The lack of helmets, and a general dislike of tans

[Krillin]

I live in Khon Kaen and would like for someone to explain the reasoning behind something I see and encounter almost everywhere I go. There seems to be a widespread dislike of tanned skin, and a desire for bright, youthful, unblemished faces without wrinkles. I presume there is also an awareness that direct sunlight causes the very kind of skin they want to avoid. A simple remedy for this would be wearing a helmet while riding motorcycles and mopeds. Wearing helmets would also cut down on head injuries incurred from ubiquitous poor driving habits. Despite this, few people seem to wear helmets while riding -- not even sunglasses! And so they get wrinkles and crows' feet by their mid-twenties. I don't understand the reluctance to wear helmets when doing so would clearly be in their best interests. Would someone please explain to me what their actual thought processes are pertaining to this? Thanks.

[ronster]

Dark skin is associated with being poor as you are outside Woking all day , if light or white skin people think you are well off or have a good office job. Totally shallow and pointless as Tesco staff are usually white from working inside and they ain't rich I'm sure.

As for helmets. Full face helmet is expensive and hot and then people can't see your beautiful white face if wearing one . 

[Dionigi]

Dark skin shows your class, people work outside are low class, and people who do not have to toil under the sun are higher class. When it comes to helmets it is a matter of either cost, low income cannot afford, or I am never going to have an accident why do I need a helmet, and I only ever travel in town at low speed, or I am young and don't care. When the helmet law was introduced in the UK there was a large number of protesters, who did not see why they should be forced to wear a helmet when they did not want to. The same happened with seat belts., only strict enforcement made people comply with the law. Thailand does not enforce its laws except when an edict from on high is given and that soon peters out.

[newbee2022]

18 hours ago, Krillin said:

I live in Khon Kaen and would like for someone to explain the reasoning behind something I see and encounter almost everywhere I go. There seems to be a widespread dislike of tanned skin, and a desire for bright, youthful, unblemished faces without wrinkles. I presume there is also an awareness that direct sunlight causes the very kind of skin they want to avoid. A simple remedy for this would be wearing a helmet while riding motorcycles and mopeds. Wearing helmets would also cut down on head injuries incurred from ubiquitous poor driving habits. Despite this, few people seem to wear helmets while riding -- not even sunglasses! And so they get wrinkles and crows' feet by their mid-twenties. I don't understand the reluctance to wear helmets when doing so would clearly be in their best interests. Would someone please explain to me what their actual thought processes are pertaining to this? Thanks.

To be honest I haven't seen anybody at the sea side wearing a helmet, though there might be some Alu-Hats around.

If you go into a drug store/Tesco/BigC/Lazada you'll find thousands of skin care products promising "whitening".

The reason:

Tanned skin is connected to lower work outside/rice field/construction = low income/low level.

And all "HiSo" got white skin. Working inside/Aircon.

Different from Western World

[AustinRacing]

Very simple. Folks tend to live in “now” with little care for future consequences. It’s cheaper, more comfortable, more convenient, less hot to ride with no helmet. 

[novacova]

My wife is a vampire and hates the sun, she’s always covered well even in 42 degree heat. Bought her a 16000฿ helmet and wears when she rides to the corner kad.

[MalcolmB]

Thai women are more attractive when white

Farangs look better tanned.

 

No need for helmets, they just mess up your hair and you get sweaty.

 

Dont worry about people, just mind you own business and live and let live.

 

 

 

[Stargeezr]

I used to ride my Honda 125CC bike around the Hua Hin area, and every year I see less and less helmets

being worn by Thai and Forein riders. I have not sympathy when I read of someone crashing and

getting killed, because they did not wear a helmet. My Thai relatives in Bangkok all wear helmets when they

take a motorcycle ride in the city. They know that their chances are better, and they can always comb their hair

when they are not on the bikes.  Good Luck  in Thailand, and keep yourself medically insured when you

are in the country, it is not cheap to be in a private hospital when you wake up after your crash.

