So it's obvious and understandable that many Thais are offended by hearing foreigners tell them that they bring money into Thailand implying I suppose that Thais should be grateful for that

Thailandlanguage courses

Thailandlanguage courses

Let's try to analyze this. What;s really going on with this?

The viral blowup of the Italian kids BTS video would have been a nothing burger without that one comment about money.

Why are Thais so seemingly extremity offended?

Other than objecting to rude people saying rude things, is it possible such extreme and dramatic offense reaction hit a nerve and reveals a national INFERIORITY complex bizarrely mixed with a national SUPERIORITY complex perhaps irrationally overvaluing what Thailand has to offer foreigners?

There are many other countries in the world that offer similar or even better bang for the buck. They are competing with other countries for tourism and expat money whether they admit it or like it or not.

Of course Thai people or anyone else has a right to be offended by anything at all without reason, but the question I have is does that mean that we as foreigners are obligated to be offended for and with them? That seems rather bat sheit crazy to me.

We're not Thai so isn't it weird how many foreigners internalize what they think it is to be Thai? Why do they do that? Do they want Thais to regard them as one of the "good" f-rangs?

As far as the economics of tourism and certain expat groups, that's a subject for another topic, but clearly imported money is a benefit for Thailand and also clearly Thailand could get by quite well without any of it.

Thailandlanguage courses

From my personal perspective as a serial NON-immigrant on retirement extensions, I have no delusions about why I am allowed to get extensions every year. It's proving the MONEY. That's it. Nothing personal.

To be clear, no I don't think or expect that Thais or Thailand should be grateful for the money that I and other retired expats bring in.

Thailandlanguage courses

I see the visa rules and compliance in a purely transactional manner. The laws here designed it that way so as they say it is what it is.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Jingthing

What is the point of your post as it makes no sense from the title to the content!

3 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

What is the point of your post as it makes no sense from the title to the content!

I would think it should to people who have followed the "big" news about the Italiand BTS kids.

Other than that, I can't help you.

You either get it or you don't.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I would think it should to people who have followed the "big" news about the Italiand BTS kids.

Other than that, I can't help you.

You either get it or you don't.

I don't as I do not see any connection(s)!

It is just a bunch of rambling disconnected phrases with a title that makes no sense in English!

They have t-shirts saying No Money No Honey, yet when some Italian lady rudely and sarcastically comments that she is bringing money in presumably for some kind of honey in Thailand, it becomes an international incident?!

Is this not totally crazy?

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

I don't as I do not see any connection(s)!

It is just a bunch of rambling disconnected phrases with a title that makes no sense in English!

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

I don't as I do not see any connection(s)!

It is just a bunch of rambling disconnected phrases with a title that makes no sense in English!

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

I don't as I do not see any connection(s)!

It is just a bunch of rambling disconnected phrases with a title that makes no sense in English!

I can't help you then.

Just now, Jingthing said:

I can't help you then.

Please do not try as your posts above make no sense!

Just now, scottiejohn said:

Please do not try as your posts above make no sense!

The ignore list might help you.

Here's an example of a f-rang trying to be Thai-ier than Thai about this.

I say leave the being Thai and feeling Thai flavored offense to the Thais!

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Jingthing

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

They have t-shirts saying No Money No Honey, yet when some Italian lady rudely and sarcastically comments that she is bringing money in presumably for some kind of honey in Thailand, it becomes an international incident?!

Is this not totally crazy?

Which Italian lady?

You mean Sophia?

I think, even without money, she can bring her honey, anytime.

I think Loren is better than all other of these Italian ladies you mention, even this one...

She's a honey, and she has plenty of money.

But, are you saying that she is not welcome in Thailand due to her money, or her honey?

You lost me at "f-rang". If you can't even spell it out as "farang", then clearly your issues are bigger than theirs!

29 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Here's an example of a f-rang trying to be Thai-ier than Thai about this.

I say leave the being Thai and feeling Thai flavored offense to the Thais!

I say that you might do well to tone down your irritation with foreigners who have empathy for the people in whose land they have settled.

I am sure that many might have already concluded that everything for you is transactional when it comes to dealing with, ahem, "foreigners".

You know what you sound like?

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2 minutes ago, Enoon said:

I say that you might do well to tone down your irritation with foreigners who have empathy for the people in whose land they have settled.

I am sure that many might have already concluded that everything for you is transactional when it comes to dealing with, ahem, "foreigners".

You know what you sound like?

So you don't want to discuss the topic.

But I will.say that trying too hard to be seen as one of the "good" f-rangs in the eyes of Thais is foolish.

Edited 30 minutes ago30 min by Jingthing

3 minutes ago, Enoon said:

I say that you might do well to tone down your irritation with foreigners who have empathy for the people in whose land they have settled.

I am sure that many might have already concluded that everything for you is transactional when it comes to dealing with, ahem, "foreigners".

You know what you sound like?

It's my posting style that I use to comment on that term.

You know what it means.

It's about saving face / losing face.

When a tourist says that, you are putting yourself in a position of superiority and making the host country look inferior.

It's an unwritten rule that should not be spoken.

Of course politicians know that foreign tourists and retirees are bringing in a lot of money.

The average Thai citizen maybe hasn't put much thought into it or doesn't care.

But it's something that should not be stated explicitly because it makes Thailand lose face. (if you're on board with the whole face thing ... sometimes I am, sometimes not so much. depends on my mood and how much the other person irritated me)

And it doesnt give you the right to behave badly, although the BTS incident is debatable.

Edited 27 minutes ago27 min by save the frogs

3 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

It's about saving face / losing face.

When a tourist says that, you are putting yourself in a position of superiority and making the host country look inferior.

It's an unwritten rule that should not be spoken.

Of course politicians know that foreign tourists and retirees are bringing in a lot of money.

The average Thai citizen maybe hasn't put much thought into it or doesn't care.

But it's something that should not be stated explicitly because it makes Thailand lose face. (if you're on board with the whole face thing ... sometimes I am, sometimes not so much. depends on my mood and how much the other person irritated me)

And it doesnt give you the right to behave badly, although the BTS incident is debatable.

But the extreme offense that many Thais have taken suggests to me that an interesting nerve has been hit suggestive of a national inferiority complex.

I agree of course the public comment was rude. But the level of tbe reaction seems totally nutsoid.

Edited 20 minutes ago20 min by Jingthing

To the title ... any idiot that states that, comes off as, well, an idiot. Both to Thais and any other intelligent person in listening distance. Simply embarrassing himself, IMHO.

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

To the title ... any idiot that states that, comes off as, well, an idiot. Both to Thais and any other intelligent person in listening distance. Simply embarrassing himself, IMHO.

No money no honey

Thais have been selling that t shirt for decades.

You don't see the irony?

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

But the extreme offense that many Thais have taken suggests to me that an interesting nerve has been hit suggestive of a national inferiority complex.

I agree of course the public comment was rude. But the level of tbe reaction seems totally nutsoid.

That particular BTS woman does not represent the entire country.

Maybe she has an unhealthy ego or she's miserable or both.

I asked a Thai girl if she liked Japan and she said no because Japanese people think they're better than Thai people. So there is some competitiveness going on between Asian countries.

Realistically, I haven't met too many people with healthy egos. Most people either have a superiority complex or an inferiority complex.

Fortunately, we have some Freudian analysts on this forum and maybe they can chime in.