Why Do Thais Look In The Opposite Direction When Walking?

[qualtrough]

I've seen it so many more times than back home in the Uk. Many Thais will be walking in one direction, but looking in another direction! The obvious end result is that they bump into other people.

I see it all the time in the street, supermarket etc.

So why don't they look where they are going?

Simon

there not the brightest people,give them some credit ,at least there walking.......

I would posit that someone who confuses 'there' for 'they're' (contraction for 'they are') not once but twice in a single sentence is not among the brightest members of farang society.

Edited September 28, 2007 by qualtrough

[t.s]

I Like the way they try to get into a lift before Ive got out or whilst waitingfor the lift stand so close that when the doors open their nose is vitrtually pressed onto the opening doors leaving no room for anyone getting out.

Then do what we do, don't get out of their way. Just stand there, even if the door closes on them. They get the message.

The message ?

yes, that farangs are A*sholes

[Maigo6]

I Like the way they try to get into a lift before Ive got out or whilst waitingfor the lift stand so close that when the doors open their nose is vitrtually pressed onto the opening doors leaving no room for anyone getting out.

Then do what we do, don't get out of their way. Just stand there, even if the door closes on them. They get the message.

The message ?

yes, that farangs are A*sholes

lol.... Agreed.

[2long]

I agree with so many of the observations (for and against our hosts), but would like like to say that it's not such a bad idea to ride a motorbike (without kids, babies or furniture onboard) the wrong way around a two-lane u-turn. I do it everyday and it saves me time.

[kmart]

The female dwarf who works on the floor below me ran into the lift without looking the other day, butting me in the stomach and winding me.

Hoping she has an even shorter sister with a flat head. There is usually an upside to most things.

[FarangNoi21]

since this is a thai bashing thread, my lady friend takes too many liberties using the 'i am just joking' defense.

"you spend too much time outside. you don't love me."

serious expression from me.

"its ok. im just joking".

[londonthai]

After some time I have learned from my partner to use 'I am just joking' and some other her not the britest conversational phrazes and use them in discussions with her. Now she stopped using them alltogether after realising that that kind of manipulation doesn't work with me.

[Mosha]

Heck they drive motor bikes with taking any notice of what is in front of them, and you worry about 'em on foot.

Edited September 28, 2007 by Mosha

[xyborg]

<br />

<br />I've seen it so many more times than back home in the Uk. Many Thais will be walking in one direction, but looking in another direction! The obvious end result is that they bump into other people. <br /><br />I see it all the time in the street, supermarket etc.<br /><br />So why don't they look where they are going? <img src="style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><br /><br />Simon<br />

<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Because they are stupid!<br />

<br /><br />funny that some people hold very low opinion about thais.<br />did you have a bad and bitter exerience with thai people?<br />would you like to share it with me? <br />why do you grade them as "stupid" people? <img src="style_emoticons/default/annoyed.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="annoyed.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

I did not say "all Thais" I said the ones who dont look where they are going are stupid, applies the world over.

How do you know I hold a low opininon of Thais from my post?

How do you know I have had a bitter experience?

Sure you arent one of these people who dont look where there walking???

[xyborg]

Where "they're" walking slip of the fingas!!

[realthaideal]

Clearly Farang are just better walkers. That's why we started walkathons.

[intumult]

I've seen it so many more times than back home in the Uk. Many Thais will be walking in one direction, but looking in another direction! The obvious end result is that they bump into other people.

I see it all the time in the street, supermarket etc.

So why don't they look where they are going?

Simon

The same reason they look everywhere but the direction they are travelling when riding a motorbike, they love bumping into people and maybe making a few friends along the way

[onnut]

They are all wombles

[Old Man River]

I've seen it so many more times than back home in the Uk. Many Thais will be walking in one direction, but looking in another direction! The obvious end result is that they bump into other people.

I see it all the time in the street, supermarket etc.

So why don't they look where they are going?

Simon

As bad as it sounds to agree with this observation, I couldn't agree more. Both my wife (Thai) and I have tried to figure it out, but can't. Often we see people looking one way and walking the other. We notice it because invariably they are coming directly at us. When you get their attention, they are always very apologetic about it. Then a week or two later, it will happen again.

I know this sounds like Thai bashing to people who only come here periodically, but it isn't meant that way. It is simply an observation about something that happens often that we can't find an explanation for.

[mcgriffith]

It doesn't bother me. I moved here because people have a carefree, almost aimless quality about them. Do we really want to be walking, with a bunch of hard-charging American or Euro automatons coming right at us, all decked out in natty attire, swinging a dangerous sharp-edged heavy briefcase? I think not.

