Hey Billy we’re waiting for the invites when are you going to send them?

This thread is hilarious. Did Edith Clampton retire up North?

Fascinating for me to watch this topic develop.

Here's why:

 

A major trend these days, all over the world, is seismic shift of social contact from in-person to "social media".

This forum is an example of "social media".

 

Most expats in Thailand are older, over 50, some well over.

We grew up when "social" meant parties, lunches or dinners, BBQs, going for a beer, going fishing/hunting/camping with friends, etc.

In other words, person-to-person.

But now most social interaction is on-line using computers and mobile phones.

 

I, for one, miss the benefits of the old ways, the in-person ways.

 

For me, all my life, it has been easy to meet and talk with people.

Not all become close friends, but getting acquainted with strangers has always come easily to me:

In restaurants, in the next seat on an airplane, at the dinner table on a cruise ship, attending a trade show, etc.

So now, living in Chiang Mai, if I see some opportunity to talk with another expat, often I will open a conversation.

I've met and talked with many of my fellow expats in restaurants, in a barber shop, in the elevator at my condo, at TOPS supermarket.

One time, even in the hardware section at "Home Pro".

I saw another farang looking confused and said, "Maybe I can help you find something."

He looked so relieved to find someone who could speak English!

And I was able to translate what he needed for the Home Pro staff.

 

That's the kind of personal interaction that I enjoy and I want to foster among my fellow expats here.

 

Years ago I ran a two large dinner groups (but not in Thailand).

Typical attendance was 20-25.

The most was 28 -- and that was a big mistake, just too many.

One rainy night only 11 showed up.

And that was one of the best dinners ever -- with lively conversation all around.

 

So as I thought about the "isolation" brought on by social media, I started wondering what I might do.

Thus my idea to post here, and perhaps attract other expats whom I would never enounter otherwise.

 

When I have met other expats, most are well-mannered, polite, and have interesting and useful topics to talk about.

Most say they would like to meet again and most are interested in meeting with other expats, too.

(Not all, of course.)

So I decided to offer that idea to this forum.

 

Oh, boy!

What a shock this has been.

The responses here are totally different than responses in person.

Well-mannered?  Only a tiny few.

Polite: Hah!

Interesting ideas and observations about our common interest (expat life in Thailand): almost none.

Trolls: almost too many to count.

Big difference between the social interaction on social media like this and the experiences I have in person.

 

So when I read here advice to open this lunch group to anyone and everyone who might wander in, I say, No.  Absolutely no.

There must be a gate-keeper to keep out the riff-raff.

Who are the riff-raff?

For starters, everyone who has already garnered a place on my "ignore user" list here.

And who will be the gate-keeper?

Think about it and let me know if you have any ideas.

 

So, I will continue meeting other expats in casual ways, as I have been doing.

And a few of them, will get invited to meet again, and with a few other expats.

 

But as for posting about it on any social media, never again.

Just not worth the aggravation that has been posted on this topic.

 

Now I will un-follow this topic, and will not receive any notice of new posts.

I am certainly open to discussion in private messages, but not on this public thread with so much monkey chatter all around.