Picture: Daily News

 

It is often said that Thais are not a very sarcastic people. They don't even do much irony.

 

Some foreigners even think they don't have a word for it; well they do - prachot!

 

A fine example of 'prachot' (something greatly favored by Brits in particular) was featured in a Daily News story about frustrated villagers in the village of Ban Klong Bai Phat in Korat in the north east of Thailand. 

 

For decades the villagers have had to put up with a dreadful potholed road that is a dust bowl resembling the surface of Mars in the dry season and almost impossible to traverse once it rains.

 

Motorcycle accidents are common and kids can barely get to school.

 

So much so that the villagers were now going down the sarcasm/ irony route with an online picture of a boy in a rowing boat facetiously fishing!

 

Maybe that will get the local authority to act.

 

It might. 

 

But, ASEAN NOW notes, such acts can also result in defamation suits in litigious Thailand where sarcasm can be...er....misunderstood.

 

Several years ago when one woman pretended to be bathing in a pothole she was threatened with prosecution before having to make a grovelling apology. 

 

Others who have "planted" bananatress in potholes have also risked incurring the wrath of the local authority who don't like their good name being besmirched. 

 

Or having it suggested that funds for road repairs might have "gone missing". 

 

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Can also be caused in rural areas by villages which vote the wrong way.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

a boy in a rowing boat

I wonder what he is trying to catch - Stonefish???????

 

A good symbol for the status of Thai roads allover the country. Money hasn't gone missing, just ask the mia nois.

Edited September 20, 20214 yr by Deli

He believes there are fish there.

Simple as that.

"It is often said that Thais are not a very sarcastic people. They don't even do much irony."

 

Thai people are super sarcastic, and hilarious at it. I generally only hear these "Thais-don't-get-sarcasm" comments from old farang who speak zero Thai, and are disappointed that the surrounding Thai people don't get their bad jokes.

 

Thai people are geniuses with satire and sarcasm. Anyone who hasn't figured this out yet needs to start hanging out with some different people. 

 

Quote

Who says the Thais don't do sarcasm!

The WHO should focus on Covid, as Thai sarcasm is less contagious.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

a boy in a rowing boat

I've been trying to find his little dad for decades. 

On a bad road near Lamphun villagers put soil in a 'deep' hole and planted a banana tree about four feet high.

 

The hole was filled in about three weeks later.