Farang is NOT impolite word.

[cmsally]

9 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

When visiting the bridge over the River Kwai I took a tour of the museum there. It was stated, in Thai and English, that 10 times as many Thais died in the construction of the Burma Railroad as all the allied troops combined. I don't know how true that is but that is what Thais are taught.

I think that larger number was SE Asian forced labour in general and were mostly Burmese and Malayan (Romusha). If you take figures (which vary) at about 13,000 captured troops (westerners) and 90,000 Romusha of those who died, that seems to tie in. But the majority of the Asians who died were Burmese and Malayan.

From the data I can see it would be a very small amount of Thais that died or even worked on the railway.

10x amount of Asians would be a "yes". 10X of Thais would I believe be a "no".

[RJRS1301]

18 minutes ago, DannyCarlton said:

When visiting the bridge over the River Kwai I took a tour of the museum there. It was stated, in Thai and English, that 10 times as many Thais died in the construction of the Burma Railroad as all the allied troops combined. I don't know how true that is but that is what Thais are taught.

Between 180,000 and 250,000 Southeast Asian civilian labourers (rōmusha) and about 61,000 Allied prisoners of war were subjected to forced labour during its construction. About 90,000 civilian labourers and more than 12,000 Allied prisoners died.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Railway

[cmsally]

Interesting acct. of Romusha.

http://www.kyoto-seika.ac.jp/researchlab/wp/wp-content/uploads/kiyo/pdf-data/no20/david.pdf

 

Can't really find the numbers but Thais would seem to be in the minority. So to say that 10x the number of Thais died (not Asians) would seem to be simply not true.

[CharlieH]

Off topic bickering exchange removed.

[mngmn]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

Whe I order SomTam Pla Rah, I am often told "no, farang cannot! Is OK? OK?, a bit more argument till I finally get

This constant stereotyping is precisely why I object to the word 'Farang'

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, mngmn said:

This constant stereotyping is precisely why I object to the word 'Farang'

well dude if my food was nuclear and/or filled with rotten stench chunky liquids I would stereotype too.

 

Go to a Japanese store and ask for Natto. Or try to buy balut.

[473geo]

Well, well, well, seems this thread has unearthed a few members who have not heard or fail to understand the phrase "cutting a bit of slack"

Or "don't shoot the messenger"

 

Reading this thread has brought me to the conclusion that on occasion some Thai may well be using the word Farang as a derogatory term. However more so that the attitude and type of thinking from those who insist they are on the receiving end suggests they may well deserve it!!!!

Edited September 22, 2019 by 473geo

[Yinn]

8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Funny, have we read the same posts?

I don't perceive her intention as kind at all.

Instead I read them as infected with arrogance, Thai chauvinism, blatant unashamed INTOLERANCE, making lame hollow excuses, about lack of understanding of major world history events such as WW2, and last but not least not interested in the perception of the white foreigners she has tried to LECTURE to.

 

My Thai way or the highway, you farang!

 

If many FEEL that farang is used in a derogatory way (sometimes of course) then we are just simply WRONG according to her. No arguments entertained. 

If that's kind intentions from a Thai person, I'd like to see NASTY ones. 

Calm down high moral Pattaya guy.

 

ok, you want to change Thai language. What thai word would you like us to call Caucasians?? You never say. Just say you not like “farang” word.

 

When we start use the new word you give to the thai people, will you think that word racism? Complain about new word?

 

Remember, we not know what country you from, because you look the same, Aussie, USA and English etc. You not know yourself.

 

if you tell me the new word, I will use it. Make you happy ok.

 

 

8 hours ago, Victornoir said:

The only intention I see is kind:
  - When we call you Farangs it is not hostile.
Only that.

Thankyou. 

 

8 hours ago, DannyCarlton said:

Maybe they are. 555

I convinced. Because I know. Is true. Not hostile. If hostile we use other word.

[ericthai]

12 hours ago, CharlieH said:

I may be wrong and happy to be corrected but it's been my impression that before the internet and social media arrived many (most rural areas ?) Thais had little knowledge of anything outside of their village/province and didn't really care either, newspapers were few and far between and all they really had was gossip and what the Pu Yai baan told them.

All this wasn't that long ago either.25 yrs (ish)

Allot of the those villages still dont have internet.  There are newspapers in the small villages all over Thailand so they get news, but typically you are buying a paper that was issued 2-3 days ago. Still had TV back then.

