Have Thais got it right, and we've got it wrong?

[Bangkok Barry]

 

We've often experienced or read how Thais live in their own little bubble with little interest in the outside world. But have they got it right and we've got it wrong?

 

My wife is pretty bright but if I talk of, say, the problems in Syria, she says she doesn't care as it has nothing to do with her. And of course it doesn't. In her mind it isn't worth spending any time or thought on because she has no influence in it. Our way, however, is to ignore that very pertinent reality and to devour the news and possibly discuss it endlessly down the pub. We argue about it, maybe worry about it, but to what end? It has little or no effect on us and our personal life and we have zero influence in what is happening.

 

I chose Syria as it is the Problem Of the Day, but it could apply to a myriad of other situations that we concern ourselves with and the Thais do not. Who is right and who is wrong? Discuss.

[saakura]

Would you have an interesting in depth conversation with her about the latest super hit lakorn being aired on channel 3 ? 

[The manic]

Reality is 'Maya'..an illusion. It's a fundamental  precept of Buddhism.  As with all belief systems people are selective . The Thais are no different. There is a lot to be said for their fatalistic disengagement from issues about which they can have no influence. This makes them both agreeable but infuriating. The OP might consider he and his life are as utterly meaningless to his wife as Syria or Brexit.

[RichardColeman]

My wife is a school teacher - 40 - good brain. But has never heard of 9/11 !

 

I think what you are up against is that Thai's think the world revolves around Thailand and nothing will ever effect it. Everything is Farang. Personally I see Thailand as 3rd world most of the time, asking any 3rd world country to get involved in anything outside their borders would be hard - bit like asking a rural family in the Ivory coast what should happen about North Korea.

 

Besides they are so petrified of being invaded sending any army abroad would worry the Junta

Edited April 15, 2018 by RichardColeman

[robblok]

I don't care as much about the worlds problems as I used to do. Syria is a good example, i read the news about it but that is about it. What can we do.. nothing...  Why worry about stuff we have no influence about.  I rather worry about stuff that directly influences my life.

 

I could start a discussion about how Syria is only about oil pipelines and how if it was an African country without any important infrastructure the world would not care anyway.

 

Discussing Syria in The pub is as useful as discussing the latest movie or Lakorn. 

Edited April 15, 2018 by robblok

[The manic]

5 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

My wife is a school teacher - 40 - good brain. But has never heard of 9/11 !

 

I think what you are up against is that Thai's think the world revolves around Thailand and nothing will ever effect it. Everything is Farang. Personally I see Thailand as 3rd world most of the time, asking any 3rd world country to get involved in anything outside their borders would be hard - bit like asking a rural family in the Ivory coast what should happen about North Korea.

 

Besides they are so petrified of being invaded sending any army abroad would worry the Junta

3rd World countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, China, Vietnam,North Korea, Palestine, etc etc all get involved in international affairs or the people have opinions. 

[jak2002003]

A happy middle ground would be the best option.

 

To care nothing for anything that does not immediately concern oneself is not just selfish.. its dangerous in ignorant.  This is why so few people here stand up to corruption, crime etc.  If people here did not ignore the problems then there is scope for change and improvement in the future for society, not just an individual.

 

On the other hand, to get overly involved, distressed, stressed and argumentative about issues that don't directly affect us is equally not a good thing.  It is a waste of energy, which would be better spent on doing things to actually improve situations we have some (no matter how small) control over. Lurching from one world disaster, political or social problem to the next, getting into heated arguments, fights and negatively impacting ones life and family, over issues we have realistically not control over is pointless.  

 

Edited April 15, 2018 by jak2002003

[mauGR1]

8 minutes ago, robblok said:

I don't care as much about the worlds problems as I used to do.

 

Discussing Syria in The pub is as useful as discussing the latest movie or Lakorn. 

Fair enough, as long we are able to discuss anything, from the sharpness of a needle to the width of the universe.

As part of the humankind, i think it's worth at least to try to know what's going on the planet, even if we can't have any influence on major events like wars etc.

Knowledge is not BS, but some movies definitely are.

[baansgr]

One word sums it up....ignorance.

[robblok]

23 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Fair enough, as long we are able to discuss anything, from the sharpness of a needle to the width of the universe.

As part of the humankind, i think it's worth at least to try to know what's going on the planet, even if we can't have any influence on major events like wars etc.

Knowledge is not BS, but some movies definitely are.

Ok, there is a little more knowledge involved in discussing Syria then in discussing a movie. But it remains the same, we can't influence either. 

 

Just like here on Thaivisa we are discussing the news, its fun but that is it. Its not like it does anything or influence anything. 

 

Its good to discuss things to stay sharp, but in the end its just passing time. 

[Kwasaki]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Who is right and who is wrong? Discuss.

There's nothing to discuss I'm always right.

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

There's nothing to discuss I'm always right.

Did you copy that line from your Mrs 

[mauGR1]

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

Ok, there is a little more knowledge involved in discussing Syria then in discussing a movie. But it remains the same, we can't influence either. 

