Right; here's one to get the grey cells going.

Why is it that whenever a Thai person (usually, but not always, women) sit down in an armchair or sofa, they'll invariably pick up the nearest cushion and either place it on their lap or hug it to their chest? I've seen it here in my home and in other's, I've seen it on Thai dramas and Thai chat shows. I've asked my wife several times but she doesn't have a clue why; she just looks at me with that slightly anxious look that she uses whenever I introduce anything slightly abstract to her life. Like me, I suppose...

Anyway, when pressed, the best she could come-up with was that the people felt insecure and the cushion was their "defence". All I can think is that there must be a helluva lot of insecure people in Thailand, then, if she's right. Perhaps they feel self-conscious when using chairs. I mean, they're still a floor-dwelling crowd at heart; I've never noticed them doing the cushion thing when sitting on the floor.

So, please put me out of my misery and:

1. Tell me that I'm not the only person who's noticed this, and

2. Come-up with a theory for Gawd's sake!

stickmerbs

1. Tell me that I'm not the only person who's noticed this, and

No your not. My mrs does it.

2. Come-up with a theory for Gawd's sake!

In the olden days they erm...... wait a minute..... they.....erm......fekk it. I don't know why

1. Tell me that I'm not the only person who's noticed this, and

No your not. My mrs does it.

2. Come-up with a theory for Gawd's sake!

In the olden days they erm...... wait a minute..... they.....erm......fekk it. I don't know why

Do me a favour, me ol' mucker; ask her, will you?

I'll ask her on wednesday for you Mick

Actually i've just had a thought. They sit on the floor the majority of the time (at least they used to). Maybe they have always carried their 'portable seat' around with them and are just used to holding it ??

Well, when Aussies get nervous or in-secure they pick their noses or scratch their bottoms.

Thai people hold cushions.....

Many of them hug a pillow in bed too. Perhaps the comparatively long time Thais spend sleeping in the same bed as their parents or grandparents as children, makes them want to hold on to stuff?

Yes, grasping for straws. Completely at a loss really. Maybe it's just a case of mimicking manners and behaviours of others around them, something we all do but may not be aware of when it comes to our own culture? And yes, I know that explanation leads to the question, so who started it and why... so it makes us none the wiser.

Good observation though.

err... hmmm..wild guess time: could it be because they have difficulty growing up and they miss their Teddy Bears?

Edit: hey I hug pillows in bed too! Always have, its comfortable...

err... hmmm..wild guess time: could it be because they have difficulty growing up and they miss their Teddy Bears?

Edit: hey I hug pillows in bed too! Always have, its comfortable...

Or their security blanket?

Hmm, yep; could be a bit of all of the above. I remember when I first arrived and was dashing around buying all the stuff one needs for a new life. We were in Home Pro and looking at beds and bedding. I kept seeing all these long, cylindrical cushions on the beds. I'd never seen these before and I asked my, then, TGF what it was all about. The upshot was that, if single, you cuddled-up to these things at night. "Really?" says I. "Yes" she said, "sometimes I like to get my leg over as well". I don't think I stopped for about five minutes; I had to sit on one of the beds to recover. We call them leg-over-pillows now.

Because they're cold and they don't like to say anything (face).

I can't say I have noticed it, to be honest.

However, my husband most definitely does not hug pillows. He does, however, like a bolster pillow (which is what the long cylindrical pillow is called). Mainly because he sleeps next to the wall (prefers it that way) and uses the pillow as a barrier between him and the wall (he rolls around alot). But I do like the name "leg over" pillow

So, not having really noticed, I guess I couldn't have come up with any ready-made theories, but the insecurity one does sound pretty good, it could also be considered fidgeting. Just know that, at least when I was young, it was very common among very young teenage girls.

I would also suggest that they are cold, generally I have only seen this inside air conditioned rooms, not on the floor in wooden houses or outside on the moulded stone tables. My OH has something similar when we go on a long trip in the pickup. The only element in common is cold air con.

It's a "security" issue (I believe). Many Thai families grow up sleeping in the same room on the same mat. It's only natural that they would be hugging each other (warmth and security).

Suddenly, they are older and perhaps on their own. The pillow/cushion becomes a surrogate family member/friend. Note that many (especially) girls will cuddle up to others for no apparent reason, even though the other person isn't a family member.

My current g/f is like that. Right now she is cuddled up with a pillow (before that it was me, but I can't sleep for 9+ hours straight).

Other times, (like when one of her g/f's is around and I'm busy doing other things) they'll be close enough to make you wonder just how good of friends they really are !

Many (most ?) families in Western countries are essentially separated at birth. We put the babies in cribs, and later on when they are a little older, into separate rooms. Perhaps that also gives a little insight into the difference in family values between the cultures.

I also have noticed this.

I have a layman interest in body language and the above posters that said is has to do with insecurity is correct. It is a psychological protection against the bad outside world, at the same time something to hug and clinch on. People tend to hide behind something when they feel insecure.

