What Thais Think Of Us

[boiledegg]

There seems to be many threads about what Thais think of us and why a certain section wouldnt touch us with a barge poll.

Now most Thais have nothing to do with Farangs and im sure they couldnt care less about what we do or dont do.

My question is do you really care if Thais think that your a bit of a untrustworthy jack the lad who is unfaithful and drinks too much which seems to be the stereotype.

I for one dont drink that much, can get a bird, am faithful and really dont want to get in any sort of trouble, hence i couldnt really care less what they think.

Does this alleged negative view Thais have of us bother you or not?

Edited July 5, 2008 by boiledegg

[waza]

Well I dont live in Thailand I just like to holiday there. When I am in Thailand I like to drink too much and play around, so I guess I fit the stereotype. Personally I dont give a thought about what the average Thai thinks of me.

[Maigo6]

Most of the threads that tell of how Thai people like or dislike Farangs are totally pointless, as they only apply to the original poster, and a great majority of those will be Thai bashing trolls.

Whats the point of taking them serious?

Go with your own personal experience, how Thai people react and respond to you, there lies your answer, you will never find it on an anonymous internet forum.

If Thai people react and respond well to you, maybe your a nice guy, if on the other hand your a complete azzhole, then expect the same reaction from people that you would get anywhere else in the world.

Try going to a Pub in UK and acting like a total prix, see how the locals react to you.

[boiledegg]

Most of the threads that tell of how Thai people like or dislike Farangs are totally pointless, as they only apply to the original poster, and a great majority of those will be Thai bashing trolls.

Whats the point of taking them serious?

Go with your own personal experience, how Thai people react and respond to you, there lies your answer, you will never find it on an anonymous internet forum.

If Thai people react and respond well to you, maybe your a nice guy, if on the other hand your a complete azzhole, then expect the same reaction from people that you would get anywhere else in the world.

Try going to a Pub in UK and acting like a total prix, see how the locals react to you.

Such a simple answer to all these what Thais think threads!

[Moonrakers]

Only if it gets personal and/or upsets my family.

Sure Thai's piss me off at times, but then people of other nationalities piss me off also, including other Brits when I am back in the UK. And cultural differences at times are an almost impossible impasse to cross, but who am I to say that my culture is the best?

I'd disagree about Thai's having nothing to do with Farangs because as a (Pidgeon) Thai speaker I can tell you that when you can communicate they are, in general, very approachable and friendly. If you was to meet somebody who could speak only Swahili then what kind of relationship could you strike up with them?

If somebody was to know me as a person and dislike me then I may get upset as to why, but what is the point of being upset about a person that dislikes me who doesn't even know my name??? No doubt there are countless people across the globe who dislike/hate me purely on the grounds that I am English, should I lose any sleep over this?

I once wanted to rent a beautiful house from an estate agent in Bangkok once, only for the owner to say no on the grounds that she didn't like Farangs. Did that piss me off? Of course it did, but then I thought to myself "At least I am not going to be giving her any of my hard earned".

Thai's not liking Farang's is a myth, yes they can tend to see us in a stereotypical sense (I.E. Sex tourist), which is irritating, but with a bit of effort those barriers tumble.

No doubt other ethnics groups in other countries have the same question, it's about whether or not they are willing to integrate.

Back in my home town of Swindon, England there are Residential estates consisting almost entirely of Indians who moan and whinge about the English people and our culture, yet through out the town there are countless more Indians who integrate and are very happy with, and grateful for the life that they live.

Like those Indians in the UK, we are an ethnic minority in a foreign land, it's your choice to be here and so its up to you (Can you see what I did there) make what you want of it.

[Pierrot]

I came for the first time to Thailand in 84. It was the time of the backpackers and (late) hippies. At that time the TV serie "Dynasty" was quite popular too.

I remmember talking to a Thai who was probably watching too much TV, and I never forgot what he said :" I know in the west people are rich, smart and beautiful, so why all the people that come are poor and dirty ?"

