zaz

I agree. I don't see the point of Remembrance Day at all. In fact I think it's a complete hypocracy to comemorate wars and the dead while wars and mindless killing continues even today. I'm glad younger people have little interest in this commemoration and soon it will just disappear. Total pompous rubbish.

Boeing's Worldliner jet set a new record for the longest non-stop passenger airline flight completing a trek of more than 20,000 kilometres from Hong Kong to London while the A380 was en route to Singapore. The Boeing flight touched down at London's Heathrow Airport after 22 hours and 42 minutes.

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22 hours and 42 minutes!!!!! No way would I want to be stuck in a plane that long 10 hours is bad enough! I think Boeing have got it wrong this time and Airbus have the lead on this one. I would much prefer cheaper air travel with the same current travel times over the convenience of longer non-stop flights.

I think the subject of whether or not Thais are racist has run it's course but it would certainly be useful to learn why some people are racist, I think that would be very interesting.

I think there have been some informative posts here. I also agree with bkkmadness that trying to label Thais as racist or not is a sweeping generalisation and can be racist in itself. I would say most would agree that some people are racist and some are not regardless of being Thai or not. People form many parts of the world are racist to some extent.

@ Neeranam - re your comment "If I don't like, and don't want to associate with people from a certain country, am I racist?

" - what would you class that as? And out of curiosity why would you not like or want to associate with people from a certain country? It would be interesting to learn the psychology involved here.

Anyone hear about the story of an African-American who guest lecturered at one of the main 2 unis in Bangkok (Thammasat or Chula, can't remember) for a semester whose students walked out on him when they realised he would be taking the lectures?

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Now I would say that was blatant racism and utterly disgraceful.

If this sort of thing was reported in the media and used to educate Thais that it is wrong then maybe that would be a step towards eradicating such instances - does this happen?

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Oh, so NOW you say that's blatant racism, right? Maybe some people are more aware of it than you, although as a Malaysian, you must be really dense not to have noticed.

Malaysian.....? Me? Do they have a Yorkshire in Malaysia.....? I was never good at geography...

oooouuuuch!!

Kez come and do mine for me....?!!

I could stop anytime because I'm not addicted. 

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Famous last words, those Zaz It's called denial

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True!!! The only reason why I think I'm not addicted is that I've been smoking on and off for several years and I've never really smoked more than say 5 or 6 cigs in a day on average. In fact sometimes after I have a cig it feels absolutely disgusting with the taste in my mouth etc. And also I hate that smell of cig smoke on clothes. And I'm conscious of having cig breath - I would hate to have a smokers breath - real bad! Maybe it's the fact that I'm really conscious of the "dirty" aspects of smoking that I don't smoke so much..? Dunno.

Just popping out for one now....

I've always been a "controlled" smoker - I now smoke maybe 3 or 4 Marlboro Lights in a day, less at the weekend or 10 to 15 on a night out!!

I could stop anytime because I'm not addicted. I've stopped in the past but just take it up as a kind of time out of the office or when I'm out it's social thing (stupid really). Smoking just chills me out and relaxes me a little but I know I should just ween myself off it. Dunno which way it'll go when I come to Thiland to live since fags are cheaper there...

Anyone hear about the story of an African-American who guest lecturered at one of the main 2 unis in Bangkok (Thammasat or Chula, can't remember) for a semester whose students walked out on him when they realised he would be taking the lectures?

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Now I would say that was blatant racism and utterly disgraceful.

If this sort of thing was reported in the media and used to educate Thais that it is wrong then maybe that would be a step towards eradicating such instances - does this happen?

I'd agree. If Thai racism was heavy racism I'm sure so many foreigners wouldn't visit the country. Like I said before I have never experienced any form of racism when I've visited and I've found people to be nice and polite. Soon I will be living in Thailand who knows what new things I'll learn and experience...

As far as arabs, indians, pakistani(s) - I think a few bad eggs have caused their entire ethnicity to get a bad reputation. I've witnessed this on many occassion and I understand why Thai(s) might have certain attitudes.

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True and agreed - but again this is the case with bad eggs from all corners of the world - that's just how it is.

But the cinema/film thing I guess we shouldn't really take it too seriously.

I know Thais are conscious when it comes to their own skin colour but I think that is the case for dark skinned people in other countries. e.g. Indian/Pakistan people are sometimes obsessed with having or wanting to have fair skin, ahem...and not to mention Michael Jackson.....?

Personally I don't have any preference or hatred to skin colour, you are what you are and it doesn't count for anything.

