richard_smith237

We spend plenty of time in the UK... at least 6 weeks each year... We both enjoy it there... I travel a lot for work and Wife has a very strong network here (family and friends) and I have a strong network of friends here... so it would be a shame to move back. That said, we have often discussed moving back to the UK (especially for my Sons A Levels and into Uni), my Wife is perfectly comfortable with that idea - I believe she'd fit in very comfortably, she thinks so too... I have no concerns that she'd be mis-labelled inappropriately...

We've had plenty of maids who feel more comfortable working for us and mention how poorly their previous employer treated them. I just have not witnessed this first hand - we're often over at friends houses... and the maids are treated politely and with respect. But, they are employees... so they're not exactly treated as equals, I wouldn't expect that, but they are not treated as subhuman servants either. Possibly... I know one Thai friend of my Wife's who certainly give off the impression that she believes she's better than everyone... Her father was a famous actor, she is a famous actor... she seem believes it was her birth-right... I think the most of the Thai's that I do know treat their maids well because they know how hard it is to find good maids who are honest and reliable - they tend to be with the families for decades... Thats perhaps a bit different to the 'staff' in an apartment of condo complex.. where there may be a general degree of indifference... perhaps in this case the foreigner over-compensates because they are not used to having maids etc...

You are doing 90 day reports? There is your answer. Those are two different concepts... a) how we fit in with immigration policy b) how we fit in with within the Thai social hierarchy Example at hand - my wife would fits in with the UK community very well, people wouldn't know she's not British, give or take one or two grammatical foibles in her speech... Yet, she is subject to immigration restrictions. That said - simply because many overseas cultures are more multicultural and multiracial I think it's be far easier for a Thai fit in, in the UK, as the natural assumption is that they are living in the area and generational... That is not true of Westerners in Thailand... and perhaps therein lies a difference.

For some godforsaken reason you've taken my post completely out of context The International Monetary Fund isnt out to get you or me or anyone else for that matter and nor are all the other organisations named by the original poster I quoted Au contraire Mr Chivas... we're in alignment on this... ... my 'deliberate' distortion of the IMF acronym was to point the finger of ridicule at the conspiracists....

How do you get along with the Thai's? bob. No differently than I get along with anyone of other nationalities... A couple of my closest friends are Thai... I generally get along with people very well and avoid the tools in any society.

Perhaps you should evolve your game bob... Instead of needing all Thai's not to judge you based on the way you act, interact, behave and appear.... .... improve the manner in which you act, interact, behave and appear.... Its easier to play their game, than it is to have everyone else around you play yours. That doesn't mean you have to become a conformist weakling... but showing awareness for and being respectful of your surroundings goes a long way.

Seems you are looking for an argument... I found your comment stupid, apologies if that upsets your sensitivities and you now want to enter forum sparing match... Its not going to happen, you'll need to up your game if you want engagement.

Only those lacking in critical thought... Its also possible not to look like a slob in shorts and t-shirt... Army print (DPM) cargo shorts and vest or worn out t-shirt are never going to cut it. All the Thai's I know treat the 'service people' (their maids etc) extremely well.

I don't recall you mentioning anything about your wife. My comment wasn't aimed at you, but apparently I hit a nerve. You already know what I'm thinking... & I never thought you were referring to my situation.... my response based solely on the ridiculous flaws in your comment... the 'nerve' you struck, was one of a lack of tolerance for such comments.

I'd be too concerned that you'd run off with my Bar Girl and take her to Koh-Chang while I took a quick nap...

And when someone mentions such tosh as above... I think to myself they have shacked up with the first bit of fluff they met in a bar and now have a chip on their shoulder 'cos they are treated like dogs !!!....

Seriously you need to get yourself a life rather than following such spurious utter complete shight "The Hierarchy Enslaving You" 🤣🤣🤣 Utter utter utter whackjobs and as per the other post thats extremely polite out of deference to Asean Exactly... and the IMF - Impossible Missions Force isn't even real....

Which one is you, bob ?

....you are hanging around in bars 'where the dogs of society howl'...

My local Honda garage won't even let me use my Thai debit card. When prospective buyers know of such information, I wonder how many would avoid Honda based on this thread. I also wonder, how the management would handle such a response... Do they expect you to pay in cash ? Or request a bank-transfer ? That said - If they wont accept a debit card payment, is it not the same to simply may a prompt pay transfer ? In the vast majority of cases - the only reason we (Wife and I) use our (Thai) CreditCard as much as possible is becase we build points which we can then use for flights (albeit with a bit of hassle and long term planning with TG).

