Are we really better than the Russians, Indians, Arabs and Chinese in the eyes of Thais?

[Skeptic7]

Don't know about "we", but I certainly am. 

[Donga]

In the Isaan village my wife comes from, the divorced ladies who look for a partner, say on Thai Friendly are drawn to farang and I've seen that in other instances, e.g. those of that generation with better education, or outside Isaan, also more comfortable with farang. The generation below are more open to Korean, Chinese partners. For what that's worth.

Are farang any "better"? Not really, though probably more inquisitive, more traveled, less rigid socially as there are many farang nationalities. So Brits get on with Aussies, who get on with Kiwis and the Europeans get on with everyone as well. I just think the Indians, Chinese, Russians, Arabs etc are generally more insular by comparison. The Russians I've come across have been fine, though I don't live in Phuket or Pattaya, and don't see them as socially mobile as most Europeans.

As far as behaviours, I believe the Japanese are the most consistently mild mannered, with very few Yakuza amongst them haha. In Indonesia they mixed more with Thais than your average farang. Not sure about here as don't come across many.

Outrageous behaviour can come from any nationality.

Don't think I'm racist as such, but warm to other farang more than other racial groups and have a particular disdain with women walking around in the heat with their bodies covered from head to toe, and even their faces sometimes. Just can't get my arms around that but the Middle East is one of few regions I haven't lived in, but was very comfortable in Indonesia and Moslem northern Nigeria.

How do Thais generally see the different groups? There seems to be legacy bias against Indians, Arabs and to an extent Chinese, but maybe watered down with the younger generations. And anyway, Thais really are very tolerant, so the needle probably doesn't move that much, other than their personal experiences.
 

[connda]

23 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Since joining this forum I have noticed it is mostly white, older, male, English speakers contributing.

 

Are we really better than the Russians, Indians, Arabs and Chinese in the eyes of Thais?

We are only really better than the Russians, Indians, Arabs and Chinese in the eyes of Western AN members who are "mostly white, older, male, English speakers" who have been raised since birth to be vehement anti-Russian and anti-Chinese haters.  Their dislike of Indians and Arabs are part & parcel of their colonial upbringing and their world-view that Indians, Arabs, and other POC are "the white man's burden."

Basically most Westerners are cultural racists who feel superior to all others on this planet.
Thais ethnocentrism for the most part is only within the borders of their own country.  Yeah, Thais are unabashed nationalists but it is difficult from them to haul that nationalism to other more advanced countries.  Westerners, especially expats who made their move overseas late in life, take their ethnocentrism with them in their baggage wherever they go.

And "no." I don't count myself among these natural-born Western racists.  I've traveled internationally since I was a young child and was raised in a family who rejected racism in all it's ugly forms.  I was raised to look at people as individuals based on their merit, not as part of the national identify of their country of birth. That latter view just leads to racism.

 

[connda]

23 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Bob/Colin/Barboy seems to have it in for the Russians in particular but also Thai males.

Others seem to have it in for especially for the one straw one coke Indians.

Some like Spidermike from the USA rant on about Chinese and Russians.

Arabs and Muslims are also targeted daily.

We even have Stephen100 who is endlessly putting the Thais down which is confusing.

 

Many seem to have it in for them all.

A common theme is that these groups should not be allowed in. It isn’t just the occasional comment. It is everyday.

 

Russians are big spending and usually in family groups, Chinese also big spending and more into the shopping, Indians and Arbs are a mixed bunch.

 

The older single western male is more into the bar scene and living and hanging out with the prostitutes in public. Thai kids going home from school share Pattaya songteows with drunken sex tourists taking hookers back to their hotels.

Younger Farang tourists are often over dosing on drugs at full moon type parties and stealing.

This view:
"The older single western male is more into the bar scene and living and hanging out with the prostitutes in public. Thai kids going home from school share Pattaya songteows with drunken sex tourists taking hookers back to their hotels.  Younger Farang tourists are often over dosing on drugs at full moon type parties and stealing."

