Do foreigners living in Thailand tend to respect Thailand?

[dan42]

In the time I have been using this forum I have seen many users laughing at Thailand, their processes, government, some behaviours, credibility... It's been kind of shocking because I assume many of those live there so I wonder why the hell would they live in a place they have such little respect for...

 

So, is this a real pattern? Do you think this is common? Maybe more among some specific groups of foreigners living in Thailand? 

[Whale]

9 minutes ago, dan42 said:

I have seen many users laughing at Thailand, their processes, government, some behaviours, credibility...

I think we laugh and sneer out of incredulity. And the Thai system and media keep feeding our hates.

 

P.S. I am leaving if I can ever liquidate my assets.

[NCC1701A]

14 minutes ago, dan42 said:

So, is this a real pattern?

i love Thailand. but when you almost get killed everyday on the highways it is hard to keep your mouth shut here in cyberspace where most people come to vent.  

[wprime]

The ones who do well in Thai society tend to. Thailand is a great place to live if you have power (connections/wealth/education/looks), even as a foreigner.

 

If you don't have power, it's still a great place to live but you need to have the humility to accept your place in society and I just don't think most foreigners are willing to do that.

[mikebike]

Asean Now/Thai Visa tends to be an echo chamber of the discontented. The majority, those that do not have the burning desire to vent, just aren't here.

[spidermike007]

I love the Thai people, and love my life here. Granted, this failed government has diminished that quality of life. But, I am confident they will be ousted quite soon. 

 

I have alot of respect and affection for most Thai people who I consider lovely souls. I actually find the difference between the way we perceive the universe, and the way the average Thai (and my wife!) does, to be amusing, and an endless source of fascination.

 

But, over the years I have made some observations, and I often share them with people who are visiting Thailand for the first time. Kind of a primer of sorts. Like do not expect to be visiting a foreign country. Thailand is NOT a foreign country. It is a distant planet! Less of these generalizations seem to apply to the youth here, who are increasingly more dynamic, smarter, infinitely more open minded and curious, and less conservative, than their elders. They are Thailand's hope for the future, and the only way this nation will move forward, in my opinion. They will prevail over the dreadful and brain dead dinosaurs. 

 

I think when many of us are being critical, it is in regard to the toxic, heinous, and failed leadership here. Their incredible disregard for public and traffic safety, and their total refusal to fight corruption, work on improving life for the common man, stopping the pathological desire to steal, and feather their own nests. And now with Covid, what can one say? They are the real problem. Not the people. The so called leaders. 

 

Sure, we like to joke about the people. The differences are amazing. And this is one of the few forums we have for venting, so you are going to see alot of that. But, generally it is said mostly in jest. At least for me. 

 

 

[wprime]

10 minutes ago, mikebike said:

Asean Now/Thai Visa tends to be an echo chamber of the discontented. The majority, those that do not have the burning desire to vent, just aren't here.

You'll find that to be true of most of the internet. It's not because most members are discontented, but because the discontented ones are the loudest.

 

This is especially noticeable now because people are not getting chances to meet ordinary people so they start to get the impression that everyone is this jaded - even Thais are feeling like this.

[Kwasaki]

43 minutes ago, dan42 said:

So is this a real pattern? Do you think this is common? 

I find it weird you find it strange, it's normal human behavior for many people there's always gonna be a luv / hate relationship at sometime whereever you live. 

 

My wife didn't like England that didn't mean she wouldn't respect it, Franky I hated England that's why I live here. 

[robblok]

I vented also when I lived in my home country on Dutch forums. So i doubt it only means people dont like Thailand. But your right some of the comments are over the top others are spot on. But I would make the same comments in my home country maybe specify the group a bit more then "Dutch"  when many use "Thais"  here most comments are not meant to be that general.

 

 

[robblok]

8 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

I find it weird you find it strange, it's normal human behavior for many people there's always gonna be a luv / hate relationship at sometime whereever you live. 

 

My wife didn't like England that didn't mean she wouldn't respect it, Franky I hated England that's why I live here. 

I don't think having issues means you hate it somewhere. I mean if you call out the government on their covid vaccination. Do you not respect Thailand then or do you address a valid issue.

 

Its different if you call all Thai females hookers that would be disrespectful. I see some guys do that at times. 

 

So i think it depends on the comments.

[jayboy]

35 minutes ago, wprime said:

The ones who do well in Thai society tend to. Thailand is a great place to live if you have power (connections/wealth/education/looks), even as a foreigner.

 

If you don't have power, it's still a great place to live but you need to have the humility to accept your place in society and I just don't think most foreigners are willing to do that.

It's a bit general but I think you are correct in  your analysis.I would add one other point that often baffles foreigners.Why are some foreigners liked and respected but others not so much?

 

Forty years ago almost all farang carried cachet.Now Thais  are more discriminating. Thais (other than those associated with the entertainment industry who play by different rules) place a lot of importance when judging foreigners by placing or attempting to place them in context.Thus an Ambassador will always have high prestige.But so will a young academic working with a well known university.So will a family man with wife and (preferably) blonde and blue-eyed kids.I'm talking about the educated middle class.Humbler Thais are more openhearted.