Rule #1: Never ever tell anyone on this forum you are an English teacher... that opens the door to the grammar nazi's who fail to comprihend how eazy it is to make a tpyo and instead use the opportunity to point score...

A lot of the above also depends on the status of the Thai female... If she is of a well regarded status, this is often visible in the manner in which she speaks (socio-phonetics), the way she carries herself, dresses etc... Thai's pick up on this and extend this status to the partner... So the extension of status seems to work both ways... i.e. Thai female of higher status - that status is extended to the husband (or until he shows otherwise). Thai female of lower status - her status may be elevated slightly, but his may drop.

You've projected.... Some of us can pick up on genuine like and respect vs superficial platitude... I have some very close genuinely true Thai friends... through them I've made other acquaintances who are friendly, but I feel a underlying lack of genuine feeling (if that makes sense), with others I can feel a genuine like, respect, consideration... Other groups I can see are genuinely considerate and place me firmly within their 'bracket' in the Thai 'socio-totem-pole'.... Thai's are as astute as anyone else... they see what we see, are often more tolerant on the surface, but underneath make their judgements as we do. They are able to place us on this 'socio-economic-educational totem pole' as easily as we can place each other, initially that judgement is based on appearance, behavior, even who we are with... and that evolves as then know us more. Thus: Some are treated like soi dogs because thats how they behave, others are treated with mutual and equal respect as that is manner of treatment they attract... the often becomes genuine care The difficulty I seem to encounter is when interacting with some Thai's who'd other Thai's would place lower on the socio-totem-pole, the uneducated Thai's who lack the discretion of how to place us, or through experience (mainly in area's of high tourist footfall) have had poor encounters and carry some form of grudge or are simply ignorant. This may occur more in tourist areas, less so in area's such as Bangkok where the 'type of expat' ranges from 'tourist to execs' so we are often treated with the benefit of doubt until we prove otherwise.... but this is the same anywhere in the world... So where do we fit in. 1) Exactly as other Thai's - treated with a respectful indifference until our position is established. 2) Once our 'position' on that socio-totem pole cab be established we are 'thought of' accordingly, but generally treated politely. How and where we fit in on that socio-totem-pole is something that is individual to all of us, there are no hard an fast rules.

If this thread is not your cup of tea... what are you commenting for then ???... There's an ongoing haemorrhoid thread which could be right up your alley... (pun intended)....

Yeah... 'cos Thai's are never found doing that, eh... Some people come out with some weird 'anti-farang' shyte sometimes... have such folk gone so native that they adopt a bias solely in favour of the locals and always point the finger at the foreigner as if that makes them more in tune with their own Thainess or something... ???

100% agree... many such issues are caused by 'human nature' and are the measure of civility within a culture. Some cultures express a better consideration of the 'greater good'... whereas others express more of a 'me first' attitude... and the more that 'me first' attitude is prevalent, the worse it gets - its also often exacerbated the busier a place is...

IF there is no where else to sit, just take one of the 'reserved seats' on a larger table, assuming its just one or two people. If they don't like it, thats kind of tough. But, they are only avoiding the issue you were potentially facing in ensuring there was somewhere to sit when they had a tray full of food... completely understandable and not really the end of the world.

According to the Swiss police, she has "been found." Why do you think you know better than they? I, too, think their quote means, "We found out that she left Switzerland, so our responsibility to find her ends there," but it could mean, "We found her, but will not reveal her whereabouts to the press." The report we are reading is translated from the MCOT news article, which is probably translated from another source, most likely in English... Unless MCOT news interviewed the Swiss Police themselves... Thus: we are dealing with a 'double translation' which flawed at the best of times often with incomprehensible contradictions... So.. in this case, I don't beleive I know better than the Swiss Police - thats just a bit of dumb gaslighting on your part. Its quite obvious what is written: Swiss Police found out that she left the country and have reported that. They have not stated anywhere that they are aware of her whereabouts and she is safe. If you want you can believe a translation of a translation... go ahead, fill those gullible boots.

I could be mistaken... But, as I understand it... Agreements with Visa and MasterCard prohibit passing on the fee's to customers.... Yet they do... But... It could be argued that the those paying by other means are given the a ~3% discount...

Oh well... why didn't you say so earlier... You never faced such an issue.... Must be the Ops fault.... Perhaps you can go with the Op to try and pay with his overseas CreditCard... they'll see you coming and think... .... "Now, here comes a man who clearly takes no s#!t... we'll have to just let him pay with his overseas card" !!!