jumnien Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I was just wondering why many farang in Thailand use the bizarre term "Western People" when referring to other farang. Some of the farang are from west of Thailand, but many are from east of Thailand, and still others from the north and south. It seems terribly ignorant to assume that all farang are from Europe, Bangladesh and other countries west of Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Google it. Duh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prakanong Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I was just wondering why many farang in Thailand use the bizarre term "Western People" when referring to other farang. Some of the farang are from west of Thailand, but many are from east of Thailand, and still others from the north and south. It seems terribly ignorant to assume that all farang are from Europe, Bangladesh and other countries west of Thailand. I am sorry if generallly accepted terms elude you in your communication with others of your species but the rest of the world seems to get by fine with this - and that includes a lot of the Asians I work with (they even refer to our Indian colleagues as South Asians and the HK/Taiwan/China guys as East Asians) We all seem to include Kiwi's and Aussies as wel as Euro's and Americans in the term Westerners too! "Western" generally mean Europe and the "New World" but I suppose Aus and NZ are southern "New Worlds" in a way and they do follow the western tradition rather than the eastern or oriental. Some might term them "Austral" though but i have never heard an Aussie describe himself in this way - "Ang Moh or Farang and Westerner" but not Austral ;-) There is also "Western thought" and the "Western" world - pretty standard description and people have common definitions of these and are thus communiucated and understood. Should we be using the term "Occidental" instead then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kankaroo Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO CARES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumnien Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 I googles "Duh" and no references to "Western People" or "farang" came up. I'll try a more sophisticated search engine and get back to you. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meemiathai Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Google it. Duh. Then why didn't you google the word "farang"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meemiathai Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 I googles "Duh" and no references to "Western People" or "farang" came up. I'll try a more sophisticated search engine and get back to you. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meemiathai Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 (edited) I was just wondering why many farang in Thailand use the bizarre term "Western People" when referring to other farang. Some of the farang are from west of Thailand, but many are from east of Thailand, and still others from the north and south. It seems terribly ignorant to assume that all farang are from Europe, Bangladesh and other countries west of Thailand. I am sorry if generallly accepted terms elude you in your communication with others of your species but the rest of the world seems to get by fine with this - and that includes a lot of the Asians I work with (they even refer to our Indian colleagues as South Asians and the HK/Taiwan/China guys as East Asians) We all seem to include Kiwi's and Aussies as wel as Euro's and Americans in the term Westerners too! "Western" generally mean Europe and the "New World" but I suppose Aus and NZ are southern "New Worlds" in a way and they do follow the western tradition rather than the eastern or oriental. Some might term them "Austral" though but i have never heard an Aussie describe himself in this way - "Ang Moh or Farang and Westerner" but not Austral ;-) There is also "Western thought" and the "Western" world - pretty standard description and people have common definitions of these and are thus communiucated and understood. Should we be using the term "Occidental" instead then? I'm afraid Mr Jingthing is going to have his words. Edited November 30, 2007 by meemiathai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumnien Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Farang is a well understood concept well understood by any educated or uneducated person in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 (edited) Farang is a well understood concept well understood by any educated or uneducated person in Thailand. I think if you are honest (which I doubt) you will admit that farang is more widely misunderstood. Anyway, have at it with this totally non-controversial and obvious topic. Might as well have asked if there are peanuts in peanut butter. Edited November 30, 2007 by Jingthing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prakanong Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Farang is a well understood concept well understood by any educated or uneducated person in Thailand. Yes - but outside Thailand western woud more likely to be used in general polite company Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meemiathai Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Hey why don't you google the word "farang"? Is "hey" by the way offensive? Nowadays it is really easy to offend people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meemiathai Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Farang is a well understood concept well understood by any educated or uneducated person in Thailand. I think if you are honest (which I doubt) you will admit that farang is more widely misunderstood. Anyway, have at it with this totally non-controversial and obvious topic. Might as well have asked if there are peanuts in peanut butter. the word "farang" is widely misunderstood by thais? you must be a bloody comedian, Mr Jingthing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jingthing Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 (edited) the word "farang" is widely misunderstood by thais? you must be a bloody comedian, Mr Jingthing! laugh.gif Thank you. I am opting out of this discussion. I think you all can handle this world shaker quite well without me ... Edited November 30, 2007 by Jingthing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumnien Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share Posted November 30, 2007 Good editing job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsetBkk Posted November 30, 2007 Share Posted November 30, 2007 Google it. Duh. Then why didn't you google the word "farang"? Touché How about a new poll: "Who thinks Jingything is totally obsessed with the word 'farang'?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ade100 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Exactly. Terminology like "Western world", "Westerners" is used all over the world not just by Caucasians in Thailand. If you want something interesting to discuss you should pick on some terminology that is more contentious: "Third World", "First World" for example. " Is Thailand plagued by a Third World mentality?", "Is it patronising to call Thailand a Third World Country?"