How To Deal With Extreme Attitudes

[ALFREDO]

Problems between different citicens can be seen, felt and heard everywhere.

Many countrys (Citicens) have one or more countrys on which they are always picking. That has mostly an historical background.

I just came back from a longer trip to Cambodia, Sihanoukville.

There you can hear some Thailadys who came with their boyfriends-husbands to start businesses in that developing small city, openly say,

they do not like the Cambodians. But they had to follow their partners.

And, once I sat with a Vietnamese lady in a restaurant when the Cambodian lady (on our table) of a farang (barang) said,

-I do not like Vietnamese-.

She new very well that there was one Vietnamese on the table, but did not care that fact!

You are helpless against complete ignorance.

[bkkjames]

Outrageous SBK! You know dayum well Thais are extremely racist against the Burmese. Similar?! You know how mad you would make ANY Thai for saying they were essentially similar to Burmese? LOL!! I'm still flabbergasted, go ahead and ask your husband if Thais are racist against Burmese. He sounds like a smart guy so will probably give you a straight answer.

Indeed... what a poor insight... As admin he should know better. I'm speechless.

It's astonishing to see how easily people can drop total non sense, like this, with a doctoral tone...

you said as admin he should know better ......well its she not he in this case............admin or not dosent mean they are correct on everything..........

Well seeing as this is now a bitching session, I object to the spelling of canook, its kanook

[sassienie]

Thai’s attitudes towards the Burmese are not so much racism, but more so, classism.

Because of the political turmoil in Burma, many Burmese are entering Thailand as illegal immigrants, some are desperate and perpetrators of crime in Thailand proportionately high amongst the Burmese community towards Thai citizens and others.

This has created a stereotypic stigma with Burmese people.

Very similar as in English attitudes towards the Jews & the Irish in 19th century and early 20th century Britain.

Thais consider the Burmese as the underdogs and because of economics, also as an inferior race.

[MKAsok]

Thai's attitudes towards the Burmese are not so much racism, but more so, classism.

Because of the political turmoil in Burma, many Burmese are entering Thailand as illegal immigrants, some are desperate and perpetrators of crime in Thailand proportionately high amongst the Burmese community towards Thai citizens and others.

This has created a stereotypic stigma with Burmese people.

Very similar as in English attitudes towards the Jews & the Irish in 19th century and early 20th century Britain.

Thais consider the Burmese as the underdogs and because of economics, also as an inferior race.

Er...

Edit: I do see your point, but maybe 'inferior class' would have been a better choice...

Edited March 31, 2009 by MKAsok

[sassienie]

Thai's attitudes towards the Burmese are not so much racism, but more so, classism.

Because of the political turmoil in Burma, many Burmese are entering Thailand as illegal immigrants, some are desperate and perpetrators of crime in Thailand proportionately high amongst the Burmese community towards Thai citizens and others.

This has created a stereotypic stigma with Burmese people.

Very similar as in English attitudes towards the Jews & the Irish in 19th century and early 20th century Britain.

Thais consider the Burmese as the underdogs and because of economics, also as an inferior race.

Er...

Edit: I do see your point, but maybe 'inferior class' would have been a better choice...

I stand corrected: as an inferior class is correct.

[myauq]

Well, you certainly weren't shy about describing her being sexually assaulted by the staff. Which according to your story, was what had happened. Then you never mention that situation again, and only talk about how racist Thai people are in general, which was the topic of your first thread that was closed.

i could mention hundreds of other examples where we get treated like shit, not everywhere of course and not always sexual, but it is pretty full on. that was just one example. if you want to focus on this one situation then you're sick and pathetic.

90% of the replies on this forum have been sympathetic, but i would question your sincerity if you attack me because i only mentioned this incident once, and use it as a basis for denigrating my assumption - which is shared by the majority of the people here - that thai's treat burmese people very poorely.

[jackr]

They consider your missus of low class because of her roots, period, and you also for fraternizing with the enemy. Nothing you say or do will change that no matter how sweet/pretty/switched on she may be, so probably best to move out or move on if it really irks you. Several hundred years of marauding Burmese coming over smashing the place up and nicking everything, along with the current down-at-heel junta-induced mess, has planted it into the heads of virtually all Thais that their neighbours are mai koi dee unfortunately.

[Boo]

I have removed a couple of posts, lets try to not name call or infer the op is a liar.

Thanks

[henryalleman]

I thought we once upon a time came from Africa.

