Where do foreigners fit in the Thai hierarchy?

[OneMoreFarang]

2 hours ago, Flummoxed said:

a pretender (like most foreigners here)

Really?

Over the years I met a couple of those special forces guys and people who have great investment ideas. But all in all, few.

Maybe I go to the wrong places to meet all those pretenders. 

[Flummoxed]

Maybe. The alternative is that you're not seeing through it.

[MangoKorat]

15 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Its upto you how people perceive you and where they place you based on what you do or say, not necessarily on what you have, just like any other society. (mostly)

Totally agree.  Generally the respect you are shown, depends on the respect you both present and show others.  Granted, there are exceptions and a few will always regard you as dog dirt - isn't that the same in all countries?  I know there are people in my country that treat any and all foreigners very badly.

 

I have always been shown, respect, kindness and been made welcome.  However, on one night out with Thai friends we received a phone call from the friend of a friend telling us that drinks were taking place at someone's house.  When we arrived one person made it clear that he didn't like me before we'd even spoken.  My mates saw this and we didn't stay long. Nothing was said afterwards but I think my mates were more embarrased than anything else.  That was one guy on one occasion - I don't think you can form an opinion of an entire country based on that.

 

I have an Aussie mate in Thailand who is well known and loved by everyone locally. Thai's go to him for advice and he is very well respected by all.  He treats everyone with respect and always has time for them - you get out what you put in. However, as a foreigner anywhere, you may have to put a little extra in.

 

If I had to state where I had received the least respect then it would be with with officialdom - especially immigration. On two occasions Thai women just walked in front of me in a queue as if I wasn't there - something that's never happened before, anywhere.  However, its just twice in almost 22 years.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

If you start your conversations with Thai's as you did this one with the 'a little bit about me ' spiel - look at me I'm wealthy and have a lady in every port - I can see why they may find that you don't represent the best in westerners.  Are you shooting <deleted> in this post or do you legit care about this. If you care I wonder why that is. 

[newbee2022]

Nowhere 

[Homburg]

Foreigners fit in the Thai hierarchy just beneath cockroaches.

[shackleton]

As a guest here I don't expect Thais will be thinking of me fitting into Thai society 

As long as we respect each other that will do me 

Keep a smile of your face when you meet other Thai people it

works wonders 😊 

[soalbundy]

On 5/26/2024 at 8:57 AM, ChaiyaTH said:

Correct, even you would somehow obtain Thai nationality, you would still be the 'foreigner' if it comes to how Thais will deal with you.

That's no different to anywhere else, my father had an Egyptian business partner, a naturalized British citizen, he had been in the country for over 40 years and spoke English without an accent. He and my father were close friends. He was at our house for dinner one day and I was in the kitchen with my mother when we heard the two of them talking about business practices in different countries, they imported a lot, when the business partner said, 'we British........" my mother gave out a chuckle. She didn't consider him British although my family and his (wealthy) family had known each other socially for 10 years.

[Felton Jarvis]

Just below the Soi dog.

[soalbundy]

9 minutes ago, shackleton said:

As a guest here I don't expect Thais will be thinking of me fitting into Thai society 

As long as we respect each other that will do me 

Keep a smile of your face when you meet other Thai people it

works wonders 😊 

I can agree with that, I have been in our village in Isaan for almost 20 years, everybody knows me, I'm a fixture in the village, I'm regarded as 'one of them' as far as being a village member is concerned but not as a member of Thai society.

[koolkarl]

Muslims and chinese fit in perfectly according to the Thai government, anyone else gets thrown under a truck.

[ChrisKC]

The title suggests that ANY foreigners but in the text you want to know where you fit personally - a completely different matter!

 

I have heard that on the "hierarchy" "list"

 

I read a long time ago that briefly:

 

Royalty

 

All Monks

 

Senior Officers in the Military and Government

 

The Rich, high profile celebrities and Farang (particularly) of foreigners

 

A few more layers  I am not sure of.

 

 

 

 

[natway09]

You don't. Just enjoy life

[ChrisKC]

1 hour ago, shackleton said:

As a guest here I don't expect Thais will be thinking of me fitting into Thai society 

As long as we respect each other that will do me 

Keep a smile of your face when you meet other Thai people it

works wonders 😊 

If you live here you are a resident not a guest. Guests are casual visitors who come and go, like tourists for example!

[Thingamabob]

If you run the Thai branch of a top multi-national with heavy investments in Thailand you will move in high society, otherwise not.

[fittobethaied]

I have been living in Thailand for 14 years, and I gave up trying to figure all this out several years ago. Frankly, I don't care what they think of me or where and how I "fit in". I have no Thai friends outside my wife's immediate family, and that's the way I like it. I wouldn't give you a wooden nickel for the whole lot. 

