They smashed the gift that I gave. :(

[JeffersLos]

I recently started to learn to play the guitar to keep my brain, fingers and hand-eye coordination going. I've been getting lessons and sometime sit and play out in my front yard. 

 

A boy from nearby, around 10 or 11 years old took an interest and started singing along to some songs from out on the road as I'd play.

 

He tried playing the guitar but didn't know how. 

 

He lives with his mother and grandmother.

 

After a few months my chords were getting better and so was his singing. Long story short I bought him an acoustic guitar, I gave it to my guitar teacher and told him to give it to him and go round to his place twice a week and give me the bill.

 

The boy was really doing well.

 

There was a funeral for his grandmother's sister at the weekend and the males showed up, maybe his father or uncles or whoever. 

 

They all just left yesterday and today, my guitar teacher came for my lesson this evening and said there is no bill this week for the boy's lessons. I asked why and he wouldn't really give me an answer.

 

I went round to outside the kid's place and the grandmother brought out the smashed acoustic guitar, apparently the men smashed it up because it came from a farang, then left. The boy must be devastated. 

 

Did anybody else experience similar after giving a gift?

 

 

 

[mogandave]

22 minutes ago, JeffersLos said:

I recently started to learn to play the guitar to keep my brain, fingers and hand-eye coordination going. I've been getting lessons and sometime sit and play out in my front yard. 

 

A boy from nearby, around 10 or 11 years old took an interest and started singing along to some songs from out on the road as I'd play.

 

He tried playing the guitar but didn't know how. 

 

He lives with his mother and grandmother.

 

After a few months my chords were getting better and so was his singing. Long story short I bought him an acoustic guitar, I gave it to my guitar teacher and told him to give it to him and go round to his place twice a week and give me the bill.

 

The boy was really doing well.

 

There was a funeral for his grandmother's sister at the weekend and the males showed up, maybe his father or uncles or whoever. 

 

They all just left yesterday and today, my guitar teacher came for my lesson this evening and said there is no bill this week for the boy's lessons. I asked why and he wouldn't really give me an answer.

 

I went round to outside the kid's place and the grandmother brought out the smashed acoustic guitar, apparently the men smashed it up because it came from a farang, then left. The boy must be devastated. 

 

Did anybody else experience similar after giving a gift?

 

 

 

Why do you think that’s why they smashed it? 

 

It was a funeral, they may have just all gotten hammered were jerking around with it. 

 

 

[novacova]

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

It was a funeral, they may have just all gotten hammered were jerking around with it. 

 

 

Like Elvis

[JeffersLos]

3 minutes ago, mogandave said:

Why do you think that’s why they smashed it? 

 

The mother, aunt and grandmother said that was the reason. 

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

 

The mother, aunt and grandmother said that was the reason. 

 

I would have expected it to get broken in line with standard Thai carelessness and negligence.......the title of the thread immediately "struck a chord" with me.

 

But possibly a dark motive has been attributed to your philanthropy?

 

Whatever the reason I would sever connection with that family.

 

 

 

[rattlesnake]

If it was his dad, then it could very well be a face thing. He never buys anything for his kid and a farang humiliates him in front of his friends? (This could be how he interpreted it). Mix heavy boozing with it and there you have it.

[scubascuba3]

Maybe he is worried you are trying to gay the boy up, or alternatively doesn't want him to play the guitar and focus on work, may not be a falang thing

[G_Money]

Best not to become overly friendly with unrelated minors, especially in less developed countries that occasionally attract minor attracted persons.

 

Just a general guide line.  Nothing to do with the OP’s particular situation.

 

 

[Gecko123]

7 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

apparently the men smashed it up because it came from a farang,

 

Exactly how did you come to this conclusion? Are the men you suspect did it still around? Ask them directly why they did it, whether they plan to buy a replacement, and if not, if you can. I find the "because it came from a farang" motive somewhat improbable. Was the guitar used as a weapon in a fight, or just willfully destroyed?

[steven100]

Doesn't really matter how or why it was smashed.

 

As others have mentioned,  it may be a loss of face thing from guys in the family. 

 

The point is, never get too buddy with Thai's and certainly never buy them a gift.  

 

TIT ... your story speaks volumes about how they act ....

 

 

 

[G_Money]

32 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

 

Exactly how did you come to this conclusion? Are the men you suspect did it still around? Ask them directly why they did it, whether they plan to buy a replacement, and if not, if you can. I find the "because it came from a farang" motive somewhat improbable. Was the guitar used as a weapon in a fight, or just willfully destroyed?

“Ask them directly why they did it, whether they plan to buy a replacement, and if not, if you can.”. 
 

LOL

 

1 or 2 things will most likely happen if the OP asks those questions.

 

1.  He may be starting a new thread “Beaten up by a Thai male or males.

 

2.  His second guitar purchase will be smashed again.  Possibly as he watches.

 

Don’t get involved anymore.  They’re not your friends.

