On 5/29/2026 at 12:45 PM, Rockyroad said:

Of course there are bad Thais but the average Thai is 5x better than many farangs.

Does that mean that the below-average? Thai is only 3 x better than some Farangs?

Better in what respects?

23 minutes ago, Off Piste said:

I was actually referring to opinion from fellow members on here.........!

No comprendez.........oops English only on AN. What are you on about please?

57 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Does that mean that the below-average? Thai is only 3 x better than some Farangs?

Better in what respects?

I t ws you who said Thais were 5x better than Falangs, so I asked the question.

1 hour ago, Off Piste said:

I was actually referring to opinion from fellow members on here.........!

Oh, so why does your answer come to my recent post?

1 hour ago, wil iam not said:

I t ws you who said Thais were 5x better than Falangs, so I asked the question.

Oh, so why does your answer come to my recent post?

You are quoting yourself now.

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

You are quoting yourself now.

How did you survive this long man?

8 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Lots to be learned with AI but many just focus on individuals who use it to create content that isn't authentic. It gets so much wrong but it works with you to arrive at a more reliable truth.

It works with a fine balance, and not by abusing every chance you get.

You need to keep some dignity in it.

1. Speak Thai... or at least try. Thais almost always appreciate the effort.

2. Learn how to joke in Thai and when it's appropriate to do so (which is actually quite often)
   
   

18 minutes ago, Galong said:

1. Speak Thai... or at least try. Thais almost always appreciate the effort.

2. Learn how to joke in Thai and when it's appropriate to do so (which is actually quite often)
   

Humor is the most difficult thing across cultures

Irony and sarcasm do not always land well in Thailand, especially Western-style sarcasm. But even inside the West, humour lands differently. Nordic humour, Latin humour, English humour, American humour, and raw Australian humour are all very different, even if the differences are smaller.

What sounds funny in one culture can sound rude, arrogant, stupid, or just confusing in another. So if you try to be smart with sarcasm here, do not be surprised if it does not land the way you intended.

Edited May 31May 31 by Hummin

Need to have a resilient personality, good money management skills, a sense of purpose, a sense of humor, and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle to go the distance here.

Edited May 31May 31 by Gecko123

22 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Humor is the most difficult thing across cultures

Irony and sarcasm do not always land well in Thailand, especially Western-style sarcasm. But even inside the West, humour lands differently. Nordic humour, Latin humour, English humour, American humour, and raw Australian humour are all very different, even if the differences are smaller.

What sounds funny in one culture can sound rude, arrogant, stupid, or just confusing in another. So if you try to be smart with sarcasm here, do not be surprised if it does not land the way you intended.

Fair point. Cross-cultural humor can go sideways fast if you don’t understand the room, the timing, or the people. A sarcastic Brit, a blunt Australian, and a deadpan Scandinavian can all accidentally start a diplomatic incident at the same dinner table.

But honestly, Thais have some of the sharpest social humor I’ve encountered anywhere. The teasing, playful insults, double meanings, facial expressions, timing, and knowing exactly when someone is joking — it’s an art form here.

After decades here and a lot of Thai friendships, I’m not talking about barging in with aggressive Western sarcasm like a confused tourist at happy hour. I mean learning the nuances: when to joke, when not to, who you can joke with, how soft or playful the delivery should be, and how important facial expressions are while saying it.

I’ve even had surprisingly good success joking with Thai government officials over the years, but that’s a completely different level of difficulty. The wordplay has to be lighter, the delivery more respectful, and the comedy dial turned way down... often making fun of myself and my age-related memory loss to loosen things up.

Furthermore, I think that at 70 years old, I also get away with saying things that a 25-year-old foreigner probably shouldn’t even attempt unless he enjoys long awkward silences and people suddenly checking their phones.

The point isn’t “be a comedian.” The point is that if Thai friends (and occasionally even officials) are comfortable enough to joke with you instead of politely around you, you’re probably integrating pretty well. I see my Thai friends joking all the time, and as I've lived here for more than 3 decades, I look at joking as 'fitting in'.

55 minutes ago, Galong said:

Fair point. Cross-cultural humor can go sideways fast if you don’t understand the room, the timing, or the people. A sarcastic Brit, a blunt Australian, and a deadpan Scandinavian can all accidentally start a diplomatic incident at the same dinner table.

But honestly, Thais have some of the sharpest social humor I’ve encountered anywhere. The teasing, playful insults, double meanings, facial expressions, timing, and knowing exactly when someone is joking — it’s an art form here.

After decades here and a lot of Thai friendships, I’m not talking about barging in with aggressive Western sarcasm like a confused tourist at happy hour. I mean learning the nuances: when to joke, when not to, who you can joke with, how soft or playful the delivery should be, and how important facial expressions are while saying it.