I think it's just one of those things where "It's ok for us to use those terms but not you"...!! Like for example in a lot of Hip Hop / Rap music the singers refer to each other as "n***er" and they even say that in conversation with each other but this would be offensive if a caucasion (I don't even like saying "white guy") used the term.

Well my advice to them is to take 5 and just chill out. Take a few deep breaths, calm down, stick on a bit of nice music, relax, close your eyes...if that doesn't work then go and get laid!! That'll do the trick guaranteed!!

I do agree TP - when it's banter it's generally ok, even on the rare occassions where someone's brave enough to crack a few jokes or initiate a bit of banter. To be honest I've had that and it is funny and ok to have a laugh about it. I've seen a few comedians popping up from the Muslim and Asian world who openly take the mick out of their own people and I find it quite amusing because I can relate to what they are taking the mick out of.

In fact some of us Asian's use terms in conversation amongst ourselves that we would find offensive if used by other ethnic communities - strange that.

Glad I'm a whitey in Thailand. That's all I can add.

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......erm.....glad? You haven't escaped unscathed either....

I tend to believe that every single human being on earth is racist.

It's as simple as people being borned to like different colours, different food, different smells...etc...

I think in this discussion, it's important to really define the word "racism" accurately.

Is only dislike of a certain skin colour in one's mind and not showing it "racist"?

Is physical action required to constitute "racism"?

Is the dislike of the way of life or certain things being done by certain races "racists"?

And the list goes on...

I think perhaps a lot of members here have different ideas about what "racism" is which leads to a lot of different answers to this thread.

It's quite an abstract issue.

My opinion is that Thais aren't very racist when compare to some other countries.

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Yes, indeed it's a question of defining racism. I suppose over history there are plenty of examples of different levels of racism e.g. "old" America's attitude towards African slaves, South Africa's history against indigenous blacks etc. And there's always been banter between Brits and Aussies, Aussies and Kiwis, Yanks and Canadians the list goes on.

At the end of the day how people play it is what counts - is it ok to just have a laugh about it and when does one actually step over the line - where is the line drawn? It's all about how much offence it causes and if it causes offence then it surely can't be acceptable in any shape or form.

Racism is the point at which stereotyping/prejudice goes beyond just generalising certain groups of people.

Back to the OP and the film, however, I scratch my head in confusion....what exactly is so funny about a black person being black?

Actually you're right there toast, I've heard/read about the term "smelly farang" more so than any other....but hey aren't most people/countries racist if even a little? It's human nature to be comfortable with the "clan" that you are with. The important thing is that it's not explicit enough to cause offence/insult and that they don't end up treating some people badly.

Shocking - well maybe they do smell.....?

Now this puts me in a bit of a predicament being of Pakistani origin (my parents) but born and brought up in the UK - the thing is I wouldn't have noticed any such attitude from Thais and have certainly not experienced it during my 4 visits there. I have met and interacted with many locals (obviously) and even made a few friends who remain in regular contact. So what's the deal? Is it because I'm not a "real" Pakinstani but a British one?

It's because we haven't had any Muslim bashing threads for a while....

......and let's keep it that way!!

Anyway all those Thailand-bashers should leave Thailand alone - there's no perfect place for anyone and never will be. I'm sure the countries they come from aren't quite perfect either.

It certainly makes sense chownah, about the rubber balloons. Call me a risk taker or plain stupid but I wish I would take that issue more seriously too...

Jesse whatever you do stay away from APPLES...........

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I don't get it Zaz!

You mean like Adam & Eve right?

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I think he means as in Adams Apple

Rule #1 Check the neck before necking

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Blimey I can't keep up with this forum it's too fast (been away for 2 days doing my weekend TEFL and I'VE PASSED!!!!!!!!!! HERE I COME..)

Anyway - APPLES: well......Jesse you just keep away from them they can turn out sour and expensive sometimes....

Jesse whatever you do stay away from APPLES...........

Ha! I'm not much of an 'eh?' kind of guy. City boy.

Oh she looooves me, I think? Haha

Nope zaz, I've never been out of North America before.

Prof. Fart I'm sure you're correct. I'm ###### excited! Just finished packing my bags.

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Jesse good luck man and enjoy yourself. Joking apart your girl is well fine. If she's there for you when you return that's great, if she's not then that'll be sad but there are more fish in the sea. Keep smiling and take it easy!!

Jesse have you been to LOS before?

Hey me first...!!! There's a queue here!