[Grusa]

21 hours ago, Krillin said:

Would someone please explain to me what their actual thought processes are pertaining to this? Thanks.

There is a non-sequitur in that sentence. Thought processes are rigidly suppressed from birth, as a matter of political policy.

[Luuk Chaai]

3 hours ago, Dionigi said:

Dark skin shows your class, people work outside are low class, and people who do not have to toil under the sun are higher class. When it comes to helmets it is a matter of either cost, low income cannot afford, or I am never going to have an accident why do I need a helmet, and I only ever travel in town at low speed, or I am young and don't care. When the helmet law was introduced in the UK there was a large number of protesters, who did not see why they should be forced to wear a helmet when they did not want to. The same happened with seat belts., only strict enforcement made people comply with the law. Thailand does not enforce its laws except when an edict from on high is given and that soon peters out.

 

My wifes  "friends " asked her why her skin was darker / tanned ...

 

I had her all prepped and ready for a reply 

 "I don't need to work..  we are very fortunate, and we spend lot's of time on holidays at the beach or hotel pools enjoying our comfotable life !

[black tabby12345]

a desire for bright, youthful, unblemished faces without wrinkles.

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

I presume it is pretty much like the western(especially American) influence.

They always value youthfulness, and looking young.

I have even heard that all of the female federal/state politicians in US over 40, get some form of facelift

 

Regarding their "obsession" with fair skin, it is the reflection of their vague psychological admiration of the west.

Also linked to their social class definition(perception).

Being whiter, regarded "brain workers" who do their jobs in A/C comfort.

Being tanned deemed "manual workers".

 

Inside their mind: Whiter, better educated and better paid(wealthier).

Darker, less educated, lowly paid(poorer).

 

A kind of childish silly prejudice though.

This world is supported by the people who engage in manual works(food production, and infrastructure building/maintenance).

 

[youreavinalaff]

4 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Thai women are more attractive when white

That would be your opinion.

 

Personally, I wouldn't place the whole female population in one group.

 

Women in general look better with their natural look. Any chemical or surgical cosmetic interference just spoils their looks.

[Purdey]

I remember reading that author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife were the first trendsetting Americans to go sunbathing in the South of France. Up until then, white skinned westerners were the norm for the reason that only the poor got tanned working in the sun. Then it became trendy, because you had to be rich to holiday on the Riviera. As people moved indoors to work in factories, they became whiter, while the rich went abroad and got a tan.

 

As for the helmetless on bikes, a guess would be that some people never think "it will happen to them". Also, it you are poor and cannot afford a car, the motorbike is the poor man's pickup truck, and buying five helmets just adds to the expense.

[Barnet1900]

I don't think money comes into it with helmets. Some are too poor to afford one but the overwhelming majority don't wear them because they're too lazy or vain to do so.

 

As for skin colour, the west is obsessed with tanned skin but Asia is the opposite. People always want what they don't have.

[watchcat]

On 4/2/2025 at 2:22 AM, ronster said:

Full face helmet is expensive

 

How much does a new mobile phone cost every year?

[impulse]

On 4/2/2025 at 9:30 AM, newbee2022 said:

Tanned skin is connected to lower work outside/rice field/construction = low income/low level.

And all "HiSo" got white skin. Working inside/Aircon.

Different from Western World

 

Used to be the same in the USA.  Then a switch flipped and a deep tan meant you had leisure time to frolic in the sunshine.  Then skin cancer flipped it back.  Then they invented the stuff you just slather on for a deep tan.  It's confusing.

 

Regarding the OP and helmets, I support their use, but I also support the freedom to choose.  It's none of my business, especially as a guest.  And I'm appalled at the less-than-useful pieces of plastic that are legally approved as "helmets".  If you are going to mandate helmets, mandate the ones that will actually protect riders.

 

Edit:  Same with life jackets.  There should be some minimum standard, along the lines of USCG Approved back home.  Maybe not the same standard, but there should be one.