The Only Rule in Thailand Is: Sod Everyone Else Innit

[Lewie London]

Right, so I’m standin’ at the zebra crossin’ near Terminal 21, yeah, sun beatin’ down on me belly, sweat tricklin’ down me arse crack, and I’m waitin’ for what should be a basic civic miracle, a car to stop for me to cross the Asoke intersection. Green man’s flashin’, I step out, and what happens? Some bloke in a Honda Accord floors it like he’s in bloody Mario Kart and I’m just another banana skin on the track.

 

And this ain’t just a one-off. Nah mates, it’s every day. Every road’s a roulette wheel. I’ve seen toddlers, pensioners, even a geezer in a wheelchair nearly mown down by grannies in pastel Toyotas, one hand on the wheel and the other clutchin’ to a bubble tea like their life depends on it. Thai people pride themselves on bein’ passive, non-confrontational, cool as cucumbers on a valium drip. But get ‘em behind a wheel and it’s Mad Max on Meth.

 

Same goes for elevators. You’re tryin’ to get out, yeah, doors open, and bang, it's a bloody stampede. Aunties, schoolkids, delivery drivers, all surgin’ in like it’s Black Friday at Big C. I got wedged once, shoulder to shoulder with a bloke stinkier than a fish market bin loaded up on M-150, just ’cause no one had the patience to let people out first. It’s like manners clock out the minute you step inside a shopping mall.

 

And don’t even get me started on queues. Or more accurately, the complete absence of ‘em. At 7-Eleven it’s a bloody scrum. You’re standin’ there with your Leo, a toasty, and a packet of crisps, and some lad in flip-flops breezes past like you’re a ghost. Same at the BTS ticket machines. It’s not a queue, it’s a war zone. Hunger Games without the dignity.

 

I’ve travelled, alright? Europe, the US, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, even Cambodia. Never seen this sort of carry-on. Maybe China’s the only place that came close, but those barbarians, at least there you expect it. Here, it’s all wai to your elders, smile at strangers, and then shoulder-barge your way onto a train like you’re in a mosh pit.

 

And don’t feed me that “different culture” waffle. It ain’t culture, it’s selfishness in a smiley wrapper. No spatial awareness, no consideration, no nothin’. Everyone’s in their own little bubble, starin’ at their phone, pretendin’ they don’t see the chaos they’re causin’. But they do see. They know. It ain’t ignorance, it’s quiet, calculated rudeness in a polite outfit.

 

So I’m standin’ there thinkin’, how does a country that goes on about “saving face” have so little shame when it comes to basic public decency?

 

They’re all lovely until there’s a lift button, a zebra crossin’, or a queue involved. Then it’s every geezer for himself and sod the lot of you.

 

Land of Smiles, is it? More like Land of Side-Eye and Brake-Checks. Just watch out for the pickup truck doin’ ninety while you’re crossin’ with the green light and right of way.

[quake]

To long.

First sentence was enough. yawn. 

[Photoguy21]

Obviously you cant find anything good about Thailand. I believe a flight has a seat with you name on it if you want to catch it.

[billd766]

NO.

[Negita43]

Here we go again.

AI used to mean Artificial Insemination

Maybe it still does in a weird sort of way.

[newbee2022]

35 minutes ago, Lewie London said:

Land of Smiles, is it

Yes, if you smile at them they will smile back. Honestly. Try. 🥰

[save the frogs]

your argument is convincing. i'm packing my bags tomorrow.

taking a day off from trump?

 

[Mike_Hunt]

Give it up.  You need a new hobby.

[CanadaSam]

For those of you dissin the OP, you have to agree he is mostly right, and it is well written too.

 

Many, many wonderful things about LOS, but these are some annoying and sometimes dangerous behaviors.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Lewie London said:

Right, so I’m standin’ at the zebra crossin’ near Terminal 21, yeah, sun beatin’ down on me belly, sweat tricklin’ down me arse crack, and I’m waitin’ for what should be a basic civic miracle, a car to stop for me to cross the Asoke intersection. Green man’s flashin’, I step out, and what happens? Some bloke in a Honda Accord floors it like he’s in bloody Mario Kart and I’m just another banana skin on the track.