 

Charm and good manners and a certain easy style (think Hugh Grant or Tom Hiddleston) will take you a long way.Thais pay attention to external appearances.Though many believe the opposite if you are a charmless loser in your own country, Thais will pick up on your weaknesses.The only difference is that they are adept in disguising their contempt.

[ikke1959]

The Government is biggest problem. Thai people in general are ok although they have some strange habits, but you can live with that

[spidermike007]

Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues.

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Many of us need someplace to vent. So, a forum like this is the perfect spot. Some of us try to do it in a civil manner (in regard to my fellow ex-pats, certainly not the government, which deserves no respect), and try to keep the emotion out of it. Some simply reveal their juvenile nature with comments that are not well thought out!


 

[tlandtday]

1 minute ago, spidermike007 said:

Nearly every time I see someone complaining, or observing a shortfall within Thailand, some lame guy, who has not taken the time to think things through, nor to devote any focus or effort to a reasonable reply, says something like "Perhaps Thailand is not for you", or maybe you should leave, or the top prize, "if you do not like it here, go back to your own country". Hard to even respond to such inane statements. Why? Because I have some issues with the place? Sorry to inform you, but the nature of a discerning mind, is to have issues.

Though absolute contentment must be a beautiful state of mind, it is not something most of us are blessed with, in case you have not noticed. The fact that I complain, does not mean I do not love Thailand, nor most of it's people. I do. I love my life here. I have a very good life here. But, I do have some complaints, and there are some things I would love to see improved. I should leave because of that? Many of us need someplace to vent. So, a forum like this is the perfect spot. Some of us try to do it in a civil manner (in regard to my fellow ex-pats, certainly not the government, which deserves no respect), and try to keep the emotion out of it. Some simply reveal their juvenile nature with comments that are not well thought out!


 

Unfortunately for many ignorance is bliss.  It is far easier to not think about things then to accept an uncertain reality and as Mark Twain explained it is always easier to be conned than to admit to being conned.

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, dan42 said:

Do you think this is common?

It's the weather.

[Kwasaki]

45 minutes ago, robblok said:

I don't think having issues means you hate it somewhere. I mean if you call out the government on their covid vaccination. Do you not respect Thailand then or do you address a valid issue.

 

Its different if you call all Thai females hookers that would be disrespectful. I see some guys do that at times. 

 

So i think it depends on the comments.

We don't agree often on things ???? but concur with your post. 

 

Sorry to hear of the loses in Belgium I hope you were not affect by such a terrible tragedy. 

[robblok]

9 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

We don't agree often on things ???? but concur with your post. 

 

Sorry to hear of the loses in Belgium I hope you were not affect by such a terrible tragedy. 

Not as much as I am from the Netherlands ????

 

But it was bad in Belgium pure disaster luckily in the Netherlands we had already in the past made more room for water (removing houses not letting houses be build in flood plains). Stuff like that so the Netherlands came out relatively ok.

[Dmaxdan]

Respect has to be earned.

I have a huge amount of respect for the Thai people I mix with regularly simply because they have always been hugely respectful towards me.

I also have the utmost respect for Thai culture, although I don't necessarily agree with all their beliefs.

 

However, because of the way that non Thai nationals have been treated with regards to the vaccine rollout it is difficult to respect the powers that be here.

They have made it very clear that they don't respect us as people and in their eyes, our lives are worthless. 

And that hurts...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, dan42 said:

In the time I have been using this forum I have seen many users laughing at Thailand, their processes, government, some behaviours, credibility... It's been kind of shocking because I assume many of those live there so I wonder why the hell would they live in a place they have such little respect for...

Joke aside, can I just say that if we didn't have this forum to vent and, interact with differences of opinions, I think Thailand would be very boring.

 

It's a perfect place to let it out, laughing or mocking the government is part and parcel of being able to live in a democratic society, albeit it Thailand has it's boundaries so you have to be careful.

 

It has nothing to do with respect, generally speaking you show respect to Thai's as you would any other person in any country, however, respect comes from teachings and education, I will leave that there.

 

I came here in 2015 and personally I have seen a big shift since the days of 2006 when I used to frequent Thailand twice a year for 2-3 months at a time and it didn't take much to understand that since this the military coup and subsequent swearing in of the "democratically elected government", general coming in as PM, the Land of Smiles has certainly not shown it's pearly whites since, and this was pre-Covid so we can't blame that on Covid, although in my opinion this government has once again shown it's complete failure in looking after it's citizens, we won't go into the corruption side of things because we always knew how things worked here.

 

Still a great place to live, even better when they will be gone, so we wait in patience for the change to see those pearly whites come back, and Covid at a reasonably controllable level, because that won't be going anytime soon unfortunately, it will added as another annual virus requiring a jab.

 

[bkk6060]

For many the situation seems to have brought out the worst of the government causing much frustration thus this is probably is not the best time for positive comments/attitudes on this forum.  But, I will respect/follow the rules and restrictions they are asking us to comply too.

Otherwise, I don't think about it just try to treat people as I would want to be treated seems to work OK most places in the world.

