meemiathai

Yes just eat the rat shit!

It's no way as bad as inhaling automobile fume!

When I was first seriously considering moving here, I, like I'm sure everyone else on this Forum, read just about everything I could on the subject. I'm always interested in local cultures, etiquette, body language etc, mainly to avoid misunderstandings but also because I find it an interesting topic in its own right. Of course, the concept of "face" kept emerging; keeping yours and, by so doing, helping others to keep theirs. Seemed great on paper, especially when one lives in the UK where the whole idea of restraining one's emotions feels more like a fond memory a lot of the time. So (18 months ago) I arrive and start learning about my new home. It doesn't take long, however, for me to discover that "face" is a two-edged thing. I'll give an example...

Not long after I arrived, I needed to sort-out an internet connection so got TOT here to bung-in a 'phone line, went into Khon Kaen and bought a router. So far, so good. After about a week, I realised that all was not well with the router. Would only work for about 10 or 15 minutes and then would fail. When it was cool, fine again. Ok, not the end of the world,I have the receipt, dah-de-dah. Fine, off we go into KK to take it back to the shop. At first, I let TW chat to the bloke but I soon got the feeling that no progress was being made. Apparently, he was saying that it was fine even though he hadn't even touched it, let alone connect it up and switch it on. I knew from the first visit that the chap spoke reasonable English (I'd heard him speaking to another customer) so I just said "Ok, if it's fine, you won't mind taking it back into stock and giving us a new one, will you?" He just blustered and looked put-out and tried to give it back to me but I kept my hands behind my back. I could feel my wife becoming uncomfortable and fidgeting next to me. I think she thought I was going to make a scene. But I stayed polite, quiet but firm. Basically, I just let him know that it was unacceptable, I knew it wasn't his fault but the product was US and I expected them to swap it. After a bit of huffing and puffing, he went off and came back with a new one. Big smile from me, thanks and off we go.

Now, I realise that customer-care is not Thailand's strongest point but that's not what I'm getting at. You can find unhelpful people the whole world over. Rather, it was my wife's attitude as we walked from the shop. She let me know that one doesn't lose face in Thailand and I shouldn't have put him in a difficult position etc. This surprised me a bit as I never saw my wife as being passive or meek and mild; she's not a pushover. But apparently, what I was supposed to do was bend over and take it or bow and scrape. Hmmm. That's when I saw "face" as being not so straightforward after all. Just seems that what is, on the surface, a great way to behave can also be abused in order for certain people to get away with things. All the way from lazy shop assistants to corrupt politicians. Basically "Don't question me, you're letting yourself down". It seems to fit in with the patriarchal, patron/client, feudal nature of Thai society.

No, I'm not whinging about Thailand, haha! But I'd love to hear others' thoughts and experiences related to this.

Don't blame your wife. She is just not used to the western way and does not know what the outcomes could be like.

And for the shopkeeper, we don't know how much he actually makes. He probably can't do like what you did as to simply return the product to the manufacturer and thought it was either you lose money or himself.

EAT IT!

I really can't stand it sometimes when people start complaining cause they found cockroaches or rats' shit in their food! Come on, idiots! Air pollution causes you much more harm than eating rats' shit! Shut your bloody mouth!

When are those bloody stupid idiotic human beings going to wake up?

Movies are fiction! Accept it or destroy all bloody TVs!

Why on earth does almost every single news story involving damage to propoerty or persons intentional or not have a sentence at the bottom saying : "So and so fled the scene", it's ridiculous.

Damian

Is the news article ridiculous in it's reporting or is the driver being ridiculous when he flees the scene?

I am inclined to agree with Galong, more likely to be fearful of their lives from a passenger lynching when they realise the consequences of what was probably reckless driving.

Ever seen a Thai walk up to the front of the bus and tap the driver on the shoulder to then tell him to slow down? Never happens. Face kills and no one learns. Will happen again in a week or so.

I was in a bus full with 60 schoolkids and teachers the first weeks I was here and asked a Thai teacher what was going on with the bus driver being so careless? "Don't worry, it's normal"

Never again, even my wife doesn't get to drive.

I am very concerned about your safety in thailand! Do you need any help to leave?

I hate to see people suffer.

