Introspection: Are You a Chronic Complainer, or Are These Just Minor Inconveniences?

[hankypankee]

If you spend enough time on this forum, you’ll notice a consistent trend: some people seem to struggle with nearly every bureaucratic or systematic process in Thailand. If the posts here were the only source of information about how things get done, you’d think it was almost impossible to live here legally.

 

From visa extensions, 90-day reports, and TM30 address reporting to opening a bank account, filing tax returns, and transferring money in and out internationally, the complaints never stop. Getting a Thai driver’s license is somehow “very complicated,” yet thousands of foreigners manage to do it without much difficulty and without hiring unnecessary consultants or agents. Meeting the financial requirements for a retirement visa is “unreasonable,” according to some, but isn’t that just the reality of living here long-term?

 

Then there’s the outrage over work permits and visa rules, the difficulties of registering a car or motorbike, and the supposed impossibility of owning property and the challenges of buying a condo (even though the laws are clear and have been for years). Some people complain that overstaying a visa results in fines and bans, as if immigration rules are ever optional anywhere in the world. Others act surprised when they run into problems with marriage and divorce laws, even though a little due diligence could have saved them the trouble.

 

Of course, bureaucracy anywhere can be frustrating. But are these really particularly massive issues in Thailand more so than in other places around the world, or are they just the standard rules of living in a foreign country? Most of these things seem to merely take a little effort, patience, and an understanding that things don’t always work exactly the way they do back home.

 

Personally, I haven’t had an exceeding amount of difficulty with any of these things over the years. It’s just a matter of following the rules, making sure you have the right paperwork, and then things move along mostly as expected.

 

So, are many of the incessant complaints in these forums legitimate, or are people just malignant moaners making life harder for themselves (and making it seem that way to others) than it really needs to be?

[wozzlegummich]

There is one place just off the coast of Europe whose inhabitants would win the Gold Medal in a complaining contest. (And I bet they will comment here just to prove me right).

[FriscoKid]

Talk to Robert_Smith. He certainly built an entire career on AN by thanklessly whinging about anything and everything in Thailand. 

[atpeace]

Some posters need it to feel better about themselves.  Most are harmless albeit pathetic.  Thailand does attract loads of losers that do what losers do. 

[Yagoda]

1 minute ago, atpeace said:

Some posters need it to feel better about themselves.  Most are harmless albeit pathetic.  Thailand does attract loads of losers that do what losers do. 

You can see them over in the Soapbox screaming their fevered Trump nightmares and looking for Russians under the bed,

[atpeace]

That is completely different set of individuals that might also be part of the group the OP was describing. They are just butt hurt and with time will regain their senses.

[short-Timer]

16 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

You can see them over in the Soapbox screaming their fevered Trump nightmares and looking for Russians under the bed,

Many of the people in your beloved Soapbox come across as unintelligent and obsessed with acting solely as an echo chamber, with all the same talking points repeated over and over by the right wing media, fully absent of any substance or facts.

And all the name calling and belittling. Telling people on the left in an insulting way that they are having difficulty coping while offering nothing of relevance or comforting that things aren't really as bad as they really are.
 

It's really just a toxic pile of childish and rotting manure. Everyone will suffer the same consequences no matter which side they are on. There is only one world that everyone is able to share in. Can't really understand why anyone even wastes their time engaging with all the stupidity. I certainly don't. 

[worgeordie]

3 hours ago, wozzlegummich said:

There is one place just off the coast of Europe whose inhabitants would win the Gold Medal in a complaining contest. (And I bet they will comment here just to prove me right).

Do you mean Ireland or Isle of Man ? , you really should make a complaint and

come out with who you really are referring too....☺️

 

regards worgeordie

[Harrisfan]

33 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

with all the same talking points repeated over and over by the right wing media, fully absent of any substance or facts.

Only 10% of US media is right wing.

[Harrisfan]

35 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

There is only one world that everyone is able to share in.

Which the socialists in ww2 tried to destroy. You want that back?

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

Some posters need it to feel better about themselves.  Most are harmless albeit pathetic.  Thailand does attract loads of losers that do what losers do. 

Look at all the conspiratorial anti semites here. Thats the definition of loser.

[OneMoreFarang]

Every country has rules and regulation, and bureaucrats. I don't think Thailand is worse than "home".

