Why do Thai people ignore Foreigners when they are speaking and begin speaking over them, interrupting them?

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, gimo said:

A fair comparison could be made between expats in Thailand and elderly foreigners living western countries  , who arrived there later in life .

Fair point... I remember as a kid the elderly immigrant grandparents of my friends who could not speak English... 

[rumak]

And also to be fair :   I also ignore foreigners that I see here   ????

 

[Isaanbiker]

2 hours ago, colinneil said:

Myself i never have that problem, i go shopping alone.

Always pay with my debit card, never have the wife along, she huffs and puffs at things, picks up puts down, so bloody annoying, i go alone, see what i want in the basket onto the next item.

Did that never happen to you that the change was given to your wife when you're eating out? 

 

   But I've gotta agree, I prefer not to go shopping with my wife, because we always end up buying stuff we don't need and do not buy urgently needed stuff.

 

  OP, it's great to speak the language even when you're not perfect, people will appreciate it. 

 

  It's quite irritating when people lived here 20 plus years but can't even order a noodle soup.

 

   

 

  

[grollies]

13 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

Not on you life! Do it yourself.

Right, so they're HiSo lap dancers, what's the big deal?

[NCC1701A]

you know, i can remember living in Germany and one of my first impressions of Germans was they are sort of "gruff or curt" in public.

 

then I went to France and everybody in Paris was rude as hell. and yes, they know damn well what you are saying. 

 

I got beat up by some Mexicans. Well Mexican Americans. and African Americans. That was cool.

 

Somebody threw a egg at me in Belfast. Missed. 

 

I was at Ascot in the UK and a man told me very rudely I could not walk here. I asked why and he said "The Queen is going to walk on this ground."

 

A big group of Chinese stepped in front of the line at Boots in Hua Hin. So I want them to all die.

 

Italy, Spain and Greece was cool.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2019 by NCC1701A

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, Yinn said:

have one English woman complain so angry because the taxi driver can not understand her. They get lost.

had a Thai friend who was driving a Bkk taxi for a while... some farang lady got in the cab and kept screaming Ambassador!!... she was really upset... so he took her to the Embassy... he didn't know there was an Ambassador Hotel and she never said "hotel" - - 

 

sure, he quit the next day,,, 

[cranki]

21 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

I didn't take her comments to be offensive to other Thais. Don't expect the Thais you meet to speak English or other languages. I have heard foreigners raising their voices but continue speaking English and expecting non-English speaker to understand. 

It's very true that Thai English speakers have a lot more opportunities. That said if you want to function well in Thailand you need to learn Thai, but just as important to learn how to be respectful. 

I welcome her perspective here. Thanks

I actually didn't say "offensive" however....I see why you didn't find it "offensive".....you're not Thai (nor am I)

I've never heard Thais running down Thais like that in my travels is what I was getting at, putting all those people in the one basket as she has..

Absolutely nothing to do with comprehending Thai or English...

 

[NCC1701A]

26 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

You probably have videos of the coyotes dancers.

that is so 2005.

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

what I do when I go to Home Pro is I first go to the tools section where they have wooden ax handles about three feet long and I pick one up and carry it with me as I do the rest of my shopping.  

I wanted to do that, but asked the young person for FORK HANDLES !

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Using scrabble as a baseline is not a very impressive view of Thais

Yo, Adjunct, were you on the debating team in academia academia land? Twisting words must be an effective way for you to think you win arguments... I never said it was a baseline and from my experience with upcountry schools as a parent, not a self important English teacher, I don't see that English is emphasized any more than math or science or Chinese... 

 

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

the farangs are even treated worse (which has been my experience in many cases).

Funny, for me, I make friends and have conversations. Though your experience might be due to your attitude... [see below] 

 

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

In other words, there is minimal benefit to learning Thai.

Absolutely ridiculous... I live in an area where Thai is the language - - not many farang around... it increases my enjoyment here to tremendous depths... 

