why are we here in Thailand lets not forget.

[KKBrian]

I am a new member here and as a new member I have recently read through the Forum rules.

Rule 11 clearly says we are not to slur Thailand or its people and quite rightly so.

As a foreigner to Thailand I am but a guest and as a guest should conduct myself in my actions and in my comments.

I am enjoying Thai visa forums but there is an underlining disrespect for the Thai people which clearly is in breach of rule 11.

I actually still love Thailand after 15 years of travelling and living here despite two failed marriages to Thai women.

I think we should not forget why we are here I am from the UK and to be honest I have lost all hope in my home country.

So it would be nice to actually have some positive things said about this still lovely country.

[EVENKEEL]

OK, Thank you Thailand for allowing we to have some beers at a bar and not worry about the drive home.

[55Jay]

Yup, don't want to upset any apple carts.  Keep your mouth shut and be nice, like our kind hosts here who smile when they mean to frown, laugh when they want to cry, and pretend their problems don't exist until one day...... it all bursts forth like a nuclear bomb.

[cyril sneer]

great story, would read again

[CGW]

No taxes ????

[cyberfarang]

Have to agree. I am also from the UK and sorry to say, my country no longer represents me. I am realistic about my status in Thailand and although try to adapt as much as possible, do realise that I`ll always be nothing more then a glorified guest, but I accept that and it`s not a problem.

 

Also lived in Thailand for several years and try to look on the positive side of living here. When I read posts on many of these threads, there does seem to be more negatives than positives about the Thais and Thailand and those that continuously moan and complain, have to wonder who they are, where they live and that these people must be living very miserable existences.

 

Although I enjoy TV unfortunately it does seem to have become synonymous for disgruntled elderly expat men that seem to totally cheesed off with everything in their lives and the world around them. They don`t seem to be contented unless they are miserable. 

[Kwasaki]

[cyberfarang]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

I think considering that you have gone to all the effort to grab this photo on-line and post it on this thread that this in-fact typifies the real you and how you really feel about your life, bored, fed up and discontented. As they say, a picture can explain a thousand words.

 

I believe the majority of the negative posters, moan and complain a lot because they want to stay in Thailand being losers in their own countries but are struggling to stay here, being financial or simply have mental and emotional issues, so they blame the country trying not to see the reality, or in other words, it`s not me, it`s all the others. Bet these people don`t have close family relationships or any friends either and it`s obvious why.  

[Thian]

1 hour ago, KKBrian said:

I think we should not forget why we are here I am from the UK and to be honest I have lost all hope in my home country.

Speak for yourself mate. I still love Europe as well, especially during summers. Everything high standard, i love it.

[AJBangkok]

What makes you think you’re a “guest” here. Were you actually invited? Don’t fool yourself, you’re really not a guest but an unwanted interloper and treated as such.

 

I’m not complaining as personally I can live with that. The social, personal, and bureaucrat limitations of being an unwanted interloper don’t (at least for me ) outweigh the easy life and benefits of living here.  

[CharlieH]

Visiting for a few weeks or months is not the same as living here full time. Some have difficulty adjusting to the way things are done here and insist and complain and try to make it resemble where they came from and want it their way.

 

It justs needs the right approach a liitle understanding and above all acceptance that you have no voice here and you need to change the way you think toward it, relax and not try to change Thailand or become upset and frustrated because it isnt what you want or think it should be.????

 

Enjoy it, embrace the change, accept it for what it is and just go with flow and you'll be much happier and probably live longer too ! ????(less stress).

 

 

[cyberfarang]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Visiting for a few weeks or months is not the same as living here full time. Some have difficulty adjusting to the way things are done here and insist and complain and try to make it resemble where they came from and want it their way.

 

It justs needs the right approach a liitle understanding and above all acceptance that you have no voice here and you need to change the way you think toward it, relax and not try to change Thailand or become upset and frustrated because it isnt what you want or think it should be.????

 

Enjoy it, embrace the change, accept it for what it is and just go with flow and you'll be much happier and probably live longer too ! ????(less stress).