I had a situation this morning that may shine some light on what the Thais think of us foreigners. I went to the government hospital this morning for an exotic blood test that has to be sent to a lab in Bangkok. The Thai price for the test is 5800 Baht, but since I am a "dirty scamming" farang, I had the privilege of having to pay double, or 11,600 Baht. I quizzed 3 separate employees to explain to me what the double pricing, and they all had been coached to parrot the same excuses:

1. The hospital lost 5 million Baht last year on farangs who skipped their payment to the hospital. .

2. Their charge is much less than the private hospitals. 

3. Their charge is much less than I would pay in my home country. 

[wwest5829]

Anticipating retirement, I did what I was educated to do and read some three dozen books about Thai history, society, culture in general and books just set in Thailand to gain a bit of “flavor”. One of the things I read was that in the Thai culture I might well be asked my age (age generally, is more respected in Asian culture), my occupation, my income, and education. Other things that would come into play was skin color (as darker skin was equated with working manual labor outdoors), and nationality. What was advised was not to get upset at this probing as Thais would be trying to ascertain where you fit in the “pecking order”. Reflecting on this before retiring, I was feeling rather secure … retired, so I would have some age, being an educator, holding an M.A. + additional study in six countries, Caucasian, and American (remember this was pre-Trumpism). I do point out that I am retired in Thailand, in large part, due to having worked as an educator on Kentucky so … not wealthy (I count myself able to have a sustainable monthly income at $2400 usd).

[Andrew65]

On 5/26/2024 at 3:01 AM, ChipButty said:

Below the soi dogs, 

Below the fleas on the soi dogs!☺️

[Acharn]

On 5/26/2024 at 8:39 AM, bob smith said:

what kind of truth is it?

 

are you saying that foreigners cannot naturalize and become Thais?

 

and let me guess, those foreigners aren't really thais, right?

 

bob.

Just so. They may become Thai citizens, but they will never be Thai. Maybe their kids will be.

[cardinalblue]

Any foreign resident or non Thai citizen voted in the last election?

 

 

 

 

[Sandboxer]

Right beneath the green/brown juice that comes out of a dog's butt when you express its anal glands.

 

But it's ok. My gf is 19 and hot.^^

Edited May 27 by Sandboxer

[fittobethaied]

NIce home with manicured lawn, nice car, always dress hiso, well-groomed, good hygiene, always smiling, helping people in the village (word gets around), then once all those boxes are checked, they dislike you because they are jealous. Can't win for losing around this place!

[SingAPorn]

No foreigner "fits in". No matter what some arrogant westerners try to convince themselves. Only our money fits in and after payment, it's "bye".

 

With that in mind and no further expectations or considerations, the sojourn in Thailand will go just fine. if not, one may be in for a vast array of inner frustrations.

[buriram39]

OK for me. Lived 14 years, all good.

[Paris333]

I cant figure out your inquiries “in general” about of how foreigners fit in the Thai social hierarchy.

You probably mean civilians of hierarchy because for official State we are all written at their “sensitive” point of their body. For civilians Thais I can’t see any differences since we all have   one head, two hands, two legs in connection and we inhale the same oxygen.

My point is Thai society is similar like many tourists places we have in Greece Athens -Santorini (I have lived in Santorini island for 4 years) or island Rhodes -Kos -Kriti etc

The people are very “friendly” if you are a nice woman or girl but if you want to get inside of their society then things are changed because they are very closed repulsive society like Thais although for Greeks marriage is a great almost secret institution.

You absolutely can’t break the “rules” as foreigner to get inside and it is general phenomenon you meet in USA because my first cousin have been Professor at Washington DC University since 2000 year but Americans native family cycles whisper to each other that he…..is foreigner and understand him from his voice pronunciation although he has been professor for many years furthermore he travels every year at European Universities in many countries to give lectures -presentations and teach them his subject of study.

The sadden point is that you also here that from black community Africa origin and Spaniards population or European citizens in USA.

You can realize it if they know you are “plenty money and sound investments” you are a “good boy” and if you are a middle-income foreigner or domestic people you are a “bad guy”.The average common usual phrases…..

Discrimination is everywhere don’t be confused because people are friendly ,smiling etc. its like a theater and they use diplomacy word when we say yes actually we mean no etc and if you want pay attention at my assumption that they behave friendly but don’t be confused they are not “your” friends.

They have to have their own social narrow cycles avoiding narrow relationships with foreigners and they may be are right at some points of their assumptions because unfortunately nowadays many crimes to locals are committed by foreigners not only in Thai community but also everywhere.  

In Greece many crimes are committed by illegal immigrants from ….half Africa  and rapes by Pakistanis –Indians -Bangladeshians and former east Russian countries -Ukrainians -Georgia etc.

If you say something against of illegal foreign migrants then all media are playing against you the same refrain from song : You speak Russia (???) and antisemitic (???).

Humorous situation a Greek proverb says that laugh the best those who laugh last!🙃

 

  

 

Edited May 27 by Paris333

[ChaiyaTH]

Always fun see these topics go on and on while it was answered and killed by me in the first page.

[DekDaeng]

Where do foreigners fit in the Thai hierarchy?

 

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[Luuk Chaai]

On 5/26/2024 at 8:36 AM, bob smith said:

what kind of truth is it?

 

are you saying that foreigners cannot naturalize and become Thais?

and let me guess, those foreigners aren't really thais, right?

bob.

That is an oversimplification, but ok if that is your view.

 

   "Short version

 

 

 

[newnative]

    In the Thai hierarchy, we slot in right above the Thai guy pushing the 4-wheel cart along the road collecting trash to recycle and we're directly below the Thai guy on the 3-wheel motorcycle selling whatever.

[thainet]

7 minutes ago, newnative said:

    In the Thai hierarchy, we slot in right above the Thai guy pushing the 4-wheel cart along the road collecting trash to recycle and we're directly below the Thai guy on the 3-wheel motorcycle selling whatever.

What a load of rubbish. Obviously you have no self esteem and so you expect to be treated like that. Sad.