2 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

there is minimal benefit to learning Thai. I use it as a tactical weapon

A tactical weapon!!! Geez, no wonder you are so miserable here. Sure, just my assumption but with all the farang here who bash Thai, this is probably the nastiest thing I have ever seen on Thai Visa... or heard anywhere... I use Thai language as a tool to make friends... 

[bluesofa]

16 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

I wanted to do that, but asked the young person for FORK HANDLES !

Just don't ask if they have any o's - they'll more than likely send you to Walking Street.

[from the home of CC]

3 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

 

 

The difference is that in an average Western country, maybe 50% or fewer locals are xenophobic. In Thailand, some people think that number is much closer to 100% than it is to 50%.

so, when you were 'teaching' at the 'university' did you come across an intelligent link to these stats? lol   

[Isaanbiker]

33 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

you know, i can remember living in Germany and one of my first impressions of Germans was they are sort of "gruff or curt" in public.

 

then I went to France and everybody in Paris was rude as hell. and yes, they know damn well what you are saying. 

 

I got beat up by some Mexicans. Well Mexican Americans. and African Americans. That was cool.

 

Somebody threw a egg at me in Belfast. Missed. 

 

I was at Ascot in the UK and a man told me very rudely I could not walk here. I asked why and he said "The Queen is going to walk on this ground."

 

A big group of Chinese stepped in front of the line at Boots in Hua Hin. So I want them to all die.

 

Italy, Spain and Greece was cool.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps you should have visited some places in Germany where people aren't gruff or curt. 

 

     Was that at the Oktoberfest in September? 

[Isaanbiker]

4 minutes ago, from the home of CC said:

so, when you were 'teaching' at the 'university' did you come across an intelligent link to these stats? lol   

Could you repeat the question, please? 

[NCC1701A]

2 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

Perhaps you should have visited some places in Germany where people aren't gruff or curt. 

 

     Was that at the Oktoberfest in September? 

no it was Berlin. for years. and then all over the place.

Edited September 1, 2019 by NCC1701A

[gunderhill]

3 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

As far as I'm aware, this topic is not about peoples inability to speak the local language, it is about being interrupted mid sentence when they are trying to speak to someone which in most western cultures is extremely rude.

Well at least someone gets it, example I'm speaking to my Thai Wife in English and Somchai just ram raids his way in talking over me.

The Thai  lovers though have commandeered this thread to the,  you haven't integrated mode.

Many times I've asked for gas at the gas  station and if my Wife is  with me they'll ask her what I want, even though my Wife  has   fully  understood  my Thai and tells me what Iv'e said is comprehensible. Even she is  baffled  by it.

[gunderhill]

46 minutes ago, Isaanbiker said:

But I've gotta agree, I prefer not to go shopping with my wife, because we always end up buying stuff we don't need and do not buy urgently needed stuff.

Glad it's  not just me, go out to specifically get ONE item that's desperately  needed, then forget it, as she is a major distraction!

[Yinn]

1 hour ago, cranki said:

I've read a lot of your comments, some are very good in explaining a Thai's perspective on things, most I agree with..

Thankyou

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

However, some of your comments of late just left me thinking you're just a wannabe hiso

Not hi so sure. TVF member talk about “hiso” a lot. Not really understand hiso, think anybody not the poor person is “hiso”.

 

is not true. I know many rich people, but they not hi so. If you see them in street you just think they normal person. One friend now sell the Patong Hotel for US$ 110 million. She rich but not “hiso” sure. She normal person. She can be friend with anyone. She wash dishes, cook, clean herself. 

 

In my life I meet real Hiso only not many time. I meet a lot what we joke “Hiso No Money” We call my friend “Loso Big Money”

 

 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

 

who thinks that because you can "maybe" speak passable English that you're above all your fellow countrymen ?? Am I wrong ??

Wrong.

I know my English is not good. My teacher recommend this forum for training English. When I read the English textbook for ten minutes I want to sleep. This is quite fun. 