A bit afraid of stepping on a political/racial land mine here, but is that what "American Indians" call themself these days?

I think the correct word is Native-Americans

And indeed we all come from Africa.

Edited March 31, 2009 by henryalleman

[henryalleman]

I have to agree with you there mate,Thailand is one of the most racist places on Earth,but luckily only verbally.If i wasnt white no chance would i live here,but the non pc way suits me down to the ground.

There is a huge snob culture her too,unlike anything i have seen.

Correct ,indigenous Thai look down on Burmese and can not be trusted for even a second, dislike the ethnic Chinese, all Isan people are poor and uneducated(look thoong) and can not even speak correct Thai, the same go's for Lao and cambodians(Khmer) Black people have a bad smell. After a few minutes of conversation a Thai will say I'M REAL THAI BLOOD.

And Etnic Chinese think that Thai people are lazy especcialy the women, good to be Mia Noi but not good for Mia Luang

Light skin look down on people with a darker skin, reason why you so many whitening products and they avoid the sun.

In fact Thailand is an cast society, but they know how to hide it very well. But you feel it by some remarks they make, even about so called good friends.

If you tell them that their atitude good be regarded racist, they will look surprised, because you made a stupid remark.

[philliphn]

I beleive that many Thai people think that they are better than other people simply because they are Thai. But this attitude is not uniquely Thai. Many Americans think that they are simply better than other people because they are American. This is just a plain silly attitude. Your nationality does not make you in itself better than any one.

[loong]

I wonder if its different about the comments we make about the Yanks or the Aussies about the Pommies and so forth. Racist or Nationalist - guess it depends on who's holding the flag.

I wonder if its any different from comments westerners on Thai Visa make about Thai people?

I think that when people on TV make comments about Thai people, usually it's not racist.

When discussing National traits, as long as they are true cannot be racism surely?

Is a statement like "Many Thai people are lazy, scrounging drunks" racist?

If so what about

" Many Thai people seem to smile nearly all of the time"

Both these statements, in my opinion are true, but one would maybe be considered racist, because of its negativity.

[kiakaha]

the world really needs to be attacked by extra terrestrials to bring us all together as the human race.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

Slightly off topic, but the OP sounds almost a bit too "laissez faire" in dealing with people's attitudes towards his wife - any person in any country in the world verbally insults and physically assaults my partner/wife of any nationality and I think my reaction would have been a little different.... let alone remain a paying customer in the place where these things happened! That said, I admire his maturity and he sounds a well reasoned fella.

Fact: There are stupid, ignorant people the world over and we all know that that everyone needs another race/creed/nationality etc to look down upon in order to make themselves feel superior - it is sadly human nature.

RE: "Attacked by extra terrestrials"??? I get your point , but Why should we need to be attacked to improve our love for our fellow man? (Reagan said something very similar - in fact, there are a large number of people who believe such an 'attack' is imminent ... but that such an attack will actually be carried out by a malicious faction of mankind in order to make the rest of us sheeple huddle together even closer and cry as one "save us, save us").... personally, I would love intelligent life to come and visit us and simply say "we are from another planet, we have been looking at what you are playing at here, and we just want to tell you that you are all behaving in a pathetic and quite frankly embarrassing manner... Sort yourselves out - you are all one.... the Burmese are no better or worse than the Thais - you are all fab aspects of divinity, now grow up

Edited April 1, 2009 by Jim's_a_Thai_Fox

[Sabum]

the world really needs to be attacked by extra terrestrials to bring us all together as the human race.

EXACTLY, god that is my life long dream, bring on the Martians!

[Richb2004v2]

I wonder if its different about the comments we make about the Yanks or the Aussies about the Pommies and so forth. Racist or Nationalist - guess it depends on who's holding the flag.

I wonder if its any different from comments westerners on Thai Visa make about Thai people?

I think that when people on TV make comments about Thai people, usually it's not racist.

When discussing National traits, as long as they are true cannot be racism surely?

Is a statement like "Many Thai people are lazy, scrounging drunks" racist?

If so what about

" Many Thai people seem to smile nearly all of the time"

Both these statements, in my opinion are true, but one would maybe be considered racist, because of its negativity.

Good point.

Personally I am racist. I dislike certain races. This is through experience of dealing with many individuals of certain races and having repeated bad experiences with that race. It’s nothing to do with skin colour or anything like that. I am always open to being changed, but until I am I will always be racist against some. I think that’s only normal.

