Strange and annoying things here in land of smiles

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/10/2025 at 3:18 AM, it is what it is said:

though in truth, sounds like thailand may not be the place for you.

You nailed it. Some are just not mentally equipped to live in LOS. A lot of tolerance is required to get the most from Thailand.

[Delta Shift]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

BTW, I don't believe you have personal experience with a "substantial part of the population", given how many million of them there are.

 

I don't need to. I can make up my mind by exposing myself to a roughly representative sample.

 

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I get the feeling that those that complain live in touristed places. Away from such and horrid cities like Bkk the people are usually lovely to deal with. Wonderful shop keepers in the village- so helpful.

 

My experience is that outside cities people are completely submissive. So you can't really know how they feel coz they are constantly censoring themselves as they've been taught to do so. It is true that interacting with these people can be a breeze if they speak english (most of the time they don't) but it doesn't say much about their inner lives.

[marin]

2 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

 

I don't need to. I can make up my mind by exposing myself to a roughly representative sample.

 

 

My experience is that outside cities people are completely submissive. So you can't really know how they feel coz they are constantly censoring themselves as they've been taught to do so. It is true that interacting with these people can be a breeze if they speak english (most of the time they don't) but it doesn't say much about their inner lives.

Sounds like you are reading from a script. I very much doubt you speak much Thai.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

don't need to. I can make up my mind by exposing myself to a roughly representative sample.

I never had anything like the problems you had, so I disagree with your opinion of Thai people.I'd rather live in LOS than in the West. Western people are stressed and angry, and service is hard to find in any large store.

[Delta Shift]

2 minutes ago, marin said:

Sounds like you are reading from a script.

 

Yeah right. That's it. Exactly. I'm reading a script.

Thx

[Delta Shift]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I never had anything like the problems you had, so I disagree with your opinion of Thai people.

 

Fair enough.

 

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'd rather live in LOS than in the West.

 

That's because you're a westerner.

Most Thais would rather live in the West than in Thailand.

Fairly easy to understand why...

[thaibeachlovers]

7 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

My experience is that outside cities people are completely submissive. So you can't really know how they feel coz they are constantly censoring themselves as they've been taught to do so. It is true that interacting with these people can be a breeze if they speak english (most of the time they don't) but it doesn't say much about their inner lives.

Again, I never experienced anything like you describe.

 

To survive in LOS, accept and adapt. They are not like western people and thank goodness they ain't.

[Delta Shift]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

To survive in LOS, accept and adapt.

 

Submissive mentality.

But hey... If you don't respect yourself, no reason for them to respect you.

[marin]

3 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

Most Thais would rather live in the West than in Thailand.

Fairly easy to understand why...

I am gonna stop here because you are clueless. Proof is right here. As unknowing  as I have encountered in my 36 years here. You may well be the nicest guy in the world but you are really dont have any idea about Thailand. 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

 

Fair enough.

 

 

That's because you're a westerner.

Most Thais would rather live in the West than in Thailand.

Fairly easy to understand why...

If I had to work like a dog for 9,000 baht a month, I'd probably want to go where I could earn more too ( actually I did- my wages sucked so I worked in Saudi ), but that isn't what we are discussing. We are discussing Thai character, and I prefer Thai over western.Something to do with being happier and less greedy.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

 

Submissive mentality.

But hey... If you don't respect yourself, no reason for them to respect you.

Somewhat missing the point, but never mind. If you want to be unhappy in LOS up to you. No one else cares.

[Hellfire]

People from Isaan living in poverty often do everything to make their circumstances appear even worse: they wear shabby clothes, dress their children in the same way, and this extends to the interior of their homes and many other aspects of their lives. Yes, you are poor, but why present yourselves as even poorer? 

We took my wife’s child to Pattaya for a few days, and one of the aunts tied some kind of amulet around his neck. You should have seen the strap of that amulet—a dirty, worn-out string that self-respecting people wouldn’t even use to tie up livestock. With that amulet around his neck, the child immediately started looking like a homeless wanderer.

