell
He.. well if it dies it dies.

poanoi, on 2012-01-16 17:42:00, said:

No apologies for my comment. Objectively, someone who is suicidal has at least potential mental health issues. I support the right of suicide but I don't think doing so in public is proper. I also think that sometimes suicide is an entirely rational decision.