A foreigner has been praised for cutting a public patch of grass... with locals asking why can't Thais do that?

 

The volunteers used a trimmer to improve the appearance at the southern gate of Chumphon.

 

Comments on the Facebook post from locals praised the man, who was clearly struggling in the hot sun and not in the best of shape physically. There was a second foreign volunteer with him. 

 

There were lots of comments on the post, with locals wondering why no Thais had taken it upon themselves to cut the grass and keep things looking tidy. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chumphonnews/permalink/5179618455475945/?sfnsn=mo&ref=share

Probably because its the responsibiity of the Moo Baan (assumng its not owned).

Local Thais would know that.

 

Doubt the Pu Yai baan would be happy with the publicity, loss of face and all that.

5 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

locals asking why can't Thais do that?

I would say why did he do that. ????

I hope he doesn't get into trouble over his work permit.  Thailand requires a work permit just to volunteer.

 

No one praises me when I do stuff with grass.

 

26 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I hope he doesn't get into trouble over his work permit.  Thailand requires a work permit just to volunteer.

Love it when the ‘wannabe lawyers’ pipe up.... 

 

I’m waiting for the good old favourite.... ‘you can’t even paint your own house as you are taking the job away from a Thai’ !!!...  

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Love it when the ‘wannabe lawyers’ pipe up.... 

 

I’m waiting for the good old favourite.... ‘you can’t even paint your own house as you are taking the job away from a Thai’ !!!...  

I've been burned on this kind of philosophy too many times in my life.  The laws need to change.  They are pathetic and morally wrong.  There should never be a law against good work like this.

 

I was once forbidden to enter a country because I intended to help my grandparents, who were legal residents there, in restoring their home after a devastating house fire.  Because I was not there to help, my grandfather ended up doing it all himself--without proper materials or knowledge--and the building is unsafe to this day.  They didn't have the money to hire someone, so not having me there did nothing to provide someone a paid job.  And I was unable to keep God's law which commands me to "honor" my parents.  Helping one's parents to have a place to live is certainly a part of honoring them.

14 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I've been burned on this kind of philosophy too many times in my life.  The laws need to change.  They are pathetic and morally wrong.  There should never be a law against good work like this.

 

I was once forbidden to enter a country because I intended to help my grandparents, who were legal residents there, in restoring their home after a devastating house fire.  Because I was not there to help, my grandfather ended up doing it all himself--without proper materials or knowledge--and the building is unsafe to this day.  They didn't have the money to hire someone, so not having me there did nothing to provide someone a paid job.  And I was unable to keep God's law which commands me to "honor" my parents.  Helping one's parents to have a place to live is certainly a part of honoring them.

how did the Immigration know you were entering the country to help with the building?

 

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

how did the Immigration know you were entering the country to help with the building?

 

I was too honest.   I was bringing in the electrical materials for the house, and was happy to do so legally, declaring the goods and paying duty on them.  They started asking questions . . . .

 

I've always been honest.  Honesty gets punished sometimes.

33 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I've been burned on this kind of philosophy too many times in my life.  The laws need to change.  They are pathetic and morally wrong.  There should never be a law against good work like this.

 

I was once forbidden to enter a country because I intended to help my grandparents, who were legal residents there, in restoring their home after a devastating house fire.  Because I was not there to help, my grandfather ended up doing it all himself--without proper materials or knowledge--and the building is unsafe to this day.  They didn't have the money to hire someone, so not having me there did nothing to provide someone a paid job.  And I was unable to keep God's law which commands me to "honor" my parents.  Helping one's parents to have a place to live is certainly a part of honoring them.

and honouring ‘gods law' is relevant to cutting in the grass in Thailand, how ???? 

 

 

 

16 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

 

 

I've always been honest.  Honesty gets punished sometimes.

Dishonest people certainly take advantage of honest ones, when they can.

16 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I was too honest.   I was bringing in the electrical materials for the house, and was happy to do so legally, declaring the goods and paying duty on them.  They started asking questions . . . .

 

I've always been honest.  Honesty gets punished sometimes.

So you told immigration you were going to ‘a’ country (*you don’t say which) to do some building / renovation work, you had equipment with you... they prevented you from entering because you said you were there do work....

 

.. nothing to do with Thailand then... 

Just now, richard_smith237 said:

So you told immigration you were going to ‘a’ country (*you don’t say which) to do some building / renovation work, you had equipment with you... they prevented you from entering because you said you were there do work....

 

.. nothing to do with Thailand then... 

That is not correct.

 

I told them I had brought some dutiable goods and wished to pay the duty on them.  They told me to go into the customs department with the receipts.  They saw that the receipts were for house wiring, electrical receptacles, breakers, etc.  They knew I was visiting my grandparents--same family name.  But they began to press me--what is this for?  (their house) . . . are YOU going to help them?  What was I to say?  Of course, they were supposed to give that job to a local.

