Jealousy, Greed, Hatred, Racism, Apprehension.

[intumult]

Jealousy, greed, hatred, racism, apprehension.

Are they lurking beneath the surface of many a Thai who sees a foreigner moving into the village neighbourhood? A foreigner who seemingly throws his money around like confetti? One who does build that flash house - as mentioned in another topic - amidst the tin huts / ramshackle homes of the locals in a poor village? Who buys a new Fortuner or other motor. Who lends money out that the Thai might be struggling to pay back.

We hear of foreigners who have 'slipped, tripped or jumped' from balconies. Foreigners who have died in 'strange or unusual' circumstances that have warranted so little, maybe even, inept investigation.

I and my family did know a certain person murdered recently and it brings it home that bit more when you read and have read of others demise in questionable circumstances.

Recently I had a new g/f who told me in no uncertain terms what would happen if she saw me with another woman. She has moved 400 klicks away now with her work.

Walking through the local supermarket hand in hand with a g/f can get some very strange looks, from men and women, young and old, a lot of those looks which you can see are definitely not friendly.

Family, friends and associates can see us as the new b/f (or g/f) of a Thai who is ready to be milked or scammed, often they will wait a long time to start, others will make it be known instantly.

Some are apprehensive of a new foreigner moving into the area and upsetting the delicate balance that has been in the village for generations. We often hear of foreigners who have bought their Thai g/f / wife a new house or car. But not any old car or house. It always does seem to have to be the biggest or best when sometimes a new washing machine (ok an exagerration), or tiling, or a new kitchen or concrete around the house can begin to upset that balance.

Then we wonder why we are targets for some.

So why do it? Why do some have to flash their wealth about? Do they not think of the upset they might be causing both now and in the future?

Yes, we all want to better ourselves and the lives of our families, but surely there are limits to what any reasonable person should do in a village situation?

Do the few who act in such a manner make us targets for the lies, the deceit, the cheating, the scams of overcharging and such like?

Personally, I have been the target for those who try to overcharge massively, of those who have demanded more and more because a 'friend' married some foreigner who bought this and that and the other, of some who still insist - with a flutter of the eyelashes - they have no husband / b/f when I know for certain that they have.

Bitter? No I am not. How can I be bitter when these 'poorer' people are simply trying to take advantage of a situation and make a buck for themselves.

Wiser? Yes, very.

I blame those who still flaunt their wealth in a poorer country instead of using a modicum of common sense before flaunting that wealth and creating an unblalance.

OK. OK., I'll <deleted>

edit - can't spell some days

Edited August 11, 2008 by intumult

[GuestHouse]

Who buys a new Fortuner or other motor

First foot on the slippery slope - The locals spot this and declare to themselves - 'Ah... another dummy'.

[garro]

I believe that a westerner in a local village who is flaunting his wealth will be tolerated far better than would happen in poor areas in the west. If a rich Thai moved into say Mossside in Manchester or the Gorbals in Glasgow and started throwing his money around then he wouldn't have it for long.

We recently moved from my wife's village to the city. We were there for five years without owning a house or car and the most ostentatious thing was my Ipstar dish. I was happy to be the only westerner there as I wouldn't have enjoyed a rich westerner making me look cheap

I believe the bad traits that are mentioned in the OP are present in most humans, and Thailand isn't unique.

[soundman]

I'm not sure I'm reading this correctly, however, are you suggesting that foreigners that decide to make Thailand their home, whether it be tempory (a year or two) or permanent, live under the same conditions as their neighbours?

[PhilHarries]

I don't understand where you are coming from.

Are you ranting against those people who flaunt their wealth etc etc because they are being culturally insensitive?

Or are you ranting because people who build a nice house in the village and buy a posh new car (Fortuner ) etc etc because they make you feel uncomfortable for doing the same?

Obviously there are no-no's in behaviour in such a situation but I assume you refer to reasonable behaviour (i.e. not lighting fat cigars with 1000 Bahr notes).

However you do it if a farang with a reasonable amount of money moves into a poor community you are going to experience negative emotions from at least part of that community. This process would happen in any country in the world. You buy a tasty motor in the UK and park it up at the local supermarket likely as not it'll be "keyed" as a minimum when you get back. There are still those with negative feelings in the UK when they see an Asian who is successful and well off. That is not to say it is right for the village Thais to feel this way but we have to consider it from their viewpoint. If you are going to live in a rural Thai village, unless you are lucky, you had better develope a thick skin. Either that or choose to live in an area with some opulent Thais so you won't stand out.

[Dustoff]

I don't know about anyone else but this sounds to me like a very anti-Thai post ineffectively frosted with a bit of 'blame it on the rich farang'.

I have been around the world a few times and cannot think of any country where "jealousy, greed, hatred, racism, apprehension" cannot be found by simply pushing the right buttons.

[PeaceBlondie]

Dustoff may have the best angle on the OP. Let's give this a few more minutes.

I thought the title was stolen from that old soap opera, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. The Shadow knows...." My grandmother told me about that one.

Added: I spent the minutes reading the OP. Sounds anti-Thai. Closed.