But you are right, the Thai do not seem to have a lot of "situational awareness" when strolling on a narrow pathway or in a congested market.

I just stop when they're headed at me, looking the other way. Usually they catch themselves; perhaps sense an object (me!) in front before bumping.

Apologetic smile, and life goes on.

There are much bigger things to worry about than this, IMHO....

[UnknownPoster]

Let's be honest.

People that don't look whre they walk, block entry to elevators, skytrains and try to get on before the passengers disembark are just plain stupid.

Edited September 28, 2007 by UnknownPoster

[bhoydy]

I'm back in the UK at the moment and can't believe why people are rushing about so much trying to beat you round the next corner and that's people walking. Then i find myself joining in, stopping to check myself then looking around for the nearest flight centre.

Get me back to unorganised bliss

[longway]

Let's be honest.

People that don't look whre they walk, block entry to elevators, skytrains and try to get on before the passengers disembark are just plain stupid.

lets face it anyone who ends up living in a place they hate cant be too bright either.

[Maigo6]

Let's be honest.

People that don't look whre they walk, block entry to elevators, skytrains and try to get on before the passengers disembark are just plain stupid.

lets face it anyone who ends up living in a place they hate cant be too bright either.

[simon43]

Just to correct some previous posters - I didn't start this as aThai-bashing thread. It's merely an observation after living here for 5 years - and with little to do at times but post trivial comments on Thaivisa...

Simon

[Suszzy]

I did not say "all Thais" I said the ones who dont look where they are going are stupid, applies the world over.

How do you know I hold a low opininon of Thais from my post?

How do you know I have had a bitter experience?

Sure you arent one of these people who dont look where there walking???

ok..smart guy!

i just quote what you said "beacuse they're stupid" that all.

i don't know anything about you that's why i asked. nothing more..nothing less.

don't need to make it such a big issue. it's boring...you know!!

christ..some people!!!!

[mr_hippo]

Why are there so many farangs here with only one brain cell?

[roietjimmy]

there not the brightest people

This is certainly a new angle on Thai bashing, now they can't walk in an acceptable manner....It's &lt;deleted&gt; unbelievable.

Yeah, Stupid Farangs

[ozzydom]

The old saying "Out of sight out of mind" seems to be firmly entrenched in the Thai mentality, how many times have you noticed oncoming pedestrians look at you then look away and continue straight at you,as if thinking "I dont see you so you better move aside".

The same applies to their behavior on the road .

[Maigo6]

The old saying "Out of sight out of mind" seems to be firmly entrenched in the Thai mentality, how many times have you noticed oncoming pedestrians look at you then look away and continue straight at you,as if thinking "I dont see you so you better move aside".

The same applies to their behavior on the road .

So move out of the way then, problem solved.

[Grover]

The old saying "Out of sight out of mind" seems to be firmly entrenched in the Thai mentality, how many times have you noticed oncoming pedestrians look at you then look away and continue straight at you,as if thinking "I dont see you so you better move aside".

The same applies to their behavior on the road .

So move out of the way then, problem solved.

sometimes there is no room to move without bumping into someone else.

[popshirt]

When I moved to Canada I used to ask "why do Canadians stop at the bottom of the escalator instead of getting out of the way?".

Then I realized people do that almost everywhere!

[ozzydom]

The old saying "Out of sight out of mind" seems to be firmly entrenched in the Thai mentality, how many times have you noticed oncoming pedestrians look at you then look away and continue straight at you,as if thinking "I dont see you so you better move aside".

The same applies to their behavior on the road .

So move out of the way then, problem solved.

Not so, that is problem avoided,problem solved is Thai and farang alike to show common courtesy and respect for the rights of others.

[Pepe']

I've seen it so many more times than back home in the Uk. Many Thais will be walking in one direction, but looking in another direction! The obvious end result is that they bump into other people.

I see it all the time in the street, supermarket etc.

So why don't they look where they are going?

Simon

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Walking doesn't phase me.

It's when they do it while driving that scares the &lt;deleted&gt; out of me...

[Pepe']

I did not say "all Thais" I said the ones who dont look where they are going are stupid, applies the world over.

How do you know I hold a low opininon of Thais from my post?

How do you know I have had a bitter experience?

Sure you arent one of these people who dont look where there walking???

ok..smart guy!

i just quote what you said "beacuse they're stupid" that all.

i don't know anything about you that's why i asked. nothing more..nothing less.

don't need to make it such a big issue. it's boring...you know!!

christ..some people!!!!

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Not boring while they're driving in BKK or here in San Diego.

DOWN RIGHT SCARY...