Why is there such a disdain of foreigners

[Bangkok Barry]

Someone in another thread asked why Thailand has such a disdain of foreigners, currently relating to the hoops we have to go through with something like the demands made upon those who are trapped in Thailand. That thread was closed while I was composing the following, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let it go to waste, so.....

 

It's actually quite simple. Those who only stay for a couple weeks go back home with their rose-tinted glasses still on - most of the time. Those who spent an extended time in the country begin to discover what a f***** up place it is, and don't mind saying so on social media, forums etc. And the people in government don't like that at all, because Thais have been brainwashed from birth to believe that Thailand is the best place on Earth and that Thais are the master race. Then foreigners arrive and rock the boat.

 

The locals have been browbeaten into just accepting the official corruption and having to deal with mountains of paperwork whenever they want to do anything. It's tiresome, but all they know. Foreigners know of better ways and don't mind pointing out the foolishness of those in uniforms. The flexible attitude to the current situation has been dealt with sensibly in Malaysia and the Philippines, according to posts above, but in some dark corner of Government House is a Minister of Complications, whose sole job it is to make life as difficult as possible, for Thais as well as foreigners. It makes them feel important to have that power over others.

There might be another reason too for their paranoia over foreigners. I've been watching a series of Michael Portillo travelling through Asia by train - the pitiful trains in Thailand compared to other countries is another story. With the British controlling Burma, Malaya and Singapore, and the French running Laos and Vietnam, Thailand was afraid of also being 'taken over', and maybe that distrust of foreigners continues to this day at government level. Just imagine though, if the British had come into Thailand. The country might have a decent education system, a good rail service, proper rule of law. Colonialism certainly had its faults, but it had plenty of benefits too. The countries where the Brits were are light years ahead of 'free' Thailand. Okay, Burma has slipped back - since the military took over. Now, see any similarity there with Thailand?

Edited April 2, 2020 by Bangkok Barry

[4MyEgo]

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil, trust us, farangs are dirty because we know and say so !

 

My wife has never seen Thailand so clearer since she lived with me abroad for 9 years, she hates it !!!

Edited April 2, 2020 by 4MyEgo

[mike787]

This is like debating for change "Why we have to die"?  It is what it is.  Can't change a leopard's spots.  Accept it, be nice, enjoy thailand. 

[KhunFred]

When you lack intelligence and the rule of law, the obvious path of least resistance is to blame non-Thais. This basic concept works well for people like Donald Trump, who demonizes the hardest working people in America. (Mexicans) In like manner, the Thais are past masters of scapegoating farang. The hatred for advanced legal systems and enlightened economic practice is an integral part of Thai thinking. 

[EVENKEEL]

Speak for yourself, I'm loved and adored wherever I go.

[tonray]

23 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Just imagine though, if the British had come into Thailand.

Yes...I can imagine them leaving it like India and parts of Africa, pillaged for her resources and left with some neat old colonial buildings for postcards

[GalaxyMan]

It seems to be a pretty prevalent attitude in Asia in general. They all think that they're the best, that anyone and everyone else is lower on the scale, an inflated superiority complex which is really just a cover for their basic insecurity about themselves. Thank you, Dr. Freud! ????

[chickenslegs]

11 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Speak for yourself, I'm loved and adored wherever I go.

Reminds me of the Oscar Wilde quote: 

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.

[bkk6060]

From Wikipedia:

 

Later, in the 19th century, Britain became, along with France, one of the two major colonial powers exerting pressure on Siam, when it colonised Burma and Malaya to Siam's west and south. During this period, Britain gained significant concessions from Siam through various treaties, including the Burney Treaty in 1826 and the Bowring Treaty in 1855, which remained in effect until after the first World War. Britain directly and indirectly had a massive amount of influence on Siam's modernisation during the late 19th early to early 20th

 

Seems like the Brits had their chance.

 

29 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

if the British had come into Thailand. The country might have a decent education system, a good rail service, proper rule of law. Colonialism certainly had its faults, but it had plenty of benefits too.

 

Edited April 2, 2020 by bkk6060

[wotsdermatter]

I had a Thai girl-friend who spoke very good English and one day during a conversation I told her that Thais wanted all of the 21st Century technology but had trouble working it with their 16th Century brains and the associated level of intelligence.  She refused to talk to me for a week.  Then I had to go to Hong Kong and took her along.  The day before we had to return to Thailand, she sheepishly told me that she finally understood what I meant by my remark.

