Why Are You Really Here? Downtime Hobby or Desperate Obsession?

[SoCal1990]

Why do so many people spend hours hanging around this forum? Is it just boredom or having nothing better to do, or is it something deeper like the need to be heard, the desire for recognition, the urge to feel right, to be admired, liked, accepted, or simply to experience some form of human connection?

 

I’ve noticed that when I’m busy, traveling, or caught up in life, I can go weeks without even glancing at the site. For me, it’s purely a way to kill downtime on occasion. That got me thinking: is everyone else here for the same reason, or are some drawn in because they just don’t have much going on?

 

If you suddenly had something better or more engaging to keep you busy for most of your time, would you still even bother logging in?

 

I’m talking specifically about the sections of the site meant for chatting and social banter, not the parts for answering questions or sharing real info.

 

So why do people really keep coming back for hours at a time everyday to discuss mostly nothingness?

[johng]

Nothing better to do +  its like an addiction ...trying hard to abstain failing absolutely 😵‍💫

[Stuck in Thailand]

Because there are a lot of very bored farangs here, including me. take away the cheap booze and birds and what is left? NOTHING. many will deny this of course, but I won't be having any of it. Thailand is a place for holidays, not to live. 

 

Now I'm off out to feed a soi dog.

[SoCal1990]

11 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

take away the cheap booze and birds and what is left?

Shopping malls, street food, temples, markets, beaches, gyms, massages, or just stay home and rub one out until your wife gets back?

[angryguy]

10 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

Because there are a lot of very bored farangs here, including me. take away the cheap booze and birds and what is left? NOTHING. many will deny this of course, but I won't be having any of it. Thailand is a place for holidays, not to live. 

 

Now I'm off out to feed a soi dog.

And the alcohol isnt even that cheap too

[Stuck in Thailand]

2 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Shopping malls, street food, temples, markets, beaches, gyms, massages, or just stay home and rub one out until your wife gets back. 

 

Exactly, nothing to do. Enjoy your malls and temples.

[JAG]

Unparalleled opportunity to take the piss?

[SoCal1990]

Just now, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

Exactly, nothing to do. Enjoy your malls and temples.

I don't mind the occasional temple. But I give the malls a pass.

[SoCal1990]

Just now, JAG said:

Unparalleled opportunity to take the piss?

Or give some?

[Stuck in Thailand]

1 minute ago, SoCal1990 said:

I don't mind the occasional temple. But I give the malls a pass.

 

Tbh, I just think being outside of your own culture it dramatically lessens things to do and to do with. Just nothing goes on. It's not really Thailand, it would be the same in most counties, what do expats in Spain do? Not a lot would be my guess.

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

Exactly, nothing to do. Enjoy your malls and temples.

 

How old are you?

Have a family, raise a child.

Then there's exercise, sports. 

But also ideally a hobby. 

Just watching Netflix every night is what most people do after work back home. 

Most people's lives are not filled with adventure. Most people are not Indiana Jones. 

 

Thailand has a decent climate. It won't keep you entertained 24/7 though. 

 

 

[Furioso]

Well you'd be crazy to hang out at the bar or with your next door neighbor

[save the frogs]

11 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

Why do so many people spend hours hanging around this forum?

 

I admit I waste too much time on here.

Also, probably less than 0.01% of Thailand expats are on here. 

With all the expats living in Thailand, there's only a handful of regular posters here. 

 

[novacova]

32 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Is it just boredom or having nothing better to do, or is it something deeper like

…poking fun at your OP’s and/or dropping a turd every now and then.

[Stuck in Thailand]

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

How old are you?

Have a family, raise a child.

Then there's exercise, sports. 

But also ideally a hobby. 

Just watching Netflix every night is what most people do after work back home. 

Most people's lives are not filled with adventure. Most people are not Indiana Jones. 

 

Thailand has a decent climate. It won't keep you entertained 24/7 though. 

 

 

 

It's just boring here mate, you'll never convince me otherwise. No small talk down the shops, no humour, no real events on the calendar to look forward to, it's just dull dull dull. Enjoy it though.

 

I do take your point about people back home, don't get me wrong, but things can still 'happen' here it's groundhog day.

[SoCal1990]

16 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

what do expats in Spain do? Not a lot would be my guess.

I love Spain. I always spend lots of time outdoors and just walking around, enjoying the environment when I'm there. I don't find it boring at all. And spending a lot of time outdoors is something that I don't do in Thailand because of the extreme heat and pollution. I would actually spend more of the year in Spain, if it weren't such a long flight from Asia. 

[SoCal1990]

13 minutes ago, novacova said:

dropping a turd every now and then.

I try and drop one more than every now and then. At least once a day is my goal. Gotta get those toxins out of the body.

[Yagoda]

Im on the computer a lot anyway, its just another tab

[Stuck in Thailand]

4 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

I love Spain. I always spend lots of time outdoors and just walking around, enjoying the environment when I'm there. I don't find it boring at all. And spending a lot of time outdoors is something that I don't do in Thailand because of the extreme heat and pollution. I would actually spend more of the year in Spain, if it weren't such a long flight from Asia. 

