19 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I try and avoid having confrontations wth Thai people  and for the last several years have been successful on this front. 

I think that's a very good policy in general and a safe one at that. It's very easy to quickly run out of superficial topics that you can discuss with them. And, after that, if you attempt to start moving onto deeper and more substantive subjects, you risk inadvertently insulting them and causing them to lose face. They sometimes even get offended by the fact that you know more about the subject or you bring up a topic that they know nothing about. That's when it's likely to cause some friction without meaning to and where things might not turn out so much in your favor, even though you didn't mean anything disrespectful in the first place. 

31 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Any chance of a foreigner coming across this in a Thai?

 

Absolutely...  and thats also true of Thai with Thai interactions and foreigner on foreigner interactions...

 

All part of the spectrum of interactions and encounters. 

 

 

Thai friendships increase dramatically when one spends more money on them.

 

I may of just created a new law of physics.

 

Spend more money equates to more Thai friendships.

8 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

I think that's a very good policy in general and a safe one at that. It's very easy to quickly run out of superficial topics that you can discuss with them. And, after that, if you attempt to start moving onto deeper and more substantive subjects, you risk inadvertently insulting them and causing them to lose face. They sometimes even get offended by the fact that you know more about the subject or you bring up a topic that they know nothing about. That's when it's likely to cause some friction without meaning to and where things might not turn out so much in your favor, even though you didn't mean anything disrespectful in the first place. 

You are so right.  Getting along is more important than being right or even correct.  This  was a difficult lesson for me to learn.  I realize most of the Thai people I come into contact are not interested in my life story, my work history or even my travel history.  A polite hello, take care of the business at hand and politely leave until the next time.  

1 minute ago, G_Money said:

Thai friendships increase dramatically when one spends more money on them.

 

I may of just created a new law of physics.

 

Spend more money equates to more Thai friendships.

 

Thats Sociology and Psychology not Physics !!!... 

 

But...   anyone for whom money has any form of influence on friendship is not a friend, of course, everyone knows this.

 

I recall a Western friend, years ago...  He became 'good friends' with a Thai guy who worked in a bar (a regular pub type bar)...   a month passed and the Thai lad asked to borrow some money (I can't recall the amount but it wasn't a lot, maybe about 5000 baht)... When I heard this I pointed out that he'll never see the money again... it was no surprise that the Thai guy disappeared. 

 

Over two decades - none of my Thai friends have ever talked about or asked for money... it helps that they are financially independent and most likely wealthier than I.

 

Thus - I think one of the key factors in establishing good friends here is understanding underlying intentions, or rather, being able to eradicate less than honourable intentions - thus, if establishing friends with someone of similar means the 'financial' stigma disappears*.

 

(*caveat - wealthy people also rip others off - so care still needs to be taken when friendships with those of any nationality is evolving).

 

 

 

 

 

I treat Thai people exactly the same as any other nationality, and therefore have friends of all nationalities.

 

I think the only Thai who I didn't get on with was ex-wife #2......

10 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Thats Sociology and Psychology not Physics !!!... 

 

But...   anyone for whom money has any form of influence on friendship is not a friend, of course, everyone knows this.

 

I recall a Western friend, years ago...  He became 'good friends' with a Thai guy who worked in a bar (a regular pub type bar)...   a month passed and the Thai lad asked to borrow some money (I can't recall the amount but it wasn't a lot, maybe about 5000 baht)... When I heard this I pointed out that he'll never see the money again... it was no surprise that the Thai guy disappeared. 

 

Over two decades - none of my Thai friends have ever talked about or asked for money... it helps that they are financially independent and most likely wealthier than I.

 

Thus - I think one of the key factors in establishing good friends here is understanding underlying intentions, or rather, being able to eradicate less than honourable intentions - thus, if establishing friends with someone of similar means the 'financial' stigma disappears*.