[thaibeachlovers]

3 minutes ago, marin said:

You may well be the nicest guy in the world but you are really dont have any idea about Thailand. 

and that is the truth. Seems a lot of farangs move to Thailand thinking it's going to be just like home, but cheaper with prettier women. When they find out it's nothing like back home, is when the problems start. How many times have farangs on here wanted them to be like the people in the place they didn't want to live in?

I'm happy they are the way they are, as becoming like us is not good for them. Greed is not a substitute for happiness.

[trainman34014]

On 1/8/2025 at 7:56 PM, riclag said:

Years ago I  went car shopping up here in Sakon Nakhon . I went to test drive a Honda Civic at the dealership! They didnt have any , they suggested I order one or test drive a Honda Jazz 555.

I told my wife to tell the sales lady , never mind I’ll go to Toyota up the street. 
 

I thought it strange to suggest ordering a  Civic that I couldn’t test drive!

I had a similar experience with a sales promotion in a Supermarket some years ago.   I looked around a car and asked the girl where the dealership was so that i could test drive one and she said ''Oh; no test car, people just buy '' .   I replied ''Sorry; no test drive, no buy !

[fredwiggy]

48 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and that is the truth. Seems a lot of farangs move to Thailand thinking it's going to be just like home, but cheaper with prettier women. When they find out it's nothing like back home, is when the problems start. How many times have farangs on here wanted them to be like the people in the place they didn't want to live in?

I'm happy they are the way they are, as becoming like us is not good for them. Greed is not a substitute for happiness.

They would do, and do, most anything to be just like us.They've adopted everything western is all about. Their TV's, computers, cars, trucks, phones, pop music, TV shows, and lifestyle mirrors western. There aren't many things that are actually made here in Thailand, especially that are exported besides rice. canned pineapple, tuna and cassava. Greed is a household deal here, with much of their praying to Buddha about cash and gold. Westerners might be greedy also, but greed in a poor country abounds, as most want what others have.

 

We move here mostly knowing what Thailand is all about, as many of us hear news about this country years before we ever come here. Thais don't know much about other countries because their school system doesn't teach much, and their ideas about western life is skewed by some letting them think we are all rich, which is far from the truth. Up to 70% of school girls are molested by the time they are 17, which is nowhere near the 11% in the US. A large amount of children grow up with no contact or support from their fathers. Yes, in other countries many dad's don't care much, but they do make a better effort at contact and support is mandatory.

 

Foreigners would like to see more improvement here of course because this is a developing country far behind in it's thinking and actions, and the people here suffer for it. If you think most here are happy you'd be wrong. They get by, daily, on very little and many turn to drugs and alcohol because of the sheer boredom of life here. Yes, greed is not a substitute for happiness, but having more daily needs and a better pay scale is a necessity and not a luxury. If it wasn't for foreign tourism this country would suffer even more, and if you took away the purchased women, it would be very little besides the beaches and food.

[fredwiggy]

44 minutes ago, Hellfire said:

People from Isaan living in poverty often do everything to make their circumstances appear even worse: they wear shabby clothes, dress their children in the same way, and this extends to the interior of their homes and many other aspects of their lives. Yes, you are poor, but why present yourselves as even poorer? 

We took my wife’s child to Pattaya for a few days, and one of the aunts tied some kind of amulet around his neck. You should have seen the strap of that amulet—a dirty, worn-out string that self-respecting people wouldn’t even use to tie up livestock. With that amulet around his neck, the child immediately started looking like a homeless wanderer.

It's not that they do it intentionally. It's just is what it is. If you live in a dirty house, it's because you aren't a clean person to begin with. When my daughter goes back to her mom and grandma's house, she isn't taken care of like she is here, and her diet is much the same every day. I can't remember how many times she's gotten lice staying there, and if this was the US, she would have been given to me as primary caretaker from the very beginning, but living in squalor is a way of life for many, so it isn't in the court's minds when making that decision. The woman gets them, always.

[Delta Shift]

57 minutes ago, marin said:

I am gonna stop here because you are clueless. Proof is right here. As unknowing  as I have encountered in my 36 years here. You may well be the nicest guy in the world but you are really dont have any idea about Thailand. 

