I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

 

In my town there is a burger place in a shopping mall.

 

Last night, I joined what I thought was a queue to order food and waited patiently behind a gentleman for about 5 minutes, while the staff ignored me. A Thai man walked up, spoke in Thai, and was served immediately.

 

I kept waiting. Then a teenager came in, said something in Thai, and jumped the queue to get served. I was so Frustrated that I moved to an unoccupied counter and waited to place my order. I was ignored again.

 

Thai people seemed to get served without issue, and I felt discriminated against. After some time, I returned to my wife empty-handed. She tried for another 20 minutes with no luck.

 

My patience ran out. I marched in, bypassed the queue, and demanded my order: 2 Double Whopper Meals and 2 Fantas. I vented my frustration about the system and being ignored.

 

The server explained that I needed to take a ticket and give it to the attendant. Shocked, I asked how I was supposed to know. He pointed to a sign in English saying "Take ticket before ordering."

 

I took a ticket, was served in less than 2 minutes, apologised, and ate our food. It was a lesson for me to pay attention to signs. I hate getting old!

6 minutes ago, pluto72 said:

I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

Don't think. That is a good first step. 

As a fellow Brit I am also trying to chill out more like thai people.

The Thais certainly seem happier than us and don’t sweat to small stuff.

And they hardly ever complain, and complaining seems to be our favorite hobby.

 

we can learn a lot from these people.

 

33 minutes ago, pluto72 said:

I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

Another anecdote that shows the opposite:

My wife's niece and her husband were returning home from the city market last night when a car pulled across in front of them, the driver jumping out and demanding they get out of their car, while holding a gun behind his back. They refused to get out and asked what the problem was - he shouted to his wife to come - she then said 'wrong person' and they left........

7 minutes ago, NotEinstein said:

the driver jumping out and demanding they get out of their car, while holding a gun behind his back

If the gun was behind his back, how did they know he had a gun? Just asking.

when i first got here in the very early 2000's, i went to a post office and an old lady rudely cut in front of me in the queue. i was really angry, but my then gf told me my pen rai... chai yen yen. -->relax take it easy.

 

now, if anyone does this i learned the very useful phrase--> ko tod krup, khun mai mee marayat krup...

 

translate: excuse me, you have bad manners 

 

and i make sure i keep my queue

 

but what gets me the most is when a cashier opens because of long queues and people rush to be first rather than letting those who should go first do so. about this one... nothing you can do...

59 minutes ago, pluto72 said:

My patience ran out. I marched in, bypassed the queue, and demanded my order: 2 Double Whopper Meals and 2 Fantas. I vented my frustration about the system and being ignored.

 

Typical boorish childish farang behavior, confirming the stereotype many Thais already have. Marching, demanding, venting. You could have just politely said you'd like to order and then learned the system, resulting in a pleasant encounter.

 

One thing to learn is to spend a few moments carefully observing the Thais and how the queues are operating. Nowhere is this more important than at a government hospital. Cultivate patience and a sense of humor.

26 minutes ago, Stocky said:

If the gun was behind his back, how did they know he had a gun? Just asking.

He stood sideways so they could see. Later they went to the pawn shop opposite (he works for the tessabahn) and could see on their camera coverage.

I like to keep my distance to the person in front of me while standing in line (at a Lotus or 7-11 for example), because I don't like to Invade others "personal space" and I would hope that others respect my personal space.  I also believe in showing manners and being courteous to others but that does not work here in Thailand.

 

You leave enough room for someone to jump in line ahead of you and you can be sure they will do so and not even think twice about it.

 

I also hate it when there's 3 or 4 of us standing in line (only one register open) at 7-11 and an employee will come along and open the register next to us and serve a Thai customer who just walked up (all the while ignoring all of us who have been standing in line for a long time).  

 

They do the same thing on the roads, leave a small space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of yours, and some jackass will force his way in front of you just because he can and then he wants to jump in front of another car in the same lane he just came from (trying to beat you) as if it's a race or something.

 

I wish I could throw wet farts on demand whenever rude people jump the line in front of others who are already standing there waiting.  

 

One of my pet peeves in Thailand.

1 hour ago, pluto72 said:

I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

 

1 hour ago, pluto72 said:

a teenager came in, said something in Thai,

 

ROLL EYES

1 hour ago, pluto72 said:

I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

 

In my town there is a burger place in a shopping mall.

