PaullyW

Please note that there is some evidence to suggest a link between talc powders and cancer...

And to be fair, there are all kinds of things one can base friendships on and not everyone is interested in having very serious, deeper relationships with Thais.

I'm sure there are many Westerners out there who just want someone to casually chat with over a beer. Or someone to have casual sex with. Or someone to eat with on occasion. In other words, many people don't mind relationships with Thais that we would consider more superficial. And then some of us, like me, don't prefer superficial relationships.

Well, I don't fault people for having very negative views of Thailand and Thai people. I think what contributes to this is the fact that most Western values are very dramatically different from values that Thais have. Thai culture is really an ancient, less evolved (if I can say that without any disrespect) culture dressed up in a modern facade.

Are there Thais who are different from one another? Of course. Are there Thais who have some Western values? Yes. However, it's a numbers game. Anecdotes are only useful in person who had the anecdotal experience.

The vast majority of Thais will fall into a certain place on the bell curve of traits/tendencies. This is true also for any country. I think that Thais will generally fall into a place where they have almost no core tenets in common with Westerners. Below are some core Western traits and their Thai contrasts.

Valuing truth above conflict avoidance,

respecting by default all people one encounters rather than viewing people outside the group with suspicion,

honor to act and even put oneself in danger regarding injustice over ignoring it if it doesn't affect you directly.

So, what is there to form a deep friendship over? Most Westerners -- especially ones we would consider decent -- would have no solid foundation upon which to build a relationship with an average Thai. It's simply impossible to respect each other and value the way each other lives life.

I have not a single Thai friend (male or female, other than my wife). I tried in the beginning with all manner of Thais from all walks. The more I learn about Thai values and culture, the more protective I get of myself blocking Thais out. Personally, I fear getting close to too many who might skew my own values in a way that I would think is bad and primitive.

I think the problem with this thread is that a distinction between expat and immigrant needs to be made.

I would imagine true expats did not give up much and probably gained quite a bit.

However, immigrants on the other hand, I would imagine they give up much.

You will never have a life anywhere@ what a waste of flesh you are.Get a balcony as soon as and do a leap! I have met happier better ajusted people in the gutter..

Your advice would be better received if it was more precisely targeted. Who specifically are you talking to? Can you imagine the mortification if the wrong chap topped hisself on your advice?

For my part, I've never met anyone in the gutter, and if I had, I hope that they and I would have the decency not to recollect it in public.

Personally, I like to think everyone has some value, if only to remind ourselves that our own misfortunes are trivial and insignificant, and that the foibles and prejudices of our own acquaintances pale in the shadow of the idiocy one can find on the internet.

SC

Shakespeare ?

Yeah, this SC character only communicates in riddles. I guess it's cute. Perhaps a predilection for an old, bygone era.

A big vote of thanks to StreetCowboy, thaimlord and others who have taken the time to actually read my post and formulate a thoughtful response.

OP, didn't you mean to write -

"A big vote of thanks to StreetCowboy, thaimlord and others who have taken the time to actually read my post and who agree with me." ??

I must say, I'm a tad surprised with your OP and your interest in the topic. Especially considering your questionable early posts around race. But, I do applaud you for shifting gears to create a new internet identify. You've done well.

Cheers

What are the 10 year-olds in the pic doing with a university senior student?

Wow. A surprisingly decent article from The Nation.

Any educated farang KNOWS that you don't drink with or even near Thai males. It was never meant to be. Their egos are far too easily damaged.

Us foreigners here know what this is all about and many have already identified the attitude of "do you know who I am" and "I am the law". 3rd world power mentality. And, it's why most of us realists are very honest about things REALLY work here once you peel back the thin veneer of modernity.

Rule of man over the rule of law.

At its foundation, a totally corrupted society.

What does anyone else think?

So, right on cue then. Didn't a relatively famous Thai newscaster mention contrary results regarding one of the major brands just a few days ago? Seems like they finished this testing real real quick.

On a separate note, I wonder why they publish these news stories in English. Surely they don't think foreigners here are so dumb as to believe that they have the public's best interest in mind? I'll be avoiding the rice until Western experts in the US, Canada or Europe or Japan or Korea publish their results.

I'm not a developer or even know a great deal about Thai real-estate, shopping preferences ect. But even when that mall was being built, something about it as a concept seemed wrong.

If one is already on the BTS, then Terminal 21, Paragon, Central World or Emporium are all better choices and essentially just as easy to get to.

If one is driving, the same is largely true depending upon the distance of course.

In terms of what Gateway has to offer, it's rather terrible. Mostly cheap stuff which they've attempted to jazz up a bit. Even the food is mediocre esp by Thai street food / food court standards. It feels like they wanted it to be a very slightly upmarket (by Thai standards) kids mall... But the problem is that the kids who goto school and move around in the areas along Sukhumvit would much rather be in the higher end malls with much more to offer.

The themed Japanese mall concept is fully bogus as there are NO real japanese food products or others in there that you can't find anywhere else in Thailand, even at 7/11.

The location is also the first real spot on Sukhumvit that is not as developed as the lower Sukhumvit sois. Ever observe how many people get off the bts at ekkamai as compared to the other stops? Very small as percentage. There's nothing to do over at ekkamai that is convenient to get to without a car.

Just a totally failed project. We'll see others as they continue to build nothing but malls all over this ugly city.

I

There are many things I hate about being an expat in Thailand, but this is a good opportunity to mention that there are also things I Really love about Thailand, and they are much more seriously missed when I return home (whichever place that is).Bum gunsPretty girls and generally decent looking, not obese peopleLaid back atmosphere (although its downside is strong here)FoodThe timelessness that Thai people live their lives by - not rushing through lifePretty girlsFoodWeatherSimplicity of lifeTrips to other regional countries that are quite interestingThe openness that Thais have about what we consider PC type stuff - for instance, it's perfectly fine and happens on occasion that someone in my company approaches me to tell me that I look handsome. Or, I can make comments to some of the sweet things in the department like "wow K. Cutey, did you lose a little weight? You look so sexy 'jing jing'", and there's no problem.Probably othersNow, as much as like visiting Singapore, after long assignments there, I'm happy to get the h3ll outta that boring place.

"I can make comments to some of the sweet things in the department like "wow K. Cutey, did you lose a little weight? You look so sexy 'jing jing'", and there's no problem" I would say that this is actually not appreciated if the truth were told.Not in Thailand, anyway.The people you are kidding might prefer it otherwise.They will accept this from you a farang, but I do not think this is appreciated as much as you might think.Sorry, only my opinion, and I may be incorrect, but hopefully not politically.

There are many things I hate about being an expat in Thailand, but this is a good opportunity to mention that there are also things I Really love about Thailand, and they are much more seriously missed when I return home (whichever place that is).

Bum guns

Pretty girls and generally decent looking, not obese people

Laid back atmosphere (although its downside is strong here)

Food

The timelessness that Thai people live their lives by - not rushing through life

Pretty girls

Food

Weather

Simplicity of life

Trips to other regional countries that are quite interesting

The openness that Thais have about what we consider PC type stuff - for instance, it's perfectly fine and happens on occasion that someone in my company approaches me to tell me that I look handsome. Or, I can make comments to some of the sweet things in the department like "wow K. Cutey, did you lose a little weight? You look so sexy 'jing jing'", and there's no problem.

Probably others

Now, as much as like visiting Singapore, after long assignments there, I'm happy to get the h3ll outta that boring place.