 

Just ask young Thai people where they would like to get a job. Spoiler : the West. Why? Because Thailand sucks when you're Thai. No freedom, no justice, a frozen social ladder, corruption everywhere, etc... Hundreds of vids on this topic for free on Youtube. Thai people telling it as it is. Sorry but you've been living in a dream for 36 yrs.

[Delta Shift]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If I had to work like a dog for 9,000 baht a month, I'd probably want to go where I could earn more too ( actually I did- my wages sucked so I worked in Saudi ), but that isn't what we are discussing. We are discussing Thai character, and I prefer Thai over western.Something to do with being happier and less greedy.

Happier and less greedy ?

😄😄😄😄😄😄

Westerners are a billion times more generous than Thais. Probably our christian roots. Don't confuse collectivism with generosity. As for happiness, Thais don't know how to let go: they are stuck in the psychological prison of their archaic education. You're fooling yourself. Too much of a coward to accept the truth ? I don't know...

[marin]

24 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

 

Just ask young Thai people where they would like to get a job. Spoiler : the West. Why? Because Thailand sucks when you're Thai. No freedom, no justice, a frozen social ladder, corruption everywhere, etc... Hundreds of vids on this topic for free on Youtube. Thai people telling it as it is. Sorry but you've been living in a dream for 36 yrs.

 

12 minutes ago, Delta Shift said:

Happier and less greedy ?

😄😄😄😄😄😄

Westerners are a billion times more generous than Thais. Probably our christian roots. Don't confuse collectivism with generosity. As for happiness, Thais don't know how to let go: they are stuck in the psychological prison of their archaic education. You're fooling yourself. Too much of a coward to accept the truth ? I don't know...

You are the most clueless individual I have met in Thailand. Enjoy your oblivion.  

[Mark Nothing]

The trick here is to flip the script. You control your emotions, not others. It helps to control your mood rather than allowing someone else to.

 

Those who do better here adapt to the ideosynchracies rather than expecting the other way around.

 

Another helpful strategy is to try to eliminate those situations that annoy you as much as possible.  Which is most things.

 

Far and away the most helpful strategy is to start the day with a prayer of thanksgiving for the ability to control your emotions to enjoy your life.  And it happens, stress free.

[EVENKEEL]

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It's not that they do it intentionally. It's just is what it is. If you live in a dirty house, it's because you aren't a clean person to begin with. When my daughter goes back to her mom and grandma's house, she isn't taken care of like she is here, and her diet is much the same every day. I can't remember how many times she's gotten lice staying there, and if this was the US, she would have been given to me as primary caretaker from the very beginning, but living in squalor is a way of life for many, so it isn't in the court's minds when making that decision. The woman gets them, always.

When we relocated our daughter at age 5 , her new school (English Program) let us know that we had to get rid of her hair lice. Moving her from the Isaan lifestyle has given her a new perspective on life.

 

 

[riclag]

25 minutes ago, Mark Nothing said:

The trick here is to flip the script. You control your emotions, not others. It helps to control your mood rather than allowing someone else to.

 

Those who do better here adapt to the ideosynchracies rather than expecting the other way around.

 

Another helpful strategy is to try to eliminate those situations that annoy you as much as possible.  Which is most things.

 

Far and away the most helpful strategy is to start the day with a prayer of thanksgiving for the ability to control your emotions to enjoy your life.  And it happens, stress free.

You sound like  a 12 step program!555

I like your first paragraph , knowing or realizing you can’t change others but only yourself! I use this everyday,sometimes it works and sometimes one must complain! 555

All in all theres much truth in that paragraph!

[riclag]

31 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

When we relocated our daughter at age 5 , her new school (English Program) let us know that we had to get rid of her hair lice. Moving her from the Isaan lifestyle has given her a new perspective on life.

 

 

Which reminds me ! I must instill 

on my wife to check her 8 year old granddaughters hair every time she

comes over. 

[Delta Shift]

2 hours ago, marin said:

 

You are the most clueless individual I have met in Thailand. Enjoy your oblivion.  

 

Yeah the oblivion of my education.
I will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Progress_Index

 

Thailand ranks 71th.
Top 10 ? Europe + Canada.