 

 

Thank you Charlie, best post on these threads so far and my thoughts exactly, only you explained this much better than me. Hope some will get the message and learn to chill out.

[55Jay]

Sometimes I wonder, if Thailand took to heart all the criticisms and "fixed" the issues, would those who did the most complaining actually like the end result?

 

Or would they miss being able to barrel down a pot-hole laden country lane on their motorbike, naked, drunk, no helmet and never see a cop.  Or if they did, 500 Baht, say sorry, wai, and the cop then let's them ride the motorbike back home, naked, drunk, no helmet. ????

 

Ah yes....... the "good old days". 

 

Be careful what you wish for.

[mauGR1]

I agree with the OP that we should not disrespect Thailand and its people.

Obviously there is good and bad everywhere.

.. But, how can one lose " all hope " in his/her homecountry ?

What if he loses his hope in Thailand then ? Try another country ?

Rose tinted glasses come to mind.

[CharlieH]

Inflammatory post removed.

 

7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed.

[Kwasaki]

46 minutes ago, cyberfarang said:

I think considering that you have gone to all the effort to grab this photo on-line and post it on this thread that this in-fact typifies the real you and how you really feel about your life, bored, fed up and discontented. As they say, a picture can explain a thousand words.

 

I believe the majority of the negative posters, moan and complain a lot because they want to stay in Thailand being losers in their own countries but are struggling to stay here, being financial or simply have mental and emotional issues, so they blame the country trying not to see the reality, or in other words, it`s not me, it`s all the others. Bet these people don`t have close family relationships or any friends either and it`s obvious why.  

If anyone is miserable it sounds like you ????

[EVENKEEL]

11 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

Sometimes I wonder, if Thailand took to heart all the criticisms and "fixed" the issues, would those who did the most complaining actually like the end result?

 

Or would they miss being able to barrel down a pot-hole laden country lane on their motorbike, naked, drunk, no helmet and never see a cop.  Or if they did, 500 Baht, say sorry, wai, and the cop then let's them ride the motorbike back home, naked, drunk, no helmet. ????

 

Ah yes....... the "good old days". 

 

Be careful what you wish for.

Nothing to fix here, well except lower bar fines and beer costs. You fix that and what a wonderful place we live in.

[Vacuum]

2 hours ago, KKBrian said:

I think we should not forget why we are here

 

I forgot, please remind me.

[55Jay]

2 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Nothing to fix here, well except lower bar fines and beer costs. You fix that and what a wonderful place we live in.

"Yo, playa!  You forget somethin' on that list?"  ????

[NoshowJones]

A very nice post, so you are new to Thaivisa, but it is obvious you have not lived in Thailand long.

We are not guests here in Thailand, we may be to the Thai people. who for the most part are decent, honest and helpful, and are also very non confrontational.

But as an expat on a retirement visa which most of us are, we have to report to our local immigration office every 90 days. 

This to me is treating us like criminals, I do not know of other countries, if any, who treat retirees like this, and is one reason why personally I have no respect for the Thai government, and will never consider myself as a guest.

Despite this I will never return to the UK for good unless for something that is out of my control. The good in Thailand far outweighs the bad where in the UK the opposite is true.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There's a big difference between people who are negative toward all Thais as a people vs. being negative about many of the things here that any thinking person should be negative about, and those who are responsible for those maladies.

 

I'm not negative toward all Thais, nor do I spend my days/hours bitching about everything here on TVF. However, at the same time, just because I'm living in a different country from my home country doesn't mean I'm going to lose or surrender my values of what is right and what is wrong.

 

When it comes to Thailand, it's simply and flatly wrong that:

--the country has regressed from its path toward representative government and democracy.

--that the country has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, and the authorities don't care.

--that the authorities allow the country's environment to be fouled and degraded in so many ways and do little to nothing to stop it.

--that a lot of the food in the country is grown or processed with harmful chemicals and pesticides that are banned elsewhere in the world.

--that the justice system often reaches absurd results, handing out extremely harsh penalties in some minor cases and yet murderers and other violent criminals often get off with lighter punishments.