... is no less racist then these views:

Bob/Colin/Barboy seems to have it in for the Russians in particular but also Thai males.

Others seem to have it in for especially for the one straw one coke Indians.

Some like Spidermike from the USA rant on about Chinese and Russians.

Arabs and Muslims are also targeted daily.

We even have Stephen100 who is endlessly putting the Thais down which is confusing.

 

Each seeks to advance themselves as somehow superior to others.
All Russians are this; all Chinese are that; all Arabs and Indians are this, that, and the other.
All Western expats are "sexpats."

This!  👆  👆  👆

No difference as all.  You're just taking racial hatred and directing it inwards toward those who are from the same countries as yourself.  "MalcolmB isn't a sexpat, like all those other dirty sexpats!"  Good for you.  You're superior.  Pat yourself on the back.

Like I said - learn to see people as individuals, not as a collection of alleged ethnic, cultural, and racial traits which one may personally have learned to hate.  It's easy to bash people from the anonymity of a forum; but try sitting down and having a discussion with a Russian, or Chinese, or Arab, or Indian on a one-to-one basis.  It's a lot more difficult to harbor hatred for someone when you are looking them in the eye and attempting to have a meeting of minds.

[Lacessit]

54 minutes ago, Donga said:

Don't think I'm racist as such, but warm to other farang more than other racial groups and have a particular disdain with women walking around in the heat with their bodies covered from head to toe, and even their faces sometimes. Just can't get my arms around that but the Middle East is one of few regions I haven't lived in, but was very comfortable in Indonesia and Moslem northern Nigeria.

 

Not racism, just discomfort with a religion in which women are second-class citizens in the most extreme countries.

 

I don't know anything about Nigeria, but I do remember the hijab was favored over the fully-clothed burqua in Indonesia.

 

I find the burqua confronting. Security staff at airports probably detest them.

[john donson]

anything non thai is lower ranked than the soi dog

[sungod]

8 hours ago, still kicking said:

Give it up 

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2010/06/australian-inventions-that-changed-the-world/

Quite a short list in comparison to ours.

[fredwiggy]

13 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What makes you think that we're white?   How could you "notice" that?

He's the lord of assumptions.

[jippytum]

I don't think any one race of people are Superior to another. 

However in Thai tourist hotspots we seem to  encounter the lower end species of each countries citizens. 

Sure Thai people resent bad behaviour by foreigners but cash is king and negates bad behaviour in most cases. 

[EVENKEEL]

11 hours ago, sungod said:

 

Did you just come back from the pub?

Facts are facts, sorry Charlie but Americans are the best in the eyes of Thais. 

[Donga]

1 hour ago, connda said:

Are we really better than the Russians, Indians, Arabs and Chinese in the eyes of Thais?

We are only really better than the Russians, Indians, Arabs and Chinese in the eyes of Western AN members who are "mostly white, older, male, English speakers" who have been raised since birth to be vehement anti-Russian and anti-Chinese haters.  Their dislike of Indians and Arabs are part & parcel of their colonial upbringing and their world-view that Indians, Arabs, and other POC are "the white man's burden."

Basically most Westerners are cultural racists who feel superior to all others on this planet.
Thais ethnocentrism for the most part is only within the borders of their own country.  Yeah, Thais are unabashed nationalists but it is difficult from them to haul that nationalism to other more advanced countries.  Westerners, especially expats who made their move overseas late in life, take their ethnocentrism with them in their baggage wherever they go.

And "no." I don't count myself among these natural-born Western racists.  I've traveled internationally since I was a young child and was raised in a family who rejected racism in all it's ugly forms.  I was raised to look at people as individuals based on their merit, not as part of the national identify of their country of birth. That latter view just leads to racism.

 

Haven't you contradicted yourself, connda with "Basically most Westerners are cultural racists who feel superior to all others on this planet." followed later with "I was raised to look at people as individuals based on their merit, not as part of the national identify of their country of birth."