... There you go. Now you try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prakanong Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Exactly. Terminology like "Western world", "Westerners" is used all over the world not just by Caucasians in Thailand. If you want something interesting to discuss you should pick on some terminology that is more contentious: "Third World", "First World" for example. " Is Thailand plagued by a Third World mentality?", "Is it patronising to call Thailand a Third World Country?"... There you go. Now you try. I will have a go Third World as a term for certain countries has really been superceded now - Bhagwati, Wolf, Friedman, Stiglitz et al and others writing on globalism in the post Communist world do use different terminology now. However - most people of a certain age and even most younger ones do have terms of reference when something is described as "Third World" If I was writing an essay for my MBA or giving a presentation at work I would use the newer technical terms and even explain it to the audience If I was talking with pals or writing on a web board such as this and talking colloquially I would use the term third world to talk about certain countries often in a disparaging way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ade100 Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Exactly. Terminology like "Western world", "Westerners" is used all over the world not just by Caucasians in Thailand. If you want something interesting to discuss you should pick on some terminology that is more contentious: "Third World", "First World" for example. " Is Thailand plagued by a Third World mentality?", "Is it patronising to call Thailand a Third World Country?"... There you go. Now you try. I will have a go Third World as a term for certain countries has really been superceded now - Bhagwati, Wolf, Friedman, Stiglitz et al and others writing on globalism in the post Communist world do use different terminology now. However - most people of a certain age and even most younger ones do have terms of reference when something is described as "Third World" If I was writing an essay for my MBA or giving a presentation at work I would use the newer technical terms and even explain it to the audience If I was talking with pals or writing on a web board such as this and talking colloquially I would use the term third world to talk about certain countries often in a disparaging way First of all, apologies, I just read my post and it sounded slightly patronising. Yes I find it interesting that Singapore which is now officially catagorised as "first world" has no qualms about using the term "third world" to describe its neighbours: "We are a first world oasis in a third world region" (Lee Kuan Yew). I wonder if Thai people know they live in a "Third World" country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmart Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Well, its a lot cooler today than yesterday. It took ages for my washing to dry yesterday. Ooh, look at that shiny thing over th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckamuck Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 Everything is west of Thailand if you go far enough. It is a very inclusive term Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kankaroo Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumnien Posted December 1, 2007 Author Share Posted December 1, 2007 Not all farang in Thailand are Westerners. Farang is a far more precise descriptive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 What a great question! I want to know - if Middle-Eastern is Saudi, Iraq etc, where is Western-Eastern? Morrocco, Romania maybe? Or would it be Eastern -Western? If the latter, where is Western-Western? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfokevin Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 (edited) I googles "Duh" and no references to "Western People" or "farang" came up. I'll try a more sophisticated search engine and get back to you. Thanks. Keep trying George... the googles does not cover all the internets... Edited December 1, 2007 by sfokevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetjock Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I googled 'duh' and got the definition "Duh is an American English slang exclamation used by westerners and farangs that is used to express disdain for someone missing the obviousness of something." Guess you were using the wrong internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seonai Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 I recently handed in a piece of writing for an article and I had written Third World in relation to Africa etc and the editor changed it to 'Resource Poor' - not sure I agree with that either but do agree that Third World has run it's course Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted December 1, 2007 Share Posted December 1, 2007 (edited) Western world http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world Farang http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang That should answer both sides Edited December 1, 2007 by Mosha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prakanong Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 This topic doesn't interest me. Western is a well understood concept well understood by any educated person. Exactly. Terminology like "Western world", "Westerners" is used all over the world not just by Caucasians in Thailand. If you want something interesting to discuss you should pick on some terminology that is more contentious: "Third World", "First World" for example. " Is Thailand plagued by a Third World mentality?", "Is it patronising to call Thailand a Third World Country?"... There you go. Now you try. I will have a go Third World as a term for certain countries has really been superceded now - Bhagwati, Wolf, Friedman, Stiglitz et al and others writing on globalism in the post Communist world do use different terminology now. However - most people of a certain age and even most younger ones do have terms of reference when something is described as "Third World" If I was writing an essay for my MBA or giving a presentation at work I would use the newer technical terms and even explain it to the audience If I was talking with pals or writing on a web board such as this and talking colloquially I would use the term third world to talk about certain countries often in a disparaging way First of all, apologies, I just read my post and it sounded slightly patronising. Yes I find it interesting that Singapore which is now officially catagorised as "first world" has no qualms about using the term "third world" to describe its neighbours: "We are a first world oasis in a third world region" (Lee Kuan Yew). I wonder if Thai people know they live in a "Third World" country? Living in Singapore I read a lot of of what old Harry Lee says, its reported slavishly. Its a forebearing of what is to come when China is the strongest economic power in the world. They like to give it out but can not take the criticism - look at the hissy fit this week when Peter Mandelson told a few home truths at the EU-China summit As to the question refarding Thai people - well Bangkokians who know about thwse things think they are not living in the third world and they are not - those in the rural area's or slums are but they would not recognise it as such - do they not get told they are living in a Newly Industrialised Country? Bhagwati says a developing country with a GDP growth rate of less that 6% per annum is a failure - hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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