It seems to me that Money really does talk in the land of smiles.

 

If you have money here, you live like a king and can literally do anything.

 

If you are broke, there is no safety net and you have to resort to selling homemade sauces or become a beach vendor in order to stay alive..

 

I often wonder, are we only tolerated here because of our money, or do the thais genuinely like westerners??

It's a question that rings around my head on a daily basis...

 

Eric.

14 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

often wonder, are we only tolerated here because of our money, or do the thais genuinely like westerners??

I've never thought Thais liked white folk.

But the Filipino's certainly appear to.

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never thought Thais liked white folk.

funny that.

 

they use whitening cream on their skin like it's going out of fashion!

 

Eric.

It is the same everywhere.  Money is a lubricant that can help one enjoy and get through life.

1 minute ago, gk10012001 said:

It is the same everywhere.  Money is a lubricant that can help one enjoy and get through life.

Maybe so.

 

But having lived in many countries in my life, I would say the emphasis to appear rich is more potent here than it is elsewhere.

 

Status is everything in Thailand, and that equates to how much money you have in the bank.

 

More money = More face.

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

Maybe so.

 

But having lived in many countries in my life, I would say the emphasis to appear rich is more potent here than it is elsewhere.

 

Status is everything in Thailand, and the equates to how much money you have in the bank.

 

More money = More face.

 

Eric.

good points.  Same is not rare in countries.  Showing off, ego, status is a tricky one.  All societies are stratified.  The USA used to be more than it is now.  Now adays more people just do what they want when they want the way they want with no regard of manners.  Sometimes status helps. It brings order.  The lower status people may not agree with that though

2 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

good points.  Same is not rare in countries.  Showing off, ego, status is a tricky one.  All societies are stratified.  The USA used to be more than it is now.  Now adays more people just do what they want when they want the way they want with no regard of manners.  Sometimes status helps. It brings order.  The lower status people may not agree with that though

Well, yeah..

 

Kinda like the Cuban rebels in the 1950's....

 

They didn't agree with Batista - then look what happened.

 

Eric.

It's the same in any 'developing' country, or countries where there's a big gap between the poor and the rich, people just want to show off their money more. Where i come from, it's almost dirty to speak about money or to show how much money you have. Here, Thais can't refrain from showing their bills (the most expensive, the better) on their IG stories. In indsight, it's ridiculous, it screams 'I want to be accepted socially by displaying my apparent wealth to everybody'. It's just showing off, but no substance. 

Interesting subject. Thai people I know like to say how much they paid for something. Where I come from its more like how cheap I bought something, how much I saved.

Different culture, different values, unsurprisingly.

I formed the opinion that if something can't be sold or eaten, there is no intrinsic value in it for a Thai person.

I recall, many years ago, buying my wife a rose from a road side vendor on Valentine's day in Australia. The look on her face was priceless. I could just about hear the cogs in her head whirring away....what's this? I can't eat it and nobody will buy a second hand flower.

She's changed over the years and loves going to secondhand shops looking for bargains.

5 minutes ago, Aurelien said:

It's the same in any 'developing' country, or countries where there's a big gap between the poor and the rich, people just want to show off their money more. Where i come from, it's almost dirty to speak about money or to show how much money you have. Here, Thais can't refrain from showing their bills (the most expensive, the better) on their IG stories. In indsight, it's ridiculous, it screams 'I want to be accepted socially by displaying my apparent wealth to everybody'. It's just showing off, but no substance. 

Very well said!

 

Eric.

57 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've never thought Thais liked white folk.

But the Filipino's certainly appear to.

I was around the Filipino community a lot in the US and had quite a few Filipino and Filipina friends.  It's a much, much more open community than let say, the Thai community in North Hollywood.  That reflects on their attitudes towards white people in their homelands.  I like the PI.  If I had not been Buddhist I probably would have landed there to live instead of Thailand.  

Money = Status
Status = "Everything" to Thais

Just now, connda said:

I was around the Filipino community a lot in the US and had quite a few Filipino and Filipina friends.  It's a much, much more open community than let say, the Thai community in North Hollywood.  That reflects on their attitudes towards white people in their homelands.  I like the PI.  If I had not been Buddhist I probably would have landed there to live instead of Thailand.  

Is it not as dangerous as people make out??

 

Eric.

Just now, Stressed Eric said:

Is it not as dangerous as people make out??

 

Eric.

In Northern PI like Luzon?  No, it is not as long as you are not being stupid.  In the Muslin Southern parts of PI.  I wouldn't go there.

Just now, connda said:

In Northern PI like Luzon?  No, it is not as long as you are not being stupid.  In the Muslin Southern parts of PI.  I wouldn't go there.

Neither would I.

 

I have done my research on the safest parts of PI and know where I should and should not go.

 

However, the ever increasing severity of the Typhoons there are currently putting me off, so y'all have to endure me complaining for a little while longer..

 

Eric.

8 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

Neither would I.

 

I have done my research on the safest parts of PI and know where I should and should not go.

 

However, the ever increasing severity of the Typhoons there are currently putting me off, so y'all have to endure me complaining for a little while longer..