 

Last night, I joined what I thought was a queue to order food and waited patiently behind a gentleman for about 5 minutes, while the staff ignored me. A Thai man walked up, spoke in Thai, and was served immediately.

 

I kept waiting. Then a teenager came in, said something in Thai, and jumped the queue to get served. I was so Frustrated that I moved to an unoccupied counter and waited to place my order. I was ignored again.

 

Thai people seemed to get served without issue, and I felt discriminated against. After some time, I returned to my wife empty-handed. She tried for another 20 minutes with no luck.

 

My patience ran out. I marched in, bypassed the queue, and demanded my order: 2 Double Whopper Meals and 2 Fantas. I vented my frustration about the system and being ignored.

 

The server explained that I needed to take a ticket and give it to the attendant. Shocked, I asked how I was supposed to know. He pointed to a sign in English saying "Take ticket before ordering."

 

I took a ticket, was served in less than 2 minutes, apologised, and ate our food. It was a lesson for me to pay attention to signs. I hate getting old!

 

Learn Thai and learn assertiveness.  I haven't had a Thai successfully walk in front of me in a line since I first arrived here.  Because I call them and the service staff out in the Thai language:  "Excuse me but I was here first, I've been waiting and you can take my order now."

Don't complain if you haven't made steps to learn Thai and to integrate into Thai society.  The last thing a Thai person want is to lose face in front of a Thai-speaking farang.  I'd step in front of you too.

Usually this happens with foreigners because Thais are in fear of the language barrier. So it's a head in the sand thing. This time that wasn't the case though. 

hahahaha.

dumb&ass

are two words that come to mind !

The chance for Locals to jump the queue happen to me occasionally. Around my locality though shop keeps don't let the locals get away with it if they try. I always stay calm and generally get some serious apologies when the potential customer realises that they aren't getting in ahead of me.

Sometimes it is just dick-headed-ness from the local. Often they see my calm waiting as an opportunity to jump in and sometimes they often fear asking a farang if they have already been served. I usually assume the latter.

 

Generally at local stores, staff catch my eye ahead of others when there is a queue and I'll just tell them 'the usual' and step back.

 

One of the great things about Thailand, for me. Learn to embrace it, OP. Treat it like you are trying to get a spot at the next lock in at your local pub.

 

I really enjoy my community and get on well with all the places that i purchase from. If I'm having an ordinary day, going down for a laarb pla dook and som tam or whatever usually has me smiling and laughing with the Locals in no time.

2 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

when i first got here in the very early 2000's, i went to a post office and an old lady rudely cut in front of me in the queue. i was really angry, but my then gf told me my pen rai... chai yen yen. -->relax take it easy.

 

now, if anyone does this i learned the very useful phrase--> ko tod krup, khun mai mee marayat krup...

 

translate: excuse me, you have bad manners 

 

and i make sure i keep my queue

 

but what gets me the most is when a cashier opens because of long queues and people rush to be first rather than letting those who should go first do so. about this one... nothing you can do...

I always say "Thai Raak Thai" or Thai love Thai.

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

If the gun was behind his back, how did they know he had a gun? Just asking.

Obviously you think too much ,much be a by product of your poor upbringing 

 

And someone in your family upbringing used the term " just asking" ... 

Look we must forget our social norms ,thankyou 

2 hours ago, MeePeeMai said:

I like to keep my distance to the person in front of me while standing in line (at a Lotus or 7-11 for example), because I don't like to Invade others "personal space" and I would hope that others respect my personal space.  I also believe in showing manners and being courteous to others but that does not work here in Thailand.

 

You leave enough room for someone to jump in line ahead of you and you can be sure they will do so and not even think twice about it.

 

I also hate it when there's 3 or 4 of us standing in line (only one register open) at 7-11 and an employee will come along and open the register next to us and serve a Thai customer who just walked up (all the while ignoring all of us who have been standing in line for a long time).  

 

They do the same thing on the roads, leave a small space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of yours, and some jackass will force his way in front of you just because he can and then he wants to jump in front of another car in the same lane he just came from (trying to beat you) as if it's a race or something.

 

I wish I could throw wet farts on demand whenever rude people jump the line in front of others who are already standing there waiting.  

 

One of my pet peeves in Thailand.

When I'm out driving,  I KNOW that people will cut in front of me....and I don't give a damn.

I'm not in a rush but (most local ) others are.

Will it matter in 10 years if you did or didn't ???

 

PS. Same at 7~11 or Lotus queues   who cares? What does it really matter???

