Thai culture that are different from western culture

[EricTh]

I thought it is better to warn all westerners who are newbies in Thailand. 

 

1. Do not cross Zebra crossing when there is a car coming, they won't stop for you. Wait for cars to pass first before crossing.

 

2. Do not disrespect the Buddha statues or the temples by wearing indecent clothing such as shorts or revealing dresses.

 

3. Don't write graffiti on public property. It will land you in trouble with the police.

 

4. Thailand is not the land of 'smiles' as painted in western media. The immigration and government can be quite strict and rude. Don't raise your voice with them like you do in western countries.

 

5. Don't point your feet at someone or touch someone's head.

 

Others can add to this list based on their experience.

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by EricTh

[bwpage3]

Curious why you feel the sudden urge to warn everyone?

[Puchaiyank]

You forgot...don't breathe the air...don't go into the water...don't trust a ladyboy...don't wear any exposed gold or jewelry...don't involve the police and take gifts of money to expedite government red tape...????

[mauGR1]

Don't puke in a taxi, unless you are Rambo, of course.

[Zikomat]

5 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

You forgot...don't breathe the air...don't go into the water...don't trust a ladyboy...don't wear any exposed gold or jewelry...don't involve the police and take gifts of money to expedite government red tape...????

You are the one who always trusted ladyboys. And now we have what we have. We have you.

[samsensam]

 

i think being disrespectful to religion/religious places is pretty applicable to almost every culture

 

and not raising you voice to immigration would be pretty standard common sense practice around the world

[EricTh]

17 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

i think being disrespectful to religion/religious places is pretty applicable to almost every culture

 

 

Really? Then what are all these guys wearing?

 

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by EricTh

[OneMoreFarang]

Don't think you are smarter than all those uneducated people, including that lovely lady which you met.

You might be smarter in mathematics and know more about the world. But that does not mean you have everything under control and you know what will happen. You don't!

[Bruce Aussie Chiang Mai]

Don't pixx your wife off

????❤????????

[tropo]

3 hours ago, EricTh said:

3. Don't write graffiti on public property. It will land you in trouble with the police.

 

4. Thailand is not the land of 'smiles' as painted in western media. The immigration and government can be quite strict and rude. Don't raise your voice with them like you do in western countries.

 

3. I would have thought writing graffiti on public property is a crime in all Western countries.

 

4. Do you raise your voice at Immigration and other government officials in your home country? I don't.

[fruitman]

2 hours ago, EricTh said:

 

Really? Then what are all these guys wearing?

 

 

You better tell them to not climb the stairs to big buddha on the mountain...it's not impressive at all and very hot.

 

But if there's nothing else to do around (like in Phuket) this is your best day trip....or going on a dangerous boat to the islands.

[fruitman]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Don't think you are smarter than all those uneducated people, including that lovely lady which you met.

You might be smarter in mathematics and know more about the world. But that does not mean you have everything under control and you know what will happen. You don't!

So...how many people can call you daddy now?

[EricTh]

1 hour ago, tropo said:

 

 

4. Do you raise your voice at Immigration and other government officials in your home country? I don't.

But some do.

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by EricTh

[PatOngo]

Don't ever admit you are wrong, always blame someone else.

[PatOngo]

Lying to save face is quite acceptable. Face is more important than the truth.

[PatOngo]

Bahtism is the religion and Lord Baht the master.

[FolkGuitar]

Never play leapfrog with a unicorn in Thailand.

[pgrahmm]

Just figure everything "we"

(as outsiders applying "our" rigid, very important norms/notions/traditions to "their" culture - which "we" have chosen to live in)

is going to be about 180 degrees off.....

Whether it's a wai instead of a hand shake, not pointing a finger/opposed to extending a hand, or eating with an open mouth = things are different here.....

It's very much a friendly and pleasant culture here that's existed before some of our countries were formed....

..It's nice to see, in many ways, a country that preserves their traditions......

[Nyezhov]

7 hours ago, EricTh said:

But some do.

