Asianbloke

But I cant go on with this deviant lifestyle centred on lust for male bodies.

Yes there is always a choice

A lot of anti-gay sentiment here on this forum. It doesn't even matter now because I don't want to be gay anymore.

I just need support here.

I am 35 yrs old single man who is in 'closet' as you may like to term it. I am a virgin. I want to stop being gay - it doesn't seem right any more.

I am not keen on those conversion therapies nor am I a Christian.

I just want to change. That's it.

Well, then I stand corrected.

I know of no Thai/Lao/Malay guy that approaches the bear-rug standard I believe you are describing.

I'm gonna have to change the name of my "Asian Bear" album to "Asian Fuzzies."

Lol , you can go ahead & make that change. Sigh! There aren't hairy men in Thailand

I would say that's just a little fuzz

@fookhaht

I am surprised for I have seen only smooth chested Laotian men till now on TV. )

However, I do get that Malay descent men can be hairy-chested

Your going to have to define hairy a little better. I've run into a few that were hairy than others, and some that approached the level of hairiness of Westerners, but not really 'hairy'.

I really don't know. I am quite hairy myself. I meant 'bearish'

Any dating websites geared only towards the Thai men ?

Hi, I would like to learn Thai language as it is taught in schools for Thai students at the primary level. I do know that 'Manee' book series were widely used at primary level but they have since been replaced by newer books in Thai schools.

The Manee book series is available for easy download but I was wondering if I can catch hold of the newer books intended for today's primary level Thai students.

I think learning Thai language this way is going to be a lot easier and fun.

So, if anybody could help me out with the latest Thai books for learning the language at primary school level.

I was just wondering that are there any hairy men in Thailand.. All of them have smooth bodies but hairy does look attractive too.

It might seem like a silly question but I though I can ask without any inhibitions.

Any hairy men here at this forum?

I strongly condemn such hooliganism.

Have fun but don't spoil other people's fun.

No one has to right to inflict injury (which could have turned out to be a grievous one in the OP's case) on the other person.

Despite the Thai government's regulation of Songkran by cautioning people to play safe, there are people who still resort to such form of 'revelry'.

This just isn't acceptable.

One incident doesn't decide all. Why shouldn't we trust Thai? I don't see any reason for it.

Thanks all for your suggestions. I am glad that you helped me with your tips and even warned me of that fishy odour

@thailiketoo

Now, that's a problem too and I would have gladly discussed it on a Korean forum or if my post was about the Korean obsession.

Dr. Malcolm Roth is wrong for he feels that all/most Asians have 'Oriental' facial features and hence, they aspire to have western-looking eyes.

My point was it is not a Thai thing. Thais are not even in the top ten. Look at the facts. Look at the skin whitening creams sold in India, Pakistan and Thailand. People always want to be what they are not.

Which nation wants to look least like they now look? It's not Thailand.

I never denied the sale of skin-whitening creams in India. Some say it is a British hangover in India while others feel it has much to do with status being connected to skin complexion (the idea being that the poor are the ones with darker skin tone since they have to slave-it off under the sun). There are biases everywhere in India.

India is a diverse country with an entire range of skin tones from very fair to dark, a lot of times within the same closely-related family.

And, just because the K-obsession doesn't apply exclusively to Thailand, that doesn't stop us from examining its influence in Thailand?

@thailiketoo

Now, that's a problem too and I would have gladly discussed it on a Korean forum or if my post was about the Korean obsession.

Dr. Malcolm Roth is wrong for he feels that all/most Asians have 'Oriental' facial features and hence, they aspire to have western-looking eyes.

@Thailiketoo

It didn't stop there in 1968 and continued through the 70s

My intentions are being misread. The Thai press has called these Korean and Korean-inspired collective trends ‘Kim Chic’ – as a play on the popular Korean menu item Kimchi.

Thai authorities recognized the 'dangers' of this craze years ago and began warning the Thai teens.

The Korean ‘look’ for the ladies included wearing coloured contact lenses that made one's eyes look bigger with oversize glue-on eyelashes to enhance the effect. Thai officials had sent out warnings that the contacts can make one go blind and even spread HIV infections if they are swapped between friends.

Another public service announcement warned against imitating Korean looks through skin-lightening creams.

This is in the same line as blaming the spate of dengue cases among Thai women on the Korean import, black hosiery and claimed that mosquitoes are able to hide in the dark colours and more likely to bite such Korean-fashion inspired women.

