49 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Very shallow answer – just quoting a dictionary doesn't even mean you understand, let alone anyone else ... you need to relate the definitions to context. The fact that you had to look it up (and haven't bothered with a citation) shows you didn't know yourself. Take a look at my definitions, as they are far more workable.

I don't quote anything unless I already know it. Assuming you know more than others is just an assumption. I posted that as sarcasm, and I'm sure most members here already knew the definitions.

7 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

I don't quote anything unless I already know it. Assuming you know more than others is just an assumption. I posted that as sarcasm, and I'm sure most members here already knew the definitions.

Curious you're in denial about 2 quotes and the irony is you also don't appear to know what sarcasm is?

they;re in yellow in case that's another thing you didn't know...

to combine things into a whole, mix people together equally, or find a mathematical total....

assimilate

/əˈsiməˌlāt/

Assimilate means to take in and fully understand ideas, to blend into a new culture or group, or to absorb food and nutrients into the body.

THanks for the phonetics - /bʊt//aɪ//ɪkˈspɛkt//juː//njuː//ðæt//ɔːlˈrɛdi/ 

Edited Monday at 06:20 PM1 day by kwilco

4 hours ago, kwilco said:

Curious you're in denial about 2 quotes and the irony is you also don't appear to know what sarcasm is?

they;re in yellow in case that's another thing you didn't know...

to combine things into a whole, mix people together equally, or find a mathematical total....

assimilate

/əˈsiməˌlāt/

Assimilate means to take in and fully understand ideas, to blend into a new culture or group, or to absorb food and nutrients into the body.

THanks for the phonetics - /bʊt//aɪ//ɪkˈspɛkt//juː//njuː//ðæt//ɔːlˈrɛdi/ 

I'm in denial about nothing. You think you know more than others and you don't. Assuming what others know is ignorance. When I post something and make quotes, it's to verify what I said, proof thereof. I already knew the definitions, as I'm sure most here already did also.

On 7/23/2026 at 7:22 AM, ravip said:

Should foreigners try to integrate into or change Thai culture?

Fortunately, Europe and the UK has already spent years producing a very expensive, highly visible answer.

For some people, even the most obvious truth is simply too offensive to accept, especially when it inconveniences their preferred version of events.

On 7/23/2026 at 7:11 PM, Patong2021 said:

Despite your impressive language skills and your ease of circulating with the locals, you have not integrated. Integration requires one to become part of the local society and culture. Integration requires a physical presence within the institutions and life of the community. A person who serves in the local government or public institutions is integrated. We see that in western countries where immigrants are elected as MPs or appointed to government committees, or elected to school boards etc. Of more importance is understanding one's place in the social hierarchy.

These are merely YOUR opinions. Others have different opinions about the definition of integration. When questioning somebody's integration into another culture, I don't think the answer is a black or white yes/no (he has / has not integrated). It's more along the lines of to what 'degree' or 'level' has he integrated. To be successfully integrated, I don't believe they have to achieve 100%, nor be elected to the local school board.

On a separate note, despite your impressive writing skills, if you would break your ideas down into separate paragraphs, it would make the experience much more pleasurable for your reader.

Edited yesterday at 06:17 AM1 day by ColeBOzbourne

8 hours ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

These are merely YOUR opinions. Others have different opinions about the definition of integration. When questioning somebody's integration into another culture, I don't think the answer is a black or white yes/no (he has / has not integrated). It's more along the lines of to what 'degree' or 'level' has he integrated. To be successfully integrated, I don't believe they have to achieve 100%, nor be elected to the local school board.

On a separate note, despite your impressive writing skills, if you would break your ideas down into separate paragraphs, it would make the experience much more pleasurable for your reader.

The position I provided reflects the commonly accepted assessment of integration, and while it may be my "opinion", it is based on the measurements and assessments used to determine the level of integration in a society. It is also common sense. There are two components to integration; One is how society treats the person and the other is how the person is part of the society. The first component is more easily measured through things like access to social services including health care, equal treatment by the judiciary and law enforcement, and equitable treatment by society in general. A farang who is subject to double pricing or unfair treatment in the courts because he/she is not Thai has not integrated. It may not be the person's doing, but it reflects the society's reluctance to accept the foreigner as an equal. The second component, is how how the person has become part of the community. Some believe that if they wear an amulet, or go to a wat and wai that they have integrated. Integration is more than that. It is demonstrated by participation in local governance and administration. It is also demonstrated by social participation in governnce activities.

