I see it everywhere I go. nobody is smiling. Nobody seems happy. attitudes of the locals must be at an all time low and its understandable why.

Corruption, pollution, rising prices, lack of opportunity/career growth, no decent healthcare, crippling household debt, being led by a dictator turned politician...

I mean, what have the thais got to be happy about really??

and now the recent findings that Thailand is the 60th happiest country in the world. 60th!!

how can they claim to be the land of smiles when their official happiness rating is just above that of Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan?

 

Seems to me the land of smiles slogan is just another lie thais tell themselves to make them feel better about their predicament. 

 

you can tell yourself something fantastical till the cows come home but sadly it doesn't make it so! 

 

Did anyone ever really think it was more than a marketing slogan?

I smile a lot in Thailand and find most of the time I get a smile in return.

Try India or Nepal.

Just now, Don Chance said:

Try India or Nepal.

what for?

1 minute ago, bob smith said:

what for?

Smiles.  They believe that the guest is god.  They also speak englsih.

India has also done well with covid and their economy has rebounded.

6 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

I smile a lot in Thailand and find most of the time I get a smile in return.

Same. I just had relatives over from the UK and they commented on how friendly and smiley everyone was.

Give it out and you'll always get it back in Thailand - they are generally warm, friendly, and smiley. I don't see what the OP sees so it may have something to do with the attitude he projects. And seeing as how his post was rammed full of complaints about the country (and people - they believe something "fantastical" when they know they are not friendly / smiley) I am willing to bet I am right.

I find you receive what you project ...

... nuff said

I stand at the end of our drive with the dog, smiling at passersby.....(I'm not mental).........and the Thais all return a big smile and a nod or a wave....... except boys/men 18ish to 30ish....they pointedly look away.

Maybe where you live. 

 

Everything much the same in our village here for 20 years some people smile and laugh some don't, depends on what they are doing.

Many improvements in our village. 

Large market with reasonable priced food.

Cheap MA & PA shops. 

Mostly all roads in good condition. 

We have a Big C 6 kilo away. 

A Global house 5 kilo away. 

A Makro 14 kilo away. 

Many poor people get help from the govt with money every month, free rice, 5/15 electric free. Etc. 

Everything getting back to pretty much pre covid, getting more busy. 

Prices haven't gone up by big amount, fuel has come down. 

Veg and fruit still cheap. 

Other foods up and down in price as usual. 

 

Nice weather. ????????????????????

 

Totally disagree. Though, they do have alot to be concerned about at this time, I still find them cheerful.

 

Sometimes, what we see is a reflection of ourselves. I find alot of Thais to be super kind, sweet and gracious, when I show them warmth, and a sincere smile. Compared to back in the US, most people here are delightful. I don't get that warmth, nor many smiles in the US. Rarely. 

 

Then there is the babe factor. I can be eating in a restaurant here, and flirting mercilessly with a gorgeous, young waitress. They are fun, cheerful and laughing. Assuming you are bring some humor and some game. In the US, they are usually cheerless and difficult if they are young and cute. Yikes. No thanks. 

I'm in the deep south.

The only place I ever lived in TH.

Smiles are rare.

If you do smile first, they will reciprocate.

The only outwardly friendly ppl here are kids.. some of them. ????

34 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Seems to me the land of smiles slogan is just another lie thais tell themselves to make them feel better about their predicament. 

Thai and their smiles. It's not about showing that they're happy etc. It's deeper than that.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=13+ways+thai+smile&rlz=1C1CHBF_enTH1042TH1042&oq=13+ways+thai+smile&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160j33i22i29i30.9088j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:93b8fd9d,vid:f6Q5Jtp1Bzc

" see it everywhere I go. nobody is smiling.'

Looking at my experiences and the ones of the previous posters, it must be you.

Healthcare for Thai's is good.  

"lack of opportunity/career growth" depends who you and where you are.

"the 60th happiest country in the world" that poll has not much value to me as Finland is number 1 while there suicide rate is pretty high.

 

I always admire the Thai ability to keep smiling despite adversity . We have a lady who works for us , still laughing and joking with the gf , even after a full day in the baking heat ( 39 degrees here ) .

Sometimes I watch Thai Rat News Show where the police re-enact a crime with the culprit , both parties seem cheerful , despite the crim facing a long stretch behind bars .

