What happened to that famous smile, Thailand?

[newbee2022]

18 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

…why should we smile first?

 

mark.

No, you don't need to. Keep your grumpy face and you'll get it back.

Perfect atmosphere for you?

Not for me.

[NorthernRyland]

1 hour ago, Cornish Pasty said:

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

Hogwash. Smiles abound for me. Are you smiling back at people or walking around with a scowl?

 

I get befuddled looks sometimes by people (usually older people) but everyone smiles back if you smile or acknowledge them.

 

To be fair though very rarely I could get a look by a person like they don't want you there. Honestly I don't blame them, some people probably don't like random foreigners in their area that they don't know.

[Magictoad]

It's the effect you have on them.

[Cornish Pasty]

8 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Hogwash. Smiles abound for me. Are you smiling back at people or walking around with a scowl?

 

I get befuddled looks sometimes by people (usually older people) but everyone smiles back if you smile or acknowledge them.

 

To be fair though very rarely I could get a look by a person like they don't want you there. Honestly I don't blame them, some people probably don't like random foreigners in their area that they don't know.

whats with all the masks?

 

mark.

[Cornish Pasty]

10 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

It's the effect you have on them.

….how far left have you actually swung?

 

ugly toad.

 

mark.

[MalcolmB]

You showed up and ruined it for everyone.

[Cornish Pasty]

13 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

You showed up and ruined it for everyone.

No, you did.

 

Mark.

[atpeace]

10 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Hogwash. Smiles abound for me. Are you smiling back at people or walking around with a scowl?

 

I get befuddled looks sometimes by people (usually older people) but everyone smiles back if you smile or acknowledge them.

 

To be fair though very rarely I could get a look by a person like they don't want you there. Honestly I don't blame them, some people probably don't like random foreigners in their area that they don't know.

That is what I experience mostly but your fluent oral and written Thai capability does help.  Things have changed from 30 years ago as it always has...

[oxo1947]

Reputation minus 109........... your going to beat Bob's record Bob..............

[Cornish Pasty]

12 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

Reputation minus 109........... your going to beat Bob's record Bob..............

What?

 

Mark.

[jwest10]

15 hours ago, Cornish Pasty said:

I’ve been moving around a lot recently, been rural, city’s, beaches, mountains etc and the story remains the same..

 

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

No matter where I go it’s the same story. I usually keep myself to myself, but when I do have to interact with a local it’s like pulling teeth.

The only real positive experience i have had recently was with a bunch of Chinese women. They were gorgeous and genuinely friendly.

 

Thailand - up your game, lose the face masks or be prepared to lose your famous moniker..

 

Mark.

Depends on attitude, and yes good and bad everywhere in the world and frankly I know the ones who always respond.

[jwest10]

15 hours ago, FriscoKid said:

Whatever you say Elvis.

To do with attitude and I know who I get a good response from and yes, most people are struggling but there is good and bad everywhere in the world.

[jwl53]

On 6/24/2025 at 7:19 PM, FriscoKid said:

Really bob? Dusting off this same old tired cobbler again? How many times are you going to post the same rant?

But the poster is correct it is far from the land of smiles now, I have sympathy for most of the ordinary thais but they are becoming miserable and aggressive

[shackleton]

You must be meeting the wrong Thai people

The ones I know and meet always say Sawadee and with a smile 😃 

Even the kids 

[spidermike007]

This is likely one of the lamest topics that I ever see on this forum, and it comes from guys who have a tremendous degree of internal strife and unhappiness. The problem that we face in this life is that no matter where we go we take ourselves with us, so if we are not able to figure out a way to find fulfillment and contentment within ourselves, no matter where we go that misery follows us. Thai people can be very intuitive, and perhaps they're simply real reacting to all the heavy-heartedness that you're carrying around. 

 

My contention is that if we are not making a conscious effort to better ourselves, to be pleasant, funny, and filled with joy and good will, the opposite happens as a result of the indignities of the aging process. 

 

Thailand is an absolutely wonderful place for many of us, a lot of us enjoy great lives here and are constantly surrounded by delightful people who are light-hearted, fun to be around, pleasant, helpful, have a great sense of humor and beat the pants off of the vast majority of folks back where I came from. To call Thai people sullen and miserable makes me think you are either living in Pattaya, Phuket or Samui, or you are just getting back the misery you are putting out there. 

 

I don't say this often, because I think in general we have a right to complain about some things, but if you don't like it here maybe it makes sense to try someplace else, rather than just moan, groan, and play the victim and snowflake. Man up. Stop the pathetic weakness and whining  already. 

 

 

[wavodavo]

On 6/24/2025 at 10:04 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

I’ve been moving around a lot recently, been rural, city’s, beaches, mountains etc and the story remains the same..

 

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

No matter where I go it’s the same story. I usually keep myself to myself, but when I do have to interact with a local it’s like pulling teeth.

The only real positive experience i have had recently was with a bunch of Chinese women. They were gorgeous and genuinely friendly.

 

Thailand - up your game, lose the face masks or be prepared to lose your famous moniker..

 

Mark.

Boby Boy you need to take a bath and put some under-arm deodorant on !!

[pchansmorn]

On 6/24/2025 at 7:04 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

I’ve been moving around a lot recently, been rural, city’s, beaches, mountains etc and the story remains the same..

 

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

No matter where I go it’s the same story. I usually keep myself to myself, but when I do have to interact with a local it’s like pulling teeth.

The only real positive experience i have had recently was with a bunch of Chinese women. They were gorgeous and genuinely friendly.

 

Thailand - up your game, lose the face masks or be prepared to lose your famous moniker..

 

Mark.

Perhaps if you lived in there shoes you might not be smiling all the time either.  Get a Life.

[pchansmorn]

On 6/24/2025 at 7:38 PM, FriscoKid said:

I'll give you one thing, bob, you lie with not only impunity, but petulant delusion. 

Did you ever think it’s you.  You are bringing them down.

[IsaanT]

On 6/24/2025 at 8:25 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

Nobody actually likes it here.

 

They just pretend they do…

 

Mark.

 

How narrow-minded does one have to be to feel that they can espouse on behalf of the rest of us, especially when only a small ability to 'read the room' would suggest the problem is not shared by everyone else?

 

[IsaanT]

On 6/24/2025 at 7:04 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

Thailand - up your game, lose the face masks or be prepared to lose your famous moniker..

 

Mark.

 

It would be constructive to this debate if you offered an explanation as to why you are in Thailand as it doesn't appear to be a pleasant experience for you.