[loong]

Personally I am racist. I dislike certain races. This is through experience of dealing with many individuals of certain races and having repeated bad experiences with that race. It’s nothing to do with skin colour or anything like that. I am always open to being changed, but until I am I will always be racist against some. I think that’s only normal.

Certainly, personal experiences will tend to make you apparently racist, but not necessarily so.

In the UK, working as a plumber and gas heating engineer I refused to work for Indians and Pakistanis. The reason was that in my experience I'd had too many difficulties getting paid while dealing with them. That's not being racist as far as I'm concerned. It just appeared to me that Indians and Pakistanis living in the Uk didn't like to pay.

The Chinese?, totally the opposite, a pleasure to work for. They paid promptly, no fuss and often invited me to eat with them.

[imaneggspurt]

I wonder if its different about the comments we make about the Yanks or the Aussies about the Pommies and so forth. Racist or Nationalist - guess it depends on who's holding the flag.

my 6 year old loves your avatar !

[imaneggspurt]

There is alot of racism here

I even experienced some. When i lived in BKK i would frequent the english pub in the landmark hotel before rolling over to nana.

Well i went to phuket for a vacation and got very tanned, when i came back i happened to go back to that pub and I sat

down and was completely ingnored by the bar staff. I finally got angry and said "Can I have a beer please!" The bartender

comes over and says "sorry i cannot serve Indians". I said i am a damm american. He said I dont believe. I pulled out a copy of

my passport and inspected for a good 5 mins and finally says OK with a scowl.

I was dressed nicely too, mai kee nok

Nice try Tonto

[lioness]

Many Thai people view Burmese on the same level as a dog. in general they do not trust them and yes they believe them to be inferior.

But then from some of the Farang posters on Thai Visa it is quite apparent that many believe they are superior to Thais, is this not the same?

[Huey]

Thais and Burmese have beef, been having beef for like 1000 years. They warred against each other, enslaved each other, and generally despised one another since before the crusades. Why on earth would you think a Burmese woman in some 2 bit guest house with a farang, be looked at by Thais any differently??? Cold perhaps, but nothing to act all shocked about.

Edited April 1, 2009 by Huey

[Huey]

I wonder if its different about the comments we make about the Yanks or the Aussies about the Pommies and so forth. Racist or Nationalist - guess it depends on who's holding the flag.

I wonder if its any different from comments westerners on Thai Visa make about Thai people?

I think that when people on TV make comments about Thai people, usually it's not racist.

When discussing National traits, as long as they are true cannot be racism surely?

Is a statement like "Many Thai people are lazy, scrounging drunks" racist?

If so what about

" Many Thai people seem to smile nearly all of the time"

Both these statements, in my opinion are true, but one would maybe be considered racist, because of its negativity.

Good point.

Personally I am racist. I dislike certain races. This is through experience of dealing with many individuals of certain races and having repeated bad experiences with that race. It's nothing to do with skin colour or anything like that. I am always open to being changed, but until I am I will always be racist against some. I think that's only normal.

Only normal because of bad experiences. Wow, interesting. Which ones don't you like then?

[sassienie]

I have to agree with you there mate,Thailand is one of the most racist places on Earth,but luckily only verbally.If i wasnt white no chance would i live here,but the non pc way suits me down to the ground.

There is a huge snob culture her too,unlike anything i have seen.

Correct ,indigenous Thai look down on Burmese and can not be trusted for even a second, dislike the ethnic Chinese, all Isan people are poor and uneducated(look thoong) and can not even speak correct Thai, the same go's for Lao and cambodians(Khmer) Black people have a bad smell. After a few minutes of conversation a Thai will say I'M REAL THAI BLOOD.

And Etnic Chinese think that Thai people are lazy especcialy the women, good to be Mia Noi but not good for Mia Luang

Light skin look down on people with a darker skin, reason why you so many whitening products and they avoid the sun.

In fact Thailand is an cast society, but they know how to hide it very well. But you feel it by some remarks they make, even about so called good friends.

If you tell them that their atitude good be regarded racist, they will look surprised, because you made a stupid remark.

Thai prejudices can never be compared with the extremes of Western racism and philosophies that are still widely practised today.

[anothertorres]

I am well aware of the ignorant attitude many Thai people have towards the Burmese. Just as I am aware of the ignorant attitude many Americans have towards Hispanics.

don't chastise stupid toughts by posting your own stupid thoughts

[anothertorres]

and to answer the question from page 2. "American Indians" are called (rightly) "Native Americans". the rest of us white folk are just visiting...

