Do Thais understand sarcasm?

[madone]

1 minute ago, harryviking said:

fluid

would you consider yourself a fluid speaker?

[Dan O]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:32 PM, Lacessit said:

A few days ago, I was waiting in line to cash in the remaining credit on Food Court cards. A Thai woman pushed in front of me to buy 300 bahts' worth.

 

As she was turning away, I thanked her in Thai for being patient. She looked quite confused.

 

What do you think?

They do understand it if you can include the ridiculous canned laughter they always attach to videos they post on line.  I have it recorded on my phone and play it anytime I try to make a joke or be sarcastic 

[digger70]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:47 PM, London Lowf said:

Most posters on here do not understand sarcasm, let alone many other subtleties of the English language.

We're happy for you that you Know.   

[soalbundy]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:41 PM, G_Money said:

1.  I don’t think they understand sarcasm in the way Westerners do.

 

2.  How good is your Thai?   Maybe she misunderstood or could of been poor her poor manners 

 

You’re a seasoned veteran of Thailand.  You should know situations like this will happen occasionally.

No they don't.

[ChrisKC]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Did she avoid confrontation, by rudely pushing in front of me?

The confrontation occurs with the possibility of you being sarcastic or

rude about something that is irritating, yes, but not important enough for you then to title that suggests ALL Thais maybe don't understand sarcasm (your perception of how your comment was received) or you overreacting in a way they might have been understood by them to be confrontational. 

 

You had no control over the person pushing in but you had the chance to be in control of yourself because in real life these small incidents achieve nothing except you venting your feelings. 

 

I readily agree that momentarily one may be angry, but I am not interested in seeking the risk of further trouble. 

[1FinickyOne]

They would not get it in the context with which you used it. You were attempting attempting to be nasty, not funny. 

 

maybe if you just said 'Chern krubp' it might have been closer to what you were trying to accomplish. 

[radiochaser]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:30 AM, BangkokReady said:

Absolutely not.  Doubly so if you're British and have dry humour, they will just think you are being serious and insulting them. 

 

They do like to do some teasing, but I think it's always very OTT and obvious, not like we're used to back home.  I think they even go as far as to often say "kidding, kidding" to make sure.  Their humour is very slapstick and simple.  

As I have posted elsewhere, I am an American, but I like the British dry humor.   It's better than a the current night time talk shows here in the U.S. of A. that try to be funny.  

[radiochaser]

On 11/4/2024 at 7:18 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Yes, but 'dick' is only a 4-letter proper noun.

 

meaning nothing

 

 

But not if you capitalize the first letter.  

[Lacessit]

14 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

The confrontation occurs with the possibility of you being sarcastic or

rude about something that is irritating, yes, but not important enough for you then to title that suggests ALL Thais maybe don't understand sarcasm (your perception of how your comment was received) or you overreacting in a way they might have been understood by them to be confrontational. 

 

You had no control over the person pushing in but you had the chance to be in control of yourself because in real life these small incidents achieve nothing except you venting your feelings. 

 

I readily agree that momentarily one may be angry, but I am not interested in seeking the risk of further trouble. 

The thread title is " Do Thais understand sarcasm?" Opinions are mixed on whether they do, or not.

 

I am normally easy-going. When in doubt, I always give way in traffic to be on the safe side.

 

That does not mean I think I should become a doormat for every rude person with no manners that comes along.

[madone]

On 11/4/2024 at 5:31 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

... though the captialisation implies a different 'twian'...  Kipling’s sentiment, encapsulated in "never the twain shall meet," is more apt in this context.... Your assertion regarding the so-called 'lofty' nature of your topics carries a distinct irony underscoring the contradiction between the claim of intellectual elevation and the reality of the substance of your topics.... 

 

nor is verbosity an indicator of intellect.

Which is to say, you are both talking <deleted>e 

[madone]

or course they do.

 

and irony, 

 

and satire.

I had a very good Thai friend down south who was remarkably sarcastic.   

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, madone said:

I had a very good Thai friend down south who was remarkably sarcastic.   

 

Or her comments were genuine and she really did hate you !!! 

 

... there, less verbose !  

 

 

[sharksy]

On 11/3/2024 at 5:03 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

I agree with this... 

 

Dry humor is often lost, but I've met Thai people with dry humor, but I think it works in a different way than 'our dry humor' which is usually accompanied with an element of sarcasm... 

 

My Wife hates it....

She'll be driving... we'll be on a long road, with no turns in sight and she'll ask "which way?"..  I'll reply, turn left here..... 

... and as soon as I've opened my mouth I know I've made a mistake as she's no pi$$ed off with me for being sarcastic !!!

 

 

The most amusing was when I went for a fertility test (when we were trying for a child)... 

I had to go to the hosptial w@nking room... but before I did, a nurse gave me a little plastic cup... and asked..

.. "How many times have you erm... "

.... "erm, what"

.. "How many times have you erm... finished"

.... "I finished breakfast already"

.. "No, I mean How many times have you erm... "

.... "erm, what" (at this point I know I'm going to hell).

.. "How many times have you... er...  finished, er finished for baby"

.... "oh, you mean, how many times have I ejaculated ?"

[palpablie relief on the nurses face] ... "Yes"

.... "This  month or this week?"

[relief on the nurses face dissapears] .. "in the last 24 hours"

.... "ah, ok...  6 times yesterday evening and 3 times this morning"  (I'm definately going to hell).

[Nurse then writes the numbers in a little book]...   the sarcasm completely lost...  but, my evil inner me is chuckling and my wife is embarrased... 

 

 

 

 

I'm British - I don't seen this as sarcasm - just cringeworthy. Sorry.