I’ve even had surprisingly good success joking with Thai government officials over the years, but that’s a completely different level of difficulty. The wordplay has to be lighter, the delivery more respectful, and the comedy dial turned way down... often making fun of myself and my age-related memory loss to loosen things up.

Furthermore, I think that at 70 years old, I also get away with saying things that a 25-year-old foreigner probably shouldn’t even attempt unless he enjoys long awkward silences and people suddenly checking their phones.

The point isn’t “be a comedian.” The point is that if Thai friends (and occasionally even officials) are comfortable enough to joke with you instead of politely around you, you’re probably integrating pretty well. I see my Thai friends joking all the time, and as I've lived here for more than 3 decades, I look at joking as 'fitting in'.

You have sound and solid points. And the safest thing is always to joke about ourselves rather than others. 😁 That is usually better received too.

33 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It works with a fine balance, and not by abusing every chance you get.

24 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

I normally only go after the trolls. I rarely hit up anyone who doesn't deserve it. Think Omar in The Wire.

Also, site reputation to post count ratio is normally a good macro indicator of things. My reputation number is more than double my total post count. That's far higher than the majority of other posters.

You may also benefit from not taking any of what anyone posts too seriously. If you haven't worked it out by now, The Pub is mainly people winding each other up. If you don't enjoy the sport there are many others to choose from. The world is your oyster...

You can also consider putting me on ignore if that helps. I assure you, I won't be offended.

Nope - Like I stated prior, I enjoy your posts. I never know what section (Pub, General,...) of the forum the posts come from so that is on me.

You don't strike me as the type that measures himself by a silly reputation count. I have never looked at mine but now I will take a look :)

Edit:
just looked and I guess I'm not as popular as you. I have 3k post and a rep of 3k. Also nobody follows me. I've had this name since 2014 though and you have had many so your current reputation is not a true reflection of YOU. This version though is one of your best.

Edited May 31May 31 by atpeace

13 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Nope - Like I stated prior, I enjoy your posts. I never know what section (Pub, General,...) of the forum the posts come from so that is on me.

You don't strike me as the type that measures himself by a silly reputation count. I have never looked at mine but now I will take a look :)

Edit:
just looked and I guess I'm not as popular as you. I have 3k post and a rep of 3k. Also nobody follows me. I've had this name since 2014 though and you have had many so your current reputation is not a true reflection of YOU. This version though is one of your best.

The count does not really do old accounts justice, since it has not been consistent over time. I believe only the last few years have been properly registered.

And if you are active in politics and other delicate topics, you will most likely collect quite a few negative reactions too. That evens you out on the popularity scale 😁

50 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

I normally only go after the trolls.

Gamma is not a troll.

He's just a weird person with strange posts.

If I recall, you take jabs at him constantly? Or I could be wrong.

If you do nothing but take jabs at people and post nothing else, one could argue you are a troll.

36 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Nope - Like I stated prior, I enjoy your posts. I never know what section (Pub, General,...) of the forum the posts come from so that is on me.

You don't strike me as the type that measures himself by a silly reputation count. I have never looked at mine but now I will take a look :)

Edit:
just looked and I guess I'm not as popular as you. I have 3k post and a rep of 3k. Also nobody follows me. I've had this name since 2014 though and you have had many so your current reputation is not a true reflection of YOU. This version though is one of your best.

Site reputation seems to provide a general sense of whether people are responding positively or negatively to your posts. It’s not biased or political. It’s simply a reflection of how other users interact with what you post. Take it for whatever value you think it has.

I’d say it’s fairly accurate for what it’s intended to measure. Take the site’s biggest troll, for example. His reputation is nearly double his total post count, except in the negative direction. As they say, water seeks its own level.

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

The count does not really do old accounts justice, since it has not been consistent over time. I believe only the last few years have been properly registered.

And if you are active in politics and other delicate topics, you will most likely collect quite a few negative reactions too. That evens you out on the popularity scale 😁

I care about what others think about me and doubt those that claim they could care less. If people don't like me online and I'm authentic and not abusive then not much I can do other than trying to understand why. I only do that on rare occasions.

I feel bad for some of the unpopular members that get teamed up and bullied. They aren't perfect but why someone gets pleasure out of abusing them is beyond me. I don't see you doing that and I respect this!

2 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Site reputation seems to provide a general sense of whether people are responding positively or negatively to your posts. It’s not biased or political. It’s simply a reflection of how other users interact with what you post. Take it for whatever value you think it has.

I’d say it’s fairly accurate for what it’s intended to measure. Take the site’s biggest troll, for example. His reputation is nearly double his total post count, except in the negative direction. As they say, water seeks its own level.