 

If I had known where to purchase the goods in that country and had not tried to bring them in, perhaps things would have been different.  No one would have been the wiser.  Now, I have a red flag on my permanent record, and any/every time I enter I am interrogated at the border.  Literally.  Grilled.  After which I usually am allowed in.  After all, I am visiting family.

Myself and a few other neighbourhood  Farangs  volunteered to paint the wall surrounding the village where we live,.. a Thai woman asked a member of our committee  why Farang are doing it,  and not Thai, she thought we were being paid,... when she was told  no payment was being made and  the committee said thais were too lazy   she left

1 hour ago, AsianAtHeart said:

I hope he doesn't get into trouble over his work permit.  Thailand requires a work permit just to volunteer.

50k Immi back hander or deportation threat . Publicity has saved him that potential though ????

10 minutes ago, AsianAtHeart said:

That is not correct.

 

I told them I had brought some dutiable goods and wished to pay the duty on them.  They told me to go into the customs department with the receipts.  They saw that the receipts were for house wiring, electrical receptacles, breakers, etc.  They knew I was visiting my grandparents--same family name.  But they began to press me--what is this for?  (their house) . . . are YOU going to help them?  What was I to say?  Of course, they were supposed to give that job to a local.

 

If I had known where to purchase the goods in that country and had not tried to bring them in, perhaps things would have been different.  No one would have been the wiser.  Now, I have a red flag on my permanent record, and any/every time I enter I am interrogated at the border.  Literally.  Grilled.  After which I usually am allowed in.  After all, I am visiting family.

Why keep the country secret ???

 

Sounds like extremely unfair treatment, and as you mention Thailand really is strict about people working here (i.e. helping out at their girlfriends bar etc)... 

 

... but really, much of the paranoia is just the myth of barstool experts.....   this guy is at no risk... he’s just cutting grass.

 

 

 

 

But  I can't see why he is doing this.. Rather weird, isn't?

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

Doubt the Pu Yai baan would be happy with the publicity, loss of face and all that.

They get paid x amount of baht every year to keep their bit of Thailand clean and tidy . 

But like ours who has just built himself a rather nice large house , bar and restaurant , in his first year of tenure .....Well , sometimes the money doesn't go where it is supposed to. 

There must have been some money spare this year , for the first time in 5 years we have had all the vegetation cleared out of the small river . 

 

24 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

But  I can't see why he is doing this.. Rather weird, isn't?

Possible reason - so he can see up the road a little better.

These junctions are a nightmare for edging out and you’re looking right into oncoming traffic and a motorcycle is riding the wrong way down the shoulder.... 

 

So.. he could be doing it simply for better visibility / safety at the junction to his area. 

 

Or, he just wants to give back. 

17 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

But  I can't see why he is doing this.. Rather weird, isn't?

Civic pride. Responsibility for your community. 
 

It’s not a thing in Thailand.

18 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Probably because its the responsibiity of the Moo Baan (assumng its not owned).

Local Thais would know that.

 

Doubt the Pu Yai baan would be happy with the publicity, loss of face and all that.

Ah, always someone else’s responsibility.

 

 

51 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Civic pride. Responsibility for your community. 
 

It’s not a thing in Thailand.

No it isnt, minding your own business is though, thats the Thai way..???? 

29 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

No it isnt, minding your own business is though, thats the Thai way..???? 

Congratulations, you're more Thai than me

19 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

 

No one praises me when I do stuff with grass.

 

They can't see you through the smoke.

18 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

But  I can't see why he is doing this.. Rather weird, isn't?

The man is wanting to help the local community that he lives in . How is that difficult to understand ?

I think you are the weird one .

49 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

No it isnt, minding your own business is though, thats the Thai way..???? 

In my opinion Thais have a problem to mind there own business . That has been my experience 

Biggest gossip mongerers I have come across after having lived in the UK , Australia and Norway before living in Thailand .

1 minute ago, itsari said:

In my opinion Thais have a problem to mind there own business . That has been my experience 

Biggest gossip mongerers I have come across after having lived in the UK , Australia and Norway before living in Thailand .

Gossiping isnt "doing"  thats what they wont do, wont interfere  or get involved its "not my business" in my experience.

9 minutes ago, itsari said:

The man is wanting to help the local community that he lives in . How is that difficult to understand ?

I think you are the weird one .

a) He isn't a member of this community, never will be.

b) When the Moo Baan organises collective work, once or twice a year, I remind my wife to give them a 500 note to contribute to the after hours drink. Which makes me a "good Farang", ultimate ambition.

6 minutes ago, Boomer6969 said:

a) He isn't a member of this community, never will be.

b) When the Moo Baan organises collective work, once or twice a year, I remind my wife to give them a 500 note to contribute to the after hours drink. Which makes me a "good Farang", ultimate ambition.

Donating time is far more worth than giving money .

13 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Gossiping isnt "doing"  thats what they wont do, wont interfere  or get involved its "not my business" in my experience.

Gossip is done with out your presence yet doing much harm to you . Therefore if a person who involves in gossip they are getting involved .