RSD1

Don't worry about Barbie Bob because he can’t handle the truth! We live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? BS Bob? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. Lol. 😆

What you are talking about is village life. It's a lot different when living in the city. You don't have those same kinds of small community social circles. Also, no, I don't drink at all. Haven't sat in a bar in decades. I don't moan and complain like the OP. I'm also not lonely, depressed, etc. So I don't fit the mold of most of the other geezers here on this channel. I enjoy life in Thailand. I also travel, which many here don't. I just fully understand the hierarchy of this place. It's that simple. I have no problem with it. It just is what it is. But noodle this: Let's say you've been living in the same village somewhere upcountry in Thailand for the last 10 years. You are polite, respectful, and well mannered to your neighbors and everyone else around you, you dress cleanly and show up at all the village events and ceremonies at the local temple, you pay your respects at funerals, etc, and you even pitch in a bit of money from time to time. So you are a well tolerated foreigner. Then let's say one day you're walking in your village and you accidentally stumble and fall onto one of your neighbor's children, and, as a result, you accidentally break one of that child's legs. A very sad set of circumstances, but, no matter what, you are at fault. Yes, it was a complete accident, yes totally unintentional, and just a sad set turn of events. But the truth is, in their mind, none of this would've ever happened if you never got off that plane in Thailand. And that's what makes you the infidel. But there is a way out for you now. Just open you wallet and you will likely continue to be tolerated. And if you don't then things could get ugly for you in one way or another. You were once well tolerated, but suddenly you aren't unless you pay for your wrong doings, even if they are completely accidental. That's just how it is, isn't it? And you have to accept that, don't you? Their country, their rules. So you're a foreigner who is tolerated as long as you remain in your place and don't cause any friction, right?

You could be right. I've never tried on Shopee. I use coins all the time on Lazada though. Also, I can't use the Lazada wallet because I am not willing to upload a photo of myself holding my passport page open. But I'm fine with that. Don't need the wallet either.

Oh Barbie baby, I love it when you talk dirty to me like that.

Don’t think I understand your point. But I’m not negative. Life in Thailand is great. I never complain about it. I just accept my place though. As long as I open my wallet I’m welcome. That keeps it easy and simple.

A minute ago you seemed sensible. Guess not. My bad.

Totally agree. And when I apply the word tourist I intend it to mean someone who is a visitor, who is not native, and doesn’t ethnically belong here. You can live in a place for 20-30-40 years and still be considered a tourist. It’s not only someone on a 2 week holiday that fits into that category. But as you’ve noticed, so many sensitive foreigners who have been here a minute and have tried to integrate will get offended if you call them a tourist. Too many big egos and small other parts. In my case, call me whatever you want. None of it offends me because I know my place.

Tourist, foreigner, use whatever pronoun for yourself that you prefer. Yes, you will begin to be more tolerated the longer that you live in Thailand in one place. It doesn’t mean you are now considered one of them. You are still the infidel. When I speak Thai and tell them how long I’ve been here they often joke with me and tell me that I’ve become Thai already. But I always think to myself “yeah, you don’t really believe that nor do I really want that to be true”.

Can’t wait to see what Anutin is going to tell all the rural people he encouraged to get into the business in one form or another. “Well, it was a great 2 years, now shut down your business and retire. What, you can’t retire yet? And you invested your life savings into this? And you have no other employment options? Well, whose fault is that? You know I was only kidding when I told you to get into the business to begin with, right?”

Try it and let us know.

Or maybe he didn’t and that’s why he scurried off?

You’ve been giving him a reach around at least?

Is that what it is? Always wondered. Thanks!

Delusions of the highest order.

Then you should at least be able to get a job as a Tuk-Tuk driver.

But sadly many do. Thankfully Thais will still call you farang forever to constantly remind you of the reality.

Fully agree.

The responses are generally what I expected. And if people don’t like the word tourist, or to be called a foreigner, then you can call yourself whatever you like instead. Expat or even migrant if you prefer. Whatever. Your still not ever going to be viewed as one of them. As @AreYouGerman said, it’s one of the perks. So it’s better to be seen as an outsider and then you are more likely to be treated with kid gloves. Sure, speaking Thai helps a lot. It is probably the best personal upgrade you can make. You will likely get treated better when someone is providing a service to you and there will be less misunderstandings. And it will also help a lot if you have a Thai partner, but that’s about it. But there are also times where you will be treated better if you don’t speak Thai and you need to know when to use Thai and when not to. My point though wasn’t about being here longer and integrating making things better for you as a foreigner. Sure, that helps a lot. But my point was about being accepted as one of them and it is just never going to happen. In fact, I came here long before many young Thais were even born. So when they ask me how long I’ve been here, and I tell them since before they were born, it still changes nothing. They probably just think I’m fookin strange.

You are fooling yourself.

So it's a done deal now? https://aseannow.com/topic/1331767-thailand-to-reclassify-cannabis-as-illegal-by-1-january-2025

I see so many foreigners who've been in Thailand for a minute and who have a job, a work permit, a yellow book, a pink card, are married to a Thai, etc, and they suddenly think they are no longer viewed as a "tourist" by the locals in the land of smiles. In my opinion, none of that changes anything, nor does the amount of time you've lived in the country for that matter. You can never change the fact that you are a foreigner on the outside and that you will always be viewed and treated as such by the locals. If you think that it's truly anything different then I think you are sadly mistaken. Personally I prefer it that way and wouldn't want it to be anything otherwise. Do you see it any differently? What are your thoughts on the matter?

Keep us posted. Very important matter.

Any leaks?

In the minds of the locals they are all still foreigners, which means they are all still perceived as tourists. Foreigners who have been in Thailand for 5-10 years often think they have assimilated and are now a local rather than a tourist. It's not until you're in Thailand for over 30 years that you realize that you are no more local than the day you arrived. Enjoy it though. It's what makes living in Thailand as a foreigner so much fun. 🤩

True story. Many years ago I saw two young, drunk lads walking along Sukhumvit Road in the wee hours, laughing together and having a good time. A couple of ladyboys standing in the shadows grabbed them both, but the lads rejected the advances by laughing and telling the ladyboys that they prefer men and don't like women. Bad move. Within seconds both ladyboys had their skirts pulled up and all that could be heard for miles around were the words "I have c0ck". Once the skirts were up, that became undeniable.