 

Then they come here to complain they werent let in or had to sit in the bad boy room for two days. Waaah. They were mean to me so I told them off. OK, heres your bed foreigner (points to a spot on the floor)

 

Hey your list is cool, but it illustrates to me the basic problem of life. Some folks werent raised right. What kind of idiot yells at an IO or a cop...in a foreign country no less? Or dangles his balls out his shorts in a temple? 

 

Personally I have always been treated here with respect and politeness. Maybe because I act friendly, humble and polite. When the cops tell me "no" (and I have been given directions to do this or do that several times by those real scary and tough looking PoPos, you know, the ones that only come out when a certain high person is about to appear and are like all 6'3"  tall and totally strack with extra badges and polishing) I smilingly and cheerfully follow their directions instead of starting a ruckus. LIke the time one told me "you need sit" and after I smiled and said OK and started to lower myself down, he stopped me, barked an order, and some Yellow Shirt ran up with a mat for me to sit my fat ass on and cleared a space for me amid the throngs of Thais who all smiled at me as one handed me a  little flag.

 

Yeah, all these Thai people clearly run around with chips on their shoulders just hating their western betters and looking for a way to screw them. That must be it.  And all the horrible rules! *insert eye roll*

 

 

 

 

[Nyezhov]

5 hours ago, PatOngo said:

Bahtism is the religion and Lord Baht the master.

Actually its the Allmighty Dollar, Lord Baht is like Demigod Euro

[VillageIdiot]

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Actually its the Allmighty Dollar, Lord Baht is like Demigod Euro

For sure it's the Almighty Dollar, and it has been since the end of WWII.

But why let reality get in the way of a little snide Thai-bashing?

[DannyCarlton]

12 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Don't think you are smarter than all those uneducated people, including that lovely lady which you met.

You might be smarter in mathematics and know more about the world. But that does not mean you have everything under control and you know what will happen. You don't!

No need to worry about me. I have everything under control.

[cerox]

Great video.

Someone understands how to save money. Why buying the clothes, the washing powder etc. when you can just run around in underwear 555

[EricTh]

5 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

Then they come here to complain they werent let in or had to sit in the bad boy room for two days. Waaah. They were mean to me so I told them off. OK, heres your bed foreigner (points to a spot on the floor)

 

 

Some westerners might lose their cool when they encounter strict immigration officials. Please click on the link below for an incident.

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by EricTh

[SiSePuede419]

Don't use your feet to point at anything or even to move a plastic stool.

 

In general, Thai culture is same same but different.

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by SiSePuede419

[ChrisKC]

15 hours ago, tropo said:

3. I would have thought writing graffiti on public property is a crime in all Western countries.

 

4. Do you raise your voice at Immigration and other government officials in your home country? I don't.

Do you have to go to Immigration in your own country?  i don't!

[30la]

18 hours ago, EricTh said:

4. Thailand is not the land of 'smiles' as painted in western media. The immigration and government can be quite strict and rude. Don't raise your voice with them like you do in western countries.

I totally agree!
6. don't try to explain something to a low-educated Thai, first, he doesn't listen to you and finally makes you understand that he already knows everything!

[ballpoint]

38 minutes ago, ChrisKC said:

Do you have to go to Immigration in your own country?  i don't!

I stand in front of immigration in my own country every time I return to it and leave again.  How do you do it?

[Lacessit]

Many Westerners don't understand when an Asian does not tell them the truth, they do not regard it as lying. They are telling the person what they think they want to hear. If one was brought up in a culture that used to behead people who brought bad news, the behavior would become more understandable.

 

I agree with the dumpster diver. If I don't make waves, my boat won't get swamped. Has worked for me for the past ten years here.

[RichardColeman]

18 hours ago, samsensam said:

i think being disrespectful to religion/religious places is pretty applicable to almost every culture

Rubbish - just mad islamic ones and tin pot African and Asian ones. other countries its called humour.

 

Imagine if Python had done Life of Mohammed