 

(*caveat - wealthy people also rip others off - so care still needs to be taken when friendships with those of any nationality is evolving).

 

 

 

 

 

At least he has a friend for life now.  🙂

2 hours ago, BarBoy said:

Just curious as to how AN members get along with their thai counterparts in general on a daily basis.

 

Feel free to answer the poll if you so wish!

 

Thanks and have a nice day 🙂 

So what is your great secret to successful friendships with your Thai counterparts BobBoy? Do tell so that we can all learn from your vast wisdom and experience. 

12 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I treat Thai people exactly the same as any other nationality, and therefore have friends of all nationalities.

 

I think the only Thai who I didn't get on with was ex-wife #2......

What about ex-wife #1?

 

And is there an ex-wife #3 to be?

Thank you for the votes so far!

 

It seems a decent majority do indeed get on well with Thai people.

 

That's great! What's your secret, guys?

 

But there is also a decent chunk (35% of total votes cast) that seem to not get along with them, or anyone else for that matter. Misanthropic or just awake? You decide!

I Get along with everybody.

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

I Get along with everybody.

....even me?

I would not say I have Thai friends. However, I do get on well with Thai people in general because I can speak their language, and am polite. I joke with them sometimes.

 

It's easy to delight some Thais, just compliment them on their English when appropriate. Never fails.

 

Thais that work for me, such as massage ladies and caddies, think I am jai dee. The caddies all refer to me as Santa Claus. I don't know if that's due to my beard, or the tips I give.

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Thais that work for me, such as massage ladies and caddies, think I am jai dee. The caddies all refer to me as Santa Claus. I don't know if that's due to my beard, or the tips I give.

or the extra large waistline?

 

Surely you don't ride a sleigh to work everyday, do you?

 

😄 

 

only kidding buddy..

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I Get along with everybody.

No you don't, not according to your posts here.........🤥

Just now, transam said:

No you don't, not according to your posts here.........🤥

you took the words right outta me mouth!!

5 minutes ago, BarBoy said:

....even me?

I never met you.

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I never met you.

Fancy a pint later?

1 minute ago, transam said:

No you don't, not according to your posts here.........🤥

You all, especially you, are little more than disorganised grabasstic bits and bytes, I wouldnt even know if anybody here exists and dont much care. 

 

This is the internet, not real life.

1 minute ago, BarBoy said:

Fancy a pint later?

Are you a Scouser?

Just now, Yagoda said:

Are you a Scouser?

What's that got to do with anything?

 

Are you prejudiced against people from Liverpool?

 

Not very friendly if you are, is it??

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Thais that work for me, such as massage ladies

You employ massage ladies? How many of them do you have working for you? Do the ones that provide a happy ending get paid more?

2 minutes ago, ChumpChange said:

Do the ones that provide a happy ending get paid more?

why would they?

 

nothing better than a freebie!

besides, prostitution is illegal in LOS...

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

This is the internet, not real life.

Careful, you risk offending many posters on this site whose whole lives revolve around this imaginary sweaty joint. 

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You all, especially you, are little more than disorganised grabasstic bits and bytes, I wouldnt even know if anybody here exists and dont much care. 

 

This is the internet, not real life.

My point is proven..........

Plus, all those folk that didn't vote Trump, that you hate............

So, don't tell fibs, you don't get along with everybody.............🤥

Just now, ChumpChange said:

Careful, you risk offending many posters on this site whose whole lives revolve around this imaginary sweaty joint. 

you mean like yourself?

Just now, BarBoy said:

nothing better than a freebie!

Spoken like a true Dutchman. 

Just now, ChumpChange said:

Spoken like a true Dutchman. 

I'm not dutch.

Just now, BarBoy said:

you mean like yourself?

Impossible to offend me, but you can try. The floor is yours...

Just now, ChumpChange said:

Impossible to offend me, but you can try. The floor is yours...

I'm not trying to.

 

I was actually being dead serious!