Who the fxxk is Erco?

How come I have not the slightest idea that I have started something like that?

Embarrassing!!

Looking back is always so!

Why on earth does almost every single news story involving damage to propoerty or persons intentional or not have a sentence at the bottom saying : "So and so fled the scene", it's ridiculous.

Damian

Is the news article ridiculous in it's reporting or is the driver being ridiculous when he flees the scene?

I am inclined to agree with Galong, more likely to be fearful of their lives from a passenger lynching when they realise the consequences of what was probably reckless driving.

It could also have been bad vehicle maintenance? Who knows?

Why on earth does almost every single news story involving damage to propoerty or persons intentional or not have a sentence at the bottom saying : "So and so fled the scene", it's ridiculous.

Damian

You still don't get it?

To avoid the possibility of being killed at scene.

It is the bloody culture!

You are lying to yourself.

Consciously you might have values that everyone in the world is equal, but in reality, it is impossible not to think beyond that.

What if that was Hitler sitting next to you? Would you not be more polite to him than others?

Of course I wouldn't. As far as there is no threat to my life. Like I said I don't creep in front of no one, especially in front of one of the biggest murderers in the world.

Doctors and farmers: Do you think they should earn same wages?

No way! You missed the point. I said that monetary aspect does not put people on any kind of ladder in my opinion. Wealth does not create A hierarchy. I don't care how much you make instead I judge you purely by your own self, by who you are. See the difference? A highly paid doctor can be a prick, a low paid farmer can be a decent person. This is my ranking. It's not monetary at all.

Human lives have different values, regardless of what you say. Unless one has grown up living in a box.

This way of thinking is a slippery road. It is the basis for mass murders, genocide and etc. Nevertheless I may partially agree to that, however what I completely disagree with is that money constitute this value. This is <deleted>. Otherwise such people as Buddha, Gandhi, etc. are of less value than Rothschild and Paris Hilton? Complete <deleted>.

I wasn't exactly disagreeing with you. I believe I did get your point. I too treat everyone the same. I too do not give a shit about anyone's background.

But in reality, it is difficult if not impossible, to do so. The society does not implement this idea. Even those on the recieving end of your respect wouldn't believe it or understand it. Try treating someone with very low status in a society with a lot of respect like he is of very high status and see how uneasy he might feel?

Money is heavily related to every aspect of life. So it is not easy to simply just take away the money factor and tell what a person really is like. It's easy to be a gentleman when you have money. But let's say if there is one piece of meat and 10 people in a room, one has to kill 9 people to get his meat, is he a bad person? Will you treat the gentleman who simply paid 100baht for his meat better than the one who killed 9 people?

One more question: Why should a doctor working 8 hours earn more than a farmer working 8 hours?

BTW that was another highly debatable topic for us. I stood on the point that all people are sort of equal in value, I mean had I happened to sit in a bar with Bill Gates and y friends I'd not treat Bill any special at all, he is of no more value to me than others just because he made loads. Nothing to worship for. My friend loughed at that - I found there is a solid hierarchy in his head. More money you have - higher you are - shit on the ones below and crawl in front of the ones higher than you. Heck it! In my mind there is no human hierarchy - it's just flat, i don't crawl in front of no one in the world and don't use advantages I have over others. In fact I hate slavish mentalities.

You are lying to yourself.

Consciously you might have values that everyone in the world is equal, but in reality, it is impossible not to think beyond that.

What if that was Hitler sitting next to you? Would you not be more polite to him than others?

Doctors and farmers: Do you think they should earn same wages?

Human lives have different values, regardless of what you say. Unless one has grown up living in a box.

What loads of crap! Linking drugs to rape?

The main reason is women letting themselves shown in public view. It is the clothes, it is what they are wearing that is the problem! It is where they go that is a problem! There is a big problem in the world, in societies. Letting men and women go on a same bus is crazy, going on the same train is crazy. I think men and women should live in different cities. They should be seperated. And I think be it men or women, everyone should cover themselves up so no one will know who is a man who is a woman who is young who is old who is beautiful who is ugly. Men and women partying in clubs wearing almost nothing is just plain crazy! I hope governments will soon be advanced enough to understand what should be done.

