PerfidiousAlbion

That is not psychologically healthy - and it's at odds with the rest of the world.

You are a Nigel Farage fan yet enjoy face masks - very strange combo

You must have some essential part of your soul missing then. The human face is a vehicle for human emotion and connection. It is part of our shared humanity. Without facial cues our human experience is dulled. From a humanist perspective, they are just awful. In Europe, nobody has worn masks for 3 years now - not even old people. When I see all these young 7-11 girls wearing masks still knowing that my 90 year old Gran doesn't wear one still - I just can't help but think many Thais are soft and cowardly.

That's good to hear. Maybe it's just a Bangkok thing then - as that is where I am.

It is not natural or normal to live like this. Not in any way, shape or form. It is anti-human and borderline dystopian. What's even more bewildering is that many seemingly well-educated foreigners think it's also totally normal. They pretend it has always been like this (it hasn't) or come up with the Pm25 bull<deleted>. PM25 on the top floor of a state-of-the-art shopping mall? Are you kidding me - what an insult to my intelligence to think I would believe such nonsense. I am just grateful that my stay is only for 3 weeks - I would go insane if I was living here full-time.

I’ve just come back to Thailand for the first time in two years to see my father, and honestly, I’m in absolute disbelief. How on earth are people STILL wearing masks everywhere? And I mean everywhere. Out in the open sun, alone on motorbikes, in empty corridors, walking on the beach – you name it. The most illogical, pointless situations imaginable… yet the masks are still glued on like some national uniform. I used to love the warmth, personality and vibrancy of this country. Thailand always had a strong identity – expressive, open, full of character. Now? It feels like the soul has been completely drained. It’s like everyone is hiding behind the same blank expressionless sheet of fabric. A faceless society. That’s honestly what it feels like. And the worst part? It’s clear this isn’t going away. There’s no sign that this obsession will ever stop. People seem terrified to break from the habit, as if the mask has become a permanent part of Thai culture. How did something meant to be temporary turn into a bizarre long-term behavioural ritual? Tourism numbers make total sense to me now. Why would people “flock” back to a country where you can’t even see anyone’s face? Where the atmosphere feels controlled, muted, and borderline dystopian? It’s not welcoming – it’s just depressing. This is not the Thailand people fell in love with. I never imagined I’d say this, but coming back has been a real shock. It’s like returning to a place you once knew only to find it’s been replaced by some strange masked-version of itself. Atmosphere stinks of covid paranoia - nobody give me this pm25 bull<deleted> either - there is sod all pm25 inside 7-11