Thai Cabinet Approves WAI Gesture as the Country's National Identity

[snoop1130]

 

The Cabinet has approved the official use of the "wai" gesture, recognizing it as a national symbol of Thailand for greetings and expressions of respect.

 

This step aims to uphold Thailand's unique identity and culture by maintaining the traditional form of Thai greetings and displays of respect.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-06-13

 

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[JoePai]

Just found out the Wai started off in India !

[dinsdale]

 "has approved the official use of the "wai" gesture'

What does official use mean??????????????????

[ikke1959]

Put it on the World Heritage list

[Maitdjai]

Another breakthrough.

[BigBruv]

Foreigner Wai Tax incoming...

[John Drake]

Why ridicule this? Personally, I like the wai. It's aesthetically attractive and helps with health and hygiene. I never liked shaking hands back home, and it's a relief not to do so here. So stuck are Westerners with touching that even during Covid you leaders practicing that silly elbow bump. The wai is far superior to that.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 "has approved the official use of the "wai" gesture'

What does official use mean??????????????????

Usually sorry

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, John Drake said:

So stuck are Westerners with touching that even during Covid you leaders practicing that silly elbow bump. The wai is far superior to that.

Didn't the silly elbow bump start in the USA?

[retarius]

Are Cabinets supposed to deal with important things? 

[RobU]

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

Why ridicule this? Personally, I like the wai. It's aesthetically attractive and helps with health and hygiene. I never liked shaking hands back home, and it's a relief not to do so here. So stuck are Westerners with touching that even during Covid you leaders practicing that silly elbow bump. The wai is far superior to that.

Fully agree with you. The wai is an ancient custom of showing respect but not touching and potentially passing on disease. It is also a method of assessing the other person, the customary head bow allows you to look the other person up and down to assess for threat it means that the hands are away from weapons. Practiced by many ancient civilisations where pandemics will have occured and been noted by the academics of the times who will have advised their ruling lords to implement the wai as a customary greeting to protect them from disease and break the cycle of infection. The most common way of spreading disease is via touch. 

Edited June 14 by RobU
Additional comment

[BangkokReady]

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

Why ridicule this?

 

Because it isn't unique to Thailand and doesn't even originate there.

Edited June 14 by BangkokReady

[lordgrinz]

They should approve selfishness and greed as their national identity, it would be more fitting.

[Captain Flack]

A post with a. personal attack removed.

 

Rule 9. You will not post disruptive or inflammatory messages. You will respect other members and post in a civil manner. Personal attacks, insults or hate speech posted on the forum or sent by private message are not allowed.

[fondue zoo]

20 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 "has approved the official use of the "wai" gesture'

What does official use mean??????????????????

 

It's like in the movie Idiocracy, where every time they say  "Brought to you by Carl's Jnr"  they get a dollar.

Also, Modi is on the phone, he sounds pissed.

[Srikcir]

23 hours ago, dinsdale said:

 "has approved the official use of the "wai" gesture'

What does official use mean??????????????????

In foreigner visa meeting with Thai authorities, who wai's who? Traffic stop? Cashier to customer?

Cabinet approval of the wai does not have backing of law. It's like former PM Prayut insisting that Thai dress code should follow traditional Thai clothing. You know, where historically women were half-clothed.

As the Thai economy continues to crash and PM faces expulsion, one would think the Cabinet had better priorities.

[PETERTHEEATER]

Drat! My money was on the finger point.....

[BusNo8]

Nothing wrong with this until Thailand claims it being unique and attempts to singularly brand it.