The concept of integration in a local community is evident and measurable. The use of terms such as "degree of integration" are not helpful and are used to excuse or to justify exclusion. Integration means that one has become part of the social construct of the host society. One does not have to be an immigrant to be excluded. Examples are the mentally ill, the physically impaired, and people of lower socio economic positions who can be excluded from society.

Integration of foreigners in Thailand is neither easy, nor common. The exclusion is attributable to the intentional obstacles and the social culture that does not accept most foreign cultures, especially non regional.

Thank you for your unsolicited suggestions on writing technique. In respect your view that I should have structured my comment into paragraphs, I ask if you know what a paragraph is? It is usually a construction of 3-5 sentences. The first sentence introduces the main point or key issue. The next component sets out the information that supports the point made. The paragraph then ends with a sentence that ties the aforementioned together. The paragraph you criticized was 5 sentences, and followed the format described.

12 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

The position I provided reflects the commonly accepted assessment of integration, and while it may be my "opinion", it is based on the measurements and assessments used to determine the level of integration in a society. It is also common sense. There are two components to integration; One is how society treats the person and the other is how the person is part of the society. The first component is more easily measured through things like access to social services including health care, equal treatment by the judiciary and law enforcement, and equitable treatment by society in general. A farang who is subject to double pricing or unfair treatment in the courts because he/she is not Thai has not integrated. It may not be the person's doing, but it reflects the society's reluctance to accept the foreigner as an equal. The second component, is how how the person has become part of the community. Some believe that if they wear an amulet, or go to a wat and wai that they have integrated. Integration is more than that. It is demonstrated by participation in local governance and administration. It is also demonstrated by social participation in governnce activities.

The concept of integration in a local community is evident and measurable. The use of terms such as "degree of integration" are not helpful and are used to excuse or to justify exclusion. Integration means that one has become part of the social construct of the host society. One does not have to be an immigrant to be excluded. Examples are the mentally ill, the physically impaired, and people of lower socio economic positions who can be excluded from society.

Integration of foreigners in Thailand is neither easy, nor common. The exclusion is attributable to the intentional obstacles and the social culture that does not accept most foreign cultures, especially non regional.

Thank you for your unsolicited suggestions on writing technique. In respect your view that I should have structured my comment into paragraphs, I ask if you know what a paragraph is? It is usually a construction of 3-5 sentences. The first sentence introduces the main point or key issue. The next component sets out the information that supports the point made. The paragraph then ends with a sentence that ties the aforementioned together. The paragraph you criticized was 5 sentences, and followed the format described.

You set a high bar for integration. In your opinion, are you integrated into Thai society?

Interesting, because according to your opinions, after over 50 years back in my home country, I was never integrated. I was a bit of a lone wolf, but held a respectful job, had a good standing in the community, and thought I was a productive member of society. Yet I never did, nor wanted to do, many of the requirements that you suggest as mandatory for integration. If I didn't want to do them there, why would I do them here?

Not sure where you from but let's say the UK...

So when you overhear someone at a restaurant or pub speaking the King's BBC English and you look over to see who they are and their face looks South Asian....

Do you think:

A. Posh British

B. Toffee nosed P-word

Same for you in Thailand, regardless of the level of integration.

You will always be judged by your looks.

If you look Thai, only then can you pull it off mate.

Sorry that's just human nature. 🍒

22 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Not sure where you from but let's say the UK...

So when you overhear someone at a restaurant or pub speaking the King's BBC English and you look over to see who they are and their face looks South Asian....

Do you think:

A. Posh British

B. Toffee nosed P-word

Same for you in Thailand, regardless of the level of integration.

You will always be judged by your looks.

If you look Thai, only then can you pull it off mate.

Sorry that's just human nature. 🍒

I don't evesdrop on other people, that's a commie trick!

You forgot option

C. Report them to the police for hate speech.

Neither.

On 7/22/2026 at 6:05 PM, simon43 said:

But not being a Thai citizen doesn't exclude you from the vast majority of activites, basically not owning land and that's about it.

Being a citizen means you can practise as an engineer, taxi driver or any other occupation reserved for Thais.

Yes one can work as an engineer sponsored by a Thai company but one cannot start/own their own engineering company or get long-term employment security.

Important if one is young enough and wishes to stay until retirement age.

Of course this being Thailand one can always find a way around this at a price but... There are a few "freelance" engineering types here.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by VocalNeal