Racism

[singking]

I have been following Thaivisa for several years before moving to Thailand. I found it very informative, particularly from some of the more knowledgeable members.
However, I noticed a disproportionate amount of anti-Asian rhetoric. Admittedly it was obvious a large portion of these individuals were, well, basically inept at international matters.

Can some members explain to me why so many members hate Thailand and Asia so much?
I read constant complaints about it being too hot, women are all prostitutes, the foods low class etc. It seems to be these same types of individuals immediately jump on board ALL anti-China rhetoric at the drop of a hat?
Apart from me making the assumption that they could all possibly be weak-willed, apathetic excuses of males (you know the little finger analogy), that they came to these shores to revisit their colonial ancestry of rape, pillage and plunder, only to be found out as, well, children.

[bwpage3]

Do you think every single person that has ever moved to Thailand has had a positive experience?

 

Do your assumptions matter?

Edited July 20, 2020 by bwpage3

[SteveK]

The average age on here is fairly high, so there's a bit more grumpiness, naturally. Many ex-pats have quite valid reasons to be disillusioned with Thailand, in particular, as a result of people in uniforms trying to make their life as difficult as they can. Some people might be sick of the weather, pollution, the food, expensive healthcare, the women always wanting money etc, depends on your experiences I guess. 

 

I get hacked off with some of the annoyances here, but on balance it's still much more preferable to being in the UK.

[lee b]

I for one love Thailand, and you have to remember this is a forum, people add what they think. If it has annoyed you so much, why has it taken you several years to voice your opinion of it????

Edited July 20, 2020 by lee b

[lee b]

And I do agree with you on some level, there are a few moaning gits lol

[worgeordie]

19 minutes ago, singking said:

ALL anti-China rhetoric at the drop of a hat?

Well deserved, look at the mess they have gotten us into, add to that how

they treat their citizens.

regards worgeordie

[lkv]

2 minutes ago, lee b said:

And I do agree with you on some level, there are a few moaning gits lol

There's plenty to moan about, unfortunately, when it comes to Thailand, and many are not light issues either.

[jasperno]

The dual pricing struck me as absolutely reeking of racism (or at least xenophobia / corruption). Whatever it is, it left a bad taste i struggled to get past.

[lee b]

Just now, jasperno said:

The dual pricing struck me as absolutely reeking of racism (or at least xenophobia / corruption). Whatever it is, it left a bad taste i struggled to get past.

Very fair point.

[1FinickyOne]

when you marry someone 20+ years younger, give them money and then 20 years later figure out that the $ is the great attraction... some people get angry and feel cheated... 

 

hard to imagine why they feel so deceived, but oft they do...

[OneMoreFarang]

Many people put labels on groups of people all over the world. It might be the skin color, the religion, the nationality, politics, and and and.

 

Personally I think there are for sure lots of differences between Thais and people from the rest of the world. Sometimes it's only a question of taste, i.e. spicy food or not so spicy food. Sometimes it's about behavior and what people are supposed to do. Thais, and I guess Asians, have this thing about Face. They react in many situations different then "we". It can be annoying but I am sure for them that's the way to do it, how they learned it from their parents and how others (their friends) do it. It's different.

And then there are issues like stupid and crazy driving. I think in general we can say that Thai drivers are worse than average drivers i.e. in Europe. And it's annoying. And I am sure they drive the way they do because that is what they learned - or not learned. Here is no decent driving school, no decent test and no decent law enforcement. It's no wonder that many drive like idiots. And when I see stupid drivers like that I might think: Stupid Thais or Stupid Thai drivers. And that may sound racist. But I don't think it is.

And these are obviously just a few examples. People get upset about visa politics, law enforcement, high ranking people who get away with anything, etc. 

 

Personally I don't think it's too bad with racism here. There are obviously some racist but that is normal all over the world. The most racism which I am aware of are some farangs who think they are somehow better than Thais, Muslims, black people, etc. I try to stay away from them.

 

I experienced extreme seldom real racism from Thais against foreigners.

