32 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

Most books are sold by Amazon as e-novels or downloaded from other sources.

Bookshops are a thing of the past.

I borrow from Libraries. Not much point buying 50 novels.

 

 

7 minutes ago, Justfine said:

I borrow from Libraries. Not much point buying 50 novels.

I think you may be a little out of touch with the modern world ........... (50 isn't enough for me)

My library sits on my computer, and I didn't buy any of them.

 

1 minute ago, MaeJoMTB said:

I think you may be a little out of touch with the modern world ...........

My library sits on my computer, and I didn't buy any of them.

 

Staring at computer screens for hours doesn't interest me. Bad for eyes and anti social.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Justfine said:

Staring at computer screens for hours doesn't interest me. Bad for eyes and anti social.

 

 

So you got bad eyes and are anti social....? 

2 minutes ago, transam said:

So you got bad eyes and are anti social....? 

Nope.

16 hours ago, balo said:

There is a reason why there are no world famous authors from Thailand.

 

   

otoh its world class lyrics in the songs here, a good trade off imho

 

 

On ‎3‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 2:28 PM, Hummin said:

In your home country, you say hi to everybody? Im surprised when a falang greats me everywhere I go, when going somewhere in Thailand, because im a western and we suddenly have something in common. Happens more often when I walk with my gf. It is not Normal in my country. Being polite and friendly have nothing to do about greet stranger in the street, or public offices.  Even more od is the strangers greet us when we are sitting at restaurants, and for some reasons need to start conversation with us when we privatly having a meal. 

 

If you live in same condo, at the swimmingpool it is another story, yes you might disturb, but know your time when and where. 

 

Being an American polite, greet everyone with Hi how are you walking past, have always confused me. 

Why do you use the term falang? Are you Thai?

I was same as the op . I use to do it but the percentage of fellow expats just ignored me . I got the hint and stopped . Now if someone says hi I respond.And yet if a smile at a Thai person they smile back .

On 3/25/2018 at 4:25 PM, Rc2702 said:

This is such a common event that I simply do not care anymore. I had one guy say hello to me in tesco and I said hello back. I had one guy recently begin speaking to me whilst shopping with family who seemed a bit of an odd ball. I will exchange pleasantries but I will not initiate them. Weird but I do keep bumping into the same faces when out and about in town doing errands.

 

Had a funny chat with a Canadian in vientiane last year who I could tell was a TV member by his discussions and quoting of certain stories. I asked him outright about this and he denied it but I could tell he was fibbing and so could he.

I'm a Canadian in Vientiane and it wasn't me. I know only one other Canuck, where are they all?

30 minutes ago, MaeJoMTB said:

I think you may be a little out of touch with the modern world ........... (50 isn't enough for me)

My library sits on my computer, and I didn't buy any of them.

 

lol! not exactly the high quality literature we're discussing! lol

 

Maybe try scratching your balls then extend your hand for a handshake? 

One comment here rings true. ( common assumption) . If a stranger smiles at you in the shopping centre, he wants something

Say hi to me and I will reciprocate with at least a nod. But truth of the matter is, I don't actually want to talk with hordes of foreigners for the most part. Even Thai for that fact. 

A troll/Flame post has been removed.

 

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1 hour ago, holy cow cm said:

Why do you use the term falang? Are you Thai?

I would always great a thai who whai or say hello to me, but not another tourist/expat dependes on the situation I will analyze closely before make a decission and proper action. 

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

I would always great a thai who whai or say hello to me, but not another tourist/expat dependes on the situation I will analyze closely before make a decission and proper action. 

What country are you from?

27 minutes ago, Justfine said:

What country are you from?

Thanks for asking 

 

Sweedish ?

19 hours ago, Justfine said:

Because most foreigners can't read Thai

Mention one intellectual book from a Thai author? I am sure some books must have been translated to English ?  

12 minutes ago, balo said:

Mention one intellectual book from a Thai author? I am sure some books must have been translated to English ?  

"Intellectual" would be a matter of opinion, but S.P. Somtow is well regarded.

 

S. P. Somtow is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror author writing in English.

 

https://www.ranker.com/review/s-p-somtow/2138597?ref=node_name&pos=3&a=0&ltype=n&l=350840&g=1

 

There are many more:

 

"List of famous writers from Thailand, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Thailand is home to many prolific writers, including those who write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies and more. These are some of the best Thai writers that have ever lived, so if you're a native of Thailand and an aspiring writer then use this list as inspiration to achieve your own writing goals."

 

https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-writers-from-thailand/reference

 

The Best 20 Novels of Thailand:

 

http://www.thaifiction.com/book_view.php?id=56

11 minutes ago, balo said:

Mention one intellectual book from a Thai author? I am sure some books must have been translated to English ?  

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8e/entry-3252.html

 

https://www.scribd.com/document/236334146/The-20-Best-Novels-of-Thailand

This is probably my favorite book by a Thai writer, that I have ever read. Not sure how "intellectual" it is:

 

Letters from Thailand

by

Botan,

 

When the original Thai version of Letters from Thailand appeared in Bangkok in 1969, it was promptly awarded the SEATO Prize for Thai Literature. This new English translation reveals it as one of Thailand's most entertaining and enduring modern novels, and one of the few portrayals of the immigrant Chinese experience in urban Thailand.

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234388.Letters_from_Thailand

Thai fever was a master piece 

58 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

When the original Thai version of Letters from Thailand appeared in Bangkok in 1969

Thanks , I might have a look at that . Maybe I can learn something. 

