EDITORIAL: Here in the land of the stupid

[webfact]

EDITORIAL

Here in the land of the stupid

By The Nation

 

Thailand has a Marie Antoinette moment, though, crucially, she never got the chance to apologise
 

Having been collectively referred to as “stupid”, Thai citizens are in no mood to let the offending public servant get away with a simple apology.

 

Government officials are going to have to demonstrate a change in their attitude regarding the people they serve. For now, Khon Kaen deputy governor Suchai Butsara is the guilty party at the centre of this controversy, having sent out an invitation to certain agencies in his province to a meeting on ways “to bring the people out of stupidity”.

 

The invitation was leaked. Offence was duly taken. The fury was palpable. One commentator on social media assailed the “aristocratic mentality” evident in the invitation’s wording.

 

The meeting was part of preparations to welcome Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cabinet, who will hold a mobile session in the Northeast. 

 

In attempting to defend himself, Suchai strangely said he hadn’t read the invitation, just signed it, since he knew it was the invitation to a second meeting on the matter. It would be interesting, then, to see the wording of the invitation to the first meeting.

 

We wonder, too, why any official document would be signed without being scrutinised first. It didn’t help the situation when Porntip Khamchuen, chief of general services in Khon Kaen’s administration office, said she’d been “reckless” in drafting the dismissive invitation and choosing the wording. How could it be that one of her superiors didn’t notice and correct the language?

 

The officials offering apologies on Sunday insisted they meant no disrespect and were not inclined to look down on anyone. We can only surmise that Suchai and Porntip, while having no intention to insult the populace, are simply unconscious of the aristocratic snobbery implanted deep in their minds when they entered the bureaucracy. Had they the slightest awareness of this, the words they selected and endorsed would not have been so hurtful. 

 

It is customary for state officials, particularly those working at the Interior Ministry, to be coached as “governors” (nak pok krong) – meaning they are and must be superior to the ordinary citizens they rule.

 

At Interior, this is drilled into junior officials as well as seniors. A governor must adopt a loftier stature. The people governed are thus their “subjects”. There is no thought of equal status. They are poorer, ailing, less educated – and thus stupid. They suffer because they lack the smarts to improve their lot. The best a state official can do is try and lift them out of their stupid misery.

 

Beyond the Interior Ministry, the establishment elite shares the same mentality. From there it trickles down through the educational system. In politics there is an underlying current of thought that the average citizen is too dumb to handle any form of democracy or self-rule, leaving the superior elite to carry the “burden” of governing.

 

We have seen this attitude in Prime Minister Prayut, as well, when he claims the military and civil service know best what the country needs. The implication is that elections are unnecessary, since the electorate can make foolish choices.

 

If they are to vote, he tells us, vote for “good people” like him. Unless the elite and the government stop thinking they are better and smarter than other citizens, we’ll keep catching glimpses of insulting documents like the Khon Kaen invitation.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30341300

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-20

[Somtamnication]

Well, sheep are stupid. Just sayin'. 

[ukrules]

Is he wrong ?

 

[Get Real]

8 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Well, sheep are stupid. Just sayin'. 

Yep, especially if they are led by a donkey. 

[Get Real]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai citizens are in no mood to let the offending public servant get away with a simple apology

Maybe, there is room here for an upgrade to Citizen 4.0?

[Ahab]

The frank comment would be applicable in any of our home countries also. His mistake was saying it out load, and in print.

[darksidedog]

It is often the case that you will be hated for stating the truth. No one likes to be told that they are stupid, but sometimes it is a wake up call that is needed, and in this case, it could be said, long overdue.

[Cadbury]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Here in the land of the stupid

A very reasonable comment when referring to most individual members of the Thai military government, it's ministry and senior bureaucrats. They can be collectively referred to as ineptocrats.

Definition of ineptocrat for those who may be interested:

Noun) A member of government least capable to lead and least capable of producing. A member of government least likely to inconvenience himself/herself or to understand the nature of a constitutionally elected democracy, a free economy and the consequences of implementing and maintaining a welfare state. A member of government mistakenly convinced of his/her superiority, infallibility and indispensability. 

 

[Samui Bodoh]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The officials offering apologies on Sunday insisted they meant no disrespect and were not inclined to look down on anyone. We can only surmise that Suchai and Porntip, while having no intention to insult the populace, are simply unconscious of the aristocratic snobbery implanted deep in their minds when they entered the bureaucracy. Had they the slightest awareness of this, the words they selected and endorsed would not have been so hurtful. 

"...Had they the slightest awareness of this, the words they selected and endorsed would not have been so hurtful. .."

 

This to me is the key element in this story; it is not that the government officials were arrogant and stupid, it is that they didn't realize or know that they were arrogant and stupid.

 

It is this lack of self-awareness that is the most troubling aspect; how can they possibly do their jobs when they do not have any understanding of the people and/or the situations that people find themselves in?

 

At the risk of being labeled as a "Chinese Communist Party Hack", I think that Thai officials could really use some time in the fields and/or in the (proverbial) mines every now and then. Honestly, it would not be that difficult a policy to implement (two weeks every six months?) and it would be politically very popular.