[aehn]

another recent example...

i was asked to fill out a consumer research questionnaire at siam bts. it was about a chain of hotels. i passed all the 'screener' criteria - i.e. had been in thailand a certain amount of time, like shopping, have a combined income above a certain amount, and stay at hotels everytime i holiday in thailand.

right, so a couple of weeks later and a guy from the cr company phones and confirms that my details were correct. he says that i have won a prize, which is a holiday in one of their resort hotels in phuket. great. i need to come to the hotel in silom tomorrow and do a product testing session, and i can claim my prize. great. i said yes.

one final question - 'is your wife thai?' 'no'. 'what nationality is she?' i said 'burmese'. the tone changes. 'ok, i will email you later and give you details about where to claim your prize over the weekend' no email. nothing.

Now that HAS to be a sign of true Thai racism.

Seriously, some Thais do not like Burmese, some Brits are looking down on Thais, some Europeans are looking down on Americans, some westerners are looking down on Asians.

Racism is everywhere, from Bangkok to Ohio via Venice and Hanoi.

Hint, just take a look at this board, the amount of thai bashing here among expats can be pretty scary sometimes.

Edited April 2, 2009 by aehn

[aehn]

Many Thai people view Burmese on the same level as a dog. in general they do not trust them and yes they believe them to be inferior.

But then from some of the Farang posters on Thai Visa it is quite apparent that many believe they are superior to Thais, is this not the same?

Yes, just change the word "some" to "alot", and then its spot on.

[Richb2004v2]

Only normal because of bad experiences. Wow, interesting. Which ones don't you like then?

Its a simple learning process. If every time you encountered a certain breed of dog you either got bitten, growled at, barked at or drooled on you would eventually form a learned response that its best staying away from that type of dog. You might even advise friends to do the same. If however after some time you came across a few instances of that particular dog that didn't do these things you might realize that it wasn't the dog breed but the individual dogs and maybe they are actually generally ok.

People aren't dogs but the process works the same.

Its like another post said about Pakistanis and Indians not wanting to pay for things. I have a couple of friends in the UK who say the exact same thing. They now avoid dealing with them were possible. They have learnt a character trait of the Pakistani race and reacted to it. It's only natural. Is it racism? Maybe. When it comes to money exchanges with Pakistanis they are totally biased against them.

I don't think it means that you should treat those you dislike as dogs, as some say the Thais do with Burmese.

Edited April 2, 2009 by Richb2004v2

[Sheryl]

We seem to be stuck here in a revolving door

the question was not: ""are some/any/most Thais prejudiced?, nor was it "which nationality is the most biased?"etc etc

The OP has described a problem and asked for suggestions on dealing with it.

I've offered mine already.

Anyone else?

Because if not I think this thread has run its course...

[Huey]

Only normal because of bad experiences. Wow, interesting. Which ones don't you like then?

Its a simple learning process. If every time you encountered a certain breed of dog you either got bitten, growled at, barked at or drooled on you would eventually form a learned response that its best staying away from that type of dog. You might even advise friends to do the same. If however after some time you came across a few instances of that particular dog that didn't do these things you might realize that it wasn't the dog breed but the individual dogs and maybe they are actually generally ok.

People aren't dogs but the process works the same.

Its like another post said about Pakistanis and Indians not wanting to pay for things. I have a couple of friends in the UK who say the exact same thing. They now avoid dealing with them were possible. They have learnt a character trait of the Pakistani race and reacted to it. It's only natural. Is it racism? Maybe. When it comes to money exchanges with Pakistanis they are totally biased against them.

I don't think it means that you should treat those you dislike as dogs, as some say the Thais do with Burmese.

I think the fact that the first analogy in your thought process was to compare the object of your disdain, Pakistanis, with dogs really speaks for itself.

Look I don't particularly like israelis, Mostly because I don't like Judaism as a religion and I don't like the political stranglehold israel has on my Govt. USA.

However, individuals don't get judged on what their book or govt says and I enjoy the company of a Isreali friend on a regular basis.

Try not to Hate, Dislike if you must, but then try to keep in on a political or religious level. Nobody said you have to agree with a man's polotics or religion. But you can still befriend someone who is decent and respectful no matter where they are from or what their religous choices are.