'nuf sed

[Cake Monster]

16 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Speak for yourself, I'm loved and adored wherever I go.

Until you close your Wallet and walk away.

[WineOh]

34 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Those who spent an extended time in the country begin to discover what a f***** up place it is, and don't mind saying so on social media, forums etc. And the people in government don't like that at all, because Thais have been brainwashed from birth to believe that Thailand is the best place on Earth and that Thais are the master race. Then foreigners arrive and rock the boat.

WOW.

Can I buy you a pint Mate?

[gearbox]

15 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Speak for yourself, I'm loved and adored wherever I go.

Would you mind sharing your secrets? I'm encountering difficulties with making the Indians to adore me now. In fact it seems to get worse by the day, help please!

[Boomer6969]

29 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

My wife has never seen Thailand so clearer since she lived with me abroad for 9 years, she hates it !!!

Isn't this the main reason why they hate us at the highest, even unspeakable of, levels of this authoritarian regime?

We give their underlings a glimpse of what a true modern democracy would be.. Them referring constantly to national security when it comes to immigration matters just proves that they see every single one of us as an "agent provocateur".

Now, when it comes to the general population I'd say that the disdain of Farangs exists, but in a  proportion that remains to be determined. Sadly the common Thais are gullible and they tend to believe the unsubtle BS fed by their masters.

[Grumpy John]

I never have any problems with the Thai's....but it would be nice if they bothered to learn their official second language....English!  When I  want something and Wifey is absent a pic on the phone usually does the trick.  In the 12 years I have been here,  nearly 11 years f/t plus some 2 & 3 month stints previously I have had the odd snarky comment but nothing about being a foreigner.  Was called an ugly buffalo by a shopgirl as I was standing outside a shop in Bobae waiting for Wifey.  I guess she didn't find my farts as entertaining as I.  And I don't go on a YouTube video slagging off and whining like that d1ck posted here yesterday.  It took me 3 years to stop yelling at idiots on motorbikes but I did even though they are as crazy as Indian riders.  You just have to learn to chill......   

[1FinickyOne]

7 minutes ago, gearbox said:

Would you mind sharing your secrets? I'm encountering difficulties with making the Indians to adore me now. In fact it seems to get worse by the day, help please!

Go into a tailor shop and get fitted for a suit... you will be adored for the 15 minutes it takes... 

[gearbox]

34 minutes ago, tonray said:

Yes...I can imagine them leaving it like India and parts of Africa, pillaged for her resources and left with some neat old colonial buildings for postcards

India and Myanmar, not the poster children of colonialism. Especially India - 3 hundred years of colonial rule and not enough toilets?

 

From my observations in SE Asia the bigger the percentage of the ethnic Chinese in a country is, the more developed they are. The Chinese give precedence to business, not to emotions. Sure corrupted they are, but are also hard workers valuing education and taking most of the time long term view.

Edited April 2, 2020 by gearbox

[wotsdermatter]

2 hours ago, GalaxyMan said:

They all think that they're the best, that anyone and everyone else is lower on the scale, an inflated superiority complex

There is no such thing you mention, an inflated superiority complex.  A superiority complex is defined as an inflated sense of being better than others and a prime example of such is a person having the feeling of self-importance to always talk about how they can do everything better than others.  The best way to deal with such people is to not pick a verbal fight with them because you will lose.  Instead aim for short, sharp responses that will make them think hard about what they are doing (and give them time to do this).  In the end, if they cannot move from their self imposed position of superiority and insist on taking more than they give, then go elsewhere.  If they are friends, dump them.  The same goes for never arguing with an idiot, a person on the lowest level of any IQ scale.  Such a person will beat you down and win by experience.

 

Clinical Psychologist, retired.

[ezzra]

Anyone who will come into your home/domain and make you see how inferior and backward they way you go about everything, you too will not have a lot of love and admiration for such person...

[WineOh]

1 minute ago, kenk24 said:

Go into a tailor shop and get fitted for a suit... you will be adored for the 15 minutes it takes... 

complete with the dodgy red carpet on the floor ????

[wotsdermatter]

10 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

My wife has never seen Thailand so clearer since she lived with me abroad for 9 years, she hates it !!!

Was that because she finally got away from ALL forms of pollution that invades Thailand?

'nuf sed.