OK, this version of you is definitely entertaining and deserving of your rep. The rep count in many cases has nothing to do with competence and more to do with what team you are on. The cowards flock together and some of the top poster on the board are perfect examples of this dynamic.

3 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I care about what others think about me and doubt those that claim they could care less. If people don't like me online and I'm authentic and not abusive then not much I can do other than trying to understand why. I only do that on rare occasions.

I feel bad for some of the unpopular members that get teamed up and bullied. They aren't perfect but why someone gets pleasure out of abusing them is beyond me. I don't see you doing that and I respect this!

Your posts are authentic as is Hummin. Khunla is genuine.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Your posts are authentic as is Hummin. Khunla is genuine.

Thanks and I'll get down voted for comunicating with you. Stop hurting my rep count! :)

2 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Thanks and I'll get down voted for comunicating with you. Stop hurting my rep count! :)

In 10 years time most of the cowards will be dead. Will they be replaced by new ones? Will the forum exist?

Lots of forums have died.

7 hours ago, Hummin said:

KhunLA: blunt, but mostly right here. His point is that Thailand is just a location, and people who cannot manage life here would probably have problems anywhere. A bit harsh, but there is truth in it.

Blunt & harsh, that's about right, if not actually being helpful.

Didn't know you could do such things, AI analysis of threads. Pretty cool. Especially when spot on.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

In 10 years time most of the cowards will be dead. Will they be replaced by new ones? Will the forum exist?

Lots of forums have died.

The owners of this forum seem like good people. They like many became fearful during Covid and lost the loyalty of many of the members. I have no loyalty at all now and would move on with no issue. They surrendered to the herd and silenced those that wanted to have serious discussions.

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Blunt & harsh, that's about right, if not actually being helpful.

Didn't know you could do such things, AI analysis of threads. Pretty cool. Especially when spot on.

AI nails my thought patterns most the time. It gets many other things wrong but I guess I'm not that complicated.

9 minutes ago, atpeace said:

The owners of this forum seem like good people. They like many became fearful during Covid and lost the loyalty of many of the members. I have no loyalty at all now and would move on with no issue. They surrendered to the herd and silenced those that wanted to have serious discussions.

The best forum I joined was a sports forum. Lots of genuine posters. There were 2 or 3 jerks but most were good posters.

On 5/29/2026 at 2:54 PM, KhunLA said:

"At Udon, there was one bar..............."

If it's the one I think it was - owned by an American former GI stationed in Udon back in the day, great Cheeseburgers and a bowl of chili that would knock your socks off. I remember he was selling his resturant, when I retired in 2015, he offered to sell it to me, (and give me the secret recipe for his chili) but I wasn't ready to set roots in Udon. Wonder if it's still there.

A number of troll posts with personal attacks toward other members have been removed:

• Be polite and respectful to other users.

• Do not respond to insults with more insults.

• Avoid flaming, trolling, or stalking other members.

1 hour ago, Explorator en Action said:

If it's the one I think it was - owned by an American former GI stationed in Udon back in the day, great Cheeseburgers and a bowl of chili that would knock your socks off. I remember he was selling his resturant, when I retired in 2015, he offered to sell it to me, (and give me the secret recipe for his chili) but I wasn't ready to set roots in Udon. Wonder if it's still there.

No, it wasn't Bubba's.

22 hours ago, Galong said:

1. Speak Thai... or at least try. Thais almost always appreciate the effort.

2. Learn how to joke in Thai and when it's appropriate to do so (which is actually quite often)
   
   

No-one can tell me Thais don't have a sense of humor.

I was talking with a friend about the scene in Game of Thrones, when Tyrion says he would like to die at age 80, with a bellyful of wine, and a girl's mouth around his cock.

Turning to his Thai wife, he said " Would you do that for me?" Quite deadpan, she replied "Yes, but I would have to take your nappy off first".

22 hours ago, Hummin said:

Humor is the most difficult thing across cultures

Irony and sarcasm do not always land well in Thailand, especially Western-style sarcasm. But even inside the West, humour lands differently. Nordic humour, Latin humour, English humour, American humour, and raw Australian humour are all very different, even if the differences are smaller.

What sounds funny in one culture can sound rude, arrogant, stupid, or just confusing in another. So if you try to be smart with sarcasm here, do not be surprised if it does not land the way you intended.

Joke about jims and harms.

.

43 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

No-one can tell me Thais don't have a sense of humor.

I was talking with a friend about the scene in Game of Thrones, when Tyrion says he would like to die at age 80, with a bellyful of wine, and a girl's mouth around his cock.

Turning to his Thai wife, he said " Would you do that for me?" Quite deadpan, she replied "Yes, but I would have to take your nappy off first".

Not suitable for everyone, just saying 😆

Edited June 1Jun 1 by Hummin