[britmaveric]

If i worried about what anyone thought of me - I wouldnt have anytime to do anything else in my life.

[sweetchariot]

Paranoia is not good for you.

Try being black or middle eastern in Thailand, then you will find true hatred and overt racism.

Being a white English man I have not experienced any negativity towards me, but then as Maigo said earlier, I am not an arsehol_e and always have a positive and happy demeanor.

[midasthailand]

Whilst I don't exactly "worry" about what Thais think about me, I am concious of the fact that I am a visitor in their country and as such, an ambassador for mine, so I would prefer to be thought of as the nice Farang from Australia, rather than that drunken, impolite Aussie pig!

[teacup]

Oii....not this question....yet again !

What it all comes down to is, what you think of yourself. That's what will have the greatest impact on your life.

[grantbkk]

What most of the posters project here, right or wrong, is their self image. My experience here has inspired me to create the Number One Rule for living in Thailand: Hold on to your assets. This probably applies to any developing country where the indigenous people have less than the guests. I won't bore you with the walking ATM stories we hear so much about. For the expats who have been here awhile count on one hand the number of genuine Thai friends you have. The poster who mentioned "Dynasty" and the perception that all farangs are rich is spot on.

Many people without money think that leach behavior is acceptable as a mater of survival. Evidently only the intrepid Thai will try to get cash off of me for one reason or another now. Hence my girlfriend get all kinds of requests for loans. Recently a relative of my maid approach her for a loan of Bt100K for two weeks.

She said she needed to to show the immigration people in America when she got there that she had money to spend. The girlfriend wisely told the woman to ask me personally. It didn't happen. Another total scam. Two weeks ago at a dinner party at my home the ex-bargirl friend of a friend of mine decided my food wasn't good enough and brought some spicy Thai crab dish. She presented a bill to my girlfriend for Bt600. Again she was directed to collect through me so it didn't happen.

Unfortunately I don't come in contact with the millions of normal Thai, with big hearts, generous to a fault that some say exist here in the Kingdom.

[mikethevigoman]

i will think there could as many answers if asked about any nation,. i saw a yob at a light waiting to cross a road yesterday cursing the traffic ( looked english ) and spitting in the road, hes an asshol_e anywhere and would be thought of the same anywhere in my opinion,.

[PeaceBlondie]

Aw shucks, I am so busy falling off motorcycles and moderating forums and smelling the roses and checking the currency exchange rate, to even know who Jack The Lad is. No kin to Jack the Ripper, I hope. I have not been drunk since 1965. And who are 'they,' the Thais? Are they the incredibly rich old money Thais like my landlady and her saintly old mother? Are they the thousands of students who still call me "ajarn" when we meet? The Thais who wai me when we go to parties, or who come to visit when I'm recovering from my latest fall? Is it that nurse yesterday who remembered me from physical therapy in 2005?

In my brief experience of over five years living here, most Thais know who we are and what we do and have no big problem with it. You know, the national motto, "My pen writes just fine, thanks - and youuuu?"

[toptuan]

In my moderate-sized Isaan town, which has seven institutions of higher learning, farangs are thought of as well-educated, upper-social status, temperate, faithful to their Thai and Western wives/husbands, community-minded, and all-around good guys/girls.

We are always respectfully wai'ed, always addressed with the "Ajarn" term of respect everywhere in the community, always waved on by at police stops, occasionally have our dinners covered by the restaurant owner, and seldom robbed or taken advantage of.

Can life get any better?

Perhaps your OP belongs in the Pattaya forum?

[mikethevigoman]

Aw shucks, I am so busy falling off motorcycles and moderating forums and smelling the roses and checking the currency exchange rate, to even know who Jack The Lad is. No kin to Jack the Ripper, I hope. I have not been drunk since 1965. And who are 'they,' the Thais? Are they the incredibly rich old money Thais like my landlady and her saintly old mother? Are they the thousands of students who still call me "ajarn" when we meet? The Thais who wai me when we go to parties, or who come to visit when I'm recovering from my latest fall? Is it that nurse yesterday who remembered me from physical therapy in 2005?