 

Eric.

Sorry - I don't buy the global warming propaganda.  I've been around since the early 1950s and I've experienced numerous hurricanes and typhoons during my life.  Some are very severe, some aren't.  I don't see "increasing severity" anywhere other than in the media who are spinning global warming propaganda faster than the fastest cyclone. 
 

 

10 minutes ago, connda said:

Sorry - I don't buy the global warming propaganda.  I've been around since the early 1950s and I've experienced numerous hurricanes and typhoons during my life.  Some are very severe, some aren't.  I don't see "increasing severity" anywhere other than in the media who are spinning global warming propaganda faster than the fastest cyclone. 
 

 

It's not helped by building housing on low level ground, flood plains, or near the beach.

3 minutes ago, connda said:

Sorry - I don't buy the global warming propaganda.  I've been around since the early 1950s and I've experienced numerous hurricanes and typhoons during my life.  Some are very severe, some aren't.  I don't see "increasing severity" anywhere other than in the media who are spinning global warming propaganda faster than the fastest cyclone. 
 

 

It was 18 degrees celsius in London the other day.

 

We are in the middle of November.

 

Do you think that's normal?

 

Eric.

23 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

Is it not as dangerous as people make out??

 

Eric.

Been their loads (PI) walked around the poorest areas late at night, all very polite and friendly to foreigners.

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

Been their loads (PI) walked around the poorest areas late at night, all very polite and friendly to foreigners.

Interesting. 

 

It seems to be a split.

 

Half of those who live there/visit say they have never had any issues whatsoever.

 

The other half seem to say they never felt safe there, even during the daytime.

 

Eric.

1 hour ago, Stressed Eric said:

It seems to me that Money really does talk in the land of smiles.

 

If you have money here, you live like a king and can literally do anything.

 

If you are broke, there is no safety net and you have to resort to selling homemade sauces or become a beach vendor in order to stay alive..

 

I often wonder, are we only tolerated here because of our money, or do the thais genuinely like westerners??

It's a question that rings around my head on a daily basis...

 

Eric.

 If you are low on cash, it becomes the most important thing in the world, anywhere in the world. If you have money, then you can start considering other things.

 

I don't know where you come from, but using Thailand as one example. Over 70 million people are living here. Do you think they are all the same with the same attitude? If you, as most foreigners do, spend too much time with working girls, you'll get a totally slanted view of Thai people. 

19 minutes ago, Stressed Eric said:

Is it not as dangerous as people make out??

Eric.

Where i grew up in UK  is much more dangerous than any place I have been in Asia
and i too like to walk through poor area's when i visit places
obviously not put yourself in a vulnerable position no matter where or when anywhere
but Asia is much safer than the UK by a long way
even though most in UK think differently, usually those who have not travelled

3 minutes ago, patman30 said:

Where i grew up in UK  is much more dangerous than any place I have been in Asia
and i too like to walk through poor area's when i visit places
obviously not put yourself in a vulnerable position no matter where or when anywhere
but Asia is much safer than the UK by a long way
even though most in UK think differently, usually those who have not travelled

What about road accident deaths in Thailand??

 

Eric.

21 minutes ago, connda said:

In Northern PI like Luzon?  No, it is not as long as you are not being stupid.  In the Muslin Southern parts of PI.  I wouldn't go there.

All of the Philippines is as dangerous as people make it out to be. I've lived in many areas, including Manila, Angeles, Cavite and Leyte. You might think you're safe there, but you never are. If you have money and flash it around or act arrogant in any way, you're in danger. Kidnapping for cash is a regular thing there.

 

The Visayas are dangerous, especially Samar, but Northern Luzon is the most dangerous place of all.

Without money you are lower than a snakes underbelly 

1 minute ago, JensenZ said:

All of the Philippines is as dangerous as people make it out to be. I've lived in many areas, including Manila, Angeles, Cavite and Leyte. You might think you're safe there, but you never are. If you have money and flash it around or act arrogant in any way, you're in danger. Kidnapping for cash is a regular thing there.

 

The Visayas are dangerous, especially Samar, but Northern Luzon is the most dangerous place of all.

Why is Northern Luzon so dangerous?

 

Eric.

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Without money you are lower than a snakes underbelly 

Agreed.

 

Back home I get beers bought for me!

 

Eric.

4 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

If you have money and flash it around or act arrogant in any way, you're in danger

This applies to literally everywhere these days though.
Especially for anyone out of town.
I do not disagree with your comment
but find dangers can be similar in certain areas, in plenty of countries

Just now, patman30 said:

This applies to literally everywhere these days though.
Especially for anyone out of town.
I do not disagree with your comment
but find dangers can be similar in certain areas, in plenty of countries

I once dropped a wad full of hundreds in the middle of New Orleans.

 

Nobody batted an eye.

 

I picked it up without being mugged or shot.

 

Eric.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I've never thought Thais liked white folk.

But the Filipino's certainly appear to.

You can find girls in both countries who like you, but most foreigners spend too much time with bar girls and are not really in a position to assess the attitude of the general population.