Prior to living in Thailand I traveled to many countries and I've always noticed groups from the same nations sticking together. I guess it's natural to want to remain with the familiar than venturing to the unknown, probably why people like expat clubs in the various places I've lived. There is nothing wrong with that. But with me, I always thought why spend time with those that grew up in the same hemisphere that I did ? I mean the whole point of travelling to me was to learn something new. I usually traveled alone (same reason) and tended to stay away from tourist bars, restaurants etc. It forced me to open up and learn on my own. If I had want to interact with expats I would of stayed home and I feel that way today.  

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I'm always interested to hear what people think a retired guy in his mid-sixties should be doing in the day?

1.  Afternoon nap.

2. Dip in pool

3. make lunch. make dinner.

4. Catch up on our Reading: Packenhams, "The Boer War"

5. W*nk if not going out later.

6. Nice cocktail

7. Nap.

8. Fold laundry

9. Listen to Man U reruns and post on TVF

11 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

For me it is not so much that I dislike other expats as it is that I simply can’t find much to like about them.  We have nothing in common and they have no qualities I find entertaining, enlightening or admirable.  I can converse with almost anyone for an hour or so but I would not be the least bit disappointed if I never saw them again.????

I don’t mind chewing the fat with the odd expat every now and again, I’m just not that keen on any follow up. I have a few friends around the world and am not really interested in adding more. However, I have spoken to quite a few interesting people in Thailand. There are many who confound the stereotypes. For me it’s the differences that make someone interesting, not their similarities or compatibilities. 

Cynicism can be life-saving if it helps you see the truth, and having an overly sunny outlook can dangerously blind you from the truth. There's always been, and probably always will be, a running battle on TVF about what the truth about Thailand truly is, and there'll probably never be a clear winner.

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

Cynicism can be life-saving if it helps you see the truth, and having an overly sunny outlook can dangerously blind you from the truth. There's always been, and probably always will be, a running battle on TVF about what the truth about Thailand truly is, and there'll probably never be a clear winner.

That is because there isn't just one truth for all expats.

1 minute ago, AlexRich said:

However, I have spoken to quite a few interesting people in Thailand. There are many who confound the stereotypes.

Ive baked with some dudes that were cool I will say, but folks, expats or otherwise, who are dedicated stoners are usually all right folks.

3 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

So you think that most Farangs are like the ones you mentioned? Also, for the old, ugly, fat, shirtless Farangs, there will be many more who will keep their shirts on.

I only told you the nice stories.  There was the one who never used a condom and another who had a disease he bragged about passing on to others and the guy who turned dating into a family affair and on and on.  I couldn't take it.  I stopped listening and associating with Farang. 

4 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Cynicism can be life-saving if it helps you see the truth, and having an overly sunny outlook can dangerously blind you from the truth. There's always been, and probably always will be, a running battle on TVF about what the truth about Thailand truly is, and there'll probably never be a clear winner.

It's getting more clear by the month.

3 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Cynicism can be life-saving if it helps you see the truth, and having an overly sunny outlook can dangerously blind you from the truth. There's always been, and probably always will be, a running battle on TVF about what the truth about Thailand truly is, and there'll probably never be a clear winner.

I enjoy the cynical posts, many of which are very funny. You can always find a bit of truth in them. Not everyone’s wife dumps them and kicks them out once the house is built ... but some do, and it’s good to be put on your guard at times. Too many foreigners arrive in Thailand with their rose coloured spectacles on and make every mistake in the book. You don’t have to buy into the cynicism completely, but it does make sense to do some research and be a little guarded. If you are sensible you can have a great time in Thailand with few issues. But if you weren’t a “hansum” man in your own country you haven’t suddenly become one once you arrive in Thailand.

11 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

1.  Afternoon nap.

2. Dip in pool

3. make lunch. make dinner.

4. Catch up on our Reading: Packenhams, "The Boer War"

5. W*nk if not going out later.

6. Nice cocktail

7. Nap.

8. Fold laundry

9. Listen to Man U reruns and post on TVF

Man WHO?

7 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I only told you the nice stories.  There was the one who never used a condom and another who had a disease he bragged about passing on to others and the guy who turned dating into a family affair and on and on.  I couldn't take it.  I stopped listening and associating with Farang. 

Some of them make Fred West sound like a choir boy.

14 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

what the truth about Thailand truly is

Its Thailand. Its their truth. You arent Thai so have no idea what their truth is.

 

Easiest place in the world. Come on over, smile, sh*ts cheap, smile, dont sweat over 6 baht its only a nickel, have fun, be fun, be happy you arent shoveling snow and if you are miserable, go elsewhere. Its a big world.

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

And rightfully so. We took down the worlds Big Dog and shoved a Merkin down Georgie's  Hanoverian gullet, not the first time we slapped around the bleeding Hun in our rise to the top.

 

But dont ever think, Mon Ami, that I have nothing but kind words for my fellow Americans, neh?

His material is eternal. I can do Georgie Jessel and Buddy Hackett too.

 

Geez dude, whats an Ego? is that the thing my ex wife uses to hang my balls from her rear view mirror? 

Don't you think it's a bit weird the most dominant nationality on Earth ( the Chinese think differently ) has the highest ratio of shrinks per capita?

I'm partial to Rodney Dangerfield myself, after Caddyshack. Robin Williams. But that's reflecting my sporting biases.

We have an ego, a libido, and an id. In my case, I'm still finding out which is most frequently guiding my impulses.

To quote Robin Williams, your ex-wife extracted your balls via your wallet. As did mine.

I regret to report to you what you may regard as the ultimate sacrilege. In Chiang Rai's Big C, they are selling Pringles in PACKETS. Not the familiar tubes. Heaven knows how many are broken. Schedule an appointment with your psychiatrist ASAP.

