I've found when I wander into a red light bar that the opposite apply.

Probably just my good looks

12 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 watched an incident last week.

A farang, presumely German, entered 7/11. Apparently he was looking for something and obviously couldn't find. So he approached the counter to ask one of 2 lazy boys following some important TikTok reels.

Nobody tried to help him.

Was it the fault of the employees?

No, I'd say. This German was only 1.50 "tall". So the 2 behind the counter haven't seen him.

At this point no Thai bashing please.

38 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

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".  

I've seen that prejudice taught to youngsters many times since I moved here. It's also the same when you're on a bus or van. They'll put their masks on, and try to sit as far away as possible, thinking we're more likely to spread Covid than the locals who sit next to each other, sharing sticky rice and water glasses.

 

The children, who shouldn't know much at their ages, shy away, which shows this has been ongoing, as children usually have a normal curiosity towards strangers, especially when you smile at them, but here it's as if you're contagious. It's a learned behavior, and isn't will all of them, as many are willing to let you sit right next to them, and even start conversations. It's usually the teen and young adult crowds who are okay with you, but the later year women are the ones who are also taught this prejudice, by their parents, who also don't know any better. 

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I've seen that prejudice taught to youngsters many times since I moved here. It's also the same when you're on a bus or van. They'll put their masks on, and try to sit as far away as possible, thinking we're more likely to spread Covid than the locals who sit next to each other, sharing sticky rice and water glasses.

 

The children, who shouldn't know much at their ages, shy away, which shows this has been ongoing, as children usually have a normal curiosity towards strangers, especially when you smile at them, but here it's as if you're contagious. It's a learned behavior, and isn't will all of them, as many are willing to let you sit right next to them, and even start conversations. It's usually the teen and young adult crowds who are okay with you, but the later year women are the ones who are also taught this prejudice, by their parents, who also don't know any better. 

 

   Why do you smile at children, sit next to them and start conversations with them ?

That is inappropriate behavior .

Children are taught not to talk to strangers 

12 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 know what you are talking about, remember that Thai is their language not English. It is up to us to break the ice and say hello in Thai, then if you cannot speak Thai then have your question ready on a translate app and show them, most Thais will be very happy to then help you.

 

You must put in the effort to then get the response. Remember a great smail goes a long way here.

3 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Why do you smile at children, sit next to them and start conversations with them ?

That is inappropriate behavior .

Children are taught not to talk to strangers 

Every normal parent smiles at children, as it has them think you're okay. I didn't mean start conversations with children nor sit next to them but locals in general. Sorry you misunderstood. If you're a parent, you know what I mean, as I've asked many parents if i could give them a milk, juice or snack to their child while on a bus, van, in an elevator or just in public somewhere, as I don't eat or drink those and think the child would like it. Children should be taught to be wary of everyone, but not to fear them. Most inappropriate behavior towards children comes from step parents or family members or friends. 

I dress like crap and thais wont leave me alone. Opposite experience of you OP

7 hours ago, Yagoda said:

I don t have any problems interacting with Thai folks

 

Because there aren't any in Siem Reap!

13 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

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. 

 

Many Foreigners are also fed up  with disrespectful Thai's too, especially on the roads

8 minutes ago, actonion said:

Many Foreigners are also fed up  with disrespectful Thai's too, especially on the roads

How can you be fed up with something that has been here, the Thai driving behaviour well before you arrived. 

It's your decision, no one is forcing you to stay in Thailand. 

 

This is an issue with foreigners coming to Thailand, then whinging and whining about this and that, things have always been here.

It's so bloody childish, like being back at school, listening to delinquents, 

 

 

19 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

How can you be fed up with something that has been here, the Thai driving behaviour well before you arrived. 

It's your decision, no one is forcing you to stay in Thailand. 

 

This is an issue with foreigners coming to Thailand, then whinging and whining about this and that, things have always been here.