Now I am sure those who think we need a safe environment for our kids will agree!

I think this post is actually a joke but just in case it isn't.

I lived in Saudi Arabia for many years and have to say that the incidence of rape and other crimes is very high there even thou the official statistics don't bear this out.

Some of the most deviant behavior i have ever heard has occured in the magic kingdom so i wouldn't put much stock in the repressed social environment that this country operates in.

Anyone who has had much contact with the Saudi male will uunderstand what i am talking about.

I guess the governments in those middle east countries just aren't doing enough. They are heading the right directions though?

The main reason is women letting themselves shown in public view. It is the clothes, it is what they are wearing that is the problem! It is where they go that is a problem! There is a big problem in the world, in societies. Letting men and women go on a same bus is crazy, going on the same train is crazy. I think men and women should live in different cities. They should be seperated. And I think be it men or women, everyone should cover themselves up so no one will know who is a man who is a woman who is young who is old who is beautiful who is ugly. Men and women partying in clubs wearing almost nothing is just plain crazy! I hope governments will soon be advanced enough to understand what should be done.

An excellent post, not that I agree with it at all, but because it explains clearly the Islamic case for the hijab. There is a case, however misguided it may be, in the view of many other 'people of the book' like myself.

I believe that men are mostly not animals, to be driven wild by the sight of exposed flesh, and that they can control themselves. But there are always exceptions - rapists & paedophiles are scum.

where i come from i would think its almost impossible to rape a girl as they give up too easy !

There I wonder why it has always been impossible for me to rape a girl!

Thai Soap Opera Script To Be Re-written To Show The True Nature of Air-hostesses

Sun Morning Special - 23 January

One of the script-writers for the controversial soap opera 'War of Angels' has admitted today in a confidential interview that the program's contents, in comparison to hostesses in real, are complete exaggeration.

He apologies for the awful way the air-hostesses have been portrayed and has promised to re-write the script. In the knew script based on the true life of hostesses, they will all be polite virgins, interested in only keeping their innocence for the night of their marriage day.

The script-writer went on to say "It is disgusting of us to have shown air-hostesses behaving in such a way. We all know that air-hostesses would never interfere in the life of a married man, in fact they never even think about it"

A ladyboy make-up artist working on the set commented "It's such a shame this show. We all know that air-hostesses are all so pure and innocent, especially those from well-to-do families. I mean if they weren’t so lovely at the beginning, their well connected daddies would never have got them the job in the first place"

Our on the scene reporter Jim Trifle in another exclusive interview, this time with a committee member of Channel 5, had this to say

"I asked the well ranked Channel 5 guy whether soap operas in general had a policy of ridiculing people from different areas of society, such as gays, transsexuals, rural people, dark-skinned people, Africans or old people etc".

He retorted

"That is absolutely untrue, soap opera productions are vehemently opposed to demeaning any sector of society, they only portray society how it really is - and that is what will be done with this show".

**Unfortunately, i have been unable to find the link to the soure - please accept my apologies.

Thank you OP. It's been quiet here for a long time!

I think the truly scientifically minded person will have to be undecided about ghosts until proof is found which may well happen as science improves. There have been too many reported ghost sightings in history to discount them totally because hard proof has not be found yet.

Well, yes, ok. But that's turning the Karl Popper argument of falsification completely on its head.

Remain open minded, yes, but surely a more rational / scientific / philosophical approach is to retain disbelief until science has advanced far enough to prove one way or the other, rather than to retain belief in something so esoteric and . . well . . bogus.

Your argument is akin to saying we should still believe in Father Christmas until it's proven beyond doubt that he doesnt exist.

Is it possible that we are actually living inside a sphere instead of on top of it and that science is just not capable of proving it yet?

You should tell him. What he does once he knows is up to him, but I see it as your duty to at least him know what's going on. How would you feel if your wife was letting strange men get inside of her and no one told you about it?

I was in a similar situation a few months ago. A friend had gone back to Europe, and while he was away his girlfriend took it upon herself to screw as many dudes as she could. I told him I'd seen her get in a taxi at 2am with half a dozen different guys....and he did nothing. He's still with her, and next time he goes back to Europe, she gonna be screwing non stop yet again. I find it so disgusting I'm no longer able to tolerate the presence of either of them.

