4 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I left and I'm still moaning 

A solid lifestyle. No reason to change a thing.

24 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Because, for the most part, they are indeed "trapped and skint."

Presumably they weren't in that situation when they first arrived. But maybe a series of bad choices after arriving. 

1 hour ago, novacova said:

Some folks enjoy misery, certainly they sought out the most miserable uncomfortable place they could find that included a miserable begging spouse with an awful uneducated family in an awful loud unruly village and they go on the internet and share their miserable existence with others.

Is that a self description?

😂

1 minute ago, DezLez said:

Is that a self description?

😂

Yep, his situation doesn't sound good. Thoughts and prayers. 

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

There is a certain type of long-term expat in Thailand who seems to complain about just about everything, the corruption, the traffic, the bureaucracy, the air pollution, the heat, the visa system, the customer service, even about the locals.

 

With the exception of most of the locals, all of the above are valid complaints, or at least valid subjects of a discussion which many will find negative - that does not mean the Thai experience on the whole is a net-negative because people also have some observations that are not solely positive... 

... A realistic outlook often involves looking at both positive and negative aspects of anything, any place, anyone.

 

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

Some of these types of foreigners have been here for decades, are constantly criticizing the country, but never actually go somewhere else, or back to where they came from, even though they feel unhappy. 

 

Some... but those same characters you describe are the very vocal tip of the iceberg - they'd be the same anywhere, no matter where it is.

 

 

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

If a place makes someone that unhappy, why do they stay? Maybe it's a kind of quiet addiction to the chaos, or even just the comfort of complaining?

 

Sometimes having a whinge about something and finding out that others have made similar observations is enough to realise, its just the way it is and not a big deal...  

 

 

1 hour ago, SoCal1990 said:

I suspect there could be some unspoken truth that, despite all the moaning, Thailand still offers a kind of freedom or simplicity they don’t feel they’d find back home and that's why they stay. Or maybe they really do want to leave, but they are simply stuck here for financial reasons. 

 

Many different reasons - I think the greats is the point that 'familiarity breeds contempt' and they may just need a reset, whereas others are just in a crappy area, and others are just miserable where-ever they are.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Presumably they weren't in that situation when they first arrived. But maybe a series of bad choices after arriving. 

 

Hey! That's MY excuse!

Some people will complain about everything no matter where they are in Australia we call them winging poms

11 minutes ago, DezLez said:

Is that a self description?

😂

No, it’s the description of the depressing contemptuous look you were giving your wife when I was passing by your shanty village.

In our circle of happily cantankerous geriatrics in the back of Bahn Nawk, I find that those who complain most viscerally are those that have never left Thailand for years, just doing endless yearly extensions that they abhor and 90-day reports that they liken to being treated like a criminal.

 

The comment that one needs to 'get out more' is usually taken as a slight against a fellow member's lack of perspective but when it comes to the serial moaners, especially the English ones that harp on about immigration in a country they probably burned all their bridges in last century, they really, REALLY do need to get out more.

 

Or at least try and stop calling it Tesco's FFS!

13 minutes ago, SoCal1990 said:

Yep, his situation doesn't sound good. Thoughts and prayers. 

Unlike yourself, my wife is well educated, has her own businesses and a high self esteem. Sorry, no prayers to dole out, it won’t help ya.

4 minutes ago, novacova said:

No, it’s the description of the depressing contemptuous look you were giving your wife when I was passing by your shanty village.

That must have been in one of your dreamland dreams as I do not live in a village, shanty or otherwise, unless of course you are describing your own hovel!

26 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I complained about the UK when I was living there, and I will complain all I like about the ridiculous aspects of living here.  

 

I think thats the whole point of being balanced and normal... the essence of reasonable.

 

It's about having the ability to observe and discuss the negative, the positive, the extremes, and everything in between - without resorting to sweeping generalisations.

 

In short: voice your concerns when something isn’t right, give credit where it’s due, and approach every topic with a willingness to explore all facets openly and without bias. Nothing is perfect - nor should we expect it to be.

 

But the sort of fool who trots out "go home if you don’t like it" comment  just because someone complains about, say, a motorcyclist cutting them off - well, that’s simply idiotic. They fundamentally misunderstand the concept of judging things on a case-by-case basis.

 

That said, let’s also acknowledge that some people leap at any opportunity to post something negative about foreigners in general, or to target specific nationalities. And yes, as the original post points out, there are those who criticise Thais with no sense of balance or nuance.

 

We see the full spectrum of commentators: from the unhinged and delusional, peddling their biases without the slightest self-awareness, to those capable of thoughtful, informed discussion rooted in personal experience - some of it positive, some negative, as one would expect - thats most people on here I think - but we only hear the loudest voices, on the fringes of extreme opinion...  thats why I end up arguing with a lot of them... to try and balance out their extreme bias.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think thats the whole point of being balanced and normal... the essence of reasonable.

