Why are westerners so offended over the word farang? Get over it.

[ThailandRyan]

3 hours ago, skorp13 said:

My 2 satangs worth. Many foreigners become very taken by Thai society and feel the need to be looked at as an equal that belongs just like other cultures in their homeland. Unfortunately for the most part that simply isn't the case especially on the bar front level. 

 

Either learn to accept on that level you're a stranger in a strange land and learn to reap some of the benefits and take some of the losses or.....catch a plane

There you have it the obligatory if you don't like it leave post...

[zzaa09]

What these savages need is a good civilising mission put upon them - indoctrinating these small folk into the graces of higher and developed civilised ways. ????

[Mingomania]

Always thought since being told that farang means 'big nose' or 'long nose'...

[Orinoco]

27 minutes ago, Mingomania said:

Always thought since being told that farang means 'big nose' or 'long nose'...

And blessed are the big noses. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V76mtNixdCE

[thanaka]

I don't mind the word but I don't think it makes a lot of sense whenever it's used. When Thais talk about tourists (in general), they almost always use the word farang. 

 

Though, what about Japanese, Chinese or African tourists? I'd prefer the word alien or foreigner. Pretty much anything that makes sense. Farang targets a very specific kind of foreigner (white, western). It's not a catch-all term. 

 

For instance, when talking about white European people farang absolutely makes sense. But when talking about entry rules for foreigners (in general), why say farang when what you really mean is foreigner?

 

It's probably easier to say farang for Thai people rather than foreigner, and most probably have never heard the term Alien, so I get it. I still get irritated sometimes when people use it wrongly. 

Edited April 25, 2022 by thanaka

[Neeranam]

4 hours ago, thanaka said:

It's probably easier to say farang for Thai people rather than foreigner, and most probably have never heard the term Alien, so I get it. I still get irritated sometimes when people use it wrongly.

I'd never heard of the term 'alien' to refer to a foreigner until I came to Thailand. 

 

There is a word in Thai for alien -  'dtang dao' 

 

'manoot dtang dao' is for an alien from outer space, which is strange as 'manoot' means 'human'

[JimTripper]

Waaaa! Noodle! Chop suey!

 

[ozimoron]

On 4/24/2022 at 2:15 PM, Neeranam said:

be careful with Gu also

As I understand it Gu refers to oneself, the problem word would be it's second person equivalent, Meung. I hear both words commonly used but only among close friends.

Edited April 25, 2022 by ozimoron

[KanchanaburiGuy]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

I'd never heard of the term 'alien' to refer to a foreigner until I came to Thailand. 

 

There is a word in Thai for alien -  'dtang dao' 

 

'manoot dtang dao' is for an alien from outer space, which is strange as 'manoot' means 'human'

The word "alien" appears in Article One of the United States Constitution, circa 1787.

 

You may not have come across it, but it's been in use for quite a long time. 

[Berkshire]

16 hours ago, thanaka said:

 

Though, what about Japanese, Chinese or African tourists? I'd prefer the word alien or foreigner. Pretty much anything that makes sense. Farang targets a very specific kind of foreigner (white, western). It's not a catch-all term. 

 

For instance, when talking about white European people farang absolutely makes sense. But when talking about entry rules for foreigners (in general), why say farang when what you really mean is foreigner?

 

It's probably easier to say farang for Thai people rather than foreigner, and most probably have never heard the term Alien, so I get it. I still get irritated sometimes when people use it wrongly. 

When referring to foreigners in general, the Thais will say "khon thang shat."  The loose translation is "people from other countries."

[transam]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

When referring to foreigners in general, the Thais will say "khon thang shat."  The loose translation is "people from other countries."

I wondered why Mrs.Trans used the word "shat" when looking at me...????

[zoltannyc]

50 minutes ago, transam said:

I wondered why Mrs.Trans used the word "shat" when looking at me...????

Actually it should be more like "chaat"  ชาวต่างชาติ.

[ozimoron]

55 minutes ago, zoltannyc said:

Actually it should be more like "chaat"  ชาวต่างชาติ.

more evidence why people should learn to read before trying to speak Thai if they want to พูดชัด "poot chut".

Edited April 26, 2022 by ozimoron

[Neeranam]

14 hours ago, KanchanaburiGuy said:

The word "alien" appears in Article One of the United States Constitution, circa 1787.

 

You may not have come across it, but it's been in use for quite a long time. 

Maybe, but it's never been in the Scottish Constitution. 

[Neeranam]

15 hours ago, ozimoron said:

As I understand it Gu refers to oneself, the problem word would be it's second person equivalent, Meung. I hear both words commonly used but only among close friends.

That's right. 

I read a book by Ajarn Buddadhassa Bhikkhu, the famous Thai monk. 

He uses 'goo' instead of I, as the use of I is not good gor getting rid of ego, self etc. 

 

[JimTripper]

4 hours ago, transam said:

I wondered why Mrs.Trans used the word "shat" when looking at me...????

It's another word for sit or squat.

[skorp13]

On 4/24/2022 at 5:09 PM, ThailandRyan said:

There you have it the obligatory if you don't like it leave post...

If you can't learn to live with it....then yeah. Why stay and constantly be offended and unhappy?

[JimTripper]

9 minutes ago, skorp13 said:

If you can't learn to live with it....then yeah. Why stay and constantly be offended and unhappy?

He's probably not offended and unhappy. Many people actually enjoy complaining about things ????‍♂️.

Edited April 26, 2022 by JimTripper

[ozz1]

Took my wife to Australia and first thing she said was there is a lot of farang here lol

[Rimmer]

A derogatory post has been removed

[Time Traveller]

On 4/22/2022 at 8:11 PM, Neeranam said:

Yes, they asked to see proof of citizenship. 

Well, I'll take your word for it.  But I lived in Australia for 30 years and have never seen any business ask for citizenship before determining the price of something, and I suspect it might not hold up in a court of law if someone tried to challenge it.   

However, if that place is actually a government owned institution, then yes they can impose higher fees for foreign nationals since a lots of social services are subsidized in Australia for their citizens 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Time Traveller

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, Time Traveller said:

Well, I'll take your word for it.  But I lived in Australia for 30 years and have never seen any business ask for citizenship before determining the price of something, and I suspect it might not hold up in a court of law if someone tried to challenge it.   

However, if that place is actually a government owned institution, then yes they can impose higher fees for foreign nationals since a lots of social services are subsidized in Australia for their citizens 

I meant that they asked your citizenship if you are from another state in Australia.

However, after asking my friend, he said he wasn't asked for this but just a letter from the golf club he was a  member of. 

Sorry, I am wrong and assumed he was asked to prove he was Australian.