Poll for longer term expats: Do you feel scapegoated as a foreigner here?

[Jingthing]

It's a fact of human nature that when any country has a high level of nationalism and then experiences problems, some out groups are scapegoated as causing the problems. It's quite often foreigners that are the targets of the scapegoating whether people living in the country or out of it. 

 

Without getting into the specifics of Thai politics (personally I stopped following that years ago) there have been an unusual number of visa changes etc. in the last year or so and many foreigners feel put out by that sometimes quite literally. 

 

This poll is about how such foreigners FEEL as opposed to their being any objective reality behind it. 

 

So as a longer term expat here, do you FEEL that you're being SCAPEGOATED as a foreigner living here? 

 

Kindly choose the answer that is CLOSEST to how you feel about this.

 

This as usual is not presented as a scientific poll and is meant for discussion purposes only. 

Edited November 25, 2019 by Jingthing

[worgeordie]

Scapegoated ?or do you mean persecuted ?

regards worgeordie 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Scapegoated ?or do you mean persecuted ?

regards worgeordie 

I used the word that I intended.

Here is the definition:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat

[Thainesss]

21 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's a fact of human nature that when any country has a high level of nationalism and then experiences problems, some out groups are scapegoated as causing the problems. It's quite often foreigners that are the targets of the scapegoating whether people living in the country or out of it. 

 

This is not a "fact of human nature" that people are scapegoated - it is a direct result of people abusing the system not meant for them.

 

Nobody should be a burden on the country they want to migrate to. 

[BritManToo]

I strongly feel I'm being scapegoated as a WHITE foreigner here.

As there doesn't seem to be many restrictions of any kind on Asian foreigners coming to Thailand from neighbouring countries.

 

As for white folk 'abusing the system', name those white folk?

........ and what each of them did, which 1,000 Cambodians/Khmers/Malays didn't do for each white offense.

Edited November 25, 2019 by BritManToo

[Jingthing]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I strongly feel I'm being scapegoated as a WHITE foreigner here.

As there doesn't seem to be many restrictions of any kind on Asian foreigners coming to Thailand from neighbouring countries.

 

As for white folk 'abusing the system', name those white folk?

........ and what each of them did, which 1,000 Cambodians/Khmers/Malays didn't do for each white offense.

Well I didn't want to racialize the poll question but given this is an English language forum it's fair to assume certain generalities about the majority demographics of the participants here. 

[ramrod711]

I appreciate that I've been allowed to stay here, I feel very unappreciated for the contributions I have made. My wife has a home which I can never own, she has money in the bank, property, health insurance. I send money to her parents, more than their Thai old age pensions amount to. Every year we help her nieces and nephews with schooling expenses, her parents with medical expenses and we make supply run once a year. I'm not asking for thanks, a pat on the back or a welldone! It would be nice to not get kicked out of the country because I can't get health insurance though. Just sayin'.

[Tayaout]

Only when I read this forum. 

[orchis]

no, not once in 24 years and a half here.

[Thainesss]

28 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Well I didn't want to racialize the poll question

 

Too late. Its not racism or scapegoating, its economics. 

 

40 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As for white folk 'abusing the system', name those white folk?

 

If you come here to retire or live long term you should be able to prove you can take care of yourself. This is not scapegoating or racism, its ensuring that the priority is a nations citizens first. 

 

Take healthcare for example. There is a system in place that through the government and taxes, basic healthcare is provided for citizens. A foreigner who wants to come here should not be a burden on that system and should be able to prove it. 

 

44 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As there doesn't seem to be many restrictions of any kind on Asian foreigners coming to Thailand from neighbouring countries.

 

Tourism, employment, and migration are completely separate issues that a country looks at individually. A few million annoying chinese coming to burn their money for a few weeks is one issue and a few thousand retirees/longstayers is another separate issue. 

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

Scapegoated ?or do you mean persecuted ?

regards worgeordie 

sometimes Thai women show up at my door claiming their new born babies look like me. 

is that a good example?

[Bournville]

According to the vote tally so far... Another poll should follow shorty titled "do you think you are you in denial living in Thailand". 

[faraday]

4 minutes ago, Bournville said:

According to the vote tally so far... Another poll should follow shorty titled "do you think you are you in denial living in Thailand". 

Denial's in Africa.

[Mavideol]

23 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

sometimes Thai women show up at my door claiming their new born babies look like me. 

is that a good example?

of scapegoated yes but persecuted maybe not

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecuted

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Scapegoated ?or do you mean persecuted ?

regards worgeordie 

not an English native speaking but in my humble opinion, the word persecuted fits better

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persecuted

[DavisH]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I used the word that I intended.

Here is the definition:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat

Honestly, I don't think Thais blame foreigners for all of their ills. Certainly, educated Thais don't think this way. 

[tifino]

12 minutes ago, DavisH said:

Honestly, I don't think Thais blame foreigners for all of their ills. Certainly, educated Thais don't think this way. 

yes but what percentage of exPats are surrounded by the 'educated' ones??