We had that with a guitarist in a band. There was one song that he was singing but not playing any guitar. Nevertheless, he always had the guitar in front of his belly when we played that song as he felt "uncomfortable" without it.

One more thing about the "leg-over-pillows" (lovely term!): I got used to them that much that I can hardly sleep without them. Actually when lying on the side with the leg over, they support the spine a lot and lead to a much better sleeping position.

This thread has become very interesting. I never hug anything (except when hugging the wife!) I think it's because I generate so much body heat. Summer or winter, I am dressed light weight!

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

Better to be hugging it than biting it I always say ! (not that I have any personal experience in matters of pillow-biting !)

Just asked my missus and she says for women at least it's so people sitting opposite can't look up their skirt.

Guess it's easier and more relaxed to hold a cushion on your lap than it is to keep your knees together.

Probably becomes force of habit even when wearing pants.

Makes sense to me.

Just asked my missus and she says for women at least it's so people sitting opposite can't look up their skirt.

Guess it's easier and more relaxed to hold a cushion on your lap than it is to keep your knees together.

Probably becomes force of habit even when wearing pants.

Makes sense to me.

Yep, I'd wondered if that might be it. But what about the blokes then? I was having my hair cut this morning and I could see two chaps behind me waiting to have theirs done and they were both holding cushions. Perhaps they wear skirts when they get home...

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

What do you mean by that, 'eh? Come on, what do you mean?!?

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

What do you mean by that, 'eh? Come on, what do you mean?!?

He doesn't want you trying to look up his......kilt.......while he's typing ?

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

What do you mean by that, 'eh? Come on, what do you mean?!?

He doesn't want you trying to look up his......kilt.......while he's typing ?

Ah, wears a kilt, yeah? Right, I'll send Baby Tiggs up there; her claws are like bleedin' needles...

Just asked my missus and she says for women at least it's so people sitting opposite can't look up their skirt.

Guess it's easier and more relaxed to hold a cushion on your lap than it is to keep your knees together.

Probably becomes force of habit even when wearing pants.

Makes sense to me.

Maybe it's a female reverse psychology tactic.....cover it up and it just makes me wonder all the more what they've got hidden up there that's worth hiding.

Could be a lot more lady boys in Thailand than first thought, or a lot of ladies going "au naturel".

Must look into these theories more closely in future....without appearing too obvious, of course. Wouldn't want to raise suspicions, or anything else for that matter.

I suppose the smart money would be on the "insecurity" theory. But how would that explain friends and neighbours doing it in their own homes? Unless my presence makes them feel insecure? Oh bugger, perhaps I'm the fly in the ointment...

I think they may have done it for various reasons, insecurity being one of them, and then it became a habit over a number of years! Or maybe you just intimidate everyone?!? In fact I'm hugging a pillow as I type!

What do you mean by that, 'eh? Come on, what do you mean?!?

He doesn't want you trying to look up his......kilt.......while he's typing ?

Ah, wears a kilt, yeah? Right, I'll send Baby Tiggs up there; her claws are like bleedin' needles...

And her teeth? I had a puppy years ago who was at the 'biting everthing' stage and her teeth were unreal, like little spikes. One morning when wearing a bathrobe I bent down and noticed she was there and just about to bite my privates - just managed to get out of the way as her teeth snapped shut. What a close call!

And her teeth? I had a puppy years ago who was at the 'biting everthing' stage and her teeth were unreal, like little spikes. One morning when wearing a bathrobe I bent down and noticed she was there and just about to bite my privates - just managed to get out of the way as her teeth snapped shut. What a close call!

is this what the halleluya thread was all about?

And her teeth? I had a puppy years ago who was at the 'biting everthing' stage and her teeth were unreal, like little spikes. One morning when wearing a bathrobe I bent down and noticed she was there and just about to bite my privates - just managed to get out of the way as her teeth snapped shut. What a close call!

is this what the halleluya thread was all about?

It was a long time ago, but yeah, would have been included in that thread. My reflexes amazed me. It was first thing in the morning after a night on the town!

Just asked my missus and she says for women at least it's so people sitting opposite can't look up their skirt.

Guess it's easier and more relaxed to hold a cushion on your lap than it is to keep your knees together.

Probably becomes force of habit even when wearing pants.

Makes sense to me.

Maybe it's a female reverse psychology tactic.....cover it up and it just makes me wonder all the more what they've got hidden up there that's worth hiding.

Could be a lot more lady boys in Thailand than first thought, or a lot of ladies going "au naturel".

Must look into these theories more closely in future....without appearing too obvious, of course. Wouldn't want to raise suspicions, or anything else for that matter.

Mirror on a telescopic arm, thingy? Highly polished toecaps?

Patent leather shoes?

Aha! Some cupboard 'upskirters'! I thought they only did that sort of thing in Japan...