 

The problem for many of us is obviously the fact that those rules and forms are mostly in Thai language. And most of us can't read Thai. I don't think we should blame Thailand for the fact that they use Thai language in Thailand.

And of course we are a small minority. I.e. some people complain that there are special rules for foreigners in banks. They shouldn't be surprised about that. And they shouldn't be surprised that companies don't spend huge resources only for a few farangs.

 

Obviously, there are some rules which I don't like. But there is no point in complaining. Just follow the rules and case closed.

[Captain Flack]

A number of off topic posts trying to deflect the topic to a political agenda have been removed.

[Stocky]

Some folk are only happy when they're moaning.

[newbee2022]

11 hours ago, hankypankee said:

Personally, I haven’t had an exceeding amount of difficulty with any of these things over the years. It’s just a matter of following the rules, making sure you have the right paperwork, and then things move along mostly as expected.

Thank you for your expertise.

Many members here are struggling with everything...at most with their lives.

 

[steven100]

5 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Thank you for your expertise.

Many members here are struggling with everything...at most with their lives.

 

you are perfect.   I wanna be just like you.    

[newbee2022]

46 minutes ago, steven100 said:

you are perfect.   I wanna be just like you.    

Yeah, many try to ❗👍😄😍

[4MyEgo]

17 hours ago, hankypankee said:

So, are many of the incessant complaints in these forums legitimate, or are people just malignant moaners making life harder for themselves (and making it seem that way to others) than it really needs to be?

 

Some complaints are acknowledged as genuine, but the majority in my opinion are not.

 

I suppose you can put that down to the non genuine complainers as being those that complain about the life in general and of course go on attacking others on the forum if they don't see things their way.

 

For me personally nothing is hard here, it's actually easier if you adjust your mentality as to the way you were taught to think back home and let go of "principals", because mostly they do not exist here, you have to adjust or you don't enjoy it.

 

Sure the 90 days can be a pain for some, but the sooner they face it, and go on line and get it over with (2 minutes tops), it's over, the annual extension for me, is my biggest gripe, as it takes a whole day to print off docs, check everything is in order, then go to the bank, the Amphur to get a doc saying we are still married, even though no one saw me, as I was at the photo shop getting my photo taken, so one has to question, how would they know I am still married, then drive 90 kilometres to the immigration office and then go back in a couple of months to get the stamp in the Passport. Total waste of time and petrol, but hey, you want to stay another 12 months, you got to adjust your mind set, even though I could think of and I would imagine others could too, of an easier way to do things, like bank statement and photo, while your at it, do away with the 90 days....LOL.

 

I have found in the decade that I have lived here, if you allow things to get under your skin, you will return to where you came from, almost did it twice in my earlier years, and then you have to ask yourself, is the grass greener over there, hell yeh, but the cost of living there vs here means life wouldn't be as relaxed as it is here.

 

Guess what I am trying to convey here is those that don't stop complaining or tone it down and adjust, will just be miserable sods unloading here on AN, so to speak, just my opinion of course. 

[Gknrd]

"Of course, bureaucracy anywhere can be frustrating. But are these really particularly massive issues in Thailand more so than in other places around the world"

 

I travel allot, and I can tell you now , it is a pain in the A$$, and massively more difficult than most countries I travel to. The whole of the North American continent makes Thailand look like a complete joke and to be avoided.  

 

I see these articles about Thailand is the best, about allot of related things. Written by Thai's that think Thailand is the center of the universe, or by foreigners that live there and don't have a clue what they are talking about, but convinced that Thailand is the center of the universe... hahahaha. What a joke.

[GammaGlobulin]

Does anyone here know the meaning of....

 

INTROSPECTION?

 

[rough diamond]

15 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Does anyone here know the meaning of....

 

INTROSPECTION?

 

Use google and who cares anyway?

Why do you post such cr@p?

[riclag]

20 hours ago, hankypankee said:

If you spend enough time on this forum, you’ll notice a consistent trend: some people seem to struggle with nearly every bureaucratic or systematic process in Thailand. If the posts here were the only source of information about how things get done, you’d think it was almost impossible to live here legally.

 

From visa extensions, 90-day reports, and TM30 address reporting to opening a bank account, filing tax returns, and transferring money in and out internationally, the complaints never stop. Getting a Thai driver’s license is somehow “very complicated,” yet thousands of foreigners manage to do it without much difficulty and without hiring unnecessary consultants or agents. Meeting the financial requirements for a retirement visa is “unreasonable,” according to some, but isn’t that just the reality of living here long-term?