Edited April 2, 2020 by wotsdermatter

[NanLaew]

51 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

It's actually quite simple. Those who only stay for a couple weeks go back home with their rose-tinted glasses still on - most of the time. Those who spent an extended time in the country begin to discover what a f***** up place it is, and don't mind saying so on social media, forums etc. And the people in government don't like that at all, because Thais have been brainwashed from birth to believe that Thailand is the best place on Earth and that Thais are the master race. Then foreigners arrive and rock the boat.

 

The locals have been browbeaten into just accepting the official corruption and having to deal with mountains of paperwork whenever they want to do anything. It's tiresome, but all they know. Foreigners know of better ways and don't mind pointing out the foolishness of those in uniforms. The flexible attitude to the current situation has been dealt with sensibly in Malaysia and the Philippines, according to posts above, but in some dark corner of Government House is a Minister of Complications, whose sole job it is to make life as difficult as possible, for Thais as well as foreigners. It makes them feel important to have that power over others.

There might be another reason too for their paranoia over foreigners. I've been watching a series of Michael Portillo travelling through Asia by train - the pitiful trains in Thailand compared to other countries is another story. With the British controlling Burma, Malaya and Singapore, and the French running Laos and Vietnam, Thailand was afraid of also being 'taken over', and maybe that distrust of foreigners continues to this day at government level. Just imagine though, if the British had come into Thailand. The country might have a decent education system, a good rail service, proper rule of law. Colonialism certainly had its faults, but it had plenty of benefits too. The countries where the Brits were are light years ahead of 'free' Thailand. Okay, Burma has slipped back - since the military took over. Now, see any similarity there with Thailand?

Today's farang lue-mahk post of the day award goes to...

[Deserted]

I never see disdain. They leave us alone or respect us I find. Are you hanging out in places with dubious reputations?

[WineOh]

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Today's farang lue-mahk post of the day award goes to...

yeah, he nailed it pretty much on the head didn't he?

nice one la.

[NanLaew]

27 minutes ago, wotsdermatter said:

I had a Thai girl-friend who spoke very good English and one day during a conversation I told her that Thais wanted all of the 21st Century technology but had trouble working it with their 16th Century brains and the associated level of intelligence.  She refused to talk to me for a week.  Then I had to go to Hong Kong and took her along.  The day before we had to return to Thailand, she sheepishly told me that she finally understood what I meant by my remark.

'nuf sed

This is a thread about the enduring power of British colonialism and absolutely nothing to do with how a farang deals with the Thai notion of 'face'.

Edited April 2, 2020 by NanLaew

[WineOh]

4 minutes ago, Deserted said:

I never see disdain. They leave us alone or respect us I find.

respect???

now you're having a laff there right lad?

 

[Bangkok Barry]

4 minutes ago, Deserted said:

I never see disdain. They leave us alone or respect us I find. Are you hanging out in places with dubious reputations?

I thought I made it clear that I was writing about those in government. If you don't feel their disdain then good for you.

[darrendsd]

Another they all hate us thread ????

 

If you look for a problem you will find it

[Isaan Alan]

Thailand is a hierarchical society and deference is given to everyone above you in the hierarchy. Farangs come along and don;t play by their rules. Because we are much more individualistic free thinking and find class system abhorrent (especially Aussies do) we don't fit in. It is no accident that nearly all government workers wear those brown uniforms. It's to show their status and to receive respect and deference. Then we come and (try) to tell them a better way and that upsets their worldview, which is really only a Thailand view because so few have travelled.

A comparison to another Asian nation,  China is interesting. I have had a lot of experience in China. They can be nationalistic but they also much more open to new ideas, curious and at very least wanting to take the best from the west and "chinafy" it. Sorry but, in general, Thais are passive, inert, laissez-faire and fatalistic so there is no need for change or curiosity. All that leads to leads to a relaxed life but also to little progress. China has produced great writers (Mo Yan won the Nobel Prize), great filmmakers (Ang Lee, Yhang Yimao) and artists but has Thailand ever had a Nobel prize nominee let alone winner?  Maybe they have but  not a winner. Kinda an also ran in general. Sadly they think by taking the best from the west like China, Japan and Korea they will lose their Thainess. Cultural cringe in play. The hope is in the younger generation however the old and powerful conspired to kill a forward future politically and it a metaphor for a more general condition.

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Someone in another thread asked why Thailand has such a disdain of foreigners,

"We wonder same. We take many more shower since Thailand. What is problem?" 

Edited April 2, 2020 by NCC1701A