 

 

2 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

 

I find for the most part expats are jerks and I walk to the other side of the street to avoid them. 

The worst thing is when i meet another expat that thinks just like you (and me).   Pretty weird scene as we keep crossing the street trying to get way from each other.   Kind of like something from abbot and costello.

2 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

I walk across to the other side of the street to avoid them.  If we were alike we would both walk to the other side of the street and be on the same side again. 

 

But what really makes me different?  I don't like farmers.  One of my exwives in America was a farmers daughter and her large family all farmers.  Deadly boring, uneducated illiterate bumpkins.  I don't like the culture or housing or morals.  I asked any women I met in Thailand if her family had a farm or were farmers.  If so I ran away.  However I think most TV posters have wives and families involved in agriculture and we have nothing in common.

I am proud to be a farmer!

19 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Ive baked with some dudes that were cool I will say, but folks, expats or otherwise, who are dedicated stoners are usually all right folks.

People who use hash are not likely to be hardcore druggies that would pimp their girlfriends for drugs, so they are probably okay. I wouldn’t touch any drug in Thailand. The risk is that someone will set you up with the BIB is too high. I think you can do that in Cambodia without a problem? 

 

I was in Bali a few years back and every 100 yards in Kuta some guy would pop out of the shadows offering hash, coke, etc. Not my thing so I politely decline and keep moving. During their day of souls (?) festival you are not allowed in the streets for 24 hours. So I buy a few books on Bali via Amazon, about Keraboken Jail and Drug Dealers. Interestingly guys are paid by the police to set up tourists on drug busts. Better to pay the bribe immediately, because if your case goes further up the chain there are more mouths to feed, and the bill gets out of the reach of most people. Interesting part about Gordon Ramsey’s junkie brother, who was found collapsed with a needle in his arm on Bali. 

36 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

 

I'm always interested to hear what people think a retired guy in his mid-sixties should be doing in the day?

Sex with your missus is always an option.

My distaste for other expats is merely based on probability.

 

In my many decades here my interaction with other expats has resulted in more negative outcomes than positive ones.

 

So I avoid expats whenever possible.

 

Oh...I should also add that I avoid all Thai males whenever possible for the same reason.

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Sex with your missus is always an option.

Or someone else's Missus. More fun with forbidden fruit.

4 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Sex with your missus is always an option.

Depends on which word the accent is on!  

SEX with your missus....OK

Sex with YOUR missus....No way, that's mine.

Sex with your MISSUS.....only if mia noi is away!

 

2 minutes ago, Khaeng Mak said:

In my many decades here my interaction with other expats has resulted in more negative outcomes than positive ones.

That is a good point. Never thought of it like that...

1 hour ago, nausea said:

If you come to TVF you're mostly desparate...

A person with a life does not spend a lot of time on TVF, believe me.

And yet, here you are! ????

 

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

There are positive and negative people everywhere. And a few smart people and lots of idiots. I think TV is not much different in that perspective.

I think it's the other way around: lots of good smart people and a few others.

It's just that the malcontents are really noisy...????

 

16 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I stopped listening and associating with Farang. 

And yet here you are! ????

 

1 minute ago, Nyezhov said:

Easiest place in the world. Come on over, smile, sh*ts cheap, smile, dont sweat over 6 baht its only a nickel, have fun, be fun, be happy you arent shoveling snow and if you are miserable, go elsewhere. Its a big world.

*This*

I agree completely except 6 baht is 18 cents ????

 

Be the joy you want to see in the world! If it ain't working do something other!

 

I'm here on TV because it looks like fun and lots of English is spoken ????

 

 

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

The ultimate question is not whether, but how much. So much valuable time is wasted in courtship. Just lay a wad of C-notes on the bar and see how many it takes to get a supermodel on her knees  behind the dumpster.

You romantic dog you. BJ or doggy?

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Nobody is cool enough, and if they were and wanted to associate with me, I would slag them off as I wouldnt want to hang with someone who has the disgustingly poor taste to like me.

 

 

Ha ha ha..

 

I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.

Groucho Marx
 

47 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

It's a bit too hot and smokey to go out in CM.

I did venture out to the marker for an hour, got some nice bell peppers, strawberries, mushrooms and some limes. But I prefer to sit somewhere cool with an iced drink in the hot afternoon. I also supervising the kids.

 

I'm always interested to hear what people think a retired guy in his mid-sixties should be doing in the day?

Whatever you do, do NOT eat the strawberries. 

Unless another expat was in distress/hurt, or asked me directly for help in some way, I wouldnt approach them and would hope they would do the same. As another poster stated, more negative than positive encounters, so keep it minimal and only when necessary.

 

As for forums, in my experience the persona online is vastly different to the real person, a jeckyl and hide almost is my experience.

Just now, grollies said:

Whatever you do, do NOT eat the strawberries. 

Too late ....... with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

4 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Depends on which word the accent is on!  

SEX with your missus....OK

Sex with YOUR missus....No way, that's mine.

Sex with your MISSUS.....only if mia noi is away!

 

 

5 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

 

And I thought I  was overthinking things.......

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Is it the anonymity afforded by TVF to slag off other people? A human desire to lash out at others without a good reason? The ability to speak without consequence? The lack of visual, discernible reaction(s)? The fulfillment of one's day-dreams to 'give someone hell'? Am I simply not meeting the bad ones? Is it simply me, or do others see the glee in people's words when they are attacking others?

No I don't do that there all on "ignore user".

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Too late ....... with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

When are you Brits ever going to learn? Strawberries and cream, OR chocolate sauce. No wonder your taste buds are so confused.