Fear of reviewing stuff because of legal consequences holds Thailand back

[Jingthing]

You can't publicly be honest about bad experiences with businesses in Thailand without justified fears of legal consequences.

All expats shoud be aware of that if you aren't already in order to protect yourself.

But the downside of that lets keep everything harmonious is that people are deprived of good information and true competition which raises the standard for all surviving businesses suffers greatly. 

 

I totally realize this is a big part of Thai culture.

But I also know that Thailand in theory wants to move up the ladder economically.

I don't expect this to change much. It's deeply ingrained in Thais from an early age.

I don't think it's expats place either to suggest that they change.

If they ever do change, it will need to come from within.

 

Anyway, 

a recent experience highlighted this problem for me.

 

I saw a new to me restaurant on the Grab app but it had zero ratings and zero reviews.

I had a bad feeling about it but the menu looked interesting and the menu pictures were inviting,

So I risked an order.

 

Surprise, no surprise, the food was below par,  very different than the descriptions and pictures, and the portions very tiny.

 

Of course, for me, never again.

 

But did I rate or review it, possibly helping other make an informed decision?

 

OF COURSE NOT.

 

If I had I would have been the very first reviewer and if I had given an honest review, I would have been a legal target of that business for harming their livelihood.

 

So I did nothing.

 

This issue may be less for places that have 20 reviews, mostly good or OK though.

 

But even then, a while back a restaurant that I had ordered from occasionally called me and starting talking very angrily to me about my low rating.

 

This was very crazy because I didn't rate or review the place.

 

So the owners are definitely watching you and they have your phone number!

 

[CharlieH]

Dont be intimidated. If it's bad, I say so, you cant live life in fear of "what might happen".

[impulse]

That's why I never use the other emojis.  It's either the like emoji or none.  Sooner or later, one of you knobs is likely to sue.

 

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Dont be intimidated. If it's bad, I say so, you cant live life in fear of "what might happen".

Up to you, but very early in my long standing stay in Thailand I made the decision to actively filter out negative stuff here as much as possible, and also to bend over backwards to try to avoid conflict with Thai people.

That has worked for me and I ain't changing.

I sincerely beieve that being the first reviewer on that horribly bad restaurant and being honest about it would have made me very vulnerable No thank you!

 

You do have to consider the context though. It's doubtful in a case of a place with many reviews if you said something like the kangaroo sauce on the pigeon was different to what I expected would be a problem. I also reckon the apps are probably complicit in deleting very negative reviews anyway.

[jas007]

Google Maps is a good source for honest reviews, as many of the reviews obviously come from tourists who may never be back again. They're probably not worried about posting what they think. For example, if I'm thinking about a particulate hotel, I always check the reviews.  I sort from worst to best. And if the hotel has a problem, it'll likely be reported. Construction noise, poor location, cleanliness, etc.  On the other hand, if there are hundreds of reviews and the great majority are great, then there's probably some truth to that.  

 

Ditto for restaurants.  

[Wuvu2]

I've got bigger balls than most...I've reviewed this post and rate it a 1/5.   😉

[Equatorial]

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I don't think it's expats place either to suggest that they change.

 

 

I agree with that, to a degree. We have our values, and I will stand up for my values, when practicable. (Of course, I am not going to risk my life over a restaurant review...)

 

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I made the decision to [...] bend over backwards to try to avoid conflict with Thai people.

 

That is wise. However, there are way to express values without getting into a conflict situation. 

 

Last week I was having dinner at one of the better restaurants in town. A vendor entered from the outside, and starting walking from table to table, trying to sell guava to the restaurant guests. Pretty annoying, but I didn't say anything. Ten minutes later, another vendor came in and did the same. 

 

When I go to a restaurant, one of the things I expect is that I won't be bothered while eating my dinner. Thais may not expect it. And even if they do, they will just smile and say nothing. That's the Thai way. 