[Jingthing]

OK, as stated in the OP there have been an unusual number of unfavorable to foreigners visa (etc.) changes in the last year or so. For many of use they seem more than excessive and on the verge of harassment and treating us all like we're criminals. So whatever forces in Thai society that has made those PITA changes has some kind of motivation. We can't read their minds. So the question here is if the TARGETS of these changes (us) FEEL that they have been made because foreigners are being scapegoated here, or not. 

[seasia]

I voted for the first option.

Understand the term used.

[Jingthing]

44 minutes ago, seasia said:

I voted for the first option.

Understand the term used.

I was torn between strong and moderate so I went with moderate. 

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Thainesss said:

If you come here to retire or live long term you should be able to prove you can take care of yourself. This is not scapegoating or racism, its ensuring that the priority is a nations citizens first. 

Why, none of the migrants from the surrounding countries have to?

And they're the ones running up hospital bills, and mass illegally working, not us white folk.

 

How come I need an expensive (yet worthless) Thai health insurance policy, and the Burmese road sweeper doesn't?

A Thai builder friend of my gf just hung himself because he was undercut by the illegal Burmese builders working for 100bht/day.

 

That's hardly a nation that's putting it's citizens first.

What Thai workers are us white chaps competing with for work? 

Edited November 25, 2019 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

50 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK, as stated in the OP there have been an unusual number of unfavorable to foreigners visa (etc.) changes in the last year or so. For many of use they seem more than excessive and on the verge of harassment and treating us all like we're criminals. So whatever forces in Thai society that has made those PITA changes has some kind of motivation. We can't read their minds. So the question here is if the TARGETS of these changes (us) FEEL that they have been made because foreigners are being scapegoated here, or not. 

You're wrong, the Chinese, Burmese, Khmers and Malays aren't being scapegoated any more than they ever were.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You're wrong, the Chinese, Burmese, Khmers and Malays aren't being scapegoated any more than they ever were.

You're playing games that I'm not interested in. 

The poll is about how people feel. 

There is no right or wrong answers to how people feel. 

It just is. 

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

The poll is about how people feel. 

I feel I'm being scapegoated because I'm white, not because I'm a foreigner.

I'm sure there are many other white people posting on this forum that feel the same.

Edited November 25, 2019 by BritManToo

[Crossy]

I'm a consultant. It is ALWAYS our fault.

[WhatupThailand]

14 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

OK, as stated in the OP there have been an unusual number of unfavorable to foreigners visa (etc.) changes in the last year or so. For many of use they seem more than excessive and on the verge of harassment and treating us all like we're criminals. So whatever forces in Thai society that has made those PITA changes has some kind of motivation. We can't read their minds. So the question here is if the TARGETS of these changes (us) FEEL that they have been made because foreigners are being scapegoated here, or not. 

I think the word "Scammed" is more to the point.

1-Show you have money to take care of yourself in Thailand.

BUT your money is Locked in a Bank, in such a way that you cannot use it to take care of yourself.

2-Insureance for Medical Bills

BUT your too old to get it, and even if you did, the coverage and cost, is way out of line,

and will not help in most cases, due to their structure and restrictions.

3-90 Day reports with exact same information, just redundant make work.

4-TM30, another redundant make work.

5-Photos standing in front of House showing soi address, REALLY, just redundant make work.

6-Hand drawn map to House, Give me a Break, redundant make work.

THIS along with Yellow House Book.

7-Bankbook in Hand, with 6 Month Statement printout, Not good enough.

8-Got to Order and Pay for a 12 Month Statement from Bank HQ, Because Bank Branch can

only print out 6 Month statement. WHY ?

9-Must Pay and have bank confirm your account with your name,   more redundant make work.

Must be same day as application, with a transaction made same day. WHY ?

10-Doctor's Health Paper, more Pay for redundant make work.

 

All this, with Visa size Photos, Passport, and all the copies needed, and paying all the Fees,

Make for a wonderful "Scavenger" type experience, Every Year.

 

 

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I feel I'm being scapegoated because I'm white, not because I'm a foreigner.

Got it. 

Any Burmese guest workers reading this are also welcome to share how they FEEL. 

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

I'm a consultant. It is ALWAYS our fault.

Yeah but hopefully you're getting the big bahts which makes that noise go down easier. 

[saengd]

A stupid and pointless survey, it's like saying it rained in the city but not at my home, do I feel discriminated against!

 

Visa regulations have been (more) normalised and put more in line with other countries than they were previously, what does it matter how anyone feels it's the way it is and we have our choices. And what does it matter that some ASEAN members are being treated differently, unless you happen to be a national of one of the Asean countries. 

[sunnyboy2018]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I strongly feel I'm being scapegoated as a WHITE foreigner here.

As there doesn't seem to be many restrictions of any kind on Asian foreigners coming to Thailand from neighbouring countries.

 

As for white folk 'abusing the system', name those white folk?

........ and what each of them did, which 1,000 Cambodians/Khmers/Malays didn't do for each white offense.

Well this goes to show feelings are just that: ONLY feelings. Yellow foreigners are expected to follow the law the same as white foreigners. There are of course some differences due to.  ASEAN accords. But surely Passports, visas  TM30s, work restrictions etc all apply to all foreigners.