In my brief experience of over five years living here, most Thais know who we are and what we do and have no big problem with it. You know, the national motto, "My pen writes just fine, thanks - and youuuu?"

You come over as a nice guy PB,. this is what its all about, the thais will react to how you are and just because a lot arent educated dont think them stupid for a minute,i used to think they could look in your eye and tell what you were like,.speak as i find ( and ill upset a few people here ) i find id rather mix with thais than Most of the farang i see and have met in thailand,..in my hobby of off road motorcycling i have met some superb people that wouldnt take a penny off you and want to give you things, totally alien to pattaya, and unfortunatly most thai bashers base it on pattaya its inhabitants,.my advice is get out into rural thailand,or take an off road trip, meet real thais,then post again,.the true ignorant ones are the ones that get off the plane, head straight to pattaya stay there and base their thoughts and feelings for all thais on pattaya, nothing could be further from the truth,.

[mikethevigoman]

In my moderate-sized Isaan town, which has seven institutions of higher learning, farangs are thought of as well-educated, upper-social status, temperate, faithful to their Thai and Western wives/husbands, community-minded, and all-around good guys/girls.

We are always respectfully wai'ed, always addressed with the "Ajarn" term of respect everywhere in the community, always waved on by at police stops, occasionally have our dinners covered by the restaurant owner, and seldom robbed or taken advantage of.

Can life get any better?

Perhaps your OP belongs in the Pattaya forum?

Spot on ,.

[Beardog]

I am the type of person that like to have people like me, but you can't please everyone. some people like you & other people don't(for whatever the reason) .

As in the U.S. If they don't who cares. why waste your time living up to someone else's expectations.

Especially if they don't even know you. And if they think that Farangs are just a walking ATM I gotta laugh back at the stereotyping that all Farangs are filthy rich.....Maybe it is more of a Pattaya thing.

The handsum man & darkling syndrome LOL

Edited July 6, 2008 by Beardog

[onnut]

The 45 Thais I employ hate me, I dont know why!

when they are sick or injured I pay for them, they get good salary, they eat well, I take them out eating drinkin often. if they have a problem they know I will take care of them but yet, they still hate me.

maybe it coz if they screw up badf I fire them. who knows.

I think most Thais I meet who do not work for me like me, the good Thais anyway. sure some of them wouldnt like me but then they dont know me.

why even worry about it, I have met plenty of Thais that I do not like.

[pampal]

I can't be bothered worrying about who likes me and who doesn't, life is too short

[chiangmaibruce]

I have encountered overwhelmingly positive feelings from Thais - if the opposite were true I wouldn't be here, simple as that.

One aspect that hasn't been mentioned in this thread is that there is a higher expectation placed on farang by Thais, whether that be dress, manners, driving, morals, etc. The reasoning being that we should know better by way of our privileged background and better education. Sounds reasonable to me. That being the case if a farang acts like a grub then they will attract more of a negative reaction that a Thai acting the same way (NB: this is a generalisation). I saw this first hand in our village. When I first arrived there was only other farang here, a gay british drunk. I dont think the gay part was an issue - or even being British. But always being drunk at the local bar with the local Thai drunks was a cause of some disgust, this being relayed to me by my cultural attache (wife).

The only curious thing is that Thais don't place the same higher expectations on their own politicial leaders and senior public servants. There the opposite is true, a higher station in life and greater opportunuty means a free pass to poor and self-serving behaviour. Go figure.

- CB

[JOHN2]

In my moderate-sized Isaan town, which has seven institutions of higher learning, farangs are thought of as well-educated, upper-social status, temperate, faithful to their Thai and Western wives/husbands, community-minded, and all-around good guys/girls.

We are always respectfully wai'ed, always addressed with the "Ajarn" term of respect everywhere in the community, always waved on by at police stops, occasionally have our dinners covered by the restaurant owner, and seldom robbed or taken advantage of.

Can life get any better?

Perhaps your OP belongs in the Pattaya forum?