The British invented the queue and hate anyone not conforming to the etiquette. 

3 hours ago, NotEinstein said:

Another anecdote that shows the opposite:

My wife's niece and her husband were returning home from the city market last night when a car pulled across in front of them, the driver jumping out and demanding they get out of their car, while holding a gun behind his back. They refused to get out and asked what the problem was - he shouted to his wife to come - she then said 'wrong person' and they left........

Yeah, right.

After 25 minutes , you never realized a ticketing system was in place.

How very observant of you both. 

Amazing Falang in Thailand. 

 

15 minutes ago, jippytum said:

The British invented the queue and hate anyone not conforming to the etiquette. 

Cobblers.

3 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

As a fellow Brit I am also trying to chill out more like thai people.

The Thais certainly seem happier than us and don’t sweat to small stuff.

And they hardly ever complain, and complaining seems to be our favorite hobby.

 

we can learn a lot from these people.

 

Well said.

4 hours ago, pluto72 said:

I am British, trying to become a more chilled-out Thai.

 

In my town there is a burger place in a shopping mall.

 

Last night, I joined what I thought was a queue to order food and waited patiently behind a gentleman for about 5 minutes, while the staff ignored me. A Thai man walked up, spoke in Thai, and was served immediately.

 

I kept waiting. Then a teenager came in, said something in Thai, and jumped the queue to get served. I was so Frustrated that I moved to an unoccupied counter and waited to place my order. I was ignored again.

 

Thai people seemed to get served without issue, and I felt discriminated against. After some time, I returned to my wife empty-handed. She tried for another 20 minutes with no luck.

 

My patience ran out. I marched in, bypassed the queue, and demanded my order: 2 Double Whopper Meals and 2 Fantas. I vented my frustration about the system and being ignored.

 

The server explained that I needed to take a ticket and give it to the attendant. Shocked, I asked how I was supposed to know. He pointed to a sign in English saying "Take ticket before ordering."

 

I took a ticket, was served in less than 2 minutes, apologised, and ate our food. It was a lesson for me to pay attention to signs. I hate getting old!

Do what my wife tells me  " OPEN EYES  "  

in this thread you explain, why Thais don't lime geezer farangs.

 

Ignorant and angry

4 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

As a fellow Brit I am also trying to chill out more like thai people.

The Thais certainly seem happier than us and don’t sweat to small stuff.

And they hardly ever complain, and complaining seems to be our favorite hobby.

 

we can learn a lot from these people.

 

As the saying was once said "Life is what happens when you are busy doing other things"

How to become more chill in Thailand? Tell your wife what you want, and wait for her to come back. 

4 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

i went to a post office and an old lady rudely cut in front of me in the queue. i was really angry, but my then gf told me my pen rai... chai yen yen. -->relax take it easy.

 

My wife used to tell me to let them off as they are old. I then responded that I thought older people were meant to get more respect in Thai culture as they are meant to be wiser. She now feels the same as me. I normally give the queue cutters a nasty stare, followed by telling them they are not polite or not a good person if need be. 

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

Obviously you think too much ,much be a by product of your poor upbringing 

 

And someone in your family upbringing used the term " just asking" ... 

Look we must forget our social norms ,thankyou 

I'm not sure what I've done to rattle your cage, but hey-ho

31 minutes ago, alien365 said:

My wife used to tell me to let them off as they are old. I then responded that I thought older people were meant to get more respect in Thai culture as they are meant to be wiser. She now feels the same as me. I normally give the queue cutters a nasty stare, followed by telling them they are not polite or not a good person if need be. 

 

i would like to say: "before, when I was in canada...20 some years ago people would let the first ones in queue go to a newly opened cashier simply because it was their turn..." 

 

but in today's society, back in the west, i am not so sure people do that anymore. much has changed im my 20ish years here, so i am not in a position to be holier than thou.... but from what i hear, GenZ is not doing so well in regards to mannerisms. sad world we live in. I still try to preserve some resemblance of western politeness here, but i find it difficult to do at times. I am not sure I would fare better in my country anymore. I think a lot has to do with the way the newest generations are being brought up...

5 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

As a fellow Brit I am also trying to chill out more like thai people.

The Thais certainly seem happier than us and don’t sweat to small stuff.

And they hardly ever complain, and complaining seems to be our favorite hobby.

 

we can learn a lot from these people.

 

 

6 months in Thailand and 6 months in the UK has been pretty much my regime since 2010.

 

Both societies have a lot to learn from each other.