How Are We Brits Perceived In Thailand?

[mahtin]

Is this an accurate picture?

Art: Banksy

[Theyreallrubbish]

Is this an accurate picture?

Art: Banksy

I've noticed us Scots seem to have a better reputation than our southern neighbours.

I get asked by the Thais if I'm from England with a suspicious stare, and as soon as I say I'm from Scotland they light up in a huge beaming grin, "Ahh, Sakotlan. Whisky very good!"

[a99az]

Is this an accurate picture?

Art: Banksy

I've noticed us Scots seem to have a better reputation than our southern neighbours.

I get asked by the Thais if I'm from England with a suspicious stare, and as soon as I say I'm from Scotland they light up in a huge beaming grin, "Ahh, Sakotlan. Whisky very good!"

How do they know what you say Scotty, I can never understand scots and I am English, I too just nod and smile as if I understand, just to make you feel normal.

[jackdanielsesq]

Ya already knew the answer to a dumb question like that

BR>Jack

[Carib]

They are perceived in the same way as they are in Spain..

[Theyreallrubbish]

Is this an accurate picture?

Art: Banksy

I've noticed us Scots seem to have a better reputation than our southern neighbours.

I get asked by the Thais if I'm from England with a suspicious stare, and as soon as I say I'm from Scotland they light up in a huge beaming grin, "Ahh, Sakotlan. Whisky very good!"

How do they know what you say Scotty, I can never understand scots and I am English, I too just nod and smile as if I understand, just to make you feel normal.

Sorry about that. Sometimes we forget to only speak in words of one syllable when talking to those who had to make do without a Scottish education

[cognos]

I shall take the 5th, because I'm Canadian...okay I'll bite...when I grew up the isle "owned" half the world..ie: half the world was colored pink (the commonwealth) in those days..to over generalize..when a small island owns "half" the world...do you think the owners will have small egos??? When such a small place "owns" so much of the world..how will they view themselves? Will they view themselves as SUPERIOR?? When their "kingdom" shrinks, does the enormous ego shrink accordingly??..not from what i see.. (CHECK) MATE

[cognos]

I anticipate i will soon get cyber "bashed" in the nose by a cyber Brit forehead..ouch! A Brit(or canadian) walked into a bar....an iron bar...ouch!

[sanmiguellight]

I shall take the 5th, because I'm Canadian...okay I'll bite...when I grew up the isle "owned" half the world..ie: half the world was colored pink (the commonwealth) in those days..to over generalize..when a small island owns "half" the world...do you think the owners will have small egos??? When such a small place "owns" so much of the world..how will they view themselves? Will they view themselves as SUPERIOR?? When their "kingdom" shrinks, does the enormous ego shrink accordingly??..not from what i see.. (CHECK) MATE

Not one Brit i know gives a sh7t about the British Empire or has ever cared about the British Empire, it was long gone before most Brits on this planet were conceived, at best or worst all we do is wind the jocks taffy's and micks up about owning them, its called banter and a windup something people in Canada just cant comprehend.

[sanmiguellight]

I've noticed us Scots seem to have a better reputation than our southern neighbours.

I get asked by the Thais if I'm from England with a suspicious stare, and as soon as I say I'm from Scotland they light up in a huge beaming grin, "Ahh, Sakotlan. Whisky very good!"

Dont you get bored of "them" asking you this and then coming up with the same answer time and time again?

[Jungian]

I'm going to have to say honestly that Brits are not perceived very well here by the Thais I know. The Thais say the Brits get drunk, make a problem and fight I suppose the same could be said about American red necks but there aren't to many of them here mostly because of the import tax on their mobile homes I imagine. In any event I have many friends from England that I met in my own country and they were well behaved proper people as most Americans imagine the English to be but since I have been to Thailand that image is shattered and I find myself having more in common with Australians. I have always liked the English and have had great respect for them my mother and father even took me to Ottawa in 1976 to have a look at the Queen but I would not want to make a comment about the Brits based on what I have seen here. All that being said I think all of the people I have seen out and about (Westerners) have not been a 'good quality' of people over all and yes I know I don't know these people but it is my impression watching them lurk about the city. I tend to notice a hostility about Westerners and I always thought it was just me but my youngest child cries and runs away when she sees a Westerner so.... I'm not sure what to make of it.