[YetAnother]

anyone who has lived here for any significant length of time as well as multiple other countries can list the issues with thailand and thai people; the thais can't list one legitimate, solid reason for their xenophobia and racism against us; thus , over time , we respect them not at all

[OneMoreFarang]

16 minutes ago, lkv said:

There's plenty to moan about, unfortunately, when it comes to Thailand, and many are not light issues either.

There is plenty to moan about all over the world.

The question is do we moan all day about it or do we accept how it is and make the best out of it.

I.e. I was in immigration in the last days. It's one of those things which has to be done once a year or sometimes more often. Accept it, do it, done. Moaning does not make it go away.

[bwpage3]

There are many older folks who have the trials and tribulations of living in Thailand for years and experiencing all the changes. Anyone that was in Thailand in the 1980's can tell you it has all been downhill.

 

Lots of the seniors worked their whole lives, have pensions, social security and money to be able able to survive in their golden years. For them it isn't so bad. For others trying to meek by on 30,000 baht, it may be a totally different story.

 

There are also lots of younger people, that see Thailand in a more positive light, because they are living for today and now, for what Thailand has to offer. They have no idea what life with be like 60+ when they finally figure out they don't have a pension, social security or any other income to survive as Thailand becomes more expensive. 

 

There are also those hopeless romantics, sold up and moved to Thailand, still being in love with romance, only to be cleaned out in a divorce.

 

There are false expectations Thailand needs expats. Many are finally catching on.

 

There is lost hope when we see issues like air pollution, floods, droughts, that the government can never manage a solution for.

 

For some, living well below the standards they use to, now live in a one room flat with a fan.

 

Others came with lot of money and pension and can emulate a western lifestyle with a modern house and new cars.

 

The girls, the weather, etc. only goes so far. Sooner or later everyone gets old, really old. Then money is what matters and many don't have enough.

 

The Ant and the Grasshopper story comes to mind.

 

Sooner or later, old age sets in and folks realize they didn't do what they were suppose to do, to plan to have enough to retire and pay their medical bills.

 

When you look at the big picture, it is a mixed bag of everything.

 

Some folks did it right financially, others still living for today with no plan for retirement at all.

 

In the end, it all comes down to money. 

 

Grumpy folks are probably struggling more than others

 

Some waited until retirement and came here with flush, without any financial concerns for the future.

 

To a young person that thinks living in Thailand in the greatest thing?

 

Sooner or later we all wise up, however, for many, it is to late.

 

This is not your home country.

 

Thai's have their own cultures, faults, quirks, likes and dislikes.

 

You can accept them learning to live as a guest, because that is really all you can ever do.

 

It is their country, their laws, their rules.

 

If you want to live in Thailand, that is what you have to be prepared to accept.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2020 by bwpage3

[singking]

23 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Well deserved, look at the mess they have gotten us into, add to that how

they treat their citizens.

regards worgeordie

Ah yes nothing like blatant exceptionalism to verify accuracy 

[OneMoreFarang]

5 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

Anyone that was in Thailand in the 1980's can tell you it has all been downhill.

No, that is in many ways incorrect.

Obviously Thailand changed a lot over the last 40 years. And obviously everything is more expensive than a long time ago. But that is the case in probably every country in this world.

 

[Pilotman]

An American friend of mine put it very well and very succinctly. In his view, most of the problems you read about on TVF are because  you read the posts on TVF.  Don't read any posts here and you will be a happier person.  He's probably spot on.  TVF is great for the passing on of useful information for an expat living here, on law, changes to immigration, health issues, travel etc etc, but as a forum for the intelligent and knowledgeable debate of various general views, haha, no chance of a reasoned debate on anything.   Out come the trolls, the stupid, the uneducated, the bigoted. the thickos, If that is all you read of expats in Thailand and the life they lead, you will get a very distorted view of them and life here.   TVF is not the whole Thailand expat community, far from it. It's a fringe and like all fringes, it contains a lot of extremes. 

[Shot]

Lots of coffin dodgers in here, more worried about their blue pill script running out, or where their 30 something younger bride is spending their money. “Where are my knee high black socks, and where are my teeth?” Plus, you have the crowd that thinks hooking a bar girl is somehow reflective on their manhood, they can’t seem to remember its just another hooker. 