Some Thai authorities have also cast Korean Fever as a threat to Thai culture

However, few concerns among the government officials seem valid. The ones where Thai are ready to risk, going under the knife, to acquire a surgically-enhanced dolled-up look of the Korean pop stars - heightened noses & oval facial structures. This is an unhealthy obsession with one's looks.

Hmm I don't see it as an issue. Thais had a huge hello kitty thing for a while. wait it out if you don't like it OP all fads do end....

And, that's why they are called fads. It isn't to do with my preferences & issues with it but with the discomfort that Thai authorities seemed to have had with some of these 'waves' from other cultures.

Some of them feel that aping styles from 'popular media' of other cultures and the mass hysteria surrounding it, dents Thai nationalistic fervour.

Should the K-fever among Thai really be seen as unpatriotic? Does it really dilute the Thai cultural legacy that they have held to close to their hearts for ages?

That is one of the questions I asked in my post.

Well, I am quite acquainted with Oppa Gangnam Style and the likes.

However, K-fever is even stronger and more intense in Thailand since it resonates well with their Asian sensibilities. I was just looking to explore the possible reasons and if you would have read properly, the discomfort of Thai officials everytime, a new wave sweeps over Thailand.

It is only natural for me to discuss the influence of K-fever in Thailand on forum meant specifically for issues pertaining to this country.

I have no hang-ups whatsoever, in discussing about its impact in western countries and Indian too (if at all any)

However, if I do so, there would be some accusing me unfairly of devoting a post to India on a Thai forum.

Alas! I can't always please everyone.

I missed it. Where did you post the information that Thai Officials disliked K-Pop? The hippie link 40 years ago is nonsense. American/Euro trash Hippies are not K-pop.

So if no information just say you were trying to construct another Thai Bashing post and you were wrong.

Here, I am trying to pay respect to all other cultures too besides Thai and if someone fails to recognize the all-inclusive nature of my post, I am not the one at fault.

It seems that missed out on some relevant facts in my post. I said that similar discomfort has continued till date and is now evident in official advisories that often accompany each K-fad.

Is that worry/discomfort rational? A throwback to the earlier times is definitely relevant to the discussion here.

Nonsense. List these advisories? What is a K=fad? Do you mean K-pop. Ten K-pop channels on Thai TV with no problems or advisories. Make some sense. You are a Thai Basher. Plain and simple. If Thailand is discriminating against K-Pop show us??????

A fad means a fashion trend which happens to be short-lived and includes K-pop. It's a lot more diverse than that. Warnings were issues as and when these fads emerged and not with each and every K-soap aired on TV. I never said.

I have already listed the concerns of the officials & even an advisory among many others wrt K-culture in my posts here. You can always dig up for more & you will readily find them. I am just being a bit lazy.

Well, this isn't nonsense.

Thai interior minister, Prathuang, during those times had ordered immigration officials to deny entry to any traveller who looked like a hippie and offered a few guidelines on how to spot one. According to the ministry's directive, anyone wearing a singlet or a waistcoat and no vest, or wearing shorts in an impolite manner was most likely a hippie and should not be allowed in.

Anyone who wore slippers or silk trousers, that appear offensive or who had long, untidy hair and a dirty looking appearance should be refused entry as directed by the minister.

He went on further to say that the ban of hippies was necessary because they jeopardised peace & order and damaged the country's reputation.

Well, I am quite acquainted with Oppa Gangnam Style and the likes.

However, K-fever is even stronger and more intense in Thailand since it resonates well with their Asian sensibilities. I was just looking to explore the possible reasons and if you would have read properly, the discomfort of Thai officials everytime, a new wave sweeps over Thailand.

It is only natural for me to discuss the influence of K-fever in Thailand on forum meant specifically for issues pertaining to this country.

I have no hang-ups whatsoever, in discussing about its impact in western countries and Indian too (if at all any)

However, if I do so, there would be some accusing me unfairly of devoting a post to India on a Thai forum.

Alas! I can't always please everyone.

I missed it. Where did you post the information that Thai Officials disliked K-Pop? The hippie link 40 years ago is nonsense. American/Euro trash Hippies are not K-pop.

So if no information just say you were trying to construct another Thai Bashing post and you were wrong.

