It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

2 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

Try flip flops they work

It might just have been the “heroic pair of Crocs” that sent them fleeing in terror…

…(satire: someone was bound to bring it up sooner or later).

 

 

But really, this has nothing whatsoever to do with some imagined “dislike of foreigners” .... You’re misreading the signals entirely.

 

What you witnessed was nothing more exotic than the juvenile mindset of many here – a lack of confidence that makes them retreat into silence. So they huddle behind their keyboards, nervously hoping someone else will jump in and do the talking for them.

 

Ironically, the moment you switch into Thai, you’ll see the tension melt away almost instantly. Suddenly, the very same people are transformed – a whole group buoyed by new-found confidence, each of them eager to pitch in and help, talk with you, laughs, smiles...   and a generally pleasant encounter.

34 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

People say Thais are friendly 

Where are you located? 

 

If you are in a tourist area you can blame the rude, nasty foreigners who are arriving these days. 

 

If I was you, I would find another destination to holiday or relocate. 

 

20 years ago we were treated like Kings, not any more. 

Thai's are fed up with all the disrespectful foreigners. 

 

 

 

Got to admit this either doesn't happen to me or I'm just oblivious to it.

 

I love being here and love playing dumb leaving the boss do everything, order, complain, pay the bill.......I just chillax.

Today I had a trip up to Phitsanulok, I needed some car parts and Madam says see if you can find a decent shoe cabinet and if you go to Macro get 2 x 60 Nescafe. knowing full well I'll go there for Lamb and Beefsteak.

I can't get my gob around Thai so I always go to information desks and say who speaks English? never have any problems getting understood using Goggle translate and if you keep a smile on your face you always have a laugh with most of them, very rarely do you get any problems, and  they all understand a "thankyou" on the way out.

1 hour ago, Aurelien said:

Anybody else notices this ?

No, I have to say overall on average I notice I get better service than Thais.

It is probably your presence more than your race.

Some people have it, some don’t.

Probably best to work on how you strut.

Wait until you start learning Thai - and are trying to use it. Ordering water in Thai can sometimes get you a coconut..

Or say khow pad noo, instead of khow pad moo for a right laugh..

25 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Wait until you start learning Thai - and are trying to use it. Ordering water in Thai can sometimes get you a coconut..

Or say khow pad noo, instead of khow pad moo for a right laugh..

Noo means a mouse or rat . Noo nah ( field rat ) is a common dish in Issan . Lucky they didn`t serve you with what you asked for at first !

Try saying hello in Thai...come on, make an effort, it will go a very long way

Op can you speak thai ?

56 minutes ago, persimmon said:

Noo means a mouse or rat . Noo nah ( field rat ) is a common dish in Issan . Lucky they didn`t serve you with what you asked for at first !

There's a very subtle difference in intonation, between noo ( mouse ) and ngoo ( snake ). Just like neua can mean beef, or sweaty.

 

While my Thai is not fluent, it seems to be good enough to get service, or have a conversation.

 

To be fluent, IMO one also needs the ability to read and write Thai.

4 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

You said "hello"

Imagine walking into a shop in your home country and saying "sawadee krap"

Some Thai people are just shy and a little embarrassed around foreigners because they are not confident speaking English.

 

Speaking even a few basic Thai phrases can help, plus smiling can really help.  Us 'falangs' can look very serious and scary if we don't smile.

 

59 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

There's a very subtle difference in intonation, between noo ( mouse ) and ngoo ( snake ). Just like neua can mean beef, or sweaty.

 

While my Thai is not fluent, it seems to be good enough to get service, or have a conversation.

 

To be fluent, IMO one also needs the ability to read and write Thai.

 

I tried like hell for 6 months and everybody kept having fits of laughter eventually one of me besties said give in, everyone knows you as the stupid Falange anyway, not nastily I hope.

5 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 

Oh boo hoo.  I'll clue you in on another Thai trait: they don't like becoming the center of attention. So don't act like a wall flower, step up like the big bad farang that they are scared to death of, and - having done your homework in Thai - ask them to help you. 

 "Ohhh whoa is me.  Thai people ignore me cause I'm pasty white <sob>"

Get over it and learn how to interact with people.  I bet you can't get laid in the West either.