[Garry9999]

It's a great cartoon, the figure of the Brit could quite easily be replaced by an Aussie or a Yank.

[waza]

Hmmm all the Brit I have met in Thailand are great, they like their grog and usually friendly. They Canadian are great very friendly. Italians are fun. The USA guys, I have met a few, theys seem strange. But these are all tourists like me. I also see other guys walking around with their heads down and a scowl on their faces. They are aloof, distant and generally rude. These guys make it obvious that they dont want to socialise with people like me. I think they are sexpats.

[lioness]

I can't comment about the whole of Thailand, but in my local area a large percentage of the Brits, mainly English, seem to think they know everything there is to know about everything.

Then there is a large group of them that takes over a certain pub on occassions and run amock, men and women alike, this usually chases the rest of the clientele away.

Then the constant whinging about Thailand, can't work out why they don't go home.

Add to that there are quite a few con men among them who seem intent on ripping off other farang, initially much to the astonishment of my Thai husband, who now says there worse than Thais in the rip off department.

[DP25]

In general among non tourist industry Thais I would say the opinion would be that they are very polite and high class. England is also known as muang poo dee, land of gentlemen/aristocrats.

[endure]

Is this another thread of sweeping generalisations? There are 60 million 'Brits' just as there are 60 million Thais. Most people with a bright bulb realise that you can't judge a population by a miniscule sample. The dim bulbs justify their prejudices any way they can.

[Ulysses G.]

Most Brits are great, but, unfortunately, the nasty drunks and just plain nasty yobs tend to stand out. They are the only nationality that I have seen who consistantly get drunk and try to pick fights with other foreigners for no reason at all.

The bad apples really do ruin it for the majority of good Brits.

[loong]

Most of the Thais that I know are not that well educated and wouldn't know what a "Brit" is. They may have heard of Scotland, but still think that they are English and have no idea that Scotland is famous for whiskey.

the Brits get drunk, make a problem and fight - Sounds like a lot of Thai people that I've met.

I personally have never witnessed this so called trait of the British. How many of you actually regularly see drunken Brits fighting? It happens for sure, but really it's just another case of unfair racial stereotyping.

I've never met a Thai that has specifically mentioned any one farang race that they have a low opinion of.

[loong]

Most Brits are great, but, unfortunately, the nasty drunks and just plain nasty yobs tend to stand out. They are the only nationality that I have seen who consistantly get drunk and try to pick fights with other foreigners for no reason at all.

The bad apples really do ruin it for the majority of good Brits.

Reasonable post Ulysses.

As you seem to take a balanced viewpoint, I would like to know how many fights have you seen in Thailand involving Brits in the last year and where?

[BigSnake]

Brits are perceived by Thai people as same any other farang, some on holiday with money to spend. Perceived by fellow farangs as just another drinking buddy to hang out and bullsh&t with. For most part many Thai people can't tell the different between the Brits and the Aussie

[teacup]

Most of the Thais that I know are not that well educated and wouldn't know what a "Brit" is.

True....couldn't tell the diff

A lout is a lout, no matter of what nationality ...including our own thais.....will not be welcomed anywhere here.

You only have to behave, then we will see you only as a gentleman.

[Ulysses G.]

Most Brits are great, but, unfortunately, the nasty drunks and just plain nasty yobs tend to stand out. They are the only nationality that I have seen who consistantly get drunk and try to pick fights with other foreigners for no reason at all.

The bad apples really do ruin it for the majority of good Brits.

Reasonable post Ulysses.

As you seem to take a balanced viewpoint, I would like to know how many fights have you seen in Thailand involving Brits in the last year and where?

I have only seen a few actual fights, but quite a few drunks with English accents insulting innocent people walking down the sidewalk or by open bars that they are drinking at, in places like Pattaya, Nana, and Loi Kroh road in Chiang Mai.