I only understand 50%. Some people I can not understand at all, some ok, I think. Short post is better for me. I not read the long one much.

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

I've never come across a Thai running down their people to this extent.

No other Thai here I think. None talk to me.

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

 

ALL Taxi drivers...low class 

You really wrong. I said “ lazy low wage”. Not low class. 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

ALL Homepro workers....low class

ALL Makro workers....low class

ALL Taiwatsadu workers.....low class

No, but lazy, low wage.

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

ALMOST all Issan women....prostitutes

No. MOST issan women are really lovely. Better behavior than Central or South. 

But

Most prostitutes ARE Issan woman in Thailand. Is true. I think you know.

 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

All 7/11 workers.....low class

No, just lazy to study or get hard job. They like the aircon too much???

 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

ALL Bar girls....well...I've read your opinion on that often enough.

etc, etc....

Yes, I think they all low class. Dirty. I think this in all country right? Drug etc. All country think same way I think? Not only me, everyone in Thailand think that, even the sex worker know that themself. 

Many slang Thai word for this one.

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

I'm actually getting the feeling you may not be Thai at all......more like Burmese as there is a high population in Ranong from Myanamar

True, we have a lot Myanmar, southern Thai, and Chinese Thai. 

Muslim and Buddhist. We all friendly together. Help each other. Yinn can be friend anyone if polite.

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

 

Wouldn't a Hotel receptionist be low class as well ??? 

Not low class, but low wage, sure. I do for experience. Train English. Help my friend hotel.

i do it Thai New Year and Farang New year. My uni holiday and the staff want to go home visit family. 

Good for everyone. But small money, easy job.

 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

What, in your opinion is "low class" ......??

Lazy people and impolite. 

 

1 hour ago, cranki said:

 

Cheers ????

 

[from the home of CC]

30 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

Yo, Adjunct, were you on the debating team in academia academia land? Twisting words must be an effective way for you to think you win arguments... I never said it was a baseline and from my experience with upcountry schools as a parent, not a self important English teacher, I don't see that English is emphasized any more than math or science or Chinese... 

 

Funny, for me, I make friends and have conversations. Though your experience might be due to your attitude... [see below] 

 

Absolutely ridiculous... I live in an area where Thai is the language - - not many farang around... it increases my enjoyment here to tremendous depths... 

A tactical weapon!!! Geez, no wonder you are so miserable here. Sure, just my assumption but with all the farang here who bash Thai, this is probably the nastiest thing I have ever seen on Thai Visa... or heard anywhere... I use Thai language as a tool to make friends... 

I think what was being taught was more of ' successful management practices of racists ' than anything else.. 

[55Jay]

3 possible scenarios. 

 

It could be you, approaching all as if they are dumb monkeys, over-explaining simple s**t in your version of pidgen English.  They had you at Hello but you're still babbling, so they ignore you and hope your wife will be more succinct.

 

Or, they don't speak a lick of English, so the sounds coming out of your mouth sound like the noise you hear coming out of theirs.  But you insist, cause you're a grown man, certainly you can manage shopping for a 7mm screw on your own.  "U Hab Sah-Ka-Roo, 7 Emm Emm Sah-Ka-Roo, peas, you hab?", as their eyes glaze over and they look to your wife for mercy.

 

Or they are just rude kants, same as you might have back in your country.  Nothing to do with language or Thailand. 

Edited September 1, 2019 by 55Jay

[Centra]

3 hours ago, kenk24 said:

The reason they are not interested in your incomprehensible rambling is that they are afraid of a miscommunication because they cannot understand... they probably have had experience or at least know stories where foreigners get angry [very culturally uncool]

 

Patience. [ they are also afraid that impatience is 1/2 way to anger ] They really really do not want a problem... 

I don't where this comes from that Thai people are patience and don't get angry. In the 20 years I have travelled to Thailand and now have a Thai relative if they don't get there own way or don't understand some thing they throw fit or sulk. Their are not pushy like Chinese put differently not patience.

