It's always been this way since the 70s I expect, but I think there are a couple of dynamics at play. #1 Many of the immigrants now are society rejects. Maybe it was always that way, but I think todays rejects are different. Maybe not big drinkers like the past, but smokers and coming for the THC. They're not only poor, but have poor prospects and big attitudes. Big Bad attitudes have never gone over well here, but now the immigrants have a I deserve X and no matter what I'm right attitude and that just doesn't work in Thailand. Combine that with the heavy economic pressures for many Thais and it just makes it worse. I don't feel the resentment, but just something different. They want iphones, and Gucci and Channel just like many people around the world, but working their way thru debt and low prospect jobs that puts them further and further behind. Combine the two and it creates tension....and I expect some explosions and deportations over the next 2-3 years. I can feel it.