 

I love Spain as well, great place, use to go every year as a kid, something special about the place, but I know people that lived there and left because they just got stale there. You still won't have much going on there though despite your walks, why so many there just sit in bars, bored to death.

[sidjameson]

I pick the phone up to answer a msg, check a sports score and then end up on here. It's wasting life but so hard to stop. 

Nobody looks back on a weekend/month/year and thinks...what a great time that was, if only I spent more time on that forum.

[Furioso]

8 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

It's just boring here mate, you'll never convince me otherwise. No small talk down the shops, no humour, no real events on the calendar to look forward to, it's just dull dull dull. Enjoy it though.

 

I do take your point about people back home, don't get me wrong, but things can still 'happen' here it's groundhog day.

It does get boring here I can do about 5 months max then go to Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, etc. It's a good home base b/c it's inexpensive and the Thai's are mostly friendly but that's about it. 

[bubblegum]

Agree with most posters so I'm off to Bulgaria, Sea side town soon. Cheaper and more European.

[SoCal1990]

7 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

 

I love Spain as well, great place, use to go every year as a kid, something special about the place, but I know people that lived there and left because they just got stale there. You still won't have much going on there though despite your walks, why so many there just sit in bars, bored to death.

Perhaps. But I've been to a lot of different places in Spain. Many of them would be boring for a long stay as you said. But it's a big country and quite a few of the places I do really like.
 

I think it all comes down to routine though. We all need to develop some sort of routine or lifestyle. Once you have that, I think it doesn't really matter where you are. You can still do your thing, thrive and stay active.

 

For me, the lack of outdoors is a very limiting factor in Thailand. In other countries where it's more comfortable weather, and pleasant to walk around, being outside often takes up about four hours of my day. I never tire of it. 

[Stuck in Thailand]

I remember many years ago on a trip home I was at a friends house and while chatting his wife simply said to me don't you miss it? I knew exactly what she meant but I just cracked a 'miss what' and felt a bit stupid saying it. She probably thought I was a bit odd that I had moved to Thailand.

[SoCal1990]

20 minutes ago, Furioso said:

It does get boring here I can do about 5 months max then go to Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, etc. It's a good home base b/c it's inexpensive and the Thai's are mostly friendly but that's about it. 

Agreed, the distance to South America and Europe from Thailand just makes Thailand so much more difficult as a base though if you want to do a lot of global travel.
 

Living in Thailand, if you want to be able to Travel say no more than about six hours on a flight, then you are pretty much limited to traveling to other places within Asia. That's a downside in my opinion.
 

Also, the cost of flights to Europe have gotten more costly and, unless you're going to travel there and stay for a couple of months, then the flight cost starts be becoming a bit much.
 

If you travel within Asia then the flights are a lot cheaper, so it's more economical to go for shorter trips more frequently. I wish that was the same case with Europe.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Started during the severest lockdowns for covid in the world. Couldn't see Thai girlfriend. This was an escape a bit. So have a look and still do - in between work and a cold winter. When in Thailand I am a tourist so a bit of time then too so why not. Something in common - getting too retirement - thai lady - that sort of thing. 

[SoCal1990]

2 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

I remember many years ago on a trip home I was at a friends house and while chatting his wife simply said to me don't you miss it? I knew exactly what she meant but I just cracked a 'miss what' and felt a bit stupid saying it. She probably thought I was a bit odd that I had moved to Thailand.

Can't say I ever really miss Thailand when I'm away. The only thing that I miss after a while is being in my own place, especially if I'm staying in a hotel that doesn't have cooking facilities.

[Stuck in Thailand]

2 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

 

 

For me, the lack of outdoors is a very limiting factor in Thailand. In other countries where it's more comfortable weather, and pleasant to walk around, being outside often takes up about four hours of my day. I never tire of it. 

 

Couldn't agree more, you are stuck in most of the time here unless you got to a mall for example. As well as the climate the pavements (or sidewalks) are crap too. In the UK I could just go out and occupy myself for hours, being near good transport, which I am, obviously helps.

[Harrisfan]

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

Why do so many people spend hours hanging around this forum? Is it just boredom or having nothing better to do, or is it something deeper like the need to be heard, the desire for recognition, the urge to feel right, to be admired, liked, accepted, or simply to experience some form of human connection?

 

I’ve noticed that when I’m busy, traveling, or caught up in life, I can go weeks without even glancing at the site. For me, it’s purely a way to kill downtime on occasion. That got me thinking: is everyone else here for the same reason, or are some drawn in because they just don’t have much going on?

 

If you suddenly had something better or more engaging to keep you busy for most of your time, would you still even bother logging in?

 

I’m talking specifically about the sections of the site meant for chatting and social banter, not the parts for answering questions or sharing real info.

 

So why do people really keep coming back for hours at a time everyday to discuss mostly nothingness?

To read all your great positive topics.

[Stuck in Thailand]

3 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Can't say I ever really miss Thailand when I'm away. The only thing that I miss after a while is being in my own place, especially if I'm staying in a hotel that doesn't have cooking facilities.

 

Same, I don't usually want to come back, or just ambivalent, but don't get me wrong I'm not bashing Thailand, more expat life. been here a long time have a wife and 2 kids etc, but feel like there is a LOT lacking, and no suggestions like gym, massage, temples etc is going to change that.