 

Just like here on Thaivisa we are discussing the news, its fun but that is it. Its not like it does anything or influence anything. 

 

Its good to discuss things to stay sharp, but in the end its just passing time. 

You have a point, but i still believe that searching for the truth is more than "passing time", but then, i also believe in "intelligent design" and "karma" and a lot of other funny little things.

[robblok]

4 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

You have a point, but i still believe that searching for the truth is more than "passing time", but then, i also believe in "intelligent design" and "karma" and a lot of other funny little things.

I am an atheist.. no intelligent design for me. We could argue all day about that one. 

 

But is there really a truth to be found in Syria ? I mean just two sides with different agenda's. The USA wants its influence there and so does Russia. Its not about right and wrong its about influence. Sure gas attacks should be punished but had this happened in an African country without oil  and or oil infrastructure nothing would have happened. 

 

I don't believe in black and white anymore.. most times both sides have a good point. Its not like WW2 when one side was clearly wrong (still with a better treaty after WW1 things might have been different) and started a war. 

Edited April 15, 2018 by robblok

[mauGR1]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

I am an atheist.. no intelligent design for me. We could argue all day about that one. 

 

But is there really a truth to be found in Syria ? I mean just two sides with different agenda's. The USA wants its influence there and so does Russia. Its not about right and wrong its about influence. Sure gas attacks should be punished but had this happened in an African country without oil  and or oil infrastructure nothing would have happened. 

 

I don't believe in black and white anymore.. most times both sides have a good point. Its not like WW2 when one side was clearly wrong (still with a better treaty after WW1 things might have been different) and started a war. 

Well, you made my point in a way..

If you had been watching tv movies all your life, you'd probably still think in black and white.

[robblok]

10 minutes ago, mauGR1 said:

Well, you made my point in a way..

If you had been watching tv movies all your life, you'd probably still think in black and white.

I get what you mean.. but what does my knowledge about Syria buy me ? The same as my knowledge about the latest lakorn.. not much. Maybe get a bit of respect as people expect you to know things about the world.

 

I prefer discussing stuff like fitness and diet more as it applies to my personal life and I can apply it directly. 

 

But I get you too, but I used to get wound up about stuff that happened all over the world.. not that much anymore. 

[The manic]

1 hour ago, jak2002003 said:

A happy middle ground would be the best option.

 

To care nothing for anything that does not immediately concern oneself is not just selfish.. its dangerous in ignorant.  This is why so few people here stand up to corruption, crime etc.  If people here did not ignore the problems then there is scope for change and improvement in the future for society, not just an individual.

 

On the other hand, to get overly involved, distressed, stressed and argumentative about issues that don't directly affect us is equally not a good thing.  It is a waste of energy, which would be better spent on doing things to actually improve situations we have some (no matter how small) control over. Lurching from one world disaster, political or social problem to the next, getting into heated arguments, fights and negatively impacting ones life and family, over issues we have realistically not control over is pointless.  

 

Er....The middle way?

[Golden Triangle]

I'm not really sure who has it right or who has it wrong, as far as I can tell the Thai education system does nothing to stimulate their inquisitiveness, do they teach Geography or World affairs in state schools, I don't have any Thai kids so I don't know, but I can see that with their limited attention span is a barrier to learning about the planet that they inhabit.

 

Without either meaning or seeming to be cruel I suspect that if you ask the vast majority of young or teenage Thais to point to their country on a World map or Globe they would be lost, let alone asking them to show you Syria or even your home country and now I'm talking about wives, girlfriends, partners etc.

 

I think it's just a product of the Thai education system unfortunately.

 

Now, my good lady is not stupid far from it in fact, she watches the news everyday, both early morning and late evening, but none of the Thai TV channels that I have seen actually cover international affairs in any great detail if at all. When the Prawit watch scandal was bumping along on a daily basis I asked her to comment on it, she didn't really have an opinion, whether it was covered by mainstream TV news media or not I don't know as I don't really watch them, so if they don't have an opinion on what's happening in Thailand how can they have an opinion on international affairs ??

  

[Sealbash]

Why concern one’s self over something over which you have no control? The only reason for awareness is too allow anticipation of how the stock markets will be affected.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[observer90210]

People usually get involved either through media influence or if they are indirectly or directly impacted. The middle eastern wars are a long way from Thailand.

 

Western nations seem to have a deeper insight either on the issues of casus beli  west-east, due to the non stop media battering, possible influence on the stock markets,  migration movements, currencies and so on.

 

IMHO this may explain certain aspects of Thainess on global geo-political issues. And they are much happier this way...until they will get directly impacted.

[LongTimeLurker]

3 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

if I talk of, say, the problems in Syria

There's problems in Syria?

[FritsSikkink]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Besides they are so petrified of being invaded sending any army abroad would worry the Junta

Seems you are clueless about Thailand as they have been supporting UN actions in quite some countries.

[Hummin]

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

chose Syria as it is the Problem Of the Day, but it could apply to a myriad of other situations that we concern ourselves with and the Thais do not. Who is right and who is wrong? Discuss.