Here, I am trying to pay respect to all other cultures too besides Thai and if someone fails to recognize the all-inclusive nature of my post, I am not the one at fault.

It seems that missed out on some relevant facts in my post. I said that similar discomfort has continued till date and is now evident in official advisories that often accompany each K-fad.

Is that worry/discomfort rational? A throwback to the earlier times is definitely relevant to the discussion here.

Is op so ignorant? In western countries they also love korean culture which has superseded japanese culture and mind you japanese culture in terms of say anime, video games etc have long held sway on the western world. Just the word pokemon alone will tell you how many western ppl know what it means and if you don't you're a caveman go ask your grandchildren what that word means. Anyway korean culture is like the new japanese culture of today. Oppa gangnam style is famous world wide. Everyone knows what it is.

I find it laughable that OP would single out the thais in this respect when there are teens in western countries that listen to korean pop music and watch their dramas. SNSD even held a concert in the US and they are something like the korean version of the spice girls but better looking. You know how hard it is for an asian band to do that. They held their concert in some popular stadium or venue. UK bands have problems doing that apart from the oldsters like the beatles.

Well, I am quite acquainted with Oppa Gangnam Style and the likes.

However, K-fever is even stronger and more intense in Thailand since it resonates well with their Asian sensibilities. I was just looking to explore the possible reasons and if you would have read properly, the discomfort of Thai officials everytime, a new wave sweeps over Thailand.

It is only natural for me to discuss the influence of K-fever in Thailand on forum meant specifically for issues pertaining to this country.

I have no hang-ups whatsoever, in discussing about its impact in western countries and Indian too (if at all any)

However, if I do so, there would be some accusing me unfairly of devoting a post to India on a Thai forum.

Alas! I can't always please everyone.

Trends are common the world over.

Just so happens that Thailand is into K-pop.

So what...?

Exactly. The question is why has this Korean wave then left Thai officials perturbed. It definitely has ruffled a few feathers.

Do they really think that popular media imported from another country can endanger their own Thai culture and if people of their nation choose to emulate it, then are they being unpatriotic and disrespectful of Thai culture?

Shouldn't the government be more tolerant of changes in the likes & tastes of the public and consider it to be normal rather than a deviance?

Discomfort with 'hippie culture' which found popularity in Thailand too way back in 60s & 70s and the crude references to it - is also a reminder of the similar Thai attitude.

Obsessing over K-pop & media is fine except for in cases where it adopts an extreme stance - going under the knife to look more 'Korean' and the excessive use of skin-whitening creams/peel treatments to attain a lighter East Asian complexion, courtesy the air-brushed, glossed up images of these K-stars.

Similar concerns were raised in past too, way back in 1960s and 70s when the 'hippies' arrived from Europe and US on backpacking trips to Asia. The Thai interior ministry in 1968 declared that 'Hippie' culture won't become fashionable in Thailand because it is too crude and dirty for the sophisticated Thai people. It ordered Thai embassies to bar entry of Hippies into their country and Foreign ministry agreed. It called such scruffy backpackers 'crazy people'.

Singapore was worse.

Hippies transiting Singapore had their passports stamped with:

Suspected

Hippy

In

Transit

I've never seen a SHIT stamp, by the way, and some people claim it's just an urban myth.

From the looks of it, it's most likely to be an urban myth though I am not completely sure.

Meet Maureen Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/about/our-founders/

And from the Lonely Planet story: "Maureen swears the Malaysian officials stamped SHIT in our passports".

http://books.google.co.th/books?id=onAAlO6qkiIC&pg=PA25&lpg=PA25#v=onepage&q&f=false

I just read it up, it seems to be true.

I just read it, it seems to be true.

Similar concerns were raised in past too, way back in 1960s and 70s when the 'hippies' arrived from Europe and US on backpacking trips to Asia. The Thai interior ministry in 1968 declared that 'Hippie' culture won't become fashionable in Thailand because it is too crude and dirty for the sophisticated Thai people. It ordered Thai embassies to bar entry of Hippies into their country and Foreign ministry agreed. It called such scruffy backpackers 'crazy people'.

Singapore was worse.

Hippies transiting Singapore had their passports stamped with:

Suspected

Hippy

In

Transit

I've never seen a SHIT stamp, by the way, and some people claim it's just an urban myth.

From the looks of it, it's most likely to be an urban myth though I am not completely sure.