I'll be completely honest, the vast majority of Thais I see out and about these days are still wearing masks, so it's practically impossible to see if they are smiling or not. And the ones that aren't wearing masks don't seem to be smiling much. Even eye contact these days is difficult to come by. 

 

Is Thailand still deserving of its famous slogan 'The Land Of Smiles' in 2024?

 

Bob. 

 

 

The masks on the girls are brilliant.....with those asian eyes everyone one of them looks stunning.

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

The masks on the girls are brilliant.....with those asian eyes everyone one of them looks stunning.

I agree. 

 

But can't tell if they are smiling or not.. 

 

Bob. 

6 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Even eye contact these days is difficult to come by. 

 

   They might feel uncomfortable if you walk around staring at young females 

Just now, bob smith said:

I agree. 

 

But can't tell if they are smiling or not.. 

 

Bob. 

 

   Its just stupid people who walk around smiling for no apparent  reason 

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   They might feel uncomfortable if you walk around staring at young females 

There's nothing wrong with looking. 

 

Bob. 

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Its just stupid people who walk around smiling for no apparent  reason 

Why is Thailand called the Land of smiles then? That's what the slogan suggests.. 

 

Bob. 

LOS hasn't been smiling since this century started, IMO. My GF had a wonderful smile last century, but come 2000 it vanished.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

LOS hasn't been smiling since this century started, IMO. My GF had a wonderful smile last century, but come 2000 it vanished.

Why do you think that is? 

 

Bob. 

Just now, bob smith said:

Why is Thailand called the Land of smiles then? That's what the slogan suggests.. 

 

Bob. 

History, history. That's how it used to be, long ago. Now it's just a publicity slogan.

Just now, bob smith said:

Why do you think that is? 

 

Bob. 

Same reason as people stopped smiling everywhere. The world we live in is <deleted> and it's not going to get any better. My generation had it at it's best in the late 50s and early 60s,till Vietnam ruined it all, and it's gone, IMO for good.

IMO we are doomed, but most don't want to admit it.

3 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Why is Thailand called the Land of smiles then? That's what the slogan suggests.. 

 

Bob. 

 

  That is a slogan from 60 years ago .

When Thais smile it can mean anything .

5 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Why do you think that is? 

 

Bob. 

 

  She met him ?

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

  That is a slogan from 60 years ago .

Time for a new slogan, then?

 

any suggestions?

 

bob.

Just now, bob smith said:

Time for a new slogan, then?

 

any suggestions?

 

bob.

Land of scams. Can still use LOS to save typing.

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Land of scams. Can still use LOS to save typing.

not bad and actually nearer the truth!

 

bob.

After being here for decades as a tourist and now living here more or less the last 7 - 8 years, it is more about you. When they see new tourists they can smell them on a mile distance,and new naive tourists means fresh money., 

 

If I am happy, walking in a mall or marked in Isaan people smile to me, but if Im busy with me and mine, not many smile. 

 

If you want to feel special and explore the land of smile, Pattaya is a better place, flash your money thats all it takes. Especially soi 6 is a happy place some told me. Quality tourist destinatin and genuin in every way

16 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Why is Thailand called the Land of smiles then?

For no other reason than Thais smile in many ways. Pure and simple.

 

There are at least 13 different smiles that a Thai person may use, each one having a very specific meaning. Yim thang nam taa: The “I'm so happy I'm crying” smile. Yim thak thaai: The “polite” smile for someone you barely know. Yim cheun chom: The “I admire you” or “I'm proud of you” smile.

 

 

17 minutes ago, bob smith said:

Why do you think that is? 

 

Bob. 

 

   I recall when I went to Singapore in the 90'sand people were stoic and serious and the going to Thailand and everyone was laughing and joking and messing about .

   Singaporeans were educated and prosperous and Thais were uneducated and poor .

   Now that Thais are like Singaporeans from 30 years ago, educated and prosperous .

5 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

For no other reason than Thais smile in many ways. Pure and simple.

 

There are at least 13 different smiles that a Thai person may use, each one having a very specific meaning. Yim thang nam taa: The “I'm so happy I'm crying” smile. Yim thak thaai: The “polite” smile for someone you barely know. Yim cheun chom: The “I admire you” or “I'm proud of you” smile.

 

 

...do they have a smile to denote they dislike someone?

 

asking for a friend.

 

bob.

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

educated and prosperous

you think so?

 

bob.

8 minutes ago, bob smith said:

you think so?

 

bob.

 

   Compared to 30 years ago , when Westerners dressed better than Thais and Thais lived in slums and didn't go to school .

   Now Thais dress better than westerners 

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Now Thais dress better than westerners

As fashion is subjective your reply isn't based on any factual evidence. 

 

Bob. 

30 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Especially soi 6 is a happy place some told me. Quality tourist destinatin and genuin in every way

I heard Soi 6 is kicking, but can leave you with a bit of a headache. 

5 minutes ago, bob smith said:

As fashion is subjective your reply isn't based on any factual evidence. 

 

Bob. 

 

   Thais tend to wear new clean clothes , Westerners often wear old clothes and often unwashed .

   That T-shirt that you are wearing now , how long ago did you buy it and for how many days have you been wearing it ?

I agree, much less smiles in the last 15-20 years. But it's not because they have become less friendly. They have become less happy. 
 

Politics has been a big issue and a major point of unhappiness for the last 15 years. Increases in crime, inequality, reduced opportunity, etc. All has played a role. 
 

Call it land of whatever you want. Continue to call it land of smiles or call it something else. It matters little. It is what it is. 

11 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Thais tend to wear new clean clothes

I am currently sat on a train next to a local who's clothes are filthy. 

 

Bob. 

19 minutes ago, ChumpChange said:

I heard Soi 6 is kicking, but can leave you with a bit of a headache. 

 

Im ok, there is other places in Thailand to waste time and money I find more interesting 😉

13 minutes ago, ChumpChange said:

I agree, much less smiles in the last 15-20 years. But it's not because they have become less friendly. They have become less happy. 
 

Politics has been a big issue and a major point of unhappiness for the last 15 years. Increases in crime, inequality, reduced opportunity, etc. All has played a role. 
 

Call it land of whatever you want. Continue to call it land of smiles or call it something else. It matters little. It is what it is. 

I think social media plays a significant role when it comes to being informed, distracted and happiness. As well how much attention tourists gets when walking around, or being served. 

 

Even customers sit with their faces in the phone, 

13 minutes ago, bob smith said:

I am currently sat on a train next to a local who's clothes are filthy. 

 

Bob. 

 

  I was asking about your clothes 

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 

Im ok, there is other places in Thailand to waste time and money I find more interesting 😉

I think social media plays a significant role when it comes to being informed, distracted and happiness. As well how much attention tourists gets when walking around, or being served. 

 

Even customers sit with their faces in the phone, 

What I said about Soi 6 was a joke based on the recent violence where a guy was kicked in the head and is lucky not to have been killed. 
 

Yes, smartphones and social media are all part of the new antisocial movement. Thais are really bad. But most other Asian countries are equally as bad.
 

Part of the issue about Asians is they never find it impolite, even at social gatherings with other people, to pull out their phones and doom scroll forever at any given moment.