[rumak]

withdrawn..........

 

Edited September 1, 2019 by rumak

[kellersphuket]

It's a well known fact that Thais have terrible english skills on the whole.

One only needs to visit the likes of Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan to see what I mean. 

 

The issues mentioned by the OP are non existent in the well educated & well mannered societies mentioned above.

[1FinickyOne]

47 minutes ago, Centra said:

I don't where this comes from that Thai people are patience and don't get angry. In the 20 years I have travelled to Thailand and now have a Thai relative if they don't get there own way or don't understand some thing they throw fit or sulk. Their are not pushy like Chinese put differently not patience.

That would be true more so in a family or personal situation... the op was talking about a more formal situation in a store... 

 

and I was suggesting that the farang fellow be patient... so many posters here get upset about small htings becuase they don't have a clue about the culture... 

[samsensam]

 

let's turn this around, you are in your home country, your thai wife doesn't speak your language, or speaks it equivalent to your thai, how much notice would your countrymen and women take of her? if you dont want to be ignored learn to speak thai, and, of course, have something interesting or amusing to say.

[SunsetT]

Try holding your hand up to the interrupting person and saying Diaow Diaow! Kap! which means Wait Wait! Please! I have found these to be very useful Thai words that I use frequently since I have learned them.

Edited September 1, 2019 by SunsetT

[Naam]

5 hours ago, villagefarang said:

Quite simply, the sounds coming out of your mouth are just noise and have no meaning because you don't speak Thai.  I would suggest you bring your wife up to speed before you go shopping, so she knows what you want and why.  If a young child was crying or talking, adults would simply talk over them, ignoring what to them is a useless interruption.  They may see you in a similar light.

 

I am sure it is frustrating for you, but you are the one who needs to adapt, not the other way around.  You are of course free to completely disregard my advise as I do not fit your criteria of being unable to converse in Thai and needing an interpreter.????

i disagree respectfully but totally. i hate to cross the property lines and when we lived in the U.S. of A. my wife to used buy technical items in hardware stores based on a broken part, a description or a drawing i made. she was usually greeted mit a broad smile and "and what does he want today?"

 

here in Thailand i do some shopping in hardware stores and use my Thai assistant/handyman/service engineer as my Thai is virtually not existent. but even if i was the Thai expressions for most technical items are so multivalent and unprecise that they are useless. english words for technical itmes are used in Thai language too. try to find Thai words for capillary injection or expansion valve and retranslate into English for a roaring laughter.

 

if we encounter a salesperson who's English is rudimentary the solution of the problem is "you talk to me or we go!" if my assistant is not faster with "you talk to him or we go!"

 

works since 15 years. as simple as that. case closed!

[RichardColeman]

My wife's Thai family - apart from a a-hole father in law - always try to include me in everything and try to communicate with me even when the do not speak English. As for talking over me - we'll lets be honest , thais seem to have conversations where everybody speaks at once so, I don't feel intimidated by usual Thai talk

[scorecard]

4 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Thais talk to the person who is in charge - isn't that obvious? 

And is it not possible the Thai staff are trying to be careful they haven't misunderstood and at the same time being careful they don't make a mistake, And is it possible they're being careful because they don't want a confrontation with an angry farang?

 

Also is it possible that status comes into conversations in terms of who speaks first, when to start a conversation etc? The reality is, like it or not, status drives many things in this country.

[Naam]

2 minutes ago, FredGallaher said:

Frankly most American wouldn't know about capillary injection or expansion valve. I assume they have to do with an AC unit but not sure.  I use our local AC guy who is great.

that depends on the store. aircon parts of course only in a specialised store. but 99% of your technical needs big stores like Lowe's or Home Depot are perfect. i designed and built a high-tech home which requires continous preventive and actual maintenance which is with very few exceptions done by ourselves.