 

Hey Junta! Here is a free idea for you. Now you can actually do something!

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

Is he wrong ?

 

he is so,so not wrong; the absolute beauty here is that by his actions and preciously pathetic  excuses, that he demonstrates that stupid people do not know they are stupid

[mikebell]

He did say he wanted to bring them out of their stupidity so his goal was a laudable one.  This is more than the Education ministry can say.

[leeneeds]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

It is customary for state officials, particularly those working at the Interior Ministry, to be coached as “governors” (nak pok krong) – meaning they are and must be superior to the ordinary citizens they rule.

I am confused now , please enlighten me on how high my Wai 

should be , is there now a special height for these muppets?

[Darcula]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

bring the people out of stupidity

 

You can take the people out of stupidity, but you cant take stupidty out of the people.

[kaorop]

its been a well manufactured stupidity, honed and crafted for decades and more...

its starts with those that cant be mentioned, revered as gawds, which they arent, to the incredibly effective low education and high indoctrination

system.

add that "we are one, lets do it for the nation" utter total Bs..

thick as 2 bricks? you bet, that includes most of the 'aristocracy' here..

[halloween]

Winston Churchill Quotes. The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

 

Notice the difference - don't actually say "stupid" and they don't realise that's what they are being called.

[Lupatria]

3 hours ago, Get Real said:

Yep, especially if they are led by a donkey. 

...led by a buffalo?

[Jai Dee]

An off-topic troll post has been removed from this thread.

[mtls2005]

Always revealing when higher-ups reveal their true nature and beliefs.

 

Keeping the masses dumbed down and on the farm is a feature of Thailand's edumaction system and not a bug.

[heybuz]

1 hour ago, halloween said:

Winston Churchill Quotes. The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

 

Notice the difference - don't actually say "stupid" and they don't realise that's what they are being called.

Churchill wasn't that brilliant either.

[tigermoth]

The whole problem is those in high positions or governing the country think they RULE as clearly shown in the work guidence given them. How will they ever realise that they SERVE. The common person rules except currently with an unelected government running the country they do not attempt to give any semblance of serving the people.

[DefaultName]

They aren't stupid, they are very good at being Thai's.

 

Unfortunately, the insular what-the-rest-of-the-world-thinks-doesn't-matter attitude appears stupid to those of us who've actually seen more of the world.

[Krataiboy]

If Thai people are not as bright as they might be, it is the fault of successive governments which have failed to provide an education system which makes the most of what's between everybody's ears.

 

The IQ of Thai children actually falls once they start formal state schooling, according to a Bangkok Post investigation in the summer of 2015.

 

A Ministry of Public Health survey revealed that the IQ of primary school students had dropped from 94 over a four-year period 93. The international standard is 100.

 

The rest of the facts and figures make equally gloomy reading and should have been a wake-up call to make drastic changes in a state education system which has consistently been one of the most generously-funded not only in the region but in the world.

 

http://www.cola.kku.ac.th/main/page.php?id=70&lang=en

[trainman34014]

It's hard to soar like Eagles when you are led by Turkeys !!

[Justfine]

2 hours ago, DefaultName said:

They aren't stupid, they are very good at being Thai's.

 

Unfortunately, the insular what-the-rest-of-the-world-thinks-doesn't-matter attitude appears stupid to those of us who've actually seen more of the world.

Thais have more rights at home and abroad.

 

Yet farangs call Thais stupid. Rather ironic.

[TKDfella]

7 hours ago, Ahab said:

The frank comment would be applicable in any of our home countries also. His mistake was saying it out load, and in print.

Why speak of Home countries? That simply doesn't apply in this case. Thailand has a class system from its religious foundation to the Head of Family when decisions have to be made. It is no secret! Whether I, or any other expat, likes it or not, is totally irrelevant and and I don't think about comparing what exists in my home country and what is here. What I see as important in this case is that saying he didn't read the letter but just signed it (like those apparently in the 'ranks') makes him look more stupid than anyone and it should result in his suspension. How many other letters has he signed without reading first? He has shown himself to negligent at his job.

[connda]

"“.....to bring the people out of stupidity”. "

Those at the top are now showing their true colours.  Priceless!

[Jonmarleesco]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Suchai Butsara ... sent out an invitation to certain agencies in his province to a meeting on ways “to bring the people out of stupidity”.

Distinctly possible it was the cabinet he had in mind when he worded the invitation.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The only difference between the government officials and many of the people they "serve" has to do with their level of income and authority -- not with any greater level of intelligence, and certainly not any greater level of productivity.

 

 

[yuiop]

In my short experience, yep, I'm afraid they are. Sadly.

But, this is their Land, we have NO right to complain or change things.

Take it or leave it.

jm2c

[owl sees all]

15 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

When I wake up many days and read the local news in the morning, I'm often convinced that's exactly where I'm staying.

I've been here a few years and I reckon the problem is the Thai version of Buddhism. It influences everything from education thru to corruption.

 

 

 

Thai people; get off your knees!