Your Thainess

Your reaction is a bit over the top, though I hesitate to say you are incorrect.

In all likelihood, though, they probably just don't want non-Thais observing and photographing the derelict state of the carrier. They also might not want Thai-speaking foreigners mingling with Thais as they go through their spiel about the glories of the ship and the Thai Navy in general.

Can this be moved to the Pathetic Trolling forum?

What a steaming pile of rubbish.

This thread has potential.

cool story, bro

I have also noticed that 7-11 charges for X amount of satang but gives change as though it were a half-baht more. For instance, a bottle of milk that is B24.50 and they provide B5 change when given B30. Doesn't bother me much, but it would be nice if they did provide the change. I can't be bothered to deal with satang, but I would surely drop it in a box for just about any cause. That 50 satang multiplied among millions of people every day could make a difference.

Unfortunately for foreigners to openly own land you will have to change the national anthem as a section of it is rendered variously as saying:

Nation of the people; belonging to the Thais in every respect. Land of Thailand belongs to the Thais. Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais.

Many Thai people consider it is their nationalistic duty not to cede the land of Thailand either to foreign nations or to foreigners.

The main reason for not allowing foreign land ownership--and I agree with it--is that if it were possible, Thais wouldn't be able to restrain themselves from selling off every last square meter of the country. Some people just find cash irresistible.

Having lived in Thailand for many years, I have no lack of understanding of the place or significance of nicknames in Thai society. I am aware of how they are typically given and used. I know that a great majority of Thais and their families are at ease using nicknames. As this tradition is not new to me, I don't need to be reassured of its innocent intentions. I also don't need the insinuation that I am upsetting some sacrosanct part of the local culture, as it simply isn't the case.

I'm hip to all of that, it's fine for other people. But the fact is that it's not for me. In my OP, I pointed out that both my wife and I disliked our childhood nicknames. I also mentioned that we had seemed to be united in resisting a nickname, but the plan fell flat.

There's nothing in my point of view which ought to be construed as ignorance or failure to play along without a good reason. I'm not being grumpy about it, and I'm not belittling the practice. But it's our child, pure and simple. If a nickname just had to be given, my wife and I should have final say. We also have no desire whatsoever to use different names in different settings, regardless of how others do or don't feel bothered by doing.

Should I use the justification of 'that's what the great majority of people do with their children' for all my decisions? That sounds like quite the slippery slope.

The fact that we reside in Thailand does not mean that Thai culture trumps my own. My wife respects this, thankfully, and we consider our backgrounds and expectations to be absolutely equal. More importantly, though, culture itself does not trump our decisions as parents.

My wife is in a tough position not to fight this with family members, but we are on the same page. We are just going to take the strategy of ignoring it. They can call her whatever they like. The child, who will no doubt attend international school alongside me (as a teacher), can sort it out for herself later, if that's even necessary. Thank you to those who gave constructive advice (rather than explaining it to me as though I didn't understand the practice).

Best wishes

^ No, I stand by my statement that you didn't read my post carefully. Not to worry, it was long.

But, as I said quite clearly, I am not upset. Simply feeling under-respected or supported in this instance. There's too much to be happy about to be upset, no? Secondly, I am not ignorant of Thai culture with regard to naming/nicknames, and you seemed to imply that I was.

Thank you to the people on the thread who offered constructive advice. It is much appreciated!

Daphne.......what a lovely name......and Greek also.

Always wanted to call my daughter that name but at the end we opted out, after a lot of persuasion, for my mothers name that was Ourania.

Now be careful as God Apollo will be after her, according to the Greek Mythology.

As about Fah, please try to resist giving Daphne that nick name.

Can you imagine if later she goes to school in the UK the kids will add a ck at the end of her name.

God forbid......you don't want that

Put your foot down and don't accept it.

Wish you, your wife and Daphne, all the happiness and health in your lives.

I'm sorry Costas, Daphne is not a nice name at all, it goes with other UK names like Gladys, Nancy, Blanche, Morag. Contrast that with names like Tania, Judy, Laura, Samantha. Lovely names.

But this is just my opinion.

Wow, I hope this comment was tongue in cheek. It's my newborn daughter's name, pal, how about a bit of respect? Furthermore, it is not an English language name. Might be used by people in the UK, but borrowed from Greek.

Interesting. I've heard mention of government regulations on naming, perhaps on this board in the past. What made the names you chose unsuitable, legally, if you don't mind me asking?

Makes me wonder, what if I had just decided my daughter's intended name to be her nickname and then told family to take the honor of giving her a Thai first name...maybe I'll take another strategy next time around.

As for Ben, it's a normal nickname in Thai, why you are offended ?

my girlfriend's name is Benjamaporn, every body calls her Ben, it's also a boy name

as for Fa, again, why are you upset ? her official name will be Daphne and everybody will call her Fa, very easy to pronounce here, and Thai people like one

syllabe name ; many nicknames are choosen when the baby is born ; Lek, dam, daeng

Benalibina, you beat me to it.

Aforek, while you're re-reading his post please re-read mine as well.

The supposed connection between his 'constitutional' powers and regulating and enforcing laws in the fishing industry is flimsy at best. He's at such a loss for how to justify such sweeping powers that he'll claim almost any justification now. Trying to convince the public that Art. 44 is actually less of a stranglehold on the country than it really is...perhaps a clever tactic. I guess between the people who believe everything they are told and the minority who back this guy and his mates, it might just work.

Yeah...I don't have precise figures, but I seriously doubt that the majority of foreign teachers in Thailand are teaching in English Programs or at bilingual or international schools.

This article isn't about EFL teaching.

"There are professionally trained teachers from their own countries teaching English here"

Very few at that. Most either teach subject matter in EP, bilingual programs or teach at international schools.

My point is that EFL teachers only really know what is going on with a student from an English speaking perspective. They cannot really comment on the students' education as a whole because they are not involved with cross discipline teaching.

As this article is about Education as a whole and not EFL. You and the other poster seem to be sending this topic off course.

Khurusapah can do anything quickly if they want to. It simply depends on the mood of the person you encounter.

I swear I'm not judging you man when I ask this, but why try to build a relationship with a bar girl? Even if you put aside all the standard objections, it still seems to always end up in major drama.

The nazis did some amazing things...

Oh, please elaborate on that.

Unbelievable.

My point exactly, man. Why attribute these judgmental decisions to the Buddha when he never made mention of them?

For my part, I am an atheist bordering on anti-theist.

It makes me sick when people interpret ancient teachings to suit their own agenda.

Disgraceful prejudice and bigotry.

Do the Buddhists in Thailand truly understand their own faith? I think rather not. Gautama Buddha taught us to improve ourselves, not police others' behavior.

I know what I believe and will leave it at that. I have never spoken to Gautama Buddha in person and view what man has written about his teachings with skepticism. From my limited viewpoint, some people seem to pick and choose what is convenient and self-serving from organized beliefs.

I'm farang and I'm poor as hell. If anybody is expecting me to upgrade the neighborhood, they are shit out of luck.