 

And this ain’t just a one-off. Nah mates, it’s every day. Every road’s a roulette wheel. I’ve seen toddlers, pensioners, even a geezer in a wheelchair nearly mown down by grannies in pastel Toyotas, one hand on the wheel and the other clutchin’ to a bubble tea like their life depends on it. Thai people pride themselves on bein’ passive, non-confrontational, cool as cucumbers on a valium drip. But get ‘em behind a wheel and it’s Mad Max on Meth.

 

Same goes for elevators. You’re tryin’ to get out, yeah, doors open, and bang, it's a bloody stampede. Aunties, schoolkids, delivery drivers, all surgin’ in like it’s Black Friday at Big C. I got wedged once, shoulder to shoulder with a bloke stinkier than a fish market bin loaded up on M-150, just ’cause no one had the patience to let people out first. It’s like manners clock out the minute you step inside a shopping mall.

 

And don’t even get me started on queues. Or more accurately, the complete absence of ‘em. At 7-Eleven it’s a bloody scrum. You’re standin’ there with your Leo, a toasty, and a packet of crisps, and some lad in flip-flops breezes past like you’re a ghost. Same at the BTS ticket machines. It’s not a queue, it’s a war zone. Hunger Games without the dignity.

 

I’ve travelled, alright? Europe, the US, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, even Cambodia. Never seen this sort of carry-on. Maybe China’s the only place that came close, but those barbarians, at least there you expect it. Here, it’s all wai to your elders, smile at strangers, and then shoulder-barge your way onto a train like you’re in a mosh pit.

 

And don’t feed me that “different culture” waffle. It ain’t culture, it’s selfishness in a smiley wrapper. No spatial awareness, no consideration, no nothin’. Everyone’s in their own little bubble, starin’ at their phone, pretendin’ they don’t see the chaos they’re causin’. But they do see. They know. It ain’t ignorance, it’s quiet, calculated rudeness in a polite outfit.

 

So I’m standin’ there thinkin’, how does a country that goes on about “saving face” have so little shame when it comes to basic public decency?

 

They’re all lovely until there’s a lift button, a zebra crossin’, or a queue involved. Then it’s every geezer for himself and sod the lot of you.

 

Land of Smiles, is it? More like Land of Side-Eye and Brake-Checks. Just watch out for the pickup truck doin’ ninety while you’re crossin’ with the green light and right of way.

 

17 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

For those of you dissin the OP, you have to agree he is mostly right, and it is well written too.

 

Many, many wonderful things about LOS, but these are some annoying and sometimes dangerous behaviors.

 

There's road danger in every country. 

[KhunLA]

17 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

For those of you dissin the OP, you have to agree he is mostly right, and it is well written too.

 

Many, many wonderful things about LOS, but these are some annoying and sometimes dangerous behaviors.

Not really, and my experiences are a bit different.  No stating it doesn't happen, but not all the time, and actually the exception.  Getting in/out of BTS/MRT, yes, most times, but almost understandable, if you want to get in at rush hour.

 

Not much different from other big metros that I've visited.  Always a few inconsiderate folks.  

 

Whoosa ... 😎

 

Planes leave TH, a few every hour ... 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, if you smile at them they will smile back. Honestly. Try. 🥰

I do on a daily basis and I get a genuine smile in return. However I live in rural Kamphaeng Phet province which, thankfully is nowhere near a tourist place, such as Pattaya or Phuket.

[Lacessit]

I get on a scooter in Thailand nearly every day.

 

IMO it's less dangerous than doing the same in Australia.

 

The OP does not seem to understand the unwritten rules in Thailand.

 

Rule # 1 is never trust a pedestrian crossing.

