What Good Does Moaning Do? Honestly!

[cobra]

Journalistic Axiom #1: If it bleeds, it leads.

Why we get more enjoyment from a rant then someone going on about rainbows and flowers,

Because it's boring.

Misery loves company.

I need my carnage, plane wrecks, elevator failures, and daily validation that people invariably fall short compared to me, being of course perfect and the benchmark in every way.

The glass is half full, (maybe, but I don't like what's in it anyway),

Walk on the sunny side of the street, (I would except for the open sewers),

Bend in the breeze so you can stand in the wind, (I would if there was an occasional breeze),

Go along to get along, (yes, as long as your going along, to get along with me),

Compromise, (yes compromise, do it my way),

Rant, it's cathartic, your results may vary.

[IanForbes]

Journalistic Axiom #1: If it bleeds, it leads.

Why we get more enjoyment from a rant then someone going on about rainbows and flowers,

Because it's boring.

Misery loves company.

I need my carnage, plane wrecks, elevator failures, and daily validation that people invariably fall short compared to me, being of course perfect and the benchmark in every way.

The glass is half full, (maybe, but I don't like what's in it anyway),

Walk on the sunny side of the street, (I would except for the open sewers),

Bend in the breeze so you can stand in the wind, (I would if there was an occasional breeze),

Go along to get along, (yes, as long as your going along, to get along with me),

Compromise, (yes compromise, do it my way),

Rant, it's cathartic, your results may vary.

Good points, cobra. It all depends on how one tells a story. It's easy to make a complaint while telling a funny story if you know how to write properly.

FD333 made a very good point also... quote

"Walk around like a bear with a sore head, angry all the time and you will be rightfully despised. On the other hand, on a daily basis if you are known for your patience and politeness, having a well timed, and deserved temper outburst once in a blue moon has produced some of my most efficient spells here."

It is the old story of the "The sky is falling". If someone is a habitual complainer then eventually nobody listens when there really IS a valid complaint.

The same is true about swearing. If someone continually speaks with a series of 4 letter words then after a while nobody is shocked or even listens anymore. But, if some sweet little old lady comes out with a swear word then everyone is shocked.

[garyh]

Whining and complaining is fine but this site are full people who just love to embellished the truth to add excitement to their story. Many times the story gets to the point of ludicrous and disrespectful of their own partner, Thai women...etc...That's a bit much for me.

Never let the truth get tin the way of a good story, at least that is how gutter jounalists operate.

[longstebe]

I love a good moan.

I have good friends who listen to my moans and vice versa.Usually end up laughing my bo!!ocks off.

The majority of moans on TV to me are educational.

Keep the moans coming please.

[anothertorres]

other people's problem are so much more interesting because they aren't mine.

[Misplaced]

Whining and complaining is fine but this site are full people who just love to embellished the truth to add excitement to their story. Many times the story gets to the point of ludicrous and disrespectful of their own partner, Thai women...etc...That's a bit much for me.

Never let the truth get tin the way of a good story, at least that is how gutter jounalists operate.

That's funny! One of my good friend always said that "an Irish man never let the truth get in the way of a good story". Needless to say, none of us paid too much attention to his stories, and he has many stories to tell

[tominchaam]

other people's problem are so much more interesting because they aren't mine.

I don’t like to listen to too much of complains but after reading this I started to laugh so maybe it’s time for a change.

[F1fanatic]

The 'complainers' are nearly always those that have been here for many years and have finally let it get on top of them. Or, those that have been here for a v short time (a year or so), and have had a nasty shock realising that Thailand is not the utopia they thought whilst on their hols!!

Normally Westerners realise withih the first couple of years that Thailand is not what they thought, and go back home pretty quickly.

Others decide that the positives outweigh the negatives and it takes 10 years or so before they become very vociferous in their complaints!

Then again there are those who try to moderate their opinions, realising that it only makes their reasons for being here suspect!

[mommysboy]

Not much in the long term. Good for a short spurt for letting off steam and that's about it.

Basically keep it real and not negative.

Neutral and positive is the key here.

You'll get bitter, end up a mental wreck if you let sht get you down.

Thailand is a fine country for living, but only if you give it respect.

Ah, a happy moan then.

Hang on something not quite making sense here!

Think a bit of editing may be in order.

[ScubaBuddha]

A few weeks ago when farangs and Thai's were drowning in staggaring numbers off the west coast of Phuket after the contract for beach lifegaurds was allowed to expire, the number of angry posts in a thread hear on TV was actually noted in the local papers. A week later the contract was re-instated. Did it make a difference? Who knows. I'd like to think so.

At times some of us need to gripe to maintain our sanity, but I will agree with you that I have at times felt like some very minor issues made into very big ones here.

[caf]

A few weeks ago when farangs and Thai's were drowning in staggaring numbers off the west coast of Phuket after the contract for beach lifegaurds was allowed to expire, the number of angry posts in a thread hear on TV was actually noted in the local papers. A week later the contract was re-instated. Did it make a difference? Who knows. I'd like to think so.

At times some of us need to gripe to maintain our sanity, but I will agree with you that I have at times felt like some very minor issues made into very big ones here.

I think you're right, scubbabuddah.

The persistent complainers of petty problems get on everyone's nerves. Not just in thailand

But moaning and complaining - if done constructively - does sometimes get things done as you said. And that helps Thais and farangs

In many ways this country has improved over the years with farang standards being qiietly and slowly imposed. But never let them lose face and keep smiling at them.

They have not got away with trying to cancel Airbus without penalty, have they?