It's so bloody childish, like being back at school, listening to delinquents, 

 

 

Yeah always one, or more, why dont u go back home, sounds like your whinging and whining

3 minutes ago, actonion said:

Yeah always one, or more why dont u go back home, sounds like your whinging and whining, u moaning git

Omg, typical bloody reply from a moaner, enjoy your miserable day. 😂

Maybe all Thai's think we are Russians, which I can understand they are ignorant bastards, well most of them and they have a really bad attitude towards Thai's especially, in restaurants, if you get the chance ask the staff they will tell you, 

My experience of Thai's and living here is the opposite to you, we have a great bunch of family and friends who when they come to Phuket never come empty handed, 

I go for a walk almost every morning weather permitting along the beach front and cross paths with many people, were we at least acknowledge each other, some we have had conversations with, if I choose to go for a coffee either Starbucks or Amazon and maybe a 7/11 the staff always say hello, There is a young Muslim girl who does the delivery for 7/11 pass me on the road last Saturday she beeped her horn as she passed me, 

Maybe you need to take a look in the mirror, try smiling, 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

How can you be fed up with something that has been here, the Thai driving behaviour well before you arrived. 

It's your decision, no one is forcing you to stay in Thailand. 

 

This is an issue with foreigners coming to Thailand, then whinging and whining about this and that, things have always been here.

It's so bloody childish, like being back at school, listening to delinquents, 

 

 

I'm guessing you still don't realize, that foreigners, by and large, come from a more developed country, where they're used to things being a tad more normal, and "whining", if done by enough people over time, can change things here to make them not only better for the foreigners, but for the locals as well.

 

Complaining is how all bad things are changed, or else you have mai bpen rai, where things are allowed to remain the same, much to the detriment of Thai society.

 

Think about all the things Thais wouldn't have if there weren't any foreign influence, and you would see you would be living in a country like some in Africa, without phones, computers, cars, trucks, military equipment, tractors, weedeaters, mowers, TV's, road maintenance, electrical power, buses, trains, and a fair justice system, all of which came from foreign thinking. Remember, you're a foreigner, and many here don't like you no matter how you act or how much you spend, and many more only because of that money spent here. Again, this is not to say all locals aren't friendly, as I've seen quite a few that are.

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

I watched an incident last week.

A farang, presumely German, entered 7/11. Apparently he was looking for something and obviously couldn't find. So he approached the counter to ask one of 2 lazy boys following some important TikTok reels.

Nobody tried to help him.

Was it the fault of the employees?

No, I'd say. This German was only 1.50 "tall". So the 2 behind the counter haven't seen him.

At this point no Thai bashing please.

If you work at a store, your job is to help people, or else you could get fired, as it's part of the job description. ALL people, all the time. If they're following Tiktok reels, they shouldn't be employed there. 

6 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I'm guessing you still don't realize, that foreigners, by and large, come from a more developed country, where they're used to things being a tad more normal, and "whining", if done by enough people over time, can change things here to make them not only better for the foreigners, but for the locals as well.

 

Complaining is how all bad things are changed, or else you have mai bpen rai, where things are allowed to remain the same, much to the detriment of Thai society.

 

Think about all the things Thais wouldn't have if there weren't any foreign influence, and you would see you would be living in a country like some in Africa, without phones, computers, cars, trucks, military equipment, tractors, weedeaters, mowers, TV's, road maintenance, electrical power, buses, trains, and a fair justice system, all of which came from foreign thinking. Remember, you're a foreigner, and many here don't like you no matter how you act or how much you spend, and many more only because of that money spent here. Again, this is not to say all locals aren't friendly, as I've seen quite a few that are.

Hi Fred, we've had many discussions in the past on this issue, you and I see things very differently.

 

Why doesn't he just find a country with driving habits that he likes, it's seriously a mental illness to complain once you arrive. 

 

I've been living here over 20 years, I like Thailand the way it is, I don't want any changes,leave things alone. 

 

If the many moaners make all their stupid changes, Thailand will end up the same place we all left behind. 

 

I've worked in Angola for a few years, it's got all the above that you said they didn't. 

 

 

 

 

On 9/4/2025 at 7:57 AM, Aurelien said:

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... 

 

Thais dont care if you walk around in flops and a singlet.

It's only the Farang Brigade that needs to judge other people for being lower status so they can feel good about their collection of designer shoes.

 

23 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Hi Fred, we've had many discussions in the past on this issue, you and I see things very differently.

 

Why doesn't he just find a country with driving habits that he likes, it's seriously a mental illness to complain once you arrive. 

 

I've been living here over 20 years, I like Thailand the way it is, I don't want any changes,leave things alone. 

 

If the many moaners make all their stupid changes, Thailand will end up the same place we all left behind. 

 

I've worked in Angola for a few years, it's got all the above that you said they didn't. 

 

 

 

 

Like i said, complaining is how things change, as long as enough people complain. It isn't only foreigners that complain here, as the good drivers, locals, don't like bad drivers also. People die here every day, more than any other country, along with those that get hurt that don't, because of the lack of enforcement here. The police doing their jobs, along with everyone else, is what should happen everywhere anyway.