I am just curious. How do people tell that people have had sex? Is there something that shows on the face that they are going to have sex or they have had sex? Can someone tell me?

Can people tell me if Hilary had been having sex with Bill Clinton recently?

As I said in my original post, why do many use the term 'lady' for a female Thai person, but 'woman' for all other nationalities. I have many farang friends with Thai wives in the UK who do this and it annoys me. It's not at all that I think it's derogatory and I don't think at all it has any roots in prostitution, it's just strange, - like if you started to notice all French men were being reffered to as gentlemen while the rest of the world were just men?

And regarding the bank clerk, she knew the person was my wife, she just seemed unsure whether it was correct to say 'your wife' when referring to a Thai person. It's hardly surprising if the average person hears Thai women referred to as ladies, but all other nationalities as women, they may start to wonder if they can refer to a Thai partner with a normal word like 'wife'. To suggest she was being polite is rediclulous, do people ask, "how is your lady and your children".

I don't understand why you did not simply ask the bank clerk this question.

"Why did you say your lady instead of your wife? Is it because that she is thai?"

Don't you think that is going to answer your question? Go back to the bank and ask.

Please can someone send some ghosts to my place, preferably good looking female ghosts at night when I am horny by myself in bed? The wife is in thailand now.

In an age of rampant HIV transmission, with the probability of husband to wife unprotected sex, wouldn't it be a case of saving your friend's life?

Sorry, did you used to work for the UK government's health department in the 80's.

Grow up man, off topic and irrelevant.

Off topic and irrelevant?? Is that so? I guess you most know HIV transmission is no longer a problem.

It's not so much as irrelevant, just probably wrong - grossly exagerrated where HIV is concerned, bur there are plenty of other nasties, eg, herpes, hep b, and the list goes on.

My advice, leave well alone though. It's a hard learning curve for your friend but one that many of us go through.

Does the friend smoke, drink or walk in the streets of Bangkok? Save his life and warn him!!!

Would people here ask for advice if they know a farang friend cheating on his wife? Will they tell the woman?

Is it just sexually cheating others that is important enough to make people think if they should tell?

What about other daily matters in life? Do people judge others' daily activities and when seeing something they not agree with, they go and tell their partners?

How many farang men on the other hand you people know cheat on their wives and you stay quiet? Oh but farang men are always the good guys, right? The women are always the bad ones.

For me, most likely I wouldn't. It does depend on the situation though. And if I was the person in question, I don't need anyone to tell me. I can handle all of it by myself.

I think a major factor in the whole thing is the 'loss of face' aspect, which can also be important for westerners.

Receiving the news from a friend might make him feel like he has become a 'laughing stock' and that everyone knows.

But as already mentioned, he might hate you for knowing and not telling him.

Many partners cheat, it is unfortunate fact of life around the world, but it only really comes a problem if they're caught.

Is your friend's wife likely to get caught?

Maybe she will change her cheating ways eventually.

Are they otherwise happy?

If you are convinced that this is not the case then you have a tough decision to make.

The idea of an anonymous tip-off might be a good.

I would think very carefully before doing anything.

A potentially dangerous move would be to confront the wife.

The effectiveness of this move would depend on your situation and where you live.

A local who hates you can make life difficult in Thailand.

their wives are complete sluts!!

steady on old chap !! bit strong dont you think .

Bringing other men back to his house while he was away!! using their bed and bedroom!! Ok, maybe slut was to strong so i would now use the word slapper to describe them.

Were you on the bed too? How would you know?

moral of story is dont mkae mistakes.

only once in my life i left cash in my hotel room. of course it was stolen. live and learn.

I'm sorry about the OP's theft.

But one thing I never, never, do, is put any important documents into a bag, backpack, suitcase.

I keep these items on my person (on my body).

Usually a money belt that is under my underwear.

Good luck, though, and hopefully you can get your money back for the passport.

Same for me.

So, touch wood, never happened to me. But 6 billion people, bound to be different ones?

Ain't it funny farangs so often enjoy the thrills of a third world country or a developping country yet when the consequences of the same reason do not favour them they start complaining like the sky is falling?

Sorry TP, just teasing you.