 

I got up and went to talk to the owner who was sitting behind the cash register. I told him that I like the restaurant and I am enjoying the food, however, there are these people coming in from the outside and bothering me while I'm eating dinner. I didn't frame it as a complaint (because I know well that Thais would perceive that as conflict). I framed it as a question, "Is this normal?" He smiled, and said, "Yes. Sometimes." I said, with an incredulous expression on my face, "Are you serious?" 

 

May not seem like much. But I made my point. We all owe to ourselves to stand up for ourselves. 

[Thingamabob]

21 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Dont be intimidated. If it's bad, I say so, you cant live life in fear of "what might happen".

Fair enough, just be aware that the Thai courts apply severe financial penalties if defamation is proven. Not a problem for those if us who are wealthy, but could be devastating for those of us who are less well-off.

[klauskunkel]

There are creative ways to express what you want to say, without it being a negative:

the quality of the food and its portions helped me to lose weight, thank you restaurant xyz

[Wrwest]

22 hours ago, Jingthing said:

You can't publicly be honest about bad experiences with businesses in Thailand without justified fears of legal consequences.

All expats shoud be aware of that if you aren't already in order to protect yourself.

But the downside of that lets keep everything harmonious is that people are deprived of good information and true competition which raises the standard for all surviving businesses suffers greatly. 

 

I totally realize this is a big part of Thai culture.

But I also know that Thailand in theory wants to move up the ladder economically.

I don't expect this to change much. It's deeply ingrained in Thais from an early age.

I don't think it's expats place either to suggest that they change.

If they ever do change, it will need to come from within.

 

Anyway, 

a recent experience highlighted this problem for me.

 

I saw a new to me restaurant on the Grab app but it had zero ratings and zero reviews.

I had a bad feeling about it but the menu looked interesting and the menu pictures were inviting,

So I risked an order.

 

Surprise, no surprise, the food was below par,  very different than the descriptions and pictures, and the portions very tiny.

 

Of course, for me, never again.

 

But did I rate or review it, possibly helping other make an informed decision?

 

OF COURSE NOT.

 

If I had I would have been the very first reviewer and if I had given an honest review, I would have been a legal target of that business for harming their livelihood.

 

So I did nothing.

 

This issue may be less for places that have 20 reviews, mostly good or OK though.

 

But even then, a while back a restaurant that I had ordered from occasionally called me and starting talking very angrily to me about my low rating.

 

This was very crazy because I didn't rate or review the place.

 

So the owners are definitely watching you and they have your phone number!

 

Not surprising that I agree that if any change is to come, it should be from the Thai citizens, However, as a retired educator, I do not think it is wrong to discuss various approaches to social cohesion and fairness. I submit that the western approach has a better balance in this matter. If I call someone a thief and they are a thief ... too bad, no compensation for telling the truth. If I call you a thief and you are not ... fair game to charge me with slander or libel (depending on spoken or written accusation). Court case to determine if my accusation is correct. If not ... compensation due. Like you, I shy away from public seen ratings.

[Photoguy21]

This is a reason that Thailand is not excelling at things. Criticism, constructive criticism, should be welcomed as it helps the company to gain more customers and consequently more profit.

[Sydebolle]

23 hours ago, Jingthing said:

You can't publicly be honest about bad experiences with businesses in Thailand without justified fears of legal consequences.

All expats shoud be aware of that if you aren't already in order to protect yourself.

But the downside of that lets keep everything harmonious is that people are deprived of good information and true competition which raises the standard for all surviving businesses suffers greatly. 

 

I totally realize this is a big part of Thai culture.

But I also know that Thailand in theory wants to move up the ladder economically.

I don't expect this to change much. It's deeply ingrained in Thais from an early age.

I don't think it's expats place either to suggest that they change.

If they ever do change, it will need to come from within.

 

Anyway, 

a recent experience highlighted this problem for me.

 

I saw a new to me restaurant on the Grab app but it had zero ratings and zero reviews.