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

It's a bit general but I think you are correct in  your analysis.I would add one other point that often baffles foreigners.Why are some foreigners liked and respected but others not so much?

 

Forty years ago almost all farang carried cachet.Now Thais  are more discriminating. Thais (other than those associated with the entertainment industry who play by different rules) place a lot of importance when judging foreigners by placing or attempting to place them in context.Thus an Ambassador will always have high prestige.But so will a young academic working with a well known university.So will a family man with wife and (preferably) blonde and blue-eyed kids.I'm talking about the educated middle class.Humbler Thais are more openhearted.

 

Charm and good manners and a certain easy style (think Hugh Grant or Tom Hiddleston) will take you a long way.Thais pay attention to external appearances.Though many believe the opposite if you are a charmless loser in your own country, Thais will pick up on your weaknesses.The only difference is that they are adept in disguising their contempt.

Alot of truth in what you are saying. Also, Thais tend to be quite intuitive. They pick up on things. I find a warm open smile, a wave, and even eye contact with a nod makes a huge difference. Of course kindness, respect and charm do to, even if you do not speak much Thai.  

[GinBoy2]

I think most people respect the people and the culture.

 

But of course folks can whine and moan about some of the absurdities of the place, that's not being disrespectful, that's just being honest.

 

On this forum read some of the bile directed at the United States, plenty by folks who have never even set foot on US soil!

 

So don't overthink this, a lot of the negative things you read are just the normal gripes about giving in a country which can be beautiful, charming, frustrating and downright annoying all at the same time.

[Sparktrader]

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

The Government is biggest problem. Thai people in general are ok although they have some strange habits, but you can live with that

Samw everywhere bad govts

[Sparktrader]

Billions wasted on rubbish

Yet many homeless

Govts in general are terrible!

 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

I'm ashamed that Pattaya Taco Bell guy has represented America. Why he's still here, I have no idea.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

12 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Billions wasted on rubbish

Yet many homeless

Govts in general are terrible!

 

California seems to have concerned itself with genders, pronouns, and bathrooms, while the streets fill with homeless encampments, as few can afford $2000+ USD rent. They then become drug addicts and thieves, ransacking stores and increasing muggings, as the police have been deprioritized.

 

I lean to the left, and believe people should be respected no matter their identity. But there are obvious priorities which they've now apparently become blind to. A place to live, and a decent wage.

 

While it certainly feels good for some to do, and scores them brownie points, I've never seen political correctness/SJW/"woke" do a thing about the real issues, since its inception in the early 90's.

[Sparktrader]

5 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

California seems to have concerned itself with genders, pronouns, and bathrooms, while the streets fill with homeless encampments, as few can afford $2000+ USD rent. They then become drug addicts and thieves, ransacking stores and increasing muggings, as the police have been deprioritized.

 

I lean to the left, and believe people should be respected no matter their identity. But there are obvious priorities which they've now apparently become blind to. A place to live, and a decent wage.

 

While it certainly feels good for some to do, and scores them brownie points, I've never seen political correctness/SJW/"woke" do a thing about the real issues, since its inception in the early 90's.

Woke people are fake. Same with climate change nutters.

 

10% of the world is in extreme poverty yet they rattle on about carbon dioxide nonsense or offensive words. Inner city latte drinkers.

[Sparktrader]

Why doesnt Al Gore and Greta Thumberg build homes for homeless???????

 

Too busy flying to tell people co2 is bad.

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Clearly most expats do not have much subject “respect”.

But the Good far outweighs the Bad. That is why we stay.

Separate the Good & Bad. They cannot be “ reconciled”. Don’t Ever Try.....

 

Respect, for me, is my inward private thoughts on something or someone.

Courtesy is being outwardly polite, also considered “respectful”, when dealing daily with an unrespected but highly enjoyable setting.

 

Difficult & Unnecessary for rational, enlightened, fair, educated, democratic westerners to inwardly respect any polar opposite non-western society......

Easy or Easier to always extend daily Courtesy, when living in such place,with many benefits not found at home, providing such expat lifestyle is maximally separated from prevailing society, governance & life.

Examples:

Never Discuss Country Politics in Public or with Strangers / Natives.

Good Fair Native Builder here ( Rare) should be Respected.

 

In short, Respect: Rarely; Courtesy : Always.

 

[dan42]

Thanks all for answering. I totally understand your points around venting, using the forum to complain about the daily frustrations and the culture gap, even more under the current situation... But with Thailand I always feel that the criticism goes beyond that point. In multiple ocassions it enters in a different territory. It's not complaning or criticizing, it's mocking, laughing, making fun of, not taking seriously, looking over the soulder even... I felt this in the past reading some famous spaniards living in Thailand, I feel it here and I've felt it while visiting Thailand. It's perhaps related to the fact that many "experts" on the country have had a large exposure to nightlife, gogobars and that stuff. I don't know, but there's something different about Thailand in this regard. You don't see this mindset on inmigrants in Angola, Colombia, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Mexico or Vietnam. Obviously, I am not saying that every inmigrant here has this mindset but it looks pretty common.