 

It's about having the ability to observe and discuss the negative, the positive, the extremes, and everything in between - without resorting to sweeping generalisations.

 

In short: voice your concerns when something isn’t right, give credit where it’s due, and approach every topic with a willingness to explore all facets openly and without bias. Nothing is perfect - nor should we expect it to be.

 

But the sort of fool who trots out "go home if you don’t like it" comment  just because someone complains about, say, a motorcyclist cutting them off - well, that’s simply idiotic. They fundamentally misunderstand the concept of judging things on a case-by-case basis.

 

That said, let’s also acknowledge that some people leap at any opportunity to post something negative about foreigners in general, or to target specific nationalities. And yes, as the original post points out, there are those who criticise Thais with no sense of balance or nuance.

 

We see the full spectrum of commentators: from the unhinged and delusional, peddling their biases without the slightest self-awareness, to those capable of thoughtful, informed discussion rooted in personal experience - some of it positive, some negative, as one would expect - thats most people on here I think - but we only hear the loudest voices, on the fringes of extreme opinion...  thats why I end up arguing with a lot of them... to try and balance out their extreme bias.

Great post 👏

What really annoys me is the miserable expats who can’t stop complaining about the miserable expats who can’t stop complaining about Thailand but never leave but never leave.

 

They really get my goat.

4 hours ago, DrPhibes said:

If you came here when the baht was 45 to the USD and you have not increased your wealth, just depositing a fixed pension, ya I can see where you feel like things are going backward from a purchasing point of view.  Also, if you came her in the 90's, heading off to tropical islands with pretty young women willing to play with you for a pittance, Thailand has grown up from there.  Now the girls are not just looking at it like play for pay, it's just now pay.   The playfulness and friendly flirting of the girls is basically gone.  The attracting more flies with honey is gone.  I miss those old days...  They were sweet and much more satisfying!

So much truth and wisdom here.

 

But why is that all so hard to understand.

 

20 years ago everything was cheap in Thailand. The "frozen pensions" in combination with Thai inflation has messed up so many "retirement plans". Having burnt all the bridges to the "home country" before.

 

Having no clue how to "incorporate" back in cold Europe again, why not complain under a palm tree, instead of complaining in a cold Europe that usually does not welcome "pennyless elderly citizens".

 

I would rather complain under a palm tree, if necessary with limited financial resources, instead of..........

 

King of the moaners

 

 

4 hours ago, Celsius said:

I left and I'm still moaning 

 

"Here we go uh, moaning all over the world", Status Quo. 1970's 😃

 

Where is Bob these days, he used to make this forum funny with his stories?

4 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Some people will complain about everything no matter where they are in Australia we call them winging poms

 

I used to go regularly to an Aussie bar in Phuket a few years ago, it was a good laugh, once or twice when I was asked where I was from by a new Aussie I would say England.

 

One or two said, "Ah never mind, we have lots of winging poms in Australia".

 

My standard reply is, if I was forced to move from the great country of England and end up living in a Camel infested desert at the arse end of the world then I would moan all day long.

 

I follow it by asking them what is the difference between yoghurt and Australians.

 

The answer is yoghurt has culture. 😃

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, proton said:

King of the moaners

 

 

That guy is hard to listen to. Sounds dire, like he's close to falling over the edge. Paranoid too. 

12 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

There is a certain type of long-term expat in Thailand who seems to complain about just about everything, the corruption, the traffic, the bureaucracy, the air pollution, the heat, the visa system, the customer service, even about the locals. Some of these types of foreigners have been here for decades, are constantly criticizing the country, but never actually go somewhere else, or back to where they came from, even though they feel unhappy. 

 

If a place makes someone that unhappy, why do they stay? Maybe it's a kind of quiet addiction to the chaos, or even just the comfort of complaining?

 

I suspect there could be some unspoken truth that, despite all the moaning, Thailand still offers a kind of freedom or simplicity they don’t feel they’d find back home and that's why they stay. Or maybe they really do want to leave, but they are simply stuck here for financial reasons. 

Do I know you? ..because 🤔
 

12 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

You could say his threads fit the mold of this topic.

You could but that would be stupid. 

11 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Some people will complain about everything no matter where they are in Australia we call them winging poms

Mr whinging Pom if you please🤔

18 hours ago, proton said:

King of the moaners

 

Yeah but he's smart.

He's getting paid for doing it.

 

13 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

There is a certain type of long-term expat in Thailand who seems to complain about just about everything, the corruption, the traffic, the bureaucracy, the air pollution, the heat, the visa system, the customer service, even about the locals. Some of these types of foreigners have been here for decades, are constantly criticizing the country, but never actually go somewhere else, or back to where they came from, even though they feel unhappy. 

 

If a place makes someone that unhappy, why do they stay? Maybe it's a kind of quiet addiction to the chaos, or even just the comfort of complaining?