I don t have any problems interacting with Thai folks

 

 

thais are generally very friendly, if you're not experiencing this maybe look at yourself, or the people/places you're hanging. it's pretty sad to hear you're missing out on one of the best parts of being here, the friendliness of the people.

6 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

A load of tosh thinly disguising another Thai-bash.

 

"I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed..."

Perhaps the staff recognised your very weird actions and thought that they'd just let you get on with your "sitting down, standing up, rummaging around, shouting and then sitting down again" routine to, weirdly, observe?   

8 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

I wish Canadians would d more of the same when dealing with some immigrants of some culture....

I never experienced this.But if im in rural Thailand some is shy to talk but it allways change in a second when i start speak thai.Then they often sit or stand next to me and taking and ask alot.Allways curious and with a smile.

Same if i take a bus to fex surin people allways talk with me when the bus have a lunch break in a restaurant somewhere on the road.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

A load of tosh thinly disguising another Thai-bash.

 

"I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed..."

Perhaps the staff recognised your very weird actions and thought that they'd just let you get on with your "sitting down, standing up, rummaging around, shouting and then sitting down again" routine to, weirdly, observe?   

Facts can hardly be related to any kind of bashing... Facts are facts, as describes by the poster. 

I could show some facts of a similar nature....

But as we are dealing with fats, I can describe many situations where people here are so very nice when a profit is involved.

I am generous with these people, and I see many people waving at me, smiling at me, and I think that these must be people that I did help in the past, one way or another. Paying for their purchases that Super Cheap, buying a new battery for a Thai and his son trying to get their motorbike started, filling up gas tanks of Thais that appear poor at the gas station, paying a dentist for some children, tuition, and more....

So I do try to change their perception of Thais towards foreigners.

These action can do more than just using a vitriolic comment to the like of bashing and 'racism'....

Just give it a try..

 

Thais are more friendly in high foreigners presence, as more of them do statistically benefit from these foreigners..

 

Just a fact....

Yawn. Another "new member" starting a Thai-bashing thread.

 

On another note (or is it?) do you think it should be a requirement for posts to include a disclaimer if they are written by a non-human entity?

It is like any place in the world.  Some freindly, some not.

9 hours ago, Aurelien said:

i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

Your appearance is not normal for Falang, which is possibly why they don´t like you.

11 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

Sawadee khrup, sabadee mai?

 

Thais dont care how you dress ffs. Most thais dress bad themselves. 

11 hours ago, Aurelien said:

It happened more than once that i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.. 
The other day i was at the copy shop, i entered the shop, it was quiet 3pm in the afternoon, there was 5 or 6 employees, no one looked at me. I sat down, got up again, moved a bit like if i was looking for something but nothing. I had to come up to one guy hiding behind his computer and say a very loud 'Hello' for him to acknowledge me. I sat then and observed, as soon as Thai people entered the shop, employees rush to greet them and ask them what they need. It's the same in the restaurants. Or if I'm with my gf, waiter and waitresses will always deter to her to ask my order, which make things extra complicated, i can just point the menu... It seems they are scared to speak to a farang. Anybody else notices this ? Or at the supermarket, employees will go out of their ways to help other Thais but always avoid getting into contact with the foreigner..only if they have to. And FYI i'm not the scary type, i'm a normal guy mid thirties, dressed properly, not hanging around in flip flops and singlet... 

It happens but my expectations after 8 years in the "Land of Smiles"  is really low.  If I can get an acknowledgement or head nod that it has been a good day.  Customer service is a very flexible term in LOS.  Has this happened to you? I get into a elevator and Thai mothers put their children into the corner and shield them from presence.  I too am a normal looking foreing guy of average size, apperance, clean shaven, no tatoos, shower twice a day and alwasy wear shirt, shorts and shoes.  But to many Thai mothers I pose an imminent threat to their young children.  Nothing I can do about it but just to smile and bear it.  It's just the way it is here. My philosopy is "accept it as it is or pack up and leave".  

18 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Some Thai people are just shy and a little embarrassed around foreigners because they are not confident speaking English.

 

Exactly.

Most Thais are super sweet folks. 

 

Baiting post removed @Hellfire

 

Reply removed