Edited July 20, 2020 by Shot

[singking]

22 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

anyone who has lived here for any significant length of time as well as multiple other countries can list the issues with thailand and thai people; the thais can't list one legitimate, solid reason for their xenophobia and racism against us; thus , over time , we respect them not at all

One has to ask why stay here?

[bwpage3]

3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

No, that is in many ways incorrect.

Obviously Thailand changed a lot over the last 40 years. And obviously everything is more expensive than a long time ago. But that is the case in probably every country in this world.

 

Sorry that is correct.

 

Whenever a third world is corrupted by money and materialism, it is in fact all downhill.

 

We are talking about Thailand, not every other country in the world.

 

There was a time where Thai's revered Buddhism and did mostly the right things. Now they have monks at famous temples swirling their hands in the water picking out winning lottery numbers.

 

From my first time in 1983 the thought of the most wonderful place on earth stuck in my mind.

 

By the time I moved to Thailand full-time in 2003, it was nothing like it was.

 

Going back 12/2019 it was the worst I had ever seen. Pollution in Bangkok was horrid.

 

Costs are expected to increase year over year. 

 

However, when people abandon their religion and core values for money and the latest I-Phone, yes thing morally have gone down hill.

 

Sure it can be said for all countries.

 

However, the advance of technology, the internet and social media, western advertising, greed, etc. it  has all gone downhill. Thai people worship money. There are tons of horror stories Thai people doing in their own family members to take their land and money. Greed and corruption.

 

The new montra is your are nothing without money. Money buys power, the power to make more money.

 

More billionaires and millionaires in politics than normal class people. Power controls the corruption to make even more money.

 

Have you ever witnessed one of Thailand's billionaire politicians's coming up with ONE beneficial program for the people of Thailand? Never.

 

As Thailand pushes itself into more deals with China to develop corrupt billion dollar project like rails and ports, pollution will grow, over-crowding, you name it and Thailand will go down hill even more.

 

Isaan is probably the only place in Thailand not effected by all this. They are still mostly poor to this day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EVENKEEL]

Just another empty troll thread. So unimaginative.

[shy coconut]

52 minutes ago, jasperno said:

The dual pricing struck me as absolutely reeking of racism (or at least xenophobia / corruption). Whatever it is, it left a bad taste i struggled to get past.

It isn't racist or xenophobic.

 

Look up the definition of those two words you used and you

will see that they don't apply to dual pricing.

 

It is certainly subsidising Thai nationals at the expense of foreigners,

I haven't researched the issue much, but I understand that Ankor Wat

charges a hefty entrance fee which I doubt that the average Cambodian

could afford, so maybe it's a South East Asian thing.

 

It (dual pricing) doesn't bother me too much, just the way it is, when I visit 

these places it seems to embarrass the Thai people I go with more than offend me.

 

[twocatsmac]

 

21 minutes ago, singking said:

One has to ask why stay here?

One also might ask why your Original Post has more hatred and venom than I’ve witnessed on thaivisa in 15 years of being a member here.

 

In fact your post stereotypes anyone with colonial ancestry, accusations of rape and pillage etc.

 

Maybe you are just a very nasty, bitter person. 

 

 

[kingofthemountain]

41 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

An American friend of mine put it very well and very succinctly. In his view, most of the problems you read about on TVF are because  you read the posts on TVF.  Don't read any posts here and you will be a happier person.  He's probably spot on.  TVF is great for the passing on of useful information for an expat living here, on law, changes to immigration, health issues, travel etc etc, but as a forum for the intelligent and knowledgeable debate of various general views, haha, no chance of a reasoned debate on anything.   Out come the trolls, the stupid, the uneducated, the bigoted. the thickos, If that is all you read of expats in Thailand and the life they lead, you will get a very distorted view of them and life here.   TVF is not the whole Thailand expat community, far from it. It's a fringe and like all fringes, it contains a lot of extremes. 

You are a little bit harsh on this one

i find the TV forum discussions on differents topics rather interesting

the interactions between the members are usualy courteous and

informatives, of course still few rares exceptions as everywhere else

[ravip]

Most (as usual, not all) who come to settle down in Thailand are already down, out and frustrated in their home country. Then, after settling down in Thailand they think they are a cut above the natives. If he has extra money to spend, he expects the locals to bow down and venerate them. If he does not have much money to throw around, he feels the locals are robbing him, as they seem to live a better life than him. Also, many feel that the Thai Treasury is filled by them too.