 

I suspect there could be some unspoken truth that, despite all the moaning, Thailand still offers a kind of freedom or simplicity they don’t feel they’d find back home and that's why they stay. Or maybe they really do want to leave, but they are simply stuck here for financial reasons. 

Sounds like you already answered your own question.

15 hours ago, Stocky said:

It's a question I often ask myself whilst reading the posts on AN

Easy to understand.  It isn't the place but it is  the person. This forum brings out the worst in many people that isn't exposed in their real life interactions.  I wonder if the person they are here on this forum is more a reflection of who they truly are at the core. I would like to think it isn't.

 

I personally know some of the posters here that are decent enough off the internet in social situations but amazed how completely unhinged they become on AseanNow.  Some are flat-out scary here but relatively meek in real life interactions.

15 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

There is a certain type of long-term expat in Thailand who seems to complain about just about everything, the corruption, the traffic, the bureaucracy, the air pollution, the heat, the visa system, the customer service, even about the locals. Some of these types of foreigners have been here for decades, are constantly criticizing the country, but never actually go somewhere else, or back to where they came from, even though they feel unhappy. 

 

If a place makes someone that unhappy, why do they stay? Maybe it's a kind of quiet addiction to the chaos, or even just the comfort of complaining?

 

I suspect there could be some unspoken truth that, despite all the moaning, Thailand still offers a kind of freedom or simplicity they don’t feel they’d find back home and that's why they stay. Or maybe they really do want to leave, but they are simply stuck here for financial reasons. 

Why are you here complaining?

13 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I think thats the whole point of being balanced and normal... the essence of reasonable.

 

It's about having the ability to observe and discuss the negative, the positive, the extremes, and everything in between - without resorting to sweeping generalisations.

 

In short: voice your concerns when something isn’t right, give credit where it’s due, and approach every topic with a willingness to explore all facets openly and without bias. Nothing is perfect - nor should we expect it to be.

 

But the sort of fool who trots out "go home if you don’t like it" comment  just because someone complains about, say, a motorcyclist cutting them off - well, that’s simply idiotic. They fundamentally misunderstand the concept of judging things on a case-by-case basis.

 

That said, let’s also acknowledge that some people leap at any opportunity to post something negative about foreigners in general, or to target specific nationalities. And yes, as the original post points out, there are those who criticise Thais with no sense of balance or nuance.

 

We see the full spectrum of commentators: from the unhinged and delusional, peddling their biases without the slightest self-awareness, to those capable of thoughtful, informed discussion rooted in personal experience - some of it positive, some negative, as one would expect - thats most people on here I think - but we only hear the loudest voices, on the fringes of extreme opinion...  thats why I end up arguing with a lot of them... to try and balance out their extreme bias.

Great copy and paste from your little cubby, don’t you wish you could live up to those words?

8 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Easy to understand.  It isn't the place but it is  the person. This forum brings out the worst in many people that isn't exposed in their real life interactions.  I wonder if the person they are here on this forum is more a reflection of who they truly are at the core. I would like to think it isn't.

 

I personally know some of the posters here that are decent enough off the internet in social situations but amazed how completely unhinged they become on AseanNow.  Some are flat-out scary here but relatively meek in real life interactions.

People behave differently behind a mask than they do out on the streets. This forum is chalked full of liars, especially from the young men.

14 hours ago, Cameroni said:

The funniest is these Scandinavian socialists who'll tell you how amazing their country is, but they don't want to live there.  They'd rather be in Thailand, lol.

Scandinavia is  amazing IMO except it is frickin cold.  Definitely a success story but when you have small populations and a huge amount of natural resources, you can be extremely wasteful with no consequences.  Now, put 50 million people into the country and see how easy it is to share the natural resources. 100% sure the outcome would be terrible.

15 hours ago, SoCal1990 said:

There is a certain type of long-term expat in Thailand who seems to complain about just about everything, the corruption, the traffic, the bureaucracy, the air pollution, the heat, the visa system, the customer service, even about the locals. Some of these types of foreigners have been here for decades, are constantly criticizing the country, but never actually go somewhere else, or back to where they came from, even though they feel unhappy. 

 

If a place makes someone that unhappy, why do they stay? Maybe it's a kind of quiet addiction to the chaos, or even just the comfort of complaining?

 

I suspect there could be some unspoken truth that, despite all the moaning, Thailand still offers a kind of freedom or simplicity they don’t feel they’d find back home and that's why they stay. Or maybe they really do want to leave, but they are simply stuck here for financial reasons. 

Most of those complainers are leftovers, rejected, losers.

They got a divorce in their home country, being kicked off from wife/partner and family, unsuccessful in their former life, looking to start a "new life" in Thailand, believing the grass in Thailand is much greener.

However, running away from their problems, failing in any long lasting relationship, they are up to prostitutes, drugs and alcohol, bragging what exceptional heros they are. In reality poor midgets.