 

Thai people ain't happier and certainly ain't more generous.

[Hellfire]

 A funny story about these scammers calling themselves Buddhist monks here in Thailand. On the way from Isan to Pattaya, my wife and I noticed two monks hitchhiking on the side of the road. One of them was holding out his hand with an empty bottle. Usually, I don't pay attention to these religious figures. But I saw people who seemed to have run out of drinking water, so I stopped the car. We had three bottles of water in the car, and I told my wife to hand them over to them.

Almost immediately, I regretted stopping the car: my wife started kneeling before what were essentially her peers (as  "that's the only way to interact with these "holy" people"). And then things got even worse. Apart from their lustful looks at my wife, one of the monks pulled out a whole list of needs: they needed money, not just water. They also wanted to travel somewhere 200 kilometers away from where we stopped and were trying to hitch a ride in our car.

We barely got rid of these beggars and opportunists by giving them 100 baht. I promised myself never to help these con artists again.

[ricklev]

On 1/10/2025 at 12:39 AM, alien365 said:

For me, what's strange is when I order food and they bring my warm rice, then it sits going cold for 15 minutes before they bring the rest of the food I ordered. 

More often, for me, the food comes and then we sit around waiting for the rice.  Either way, doh!

[NanLaew]

14 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Again, I never experienced anything like you describe.

 

To survive in LOS, accept and adapt. They are not like western people and thank goodness they ain't.

 

...or else we would have bugger all to whine about.

[NanLaew]

9 hours ago, Hellfire said:

 A funny story about these scammers calling themselves Buddhist monks here in Thailand. On the way from Isan to Pattaya, my wife and I noticed two monks hitchhiking on the side of the road. One of them was holding out his hand with an empty bottle. Usually, I don't pay attention to these religious figures. But I saw people who seemed to have run out of drinking water, so I stopped the car. We had three bottles of water in the car, and I told my wife to hand them over to them.

Almost immediately, I regretted stopping the car: my wife started kneeling before what were essentially her peers (as  "that's the only way to interact with these "holy" people"). And then things got even worse. Apart from their lustful looks at my wife, one of the monks pulled out a whole list of needs: they needed money, not just water. They also wanted to travel somewhere 200 kilometers away from where we stopped and were trying to hitch a ride in our car.

We barely got rid of these beggars and opportunists by giving them 100 baht. I promised myself never to help these con artists again.

 

This 'Ahhh... grasshopper' moment brought to you by @Hellfire

[radiochaser]

On 1/8/2025 at 5:18 AM, richard_smith237 said:

I must say... The 'bow on the car and fake flowers' thing is a bit odd (not annoying though).

 

I've never encountered it previously (+20 years here and numerous cars), but when picking up a car recently they had the bow and fake flowers etc...   Wife and I wanted nothing to do with that, so asked the staff to remove them. 

 

They wanted 'their photo' so Wife reluctantly agreed after they agreed not to put anything on social media, not that its a big deal, but it just looks a big crass and showy to have photo taken like that with a new car - its just car.

 

 

Another one that entertains me: Adult females wearing pyjama's in the Wet Market, or at every hotel Buffet Breakfast...  (again not annoying, but makes wonder what they are thinking).

 

Pajama People

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Foreigners would like to see more improvement here of course because this is a developing country far behind in it's thinking and actions, and the people here suffer for it.

Typical farang arrogant thinking that they are better than Thais. It's like western countries are perfect, when they are just as backward as Thailand in many aspects. People complain about the school system in Thailand when western teaching is rubbish for the average pupil.

Western countries are just as bad as LOS when it comes to violence and crime.

 

Tell me this, if west is best, why are so many westerners wanting to live in LOS?

IMO the west sucks, and Thailand, for all it's problems is way ahead of the west. in so many things.

Of course the poor suffer, as they do in every country including the west, but how many hiso Thais are wanting to live in the west? If west was best all the rich Thais would be living there, but they ain't.

 

Of course poor Thais want to live in the west, because they see western tourists and think everyone in the west gets to live like that, which is far from the truth.