--that there's a tremendous and probably growing income inequality here with the richest getting richer and the average Thai treading water or regressing financially.

Etc etc etc...

 

I don't spend my days dwelling or posting constantly on those things. But it would be kind of hard for any thinking person to ignore or not see them, and recognize that are all things that ultimately are bad and harmful for this country and everyone in it, Thais or others.

 

[Pete1980]

1 hour ago, AJBangkok said:

What makes you think you’re a “guest” here. Were you actually invited? Don’t fool yourself, you’re really not a guest but an unwanted interloper and treated as such.

 

I’m not complaining as personally I can live with that. The social, personal, and bureaucrat limitations of being an unwanted interloper don’t (at least for me ) outweigh the easy life and benefits of living here.  

A guest because they let us in and let us stay. Uninvited guests, but still guests.

if 80% plus of us didnt marry or live with prostitutes the Thais would probably respect us a bit more.

[transam]

1 hour ago, cyberfarang said:

 

 

I believe the majority of the negative posters, moan and complain a lot because they want to stay in Thailand being losers in their own countries but are struggling to stay here, being financial or simply have mental and emotional issues, so they blame the country trying not to see the reality, or in other words, it`s not me, it`s all the others. Bet these people don`t have close family relationships or any friends either and it`s obvious why.  

Sounds like you have read my newly released autobiography....????

[Pete1980]

where did the OP meet his two failed marriages?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Pete1980 said:

A guest because they let us in and let us stay. Uninvited guests, but still guests.

if 80% plus of us didnt marry or live with prostitutes the Thais would probably respect us a bit more.

Reads like you don't live 'ere...????

[Pete1980]

13 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

A very nice post, so you are new to Thaivisa, but it is obvious you have not lived in Thailand long.

We are not guests here in Thailand, we may be to the Thai people. who for the most part are decent, honest and helpful, and are also very non confrontational.

But as an expat on a retirement visa which most of us are, we have to report to our local immigration office every 90 days. 

This to me is treating us like criminals, I do not know of other countries, if any, who treat retirees like this, and is one reason why personally I have no respect for the Thai government, and will never consider myself as a guest.

Despite this I will never return to the UK for good unless for something that is out of my control. The good in Thailand far outweighs the bad where in the UK the opposite is true.

It is so simple to do. takes about 10 minutes.

How do Thais go getting a visa to your country?

[rott]

9 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

A very nice post, so you are new to Thaivisa, but it is obvious you have not lived in Thailand long.

We are not guests here in Thailand, we may be to the Thai people. who for the most part are decent, honest and helpful, and are also very non confrontational.

But as an expat on a retirement visa which most of us are, we have to report to our local immigration office every 90 days. 

This to me is treating us like criminals, I do not know of other countries, if any, who treat retirees like this, and is one reason why personally I have no respect for the Thai government, and will never consider myself as a guest.

Despite this I will never return to the UK for good unless for something that is out of my control. The good in Thailand far outweighs the bad where in the UK the opposite is true.

He does actually say that he has two failed marriages to Thai Ladies and has been here off and on for 15 years. Though I would agree he has the prissy style of someone new to the place.

Sadly you speak of a retirement visa which Joe got fed up saying does not exist, it is an extension of stay not a visa.

Yes "guest" overstates things a bit, the best definition I have seen is "tolerated alien".

[Pete1980]

1 minute ago, transam said:

Reads like you don't live 'ere...????

Another one in denial. I live in Pattaya, where it would be 90 plus. 

Thailand is famous for westerners marrying the prostitutes, like it or not.

[Kwasaki]

Well OP I'm happy here apart from some posters here assuming otherwise but a joke picture is a crime. 

Happiness of where you live IMO  is because I make it so not Thailand I put up with Thailand they don't bother me and I don't bother them.

Have my hobbies and everything I need. 

The UK is a dump. 

You may find agreement with some here but I treat as I find. 

[blackhorse]

It's not only thailand. The haters also hate their home countries