 

On 25 mars 2018 at 10:19 AM, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

First it is racist and stupid to assume people speak English because they appear to have a white face. This isn’t America. What is “Hi!”? Something a child says. In England was once considered polite to greet passersby “How do you do?” Various cultures here, all have different standards. I was told if a stranger smiles at you in Russia you call a policeman. A Russian man wears a grimace, not a silly grin.

Everyone in my Condo is very friendly, we greet each other, help the old people with their packages, mostly Thai. Well last year before the AirBnB ban I got on the elevator and was surprised by an unfamiliar couple. The woman was in a full Birka, with only slots of a metallic eye mask showing. . I got the feeling I wasn’t supposed to say Hello to her. Was I wrong?

Then you have the Foreign weirdos who think they are superior and avoid all contact with other aliens for whatever reasons. I just bow subtlety to people. If they want to talk I’ll leave it up to them.

What you state as "being racist" has actually nothing to do with being racist??

Assuming people speak English because they appear have a so-called "white" or "caucasian" face or come from certain countries , where the dominant language is not English IS racist. I  would never do something so ignorant.

On 5/21/2018 at 3:47 PM, Hummin said:

? Do they speak about anything else in Thai? 

 

Edit note

what chief say yesterday, weather, soon season mushroom, neighbour angry 

Well as a fluent Thai speaker I can say that yes, there are Thais that are capable of having intellectual conversations but it really depends. The younger 20 and sometimes 30 somethings (especially girls) are usually more interested in their phones and petty gossip than having a lively debate or talking about anything considered "serious". Exceptions always exist and I do know some Thai women who are interesting conversation partners but usually I try to steer the conversation in a certain direction and that's when it becomes interesting. However, there is rarely any follow-up later. Conversations are "in the heat of the moment" things. Next time you see said person there may be no recollection of the prior discussion it's back to whatever they normally communicate with you about, which is normally how are your children doing (if you have any), he said she said blah blah blah.

 

There are Thai men that can make interesting conversation partners, especially those aged 35-40 or older. The younger ones mainly talk about games or other nonsense, or don't talk at all. Only the older ones tend to talk about politics, the rest as you say what he said she said (similar to girls), weather a little bit and maybe what's trending on the Thai news (which tends to be an analysis of some person's Facebook post about a cat that fell from a balcony or a selfish citizen who decided to park their car blocking another person's driveway).

 

On 5/23/2018 at 5:50 AM, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Assuming people speak English because they appear have a so-called "white" or "caucasian" face or come from certain countries , where the dominant language is not English IS racist. I  would never do something so ignorant.

I agree. However, there is this strange notion that every white dude in Thailand (or for that matter every foreigner, especially "visible foreigner which also includes Arabs and black people) can speak English. Thai ignorance of the reality of the world is the problem here.

 

For example, there are lots of Russians in Thailand and Thais who interact with Russians will know they can't speak much or any English. However, this is restricted mainly to Thais who live in or regularly visit places where lots of Russians go - Pattaya and Phuket mainly, as well as a little bit in Krabi and other beach resort areas. In upcountry Thailand, most Thais will assume white guy = ability to speak English.

 

Lots of Thais like to initially speak English to a foreigner (for practice) or just to have some fun (especially if it's a kathoey or gay person or other "flamboyant" character) they always like to show off. But after the initial 30 seconds of fame once they show they can't say more than "where are you from?" if you can speak Thai then they will be very happy to speak Thai with you as that's all they know anyway.

On 5/18/2018 at 8:22 PM, observer90210 said:

And considering the existence of farangs who boot lick to try to upgrade their status in Thai society,  by snitching or sneaking on their co-farangs [i.e.visa overstayers]....one can perhaps understand some extent of reserve in the interactions between farang to another stranger farang.

Only sick, perverted farang do that. I would never automatically assume that of any farang. More likely I'd avoid someone because they smell or appear to be an unsavoury type.

 

Overall, potentially encountering a snitch can't be the reason why the majority of farangs would avoid each other. There are a multitude of reasons, including 1) This is "my" Thailand, what are you doing here, farang? I'm supposed to be the only farang in Thailand types; 2) They want to avoid all the boasting farang, those that claim they are running this business, doing very well etc. 3) The overly PC types who thinks it's "racist" to hang around other people who come from the same country or look the same as them (yes these people exist). Yes there are some who want to keep a low profile for whatever reason but hiding from every farang seems to be an odd strategy and totally unnecessary anyway.

I’m with you I always say hi, and sometimes have a chat, so far I have had positive responses, I live in Prachinburi.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

On 5/23/2018 at 5:50 AM, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

Assuming people speak English because they appear have a so-called "white" or "caucasian" face or come from certain countries , where the dominant language is not English IS racist. I  would never do something so ignorant.

No, that's not racism.  Has nothing to do with racism.  I wouldn't even call that ignorant.  There are foreigners in Thailand who assume that every Thai person in Thailand can speak English.  Now that's ignorant. 

When felangs come and talk to me, they dont seem to want to talk with me, they just want to talk to me about themselves .

   They just seem to want to tell me about themselves , how many times they've been married and which Countries their former Wifes came from , how many kids they got , what job they are doing , how much they used to drink and for how long that they havent touched a drop for and theyve always got a manly reason for quitting drinking "All my mates died from alcohol poisoning" , "Doctor said that one more drink will kill me " , "I been in jail too many times for doing things when drunk" , "I lost three wifes through drinking, dont want to lose another one" and the underlying message behind everything he says seems to be *I'm better than you in every aspect*

    Every sentence begins with "I" and every seventh word is "I" , and after 30 minutes of telling me about themselves , they shake my hand , tell me their name, and walk away