Last week on the Muay Thai channel ( 27 ) there was a match between a huge , mean looking Farang and a Thai fighter who seemed happy and smiling . The Farang guy only lasted a couple of rounds before before retiring with a smashed face . 

So , the Thai smile , can be so deceptive ...

16 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

except boys/men 18ish to 30ish....they pointedly look away

perhaps if you put on some pants ...

38 minutes ago, bob smith said:

orruption, pollution, rising prices, lack of opportunity/career growth, no decent healthcare, crippling household debt, being led by a dictator turned politician.

Gee Bob, sounds like you dont like it here and are really struggling.

I am sure you will get a big smile at the airport when you leave.

Good luck in the future mate, hope you find happiness in your new country.

6 minutes ago, VinnieK said:

I'm in the deep south.

The only place I ever lived in TH.

Smiles are rare.

If you do smile first, they will reciprocate.

The only outwardly friendly ppl here are kids.. some of them. ????

Agree with that one. Thai Muslim villages are not smiley like other places. 

Probably even moreso right now. No food or drink during the hot days. Probably very thirsty. Plus waking up at 4am to eat doesnt put them in a particulary cheerful mood.

23 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

the Thais all return a big smile and a nod or a wave....... except boys/men 18ish to 30ish....they pointedly look away.

Well standing out the front 0f your house smiling at all the young fellas they probably assume you are gay and dont want to give you any encouragement.

1 minute ago, Goat said:

Agree with that one. Thai Muslim villages are not smiley like other places. 

Probably even moreso right now. No food or drink during the hot days. Probably very thirsty. Plus waking up at 4am to eat doesnt put them in a particulary cheerful mood.

I live in a Buddhist area.

Yes..Muslims are not that friendly either.

Btw....this (lack of friendliness) has been going on for a long time

Nothing to do with the current events, with the exception of Covid.

It effed things up a notch.

10 minutes ago, Goat said:

Gee Bob, sounds like you dont like it here and are really struggling.

what makes you say that?? I love it here!

I never smile at anyone these days, not even the Mrs unless ordered to for the endless selfies. Thais are not as foreigner friendly as they used to be, unless drunk of course. I do smile and interact with the kiddies though, that always makes the adults smile. 

1 minute ago, proton said:

Thais are not as foreigner friendly as they used to be, unless drunk of course.

i have also noticed this.

when drunk they are usually pretty friendly but before that first beer they are as cold as chirstmas.

 

so thats how low we have sunk in their eyes, they actually need a drink to to even tolerate us! ???? 

land of vertical smiles. 

Siam land of smiles by Christy, there is a version somewhere of her singing it in a TV studio and most of the Thais in the audience are in tears, Pumpuang sang this, but not sure if it pre dates her.

 

 

 

I've not really noticed a difference in Hat Yai, Southerners tend to be more straight forward, and more gruff than other parts of Thailand, but that's always been the case, they're just not that smiley down here. But I've always found them friendly, they smile if you smile. I'm in a mixed, Buddhist and Muslim community, I find them both equally friendly. 

Yes, it starts at the airport with the disgusting treatment of arrivals.  If you're not being followed around you are being screamed at by immigration staff.  I've had my passport literally thrown at me more than one time.  Heaven forbid if you ask the staff for help.  They will scream at you and go back to chatting with their friends.  One of the worst airports I have passed through.  Certainly not a land of smiles,

20 minutes ago, Goat said:

they probably assume you are gay

You wish

Just now, markclover said:

Yes, it's starts at the airport with the disgusting treatment of arrivals.  If you're not being followed around you are being screamed at by immigration staff.  I've had my passport literally thrown at me more than one time.  Heaven forbid if you ask the staff for help.  They will scream at you and go back to chatting with their friends.  One of the worst airports I have passed though.

Mrs was shocked at the friendly reception in NZ and Japan at the pleasant attitude of immigration officers, wanted to know why they were like that. ????

4 minutes ago, markclover said:

Yes, it starts at the airport with the disgusting treatment of arrivals.  If you're not being followed around you are being screamed at by immigration staff.  I've had my passport literally thrown at me more than one time.  Heaven forbid if you ask the staff for help.  They will scream at you and go back to chatting with their friends.  One of the worst airports I have passed through.  Certainly not a land of smiles,

Weird, never been screamed at at the airport in 27 years. Never had my passport throw at me either.

Post Covid I have found the IOs to be genuinely friendly. Pre-Covid never found them unfriendly, just doing their job.

Not sure what you are doing to get screamed at.