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Rule # 1 is never trust a pedestrian crossing.

 

Exhibit #1 as to why you never trust a pedestrian crossing in Thailand.

 

 

 

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

There's road danger in every country. 

 

Which country would you rather drive in? Country A has the lowest rate of fatalities in the world and country B has the highest. Both countries have fatalities. Might as well flip a coin because it really doesn't matter either way, right? 🤔

[NorthernRyland]

 

Here's another one to avoid. The cars have stopped for you but not in the other lane. You cross and look to the left to see if cars are coming in that lane but a motorbike riding outside of the lane sneaks up behind the stopped car and hits you while you were looking the other direction.

 

 

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Which country would you rather drive in? Country A has the lowest rate of fatalities in the world and country B has the highest. Both countries have fatalities.

 

🤔

That's not what I said or alluded to.

 

 "Might as well flip a coin because it really doesn't matter either way, right?" I didn't suggest that and I never would suggest that.

 

Like any human being I would prefer to live in a country which has a low accident / injury / death toll/ from traffic accidents. 

duced too.

[Bill97]

Thread title demonstrates the op’s grave stupidity 

[theshu25]

the op is about as clever as the orange rapist and about as funny as cancer.

[StandardIssue]

Thai people pride themselves on bein’ passive, non-confrontational, cool as cucumbers on a valium drip. But get ‘em behind a wheel and it’s Mad Max on Meth.

 

Actions speak louder than words. Some Thai people have one face and quite another behavior attitude when it comes to business or money and of course, driving. Courtesy to others doesn't surface in driving. Why is this?

 

So, perhaps it's a measure of the person and their thought of others.

 

How somebody behaves behind the wheel to be more indicative of who they are as a person, rather than what they say.

 

I have a very well spoken Bi-lingual Thai friend and she talked about this. Dicotemy of Thai politeness and expressions as opposed to what is really going on in the thinking.

[henryford1958]

He's right about the zebra crossings, they are REALLY dangerous. The Government should either remove them or enforce very strict penalties for misuse. I am even scared to approach them on a bike in case i get rear ended.

[actonion]

12 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

 

There's road danger in every country. 

More  so in Thailand

[IvorBiggun2]

As much as zebra crossings are a pedestrian danger, why do Thai pedestrians still use them?

[soalbundy]

"the sun beating down on me belly" You obviously weren't wearing a shirt while contemplating whether 'on my stomach' would compensate for using 'innit' in the title of your post and then deciding, no I'm from London, once a chav always a chav.

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

As much as zebra crossings are a pedestrian danger, why do Thai pedestrians still use them?

It's a bit like a second marriage.

A triumph of hope over experience!

[Presnock]

10 hours ago, scorecard said:

That's not what I said or alluded to.

 

 "Might as well flip a coin because it really doesn't matter either way, right?" I didn't suggest that and I never would suggest that.

 

Like any human being I would prefer to live in a country which has a low accident / injury / death toll/ from traffic accidents. 

duced too.

The problem here as far as road accidents go is that 70-80 percent involve motorcycles and the reason IMHO for that is that Thailand makes excuses for motorcycle drivers (of all ages although there are restrictions) and then IMHO local motorcycle drivers "graduate" to automobiles and their motorcycle driving techniques and habits interfere with car driving , i.e. cutting of corners even though it means changing lanes to the incoming traffic, etc, no helmets 4 or more on a motorcycle, etc and the local police ignore these violations of safe driving.  

[Rumpelstilskin]

You're bloody well correct, but they don't teach manners in schools here.

[Gottfrid]

I wonder why you stay and suffer in Thailand?

[Lacessit]

4 hours ago, theshu25 said:

the op is about as clever as the orange rapist and about as funny as cancer.

How many lemons did you suck on this morning?

[Grumpy one]

The trick to getting out of a lift is simple

Stand near the door, when it opens push like hell.

For ultimate enjoyment try and let rip a foul fart before the door closes