[steven100]

43 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

 

Exactly how did you come to this conclusion? Are the men you suspect did it still around? Ask them directly why they did it, whether they plan to buy a replacement, and if not, if you can. I find the "because it came from a farang" motive somewhat improbable. Was the guitar used as a weapon in a fight, or just willfully destroyed?

 

your joking right ...  

 

can you imagine him even locating any of them and then trying to ask a question like that ?  ....  

[Denim]

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

 

 

The point is, never get too buddy with Thai's and certainly never buy them a gift.  

 

 

 

 

I have several Thai friends and no issues. Buy their kids small birthday gifts from time to time with no problems at all , usually  something edible.

 

More importantly is to chose your friends very carefully.  That goes for everyone regardless of nationality etc.

[rocketboy2]

Could all be a cover up by the close family living in the house.

They may have been constantly annoyed by the kid practicing on it.

and just decided to get rid of it. and blame others.

 

Ps Remember,  it's the land of smoke and mirrors.

 

 

[G_Money]

4 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

I have several Thai friends and no issues. Buy their kids small birthday gifts from time to time with no problems at all , usually  something edible.

 

More importantly is to chose your friends very carefully.  That goes for everyone regardless of nationality etc.

Reasonable but they are your established friends.

Not children of strangers.

 

[BE88]

Sad story, definitely a psychopath in the family, these things don't only happen in Thai families but in all families around the world where the father or mother is a psychopath.

 

Racist comments should be deleted.

[G_Money]

3 minutes ago, BE88 said:

Sad story, definitely a psychopath in the family, these things don't only happen in Thai families but in all families around the world where the father or mother is a psychopath.

 

Racist comments should be deleted.

“Psychopath”?

 

A bit harsh me thinks.

 

Any stranger who befriends a child of mine without introducing themselves to me and being VETTED is going to raise the red flag.  
 

Google John Wayne Gacy.  A clown for the children, Mentor for teens looking for construction jobs,  honorable member of the Jaycee's with his photo taken with President Carter’s wife.

 

And then about 33 bodies of young men and teenagers buried in the crawl space beneath his home.

 

Went to the electric chair still claiming he was innocent.

 

A Psychopath.

 

Once again, general statement.

While the intentions of the OP may of been sincere, I can understand (not condoning) the reaction of the father.  Especially after all of the farang incidents that appear in the news practically on a daily basis.

What are the racist comments you claim should be deleted?

 

[BE88]

39 minutes ago, G_Money said:

“Psychopath”?

 

A bit harsh me thinks.

 

Any stranger who befriends a child of mine without introducing themselves to me and being VETTED is going to raise the red flag.  
 

What are the racist comments you claim should be deleted?

 

 

And to start with yours

 

[G_Money]

2 hours ago, BE88 said:

 

And to start with yours

 

Which is?

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

7 hours ago, steven100 said:

TIT ... your story speaks volumes about how they act ....

No, it speaks volumes about how one family acted...TIT.

[Gandtee]

13 hours ago, Enoon said:

 

I would have expected it to get broken in line with standard Thai carelessness and negligence.......the title of the thread immediately "struck a chord" with me.

 

But possibly a dark motive has been attributed to your philanthropy?

 

Whatever the reason I would sever connection with that family.

 

 

 

I agree with your first sentence. I've found that they have no respect for items you allow them to use. I allow my Thai kids to use my tools. Some I've had since I started work as a boy in 1948. It's a never-ending battle trying to get them to look after them and put them back where they got them from. Not only tools. Anything! Or at 90, am I just a grumpy old man?. Maybe I should take the advice given to the British Colonial Ladies. 'When being raped. Lay back and think of England.' You're b******d anyway.😉

[ignore it]

As funerals are rare and guitars are cheap 

be the bigger man and buy the boy another one.

 

It's the cowboy way.

[ColeBOzbourne]

The father got drunk and pretended he was a rock star. At the end of his song, he dropped the mike and smashed the guitar. That's the way it works. His 15 seconds of fame. Be grateful you gave him that gift.

[GammaGlobulin]

14 hours ago, Enoon said:

But possibly a dark motive has been attributed to your philanthropy?

 

No doubt, no doubt, me thinks.

 

[Tailwagsdog]

Buy him another one after he cleans your garden & tell him he earned it this time it wasn't a present, and don't show it off to drunken idiot adults ....keep it hidden when the usual suspects arrive.

[BobDobbs]

1 No good deed goes unpunished

 

2 Villagers cannot have nice things

[BobBKK]

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No, it speaks volumes about how one family acted...TIT.

 Yea and there are a lot of them here lol  TIT

[FritsSikkink]

17 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

 

The mother, aunt and grandmother said that was the reason. 

Maybe because they didn't want a stranger getting involved with a 10 / 11 year old child.

[Gecko123]

Worth pointing out that the OP asked if anyone else has experienced a similar situation and no one has done so yet.

 

[kidneyw]

Maybe a Pete Townsend wannabe.