It is only on your mind, because your media source give it to you. Do you worry about the hunger crises in the world? 

 

http://www.care.org/emergencies/global-hunger-crisis

[sirineou]

3 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

A happy middle ground would be the best option.

 

To care nothing for anything that does not immediately concern oneself is not just selfish.. its dangerous in ignorant.  This is why so few people here stand up to corruption, crime etc.  If people here did not ignore the problems then there is scope for change and improvement in the future for society, not just an individual.

 

On the other hand, to get overly involved, distressed, stressed and argumentative about issues that don't directly affect us is equally not a good thing.  It is a waste of energy, which would be better spent on doing things to actually improve situations we have some (no matter how small) control over. Lurching from one world disaster, political or social problem to the next, getting into heated arguments, fights and negatively impacting ones life and family, over issues we have realistically not control over is pointless.  

 

Absolutely right!

Ignorance is Bliss until that you are ignorant about jumps out and bites you in the ass

3 hours ago, robblok said:

I am an atheist.. no intelligent design for me. We could argue all day about that one. 

 

But is there really a truth to be found in Syria ? I mean just two sides with different agenda's. The USA wants its influence there and so does Russia. Its not about right and wrong its about influence. Sure gas attacks should be punished but had this happened in an African country without oil  and or oil infrastructure nothing would have happened. 

 

I don't believe in black and white anymore.. most times both sides have a good point. Its not like WW2 when one side was clearly wrong (still with a better treaty after WW1 things might have been different) and started a war. 

Undue influence is wrong .  

2 hours ago, robblok said:

I get what you mean.. but what does my knowledge about Syria buy me ? The same as my knowledge about the latest lakorn.. not much. Maybe get a bit of respect as people expect you to know things about the world.

 

I prefer discussing stuff like fitness and diet more as it applies to my personal life and I can apply it directly. 

 

But I get you too, but I used to get wound up about stuff that happened all over the world.. not that much anymore. 

It buys you the ability to be cognisant so it does not happen to you.

2 hours ago, Sealbash said:

Why concern one’s self over something over which you have no control? The only reason for awareness is too allow anticipation of how the stock markets will be affected.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

So that you can attempt to gain controll

[samsensam]

 

well OP, if you followed your GFs example you'd never have visited thailand, you may well never have left the place you were born.

 

if we extend it to many thais; you'd have limited opportunity to better yourself, you'd be culturally shackled by the hierarchical society. you probably wouldn't have the benefit of a decent education and you'd be limited to watching absolute garbage on tv - but you wouldn;t know it was garbage, you'd think it was wonderful.

 

do i think thais have i right? would i give up my upbringing, education and travel and life experiences and live in a thailand centric bubble? not. a. chance.

 

you might, but as they say here; up to you.

[yuiop]

The OP has made a very good point in my opinion.

I've also started to wonder the same thing as soon as I realized it.

My conclusion is that, at the moment, am not able to say who has got it right.

That means, I'd think it twice before saying that western countries are more democratic and with higher quality lifestyle.

The democracy we have in the west is just apparent, crucial decions are taken outside of parliaments and governments (look at bombing on Syria for example).

As of quality of life, I'm not sure that the average person in say Europe or USA has a happier life than the average thai person.

[55Jay]

My wife has a quick and active mind, but like the OP, isn't terribly interested or concerned with global events unless, I suppose, they would touch Thailand in some way. 

 

She does keep abreast of Thai politics but isn't a zealot about it.  She's a Buddhist but not nuts about that either. 

 

I think she's got it right for our comfortable but uncomplicated life here.  She's a sensible, moderate person.  Pays attention to what needs paying attention to.  Suits her, and me, just fine.

[Gruff]

We should all aim to better ourselves and change for the better if we can and we can only achieve this by learning from other people / other Business / other religious belief / other Nations.. In  my opinion a country such as Thailand should be looking to treasure its strenghts and also take the best from the  West and vica versa. Ignorance is not always bliss.

[electric]

42 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

My wife has a quick and active mind, but like the OP, isn't terribly interested or concerned with global events unless, I suppose, they would touch Thailand in some way. 

 

She does keep abreast of Thai politics but isn't a zealot about it.  She's a Buddhist but not nuts about that either. 

 

I think she's got it right for our comfortable but uncomplicated life here.  She's a sensible, moderate person.  Pays attention to what needs paying attention to.  Suits her, and me, just fine.

 

55Jay .... I think we've married the same woman !

 

Is your wife short, brown skin, black hair and rides a motorcy like she was born on it ?  555

 

In an unusual fit of cynic wit, she did say one day "When you drop dead, maybe I marry England man. He get 42 baht from England money. You only get 24 baht from Australia money."

 

I thought about trying to explain it, but I realised my tee off time was in 3 hours.

[peperobi]

My experiences are that the Thais don't like to look over the own 4 walls at all so do not expect that they follow the world news.

Try to wake the interest of the world is for us FARANGS not possible we are stupid and do not deserve any respect.

You like to live in Thailand you must accept it.