You say you have your dinners paid for??

Dear 'o' dear

[Maigo6]

Unfortunately I don't come in contact with the millions of normal Thai, with big hearts, generous to a fault that some say exist here in the Kingdom.

Your girlfriend and her family ?

[slapout]

The 45 Thais I employ hate me, I dont know why!

when they are sick or injured I pay for them, they get good salary, they eat well, I take them out eating drinkin often. if they have a problem they know I will take care of them but yet, they still hate me.

maybe it coz if they screw up badf I fire them. who knows.

I think most Thais I meet who do not work for me like me, the good Thais anyway. sure some of them wouldnt like me but then they dont know me.

why even worry about it, I have met plenty of Thais that I do not like.

Maybe your use of the word hate is too strong a discription, employors should not be expected to be liked by employees. "Like leads to love, love leads to f..king and no boss wants the employees to f..ck him or the company" Your business will probably be a success, good luck to you.

[PeaceBlondie]

Should I worry if the town drunk five provinces away, has an informed opinion of me? Shall I fret if some prathom girl with wet hair thinks I am a bit goofy? Does my reputation hang upon the misguided attitude of some vendor in Prachuap Sanuk? Would I stay awake if the benzene vendor thinks my rotmotosai is the wrong shade of black? Nah.

[paul700]

There seems to be many threads about what Thais think of us and why a certain section wouldnt touch us with a barge poll.

Now most Thais have nothing to do with Farangs and im sure they couldnt care less about what we do or dont do.

My question is do you really care if Thais think that your a bit of a untrustworthy jack the lad who is unfaithful and drinks too much which seems to be the stereotype.

I for one dont drink that much, can get a bird, am faithful and really dont want to get in any sort of trouble, hence i couldnt really care less what they think.

Does this alleged negative view Thais have of us bother you or not?

[paul700]

I am a ferang who has lived here almost nine years now. During my time here I have met many ferangs who have worked in the private schools , teaching. I can count on one hand the amount of decent ferangs I have met over the years. Most ferangs I have met here in the teaching game come into one of the following catagories. Drunk, abusive, smelly, on drugs, playing for the other team(if you know what I mean), or sex maniacs.

It seems a sad reflection on life today. I feel the Thai people deserve better than this, and it is no wonder they have a poor opinion of felangs.

[poshthai]

One would find that most of us have not met many real rural thais,which is a huge proportion of the population of ThAILAND,Yes a few farangs live in rural areas and base their view the same as Pattaya,bk nana and phuket residences.Overall if you are a nice person then you get respect and the nasty person will always get found out.My thai friends never ask me for money and i never ask them.

[poshthai]

Strong words paul700.I would be very worried if this was true.Do you think the thai authorities will do something about this terrible problem.

[wintermute]

I care only in as much as it effects my daily livelihood. The vast majority of the farang in Thailand I would never meet because I don't hang out in dank overpriced expat bars or schmooze with barely coherent aging football hooligans from the EU. Thus a lot of the attitudes on this forum are amusing, sort of like watching a wild spider monkey crap onto another spider monkey's head but it's more of an amusing study of animals in the wild that has no actual bearing in my life.

As far as Thais go, the ones I associate with are good friends and decent people who either run businesses or have studied abroad at some point and are pretty worldly in their belief system. If you go out there with the right attitude and have a normal job with the right people you will meet these types. If you are a bum you will most likely attract lower class elements.

It's not surprising many farang here are getting scammed for sin sod, rent, bills, and whatever else. Everything is based on the crowd you associate with. It's like hanging out in the projects in the U.S. or council estates in the U.K. and not expecting to get robbed. This is true for anywhere but it's even more true for a place like Thailand where the actual permanent expat community isn't that large and most expats don't really understand the differences between Thais.

[cynthialee]

I still think thailand is set up for the kind of people paul describes to thrive and flourish.

For some strang e reason Drunkards,drug abusers,paedophiles, etc... have a hard time living well in usa.....lol.

Edited July 6, 2008 by cynthialee