[hgma]

it depends if you speak Thai or not, or want to enter a 10 times upgraded entry fee in a national park, STATE hospitals sky rocketing bills, or a passerby.....if one lives here by law provided permission, i regard farang as impolite.

 

[473geo]

18 minutes ago, hgma said:

it depends if you speak Thai or not, or want to enter a 10 times upgraded entry fee in a national park, STATE hospitals sky rocketing bills, or a passerby.....if one lives here by law provided permission, i regard farang as impolite.

 

Ok so you wear a badge that clearly states you "Live here by law provided permission"

 

Are you guys for real!!

[473geo]

I'm thinking Farang is an ultra polite description, for the supercilious posters, who inflict their views on threads such as this

[RJRS1301]

1 hour ago, 473geo said:

I'm thinking Farang is an ultra polite description, for the supercilious posters, who inflict their views on threads such as this

Very good???? 

[amykat]

1 hour ago, 473geo said:

I'm thinking Farang is an ultra polite description, for the supercilious posters, who inflict their views on threads such as this

Well what do you think this should be, a blog by Yinn and Danny?  They don’t appear to be arrogant to you .... Gosh Danny’s Dad is even an expert in American film and WW2.  

[pookondee]

On 9/20/2019 at 9:00 PM, Issannative said:

So Thai persived or actual rasism towards white forenger is actually the fault of the forgeners

of course!

because if you werent here, then there would be noone to call farang..

and then noone would need be offended

lol

 

seriously though..a poster commented that "gringo" was not offensive.

because maybe that might be his language and culture and he knows its not offensive..

yet still many others will argue that the word

"gringo" is very derogatory!

 

Same thing with Yinn..

It is her culture and her language 

and she is telling you its not offensive..

 

but yet theres 30 pages of FARANGS arguing the point, who think they know better!!

lol

 

dont know $hit but trying to tell a Thai what a Thai word means

amazing farangs..

lol

 

[sunnyboy2018]

On 9/20/2019 at 10:21 AM, Berkshire said:

Boy, what a bunch of snowflakes on this forum.  Farang is a Thai word, not an English word.  The Thais say it's not offensive, so it's not.  It'd be like if a Chinese guy goes to the USA and is offended by the use of the word Asian.  I would tell him that it's not offensive.  If he still insists, I'll tell him to go pack sand. 

I did not say I am offended. You are wrongly presuming that due to your inability to separate a valid explanation, which I now understand is beyond your abilty to grasp. You have no background in cross cultural communication,  semiotics or linguistics so you are not equipped to understand that I gave a sociocultural linguistic analysis of why it is potentially racist...

certainly lazy and ignorant. FYI Europeans in Afghanistan are referred to as 'Feranghi'.  Its a common word originating in the romance tongue...ie latin based languages which include French...certainly not Thai. Next you will be telling me condo and condominium are Thai words. The term farang is dismissive and thoughtless.

[faraday]

55 minutes ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

I did not say I am offended. You are wrongly presuming that due to your inability to separate a valid explanation, which I now understand is beyond your abilty to grasp. You have no background in cross cultural communication,  semiotics or linguistics so you are not equipped to understand that I gave a sociocultural linguistic analysis of why it is potentially racist...

certainly lazy and ignorant. FYI Europeans in Afghanistan are referred to as 'Feranghi'.  Its a common word originating in the romance tongue...ie latin based languages which include French...certainly not Thai. Next you will be telling me condo and condominium are Thai words. The term farang is dismissive and thoughtless.

Yea, what he said.

 

 

 

"Potentially racist"????

 

So it might be, or might not, so we have to err on the side of offence.

 

????

[meechai]

10 hours ago, Yinn said:

ok, you want to change Thai language. What thai word would you like us to call Caucasians??

For myself personally I have no problem with "words"

After a few years all the Thai's I knew call me Kuhn+my name

 

But if a Thai who really wanted to know a simple answer to the question you ask was asking me?

 

I would say same as what you call Thai people,

Meaning call elder Foreigners Pee & call younger ones Nong

 

Until you know their name then call them Pee+name or Nong+name or Kuhn+name same as you usually address respectfully

all Thai's you know & even those you do not.

Edited September 22, 2019 by meechai

[alan grice]

This topics a puppy lefty ferang Teachers Dream.Dont know how they would react to African Americans friendly greeting of Yo <deleted> when a few meet up.Made me jump first time i heard it.!.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[alan grice]

I left the N Word out to save our delicate Children and be cowardly PC correct.!!.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[mngmn]

3 hours ago, pookondee said:

dont know $hit but trying to tell a Thai what a Thai word means

amazing farangs..

lol

You can study Thai to Bachelor degree level overseas. Are you saying that all Thais know more than someone with a degree in Thai just because that are Thai?