 

Then there’s the outrage over work permits and visa rules, the difficulties of registering a car or motorbike, and the supposed impossibility of owning property and the challenges of buying a condo (even though the laws are clear and have been for years). Some people complain that overstaying a visa results in fines and bans, as if immigration rules are ever optional anywhere in the world. Others act surprised when they run into problems with marriage and divorce laws, even though a little due diligence could have saved them the trouble.

 

Of course, bureaucracy anywhere can be frustrating. But are these really particularly massive issues in Thailand more so than in other places around the world, or are they just the standard rules of living in a foreign country? Most of these things seem to merely take a little effort, patience, and an understanding that things don’t always work exactly the way they do back home.

 

Personally, I haven’t had an exceeding amount of difficulty with any of these things over the years. It’s just a matter of following the rules, making sure you have the right paperwork, and then things move along mostly as expected.

 

So, are many of the incessant complaints in these forums legitimate, or are people just malignant moaners making life harder for themselves (and making it seem that way to others) than it really needs to be?

I hear you! I can’t speak for everyone but I do find issues with signing my

name on all the immigration docs, chickens who crow all day long, and the 5 small yapping neighbors dogs who constantly consume my air waves.

Other than that ,bureaucracy sucks in any country!

[RSD1]

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Does anyone here know the meaning of....

 

INTROSPECTION?

 

Absolutely no clue what it means. Not only am I lacking in having a grasp of basic English language vocabulary, but my dictionary just broke down at the worst possible time. Please enlighten us with one of your usual lengthy posts filled with music video links from YouTube and various other assorted tangential graphics. 

[Harrisfan]

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Does anyone here know the meaning of....

 

INTROSPECTION?

 

Yes

[GammaGlobulin]

26 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Yes

 

Oh...

Because, I guess I must have been confused while reading the Topic heading.

 

[Captain Flack]

Some off topic posts removed, to stop deflecting the topic.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 2/26/2025 at 12:16 AM, hankypankee said:

some people seem to struggle with nearly every bureaucratic or systematic process in Thailand

Yep, lots here were born miserable, always moaning about this and that. 

 

Learn to switch off. 

 

We're outnumbered, too many here. 

 

[NoshowJones]

On 2/26/2025 at 12:16 AM, hankypankee said:

If you spend enough time on this forum, you’ll notice a consistent trend: some people seem to struggle with nearly every bureaucratic or systematic process in Thailand. If the posts here were the only source of information about how things get done, you’d think it was almost impossible to live here legally.

 

From visa extensions, 90-day reports, and TM30 address reporting to opening a bank account, filing tax returns, and transferring money in and out internationally, the complaints never stop. Getting a Thai driver’s license is somehow “very complicated,” yet thousands of foreigners manage to do it without much difficulty and without hiring unnecessary consultants or agents. Meeting the financial requirements for a retirement visa is “unreasonable,” according to some, but isn’t that just the reality of living here long-term?

 

Then there’s the outrage over work permits and visa rules, the difficulties of registering a car or motorbike, and the supposed impossibility of owning property and the challenges of buying a condo (even though the laws are clear and have been for years). Some people complain that overstaying a visa results in fines and bans, as if immigration rules are ever optional anywhere in the world. Others act surprised when they run into problems with marriage and divorce laws, even though a little due diligence could have saved them the trouble.

 

Of course, bureaucracy anywhere can be frustrating. But are these really particularly massive issues in Thailand more so than in other places around the world, or are they just the standard rules of living in a foreign country? Most of these things seem to merely take a little effort, patience, and an understanding that things don’t always work exactly the way they do back home.

 

Personally, I haven’t had an exceeding amount of difficulty with any of these things over the years. It’s just a matter of following the rules, making sure you have the right paperwork, and then things move along mostly as expected.

 

So, are many of the incessant complaints in these forums legitimate, or are people just malignant moaners making life harder for themselves (and making it seem that way to others) than it really needs to be?

Name me another country where expats have to do 90 day reporting? This is the sort of thing you do to criminals on parole in a normal country.

[NoshowJones]

On 2/26/2025 at 9:03 AM, Harrisfan said:

Which the socialists in ww2 tried to destroy. You want that back?

Socialists????

[Harrisfan]

7 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Socialists????

You must be one