I had a bad feeling about it but the menu looked interesting and the menu pictures were inviting,

So I risked an order.

 

Surprise, no surprise, the food was below par,  very different than the descriptions and pictures, and the portions very tiny.

 

Of course, for me, never again.

 

But did I rate or review it, possibly helping other make an informed decision?

 

OF COURSE NOT.

 

If I had I would have been the very first reviewer and if I had given an honest review, I would have been a legal target of that business for harming their livelihood.

 

So I did nothing.

 

This issue may be less for places that have 20 reviews, mostly good or OK though.

 

But even then, a while back a restaurant that I had ordered from occasionally called me and starting talking very angrily to me about my low rating.

 

This was very crazy because I didn't rate or review the place.

 

So the owners are definitely watching you and they have your phone number!

 

Upload a picture of the kitchen accident, then another one with the food thrown into the garbage bin. 

[Jingthing]

59 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

This is a reason that Thailand is not excelling at things. Criticism, constructive criticism, should be welcomed as it helps the company to gain more customers and consequently more profit.

Yeah that's my point.

The Thai way brings more harmony but at a price.

[Burma Bill]

On 5/22/2025 at 12:07 PM, Jingthing said:

You can't publicly be honest about bad experiences with businesses in Thailand without justified fears of legal consequences.

 

Unfortunately this is true if you live in Thailand. 

 

When I want to comment on such issues about Thailand, I wait until I return  to my home in Cambodia. If Thai people want to sue me for defamation it will be very difficult and costly.

[pchansmorn]

6 hours ago, Equatorial said:

 

I agree with that, to a degree. We have our values, and I will stand up for my values, when practicable. (Of course, I am not going to risk my life over a restaurant review...)

 

 

That is wise. However, there are way to express values without getting into a conflict situation. 

 

Last week I was having dinner at one of the better restaurants in town. A vendor entered from the outside, and starting walking from table to table, trying to sell guava to the restaurant guests. Pretty annoying, but I didn't say anything. Ten minutes later, another vendor came in and did the same. 

 

When I go to a restaurant, one of the things I expect is that I won't be bothered while eating my dinner. Thais may not expect it. And even if they do, they will just smile and say nothing. That's the Thai way. 

 

I got up and went to talk to the owner who was sitting behind the cash register. I told him that I like the restaurant and I am enjoying the food, however, there are these people coming in from the outside and bothering me while I'm eating dinner. I didn't frame it as a complaint (because I know well that Thais would perceive that as conflict). I framed it as a question, "Is this normal?" He smiled, and said, "Yes. Sometimes." I said, with an incredulous expression on my face, "Are you serious?" 

 

May not seem like much. But I made my point. We all owe to ourselves to stand up for ourselves. 

If you find that annoying how about the single mom or family who bring there kids to a restaurant to play like they are at the playground screaming and bumping into your table and this is at a decent restaurant you are supposed to be ok with this sort of behavior. I get up and leave with money on the table. 

[Jack Batty]

8 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Fair enough, just be aware that the Thai courts apply severe financial penalties if defamation is proven. Not a problem for those if us who are wealthy, but could be devastating for those of us who are less well-off.

 

8 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Fair enough, just be aware that the Thai courts apply severe financial penalties if defamation is proven. Not a problem for those if us who are wealthy, but could be devastating for those of us who are less well-off.

Be honest in your review. Be tactful. Be fair. Have proof. Post after you’ve calmed down, if you’re angry about your experience. No court can touch you. As an aside, you sound like a ****.

[Jingthing]

As far as the Thai law is concerned it's irrelevant if negative comments you make are true and provable or not.

For example, you can publicly report that you were at a restaurant and big fat rat jumped on your table and stole your pizza and have a flippin' video of the incident, and that would NOT be a defense.

[JackGats]

One thing many people do is to give 5 stars, then go on to criticize.

[Jim Blue]

You could always try the " dahm someone's stolen my ID again "!⁵