Calling someone that they have never met before a fat pig or a f*cking twit for no reason is not hitting them, but it is an attempt to provoke a fight and is uncalled for.

Don't get me wrong, we have plenty of these <deleted> in my country too, but luckily, they tend to stay home with their sisters in Alabama and Tennessee and not do a lot of international traveling. We are lucky in that way.

[Spee]

Endure has the right idea.

Most Brits are great, but, unfortunately, the nasty drunks and just plain nasty yobs tend to stand out.

True, but these minorities stand out like a tornado stands out. What's the rule with a tornado? Don't move toward it. Move quickly and perpendicularly away from it. The same goes for obnoxious and fight-seeking drunks. If we speak with our feet, in theory the bar owners will eventually learn that a peaceful bar is much more profitable than having the "Friday night fights" seven days a week.

[Pakboong]

Even the Germans step down a notch while here in Thailand, it is not unusual to see them trying to pass for Americans by wearing a baseball cap, shorts and athletic shoes. As for the Brits, they make up the bulk of my friends here and good or bad, the ones I know would not consider themselves a part of the Wimbledon crowd.

[Ulysses G.]

Endure has the right idea.

Most Brits are great, but, unfortunately, the nasty drunks and just plain nasty yobs tend to stand out.

True, but these minorities stand out like a tornado stands out. What's the rule with a tornado? Don't move toward it. Move quickly and perpendicularly away from it. The same goes for obnoxious and fight-seeking drunks. If we speak with our feet, in theory the bar owners will eventually learn that a peaceful bar is much more profitable than having the "Friday night fights" seven days a week.

I agree, and most expats realize that the football hooligan types are just a small minority, but the real creeps really stick out because most travelers try to be on their best behavior in a foreign country.

[Jungian]

Hmmm all the Brit I have met in Thailand are great, they like their grog and usually friendly. They Canadian are great very friendly. Italians are fun. The USA guys, I have met a few, theys seem strange. But these are all tourists like me. I also see other guys walking around with their heads down and a scowl on their faces. They are aloof, distant and generally rude. These guys make it obvious that they dont want to socialise with people like me. I think they are sexpats.

Yes, I agree with you. The majority of Americans I have met here other than old retired folk are from California and well... lets just say even in the USA we think California folk are a bit odd if nothing else eccentric to be polite. I have only met one person from the East Coast since I have been in Thailand and one Southerner who got out of here as fast as he could it was like another planet for him and he didn't want anything to do with Thailand (he was working for a US company).

[loong]

Thanks Ulyses,

I don't see this behaviour, but I don't tend to go to the "in your face" bargirl areas, usually frequented by free spending tourists. So i guess that these troublemakers are 2 week tourists mainly, and that Thais other than Bargirls would not really know about these yobs. When I go to Pattaya, I tend to avoid the bars in Soi 7/8 (too noisy) and walking street, preferring the bars in Soi Diana, Bhuakow and drinking street.

So a Thai bargirl would probably have a different perception of the English than say a hotel worker.

[Ulysses G.]

I'm not sure how many Thais can even recognize an English accent, but other travelers sometimes stereotype the British unfairly because of a few unpleasant experiences with louts.

[jfchandler]

If the Brit term is "lager lout," then I guess the American equivalent would be "beer bum"..

[caf]

Most of the Thais that I know are not that well educated and wouldn't know what a "Brit" is. They may have heard of Scotland, but still think that they are English and have no idea that Scotland is famous for whiskey.

the Brits get drunk, make a problem and fight - Sounds like a lot of Thai people that I've met.

I personally have never witnessed this so called trait of the British. How many of you actually regularly see drunken Brits fighting? It happens for sure, but really it's just another case of unfair racial stereotyping.

I've never met a Thai that has specifically mentioned any one farang race that they have a low opinion of.

You're absolutely right. Over-generalisations. You can't tell from a poster's sign-in what his nationality is anyway

(By the way whiskey is Irish; whisky, Scottish)