 

This is the 'girlfriend' way to win an argument. Add in 'my girlfriend is Thai and she says blah blah blah so it must be true'.

Edited September 23, 2019 by mngmn

[Andrew Dwyer]

For myself personally I have no problem with "words"
After a few years all the Thai's I knew call me Kuhn+my name
 
But if a Thai who really wanted to know a simple answer to the question you ask was asking me?
 
I would say same as what you call Thai people,
Meaning call elder Foreigners Pee & call younger ones Nong
 
Until you know their name then call them Pee+name or Nong+name or Kuhn+name same as you usually address respectfully
all Thai's you know & even those you do not.

Yes, exactly.

You could call the older ones Pee Farang and the younger ones Nong Farang !!

Sorted !!

[CharlieH]

11 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yes, exactly.

You could call the older ones Pee Farang and the younger ones Nong Farang !!

Sorted !!

They call me "Na+name" I believe that's "uncle" as I am senior to them.

[Jingthing]

3 hours ago, pookondee said:

of course!

because if you werent here, then there would be noone to call farang..

and then noone would need be offended

lol

 

seriously though..a poster commented that "gringo" was not offensive.

because maybe that might be his language and culture and he knows its not offensive..

yet still many others will argue that the word

"gringo" is very derogatory!

 

Same thing with Yinn..

It is her culture and her language 

and she is telling you its not offensive..

 

but yet theres 30 pages of FARANGS arguing the point, who think they know better!!

lol

 

dont know $hit but trying to tell a Thai what a Thai word means

amazing farangs..

lol

 

About gringo.

You grossly mischaracterized what I wrote about it before.

I think the use of gringo in Latin America is a very close approximation to the use of farang in Thailand.

In Mexico, gringo is DEFINITELY a derogatory term. No doubt.

In Ecuador and Colombia it is not a derogatory term and so it's like farang if you actually believe that farang is not a derogatory term in Thailand.

My opinion is that in reality, in actual USAGE, farang is in the middle. Sometimes derogatory and sometimes not. So it's not surprising that many people are polarized on this question. Some arguing it's never derogatory and others arguing it's always derogatory by definition.

No, it is not that black and white.

 

(To complicate this further, some of the people that fit the gringo definition in Colombia and Ecuador KNOWING that it is derogatory in Mexico which is a very large country, perceive gringo as derogatory everywhere. It's possible that over time gringo could develop into a derogatory term in Colombia and Ecuador based on negative feelings towards the gringos, but I think it's impossible for gringo in Mexico to develop into a neutral word.)

Edited September 23, 2019 by Jingthing

[CharlieH]

With such a large percentage. of communication being non verbal, and of course tone also plays a huge part, it's difficult to know unless you are actually there as to the intent/meaning behind the comment.

[Jingthing]

To follow up on my other post. that's what I think happened in Thailand. The general meaning of Farang CHANGED over a long time from a truly neutral word moving towards a derogatory term. I think it's in the middle now and probably will continue to progress in the direction of derogatory. Why? Over exposure to the people being called farang, cultural and political xenophobia, etc. It's always good to have scapegoats that are OTHERS. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

They call me "Na+name" I believe that's "uncle" as I am senior to them.

I thought that was Lung ?

[luckyluke]

I have a different perception when I hear :

 

" You Farang, You rich "

and

" Hey, you, Farang ".

 

But now being 71, I am mostly called " Pa ",

which, I suppose, is also open to controversy.

[sillyfool]

12 hours ago, Yinn said:

 

 

ok, you want to change Thai language. What thai word would you like us to call Caucasians?? You never say. Just say you not like “farang” word.

 

When we start use the new word you give to the thai people, will you think that word racism? Complain about new word?

 

Remember, we not know what country you from, because you look the same, Aussie, USA and English etc. You not know yourself.

 

if you tell me the new word, I will use it. Make you happy ok.

 

 

call us pee and nong as you would anyone else you interact with when you don't know their name. look past the race to the human being. why the incessant need to identify and group people together ? 

 

after all we all look the same no ? tidbits of this posters ignorance come out all the time on here. 

[CharlieH]

As do "Orientals" ! to most "farangs"