 

Then the difference in culture, is something some foreigners will NEVER understand or get used to. The 'FACE' thing the Thais are been accused of, is a big farce, where the accusers themselves generally suffer from that attribute in a chronic manner - if you read the thread "Over 90% of Thai people want a total ban on foreign arrivals" - this point is very obvious.

 

All the frustrations and 'attitudes' are thrown unashamedly in public via a keyboard, hidden behind a screen here at TVF. Only a handful of members here give valuable, true, unbiased and brilliant advice here, but there are many 'groups' who together, bash anything and everything Thai.

 

One should look beyond TVF to get a true picture of Thailand!

 

[bert bloggs]

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

when you marry someone 20+ years younger, give them money and then 20 years later figure out that the $ is the great attraction... some people get angry and feel cheated... 

 

hard to imagine why they feel so deceived, but oft they do...

My wife is 22 yrs younger than me ,been married 21 yrs ,together 2 yrs before that ,she was and has been in business here and when we lived in the Uk ,we have a son ,when she worked she contributed to the household , so it wasnt just the money she was after ,we still have a great relationship ,laugh and joke ,moan ocassionally,  not all Thai women are just looking for a money tree. i think some actually marry for love ,just like most women.

[darksidedog]

To put things into perspective, you need to remember the old adage that "complacency breeds contempt."

When you come to a new country everything is shiny and wonderful, albeit with a couple of problems.

In time the shine can wear off and the problems mount, to the extent that animosity to the unfamiliar grows.

Unnecessary exaggeration on news stories which lightly echo those sentiments add fuel to the fire.

I am as emotional about some issues as all of you, and will have no hesitation in calling a foul when I believe I see one.

I appreciate Thailand for what it is, warts and all. If it wasn't better than what I came from I would have left already.

Sure, I will let off steam on what I perceive as wrong. Such criticism is at the end of the day one hopes, designed to ring a bell in someones head to improve things for the good of all. It doesn't mean I think the place is lost beyond salvation, or a cesspit.

I believe TVF is a good forum, which is pretty well and fairly moderated and where a balanced view provides quality insight into what is the reality at the coal face. Even there you find the rough with the smooth.

Some are optimistic, some are disillusioned. Ain't that true everywhere?

[Dumbastheycome]

From my experiences it is not so easy to  define racism when describing it as the   "reactivity" of a  minority. Follows as is my opinion.

There are  variables  of  the negativity expressed..

Some of it is  based on the recognition that "integration" is generally an impossibility  by a caucasion or  identifiably non Thai simply due to that appearance in the  overall society. In an alternative situation is it deniable that in a predominantly  caucasion society that the  simplistic observation of a non  caucasion invokes an automatic recognition/identification of (presumed)  racial origin? is  that  racism? In one sense it could be so  but only because of "learned" adopted preconceptions based  more on  cultural differences  than actual  race and sadly  a learned negative  rejection of it. A curious incapacity for those many who choose to reside  in Thailand yet probably never considers what a Thai experiences in the wider  community in their opposite  cultural society.

That leads on to those who have  come and  gone  having been disillusioned by their experiences most often due to the naivety of assumed superiority which  either  quickly or  eventually  burnt them to the  bone yet they feel the need  to  use  this  forum to  vent their accusative, abusive denials  of personal  failure from afar.

Some continue to  reside  in Thailand  and express same  bitterness because  they have  burnt their bridges and can not to go anywhere else.

Saddest is those who feature as amongst the  above but perpetuate the self perception of  superiority in near all aspects of all things Thai.

I can only guess  that the  majority of those  that peruse the content of this forum but resist comment have either a more balanced perspective  of Thailand  and the people of it or have enough  self control to  resist the temptation  to  categorize themselves  by way of inflicting opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CNXexpat]

Americans/Australians/Germans/Chinese/Japanese/Italians... think they are the best people in the world and all others are idiots. Nothing new. And with the internet many bored people have the possibility to shout their views on others in the world. 

[metisdead]

Some inflammatory posts and off topic posts have been removed.