 

There are laws on the books for a reason, and those laws came from the justice system that was borrowed from a foreign country, and it's supposed to save lives.

 

Corruption here is a major problem, and that's something that needs to disappear, for the benefit for everyone who isn't making a profit from it.

 

Again, if you look at all the influence that was here when you arrived 20 years ago, those things are what helps not only Thais but you also, and I think if they weren't already adopted, you wouldn't be here.

 

Thailand doesn't have to be exactly like any other country, as the culture will always be here, along with things that are "Thai". If you look at the things some foreigners like to see changed here, they aren't that ridiculous and likely would benefit the locals also, without changing the country.

 

As far as Angola, it might have modernized awhile ago, but a lot of Africa is still in the dark ages, and people are being taken advantage of because they haven't the ability to fight back against dictators. At least not yet. 

3 hours ago, stupidfarang said:

I know what you are talking about, remember that Thai is their language not English. It is up to us to break the ice and say hello in Thai, then if you cannot speak Thai then have your question ready on a translate app and show them, most Thais will be very happy to then help you.

 

You must put in the effort to then get the response. Remember a great smail goes a long way here.

I tried with Thai people for years to break the ice.  The biggest challenge has been to master the tonal nature of the Thai language. I have had problems with simple words like 50 (ha-sip) but many Thai's have to hear it like this: 

 

"HAAAA SEEEP" I just can't master the tonal nature of this language. Also, no credit is given to us foriengers who know the right words but just can't master the tones.  Mostly I get the "stupid foreinger can't even speak my launguare"look.  I have been to other countries and locals appreciate that fact I am trying to learn and speak the  language even if my pronunciation is not perfect. Hence I have given up on speaking Thai to the local people. The weirdest and emotional encounter  I ever had was from a Songtae driver (you know the red trucks) when I said "nimman soi hoke".  He gave me the "stupid foreigner" look and then said "you mean NEEE MAAN SOiEEEE HOOOKE".  I said you know what i meant. HIs reply "you say Thai right way".  I replied "you are right and i am stupid".  This made him happy. The end. 

17 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... 

Just one comment to you! Learn to speak Thai, or keep to the tourist cities

There needs to be a middle ground between 'changing everything' and 'not changing anything'. The problem is, if you're a foreigner in Thailand, for some reason other foreigners don't allow you to have a negative opinion about Thailand or Thais, you can't critique anything you have to say 'Thailand is wonderful, nothing is bad, people are amazing etc etc'. Which is true of course, but like any place in the world, Thailand has flaws that can't be ignored once you've been living here for a few years. There is a difference between behaving like mister know it all and suggesting things. Thais don't take advice from anyone and are 'always right'. But they could benefit, sometimes, to learn from the foreigners they so dearly love.

9 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

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

I did not mention racism, you made that up.

18 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 doubt if it was to be nasty to you. Probably they didn't speak English and thought you couldn't speak Thai. Interactions like that are awkward for both parties. I have experienced it in the past but as soon as I speak to them in Thai the whole atmosphere changes.

9 hours ago, Andre0720 said:

11 hours 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?   

Expand  

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

Cobblers.   "i'm being quietly 'ignored' because i'm a farang.."...that's what he posted, a Thai-bashing opinion, not a fact. 

I'm afraid you lot mix i the wrong circles, I've just had one of my wifes friends stop by and give me 2000 baht for my birthday which is Sunday, take papa out for a meal, 

8 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Because there aren't any in Siem Reap!

Wow, that's a pretty stupid comment. I can explain why, but normal people who aren't deranged by hate already know

5 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

I tried with Thai people for years to break the ice.  The biggest challenge has been to master the tonal nature of the Thai language. I have had problems with simple words like 50 (ha-sip) but many Thai's have to hear it like this: 

 

"HAAAA SEEEP" I just can't master the tonal nature of this language. Also, no credit is given to us foriengers who know the right words but just can't master the tones.  Mostly I get the "stupid foreinger can't even speak my launguare"look.  I have been to other countries and locals appreciate that fact I am trying to learn and speak the  language even if my pronunciation is not perfect. Hence I have given up on speaking Thai to the local people. The weirdest and emotional encounter  I ever had was from a Songtae driver (you know the red trucks) when I said "nimman soi hoke".  He gave me the "stupid foreigner" look and then said "you mean NEEE MAAN SOiEEEE HOOOKE".  I said you know what i meant. HIs reply "you say Thai right way".  I replied "you are right and i am stupid".  This made him happy. The end. 