Just saying, take care of being judgemental and righteous at the same time.

[EVENKEEL]

11 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Jeff Daniels disagrees with you.

 

 

You know it's true Americans are the best. Many from the far left hate America so your link means nothing.

[MalcolmB]

14 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What makes you think that we're white?   How could you "notice" that?

You are definitely white.

i guarantee it.

Non white people never complain as much as you and are not pedantic like you.

[MalcolmB]

20 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Facts are facts, sorry Charlie but Americans are the best in the eyes of Thais. 

Not so popular in Vietnam though.

[EVENKEEL]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Not so popular in Vietnam though.

I'm loved everywhere.

[Lacessit]

37 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Facts are facts, sorry Charlie but Americans are the best in the eyes of Thais. 

Actually, Koreans get that accolade because they are more generous in tipping.

[roo860]

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The atomic absorption spectrometer was invented and developed in Australia, although I must admit it was an immigrant Brit, Sir Alan Walsh, who was responsible.

 

The black box present on all passenger aircraft was invented by the Australian scientist David Warren.

 

I am disappointed you forgot one of our big cultural contributions, Sir Les Patterson.

The greatest thing to ever come out of Australia, absolute legend, loved him!!!!

[connda]

28 minutes ago, Donga said:

Haven't you contradicted yourself, connda with "Basically most Westerners are cultural racists who feel superior to all others on this planet." followed later with "I was raised to look at people as individuals based on their merit, not as part of the national identify of their country of birth."

Just saying, take care of being judgemental and righteous at the same time.

If striving to see others as individuals as opposed to their cultural, ethnic, or racial grouping in the eyes of societal norms (which I tend not to agree with) is being "righteous?" 
Then I plead "guilty as charged."  We are human, and as such we harbor our own biases. 
Personally I see anti-racial biases as trumping pro-racial biases.  I'm quite Ok with the former bias.  If you personally see "being judgemental and righteous at the same time" as a problem, well, you are welcome to your own point of view.  I know where I stand and I'm comfortable with it.

[connda]

I thought Boris Johnson was a Brit?

[Lacessit]

14 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm loved everywhere.

Photos needed.

 

This is probably your speed.

[Lacessit]

38 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

You know it's true Americans are the best. Many from the far left hate America so your link means nothing.

Jeff Daniels is American.

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Photos needed.

 

This is probably your speed.

I'm sure she's a lovely person, It's what's inside that's important, Shame on you.

[MalcolmB]

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

I'm sure she's a lovely person, It's what's inside that's important, Shame on you.

He should take a good hard look in the mirror.

Disgusting

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

I'm sure she's a lovely person, It's what's inside that's important, Shame on you.

It was a joke, Joyce. Lighten up.

[EVENKEEL]

Just now, MalcolmB said:

He should take a good hard look in the mirror.

Disgusting

I couldn't agree more. That's someone's mother he's ridiculing, Shame, shame, shame

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, MalcolmB said:

He should take a good hard look in the mirror.

Disgusting

I might be offended if I gave a rat's @rse about your opinion.

[Thingamabob]

23 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I don't know if I am better than any of the nationalities mentioned in the OP in Thai eyes, and don't know why I should care.

 In the 1960s,1970s  and early 1980s flights were expensive and, mainly western, visitors behaved well. Likewise US soldiers on leave from Vietnam were polite and well behaved. Fun and friendliness was the order of the day. It has to be said that is not the case now. Go figure.

[EVENKEEL]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

It was a joke, Joyce. Lighten up.

You're too easy. 

[Lacessit]

Just now, EVENKEEL said:

I couldn't agree more. That's someone's mother he's ridiculing, Shame, shame, shame

That's some crystal ball you have there.

[Liverpool Lou]

51 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

You are definitely white.

i guarantee it.

Non white people never complain as much as you and are not pedantic like you.

I'm sure that you could give me examples of my "complaining as much as I do"?     And some examples of my pedanticism (not accuracy). Baited breath awaits.