harryd

'Up to you' if you find 'Farang' offensive. I used to get very upset about it being 'shouted out' when I was travelling around Siam with my former Thai gf, or as somebody else pointed out, referred to in third person as the 'Farang', because the people we were dealing with would rather address her than me.

Eventually, I realised you can't get mad over a word. After all, it's just a word, heard nowhere else but in Thailand. If you want to give it 'power' then respond to it. If not, ignore it. At least it will show you who really cares, as most intelligent / educated people will know it's disrespectful. As a rule, conduct your business with those who choose not to use it. However, If you care about the person who is saying it, then have a conversation with them. Help them to understand you're not just another foreigner, but somebody they can relate to and can give respect for. Too many people come to Thailand thinking they should deserve respect from everybody, straight out of the box. It just doesn't work that way, in Thailand as anywhere else you go in the world.

p.s. My Thai gf always used to go and buy 'Farang' fruit at the market (green on the outside, white on the inside), A guava fruit or something like that? - She claims the King himself gave the fruit this nickname. Whatever it is, I love it! Incidentally, 'farang' is also used for 'potato' and 'chewing gum', all things introduced to Thailand by the 'white man' I'm guessing, so don't always assume it's about 'you'.

Lock em' all in a room into which a bunch of similar objects are thrown. They'll soon learn the real meaning of 'bravado', or rather what it isn't!

Ah, Phuket... Great place to kick back - or forward!

First Rule of Thai Club: "Don't bring your emotional hangups into the kingdom (we have enough of our own)"

Second Rule of Thai Club: "You beach-bum Farang are not human - you are big, ugly ATM machines who come here to rape & pillage at your leisure. So don't be surprised if one or twenty of us local bucks happen to take issue with you from time to time!"

Any queries or complaints? "Refer to the first rule"

Condolences to family and friends of the victim.

Thailand = the lands of smiles and tough life lessons. I also learnt the hard way many years ago (thankfully not as hard as this). You want to live well in Thai, then learn to respect yourself and those around you. It's as simple as that.

Wow - seems like a lot of people on Thai Visa (expats I'm guessing?) really love to hate on Yingluck & Co. ? Thing is, as an outsider looking in and having spoken with a lot of peeps in my travels around Thai (beautiful country that it is), the more angst directed at the Shina clique by certain parties, the more (quietly) revered by the common folk they become. Maybe, instead of trying to imprison everybody, the EC and related authorities should focus on how to stage elections without rabble-rousers causing disruption to them? These disruptions effectively reset the progressive clock, over and over. Ultimately to the detriment of Thai people and only serve to keep the flames of political instability burning. Sure they wouldn't be as 'free and fair' as some might like, but a country able to stage regular democratic elections without the need for post-electoral military intervention will get much farther than one who is seen as unable to keep from constantly smacking itself in the face, politically speaking. Re: the latest allegations; If the Pheu Thai party owes money then make them pay it back as a condition of participating in future elections. Imprisonment will only make Matyrs of them and push hopes for a progressive democracy further down the toilet. Think positive and promote rational discussion. The only way forward in my view. I really hope they (i.e. all Thais) can make it work for themselves!