 

OK... So he was a 'twit'... and that happens...  but your anecdote is hardly representative of wider exposure.

 

I find that when speaking Thai, due to my 'tonal errors' the intelligence of the person I'm speaking with matters... 

I can have decent conversation with a taxi driver, then on another journey a different driver hardly understands me - its often about how adaptable the 'listener' is to the idiosyncrasies of my often imperfect enunciation which is primarily overcome by context.

 

I also encounter the 'eyes not believing the ears' issue, when speaking Thai in a shop I get a completely blank look, the listener is lost and has no idea of what I said... then the penny drops and they realise I've spoken Thai when they were expecting English.

 

Most common is the pleasant reaction - speaking Thai in a shop etc and the other person is either simply non-plussed and engages in the process in a very matter of fact way, or they show interest and ask questions, where I am from, compliment my Thai etc, ask where I learned etc... 

 

In short - its a very mixed bag but primarily positive, as would be expected when interacting in any country.

 

8 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

How can you be fed up with something that has been here, the Thai driving behaviour well before you arrived. 

It's your decision, no one is forcing you to stay in Thailand. 

 

This is an issue with foreigners coming to Thailand, then whinging and whining about this and that, things have always been here.

It's so bloody childish, like being back at school, listening to delinquents, 

 

SF – I don’t know how much exposure you’ve had with everyday Thais, but I imagine that after being here for a decent length of time you’ll have built up a number of solid Thai friendships.

 

I’ve found that many, if not most, of my close Thai friends share very similar opinions on a lot of things here – particularly when it comes to road safety and general safety.

 

Making such observations and discussing them is not the same as “coming here and whinging, trying to make everything the same as it is back home”... That’s just a common argument on forums such as this used against those who dare to voice opinions.

 

In reality, there’s a spectrum when it comes to observing and commenting on life here. At one end, you have those who moan incessantly; at the other, those who insist everything is perfect, that we are merely guests and have no right to an opinion. Then there are the more balanced folk – the ones I’d consider more mentally stable – who are capable of making thoughtful observations, integrating, and discussing them with both foreigners and Thais in a mutually respectful way.

 

For people like that, making a negative observation does not mean they are moaning about Thailand as a whole. It simply means they are pointing out an issue in a country they care about. After all, there’s still a net positive – which is precisely why they care enough to comment.

 

This pigeonholing, where any negative remark automatically paints the speaker as solely negative and whining, is flawed.

 

It’s perfectly reasonable to be able to make such observations when balanced and not based on bias.

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

SF – I don’t know how much exposure you’ve had with everyday Thais, but I imagine that after being here for a decent length of time you’ll have built up a number of solid Thai friendships.

 

I’ve found that many, if not most, of my close Thai friends share very similar opinions on a lot of things here – particularly when it comes to road safety and general safety.

 

Making such observations and discussing them is not the same as “coming here and whinging, trying to make everything the same as it is back home”... That’s just a common argument on forums such as this used against those who dare to voice opinions.

 

In reality, there’s a spectrum when it comes to observing and commenting on life here. At one end, you have those who moan incessantly; at the other, those who insist everything is perfect, that we are merely guests and have no right to an opinion. Then there are the more balanced folk – the ones I’d consider more mentally stable – who are capable of making thoughtful observations, integrating, and discussing them with both foreigners and Thais in a mutually respectful way.

 

For people like that, making a negative observation does not mean they are moaning about Thailand as a whole. It simply means they are pointing out an issue in a country they care about. After all, there’s still a net positive – which is precisely why they care enough to comment.

 

This pigeonholing, where any negative remark automatically paints the speaker as solely negative and whining, is flawed.

 

It’s perfectly reasonable to be able to make such observations when balanced and not based on bias.

Finally someone who gets it

Thailand is one of those (probably quite rare) countries where speaking the local language doesn’t necessarily help you — and in many cases, it may even work against you. Especially if you are a farang: a creature from another world, exotic, beautiful, and full of money — which, in the Thai “gypsy-like” hierarchy of values, is the highest virtue.

 

Did all those fools who spent years learning this exotic language ever realize that it might never bring them no real advantage? People like Richard Smith with his “perfect balance” idiocy — do they understand how absurdly naive they actually are?