[loong]

You'd have to be a simpleton to continually "go with the flow". I don't believe that you can decide not to let things annoy you and so it is better to vent on a forum like this where many people can identify with your problem.

Thailand and dealing with Thai people is frustrating so often and when I read posters comments about similar frustrations it actually sometimes makes me smile. I know where they are coming from. ThaiVisa therapy - cheaper than a psychiatrist

[MarleyMarl]

I've been living in Thailand for almost a year now, and so many things shit me on a daily bases, but I to came to the quick realization that this is not my country, I am a guest here, and I choose to live here. Now I just accept most things, like when the bank tells me I need to talk to the Post office when my password doesn't show up, or when there is something else painfully slow.

[ScubaBuddha]

I've been living in Thailand for almost a year now, and so many things shit me on a daily bases, but I to came to the quick realization that this is not my country, I am a guest here, and I choose to live here. Now I just accept most things, like when the bank tells me I need to talk to the Post office when my password doesn't show up, or when there is something else painfully slow.

On the upside, when things actually do go right, we fell astonished and have a huge sense of accomplishment! My password came yesterday! Yeah!!

[doggie888888]

It seems to me like most of the complainers on this forum are people with little international experiences even if many have a lot of experiences from their home country. Those who have been expatriates in various countries seem to adapt more easily to the conditions here in Thailand and hereby are able to highlight more on the advantages than the disadvantages. I do meet quite a lot of people from various countries here as well and the pattern seems to stay the same.

But I might be wrong of course!

A lot of the moaners sound like the taxi drivers in big cities: you know the ones. You get in, you just want to spend some down time enjoying the view or catching your breath or read or whatever...but the cabbie just drones on relentlessly about anything and everything, telling you what's wrong with the world today, his opinion about politics and the state of the global economy bla bla on and on and on until your jouney ends. Same like some moaners here, it tends to be negative. The good thing on thaivisa is we are all just a few clicks away from something a lot more interesting and positive

[JR Texas]

It seems to me like most of the complainers on this forum are people with little international experiences even if many have a lot of experiences from their home country. Those who have been expatriates in various countries seem to adapt more easily to the conditions here in Thailand and hereby are able to highlight more on the advantages than the disadvantages. I do meet quite a lot of people from various countries here as well and the pattern seems to stay the same.

But I might be wrong of course!

A lot of the moaners sound like the taxi drivers in big cities: you know the ones. You get in, you just want to spend some down time enjoying the view or catching your breath or read or whatever...but the cabbie just drones on relentlessly about anything and everything, telling you what's wrong with the world today, his opinion about politics and the state of the global economy bla bla on and on and on until your jouney ends. Same like some moaners here, it tends to be negative. The good thing on thaivisa is we are all just a few clicks away from something a lot more interesting and positive

Moaning is another way of saying complaining........complaining can be positive or negative. I am from a country that is only a country now because a group of disgruntled Patriots started "moaning." Then they took action.

We live in a world that is changing fast........expats living in Thailand or not, I think we have a right to speak our minds and point out wrongs. Of course, we can just move........but many of us have lots of connections here (financial, personal) and can't just move.......or rather, don't necessarily want to.

I think at this moment in Thai history there are more "moaners" than perhaps ever before......Thais and non-Thais. Maybe something positive will come out of it.

[mauGR1]

Moaning is another way of saying complaining........complaining can be positive or negative. I am from a country that is only a country now because a group of disgruntled Patriots started "moaning." Then they took action.

We live in a world that is changing fast........expats living in Thailand or not, I think we have a right to speak our minds and point out wrongs. Of course, we can just move........but many of us have lots of connections here (financial, personal) and can't just move.......or rather, don't necessarily want to.

I think at this moment in Thai history there are more "moaners" than perhaps ever before......Thais and non-Thais. Maybe something positive will come out of it.

You have a good point here,and from now on i'll stop moaning about moaners and start instead moaning about non-moaners

[bungy007]

Moaning about Thais and Thailand, however justified it might be, or might seem to be at the time, is not going have the Thais adapt their way of doing things for the sake of the expat.

I strongly disagree with that all encompassing blanket statement (something I usually hear made by foreign sock-puppets who have embraced their "thai-ness" in one way or another). Which is in my mind like expecting nothing and every once in a while having the thais exceed those expecations.

Moaning, complaining, and trying to 'raise the bar' here DOES have a significant impact. Granted it may not have any impact on a predominantly foreign populated, english language only forum which is read and/or comprehended by maybe a handful of thai nationals. However one need only to look at the international companies who operate here to international standards to see that this country and its indigenous population can be compelled to change. If there is sufficient incentive and/or financial penalty to them continuing to pretend its the "thai way or the highway" or will stop them from hiding behind their meaningless yet seemingly all encompassing phrase "you don't understand thai culture" they WILL change. I have found if you hurt the thais enough financially they will change, even if you have to almost forcibly drag them kicking and screaming into changing.

I also believe venting on this forum is a good way to stop foreigners from "going postal" (an Americanism; go look it up).

Everyone needs to blow off steam once in a while. If an anonymous internet forum is their chosen venue who are you to either discount their opinion or judge their take on all things thai.

Realize this is a very small, very insignificant, third world S/E Asian country which most people couldn't find on the map of the world. While I fully accept things are not as they would be in say the US or UK, I have no problem holding people to a higher standard, rather than 'going with the flow'. Accepting a situation as just another oxymoronic thing here in the glorious "Land 'O Thais" without trying to address the root problem; thais unwillingness to change, does little good.

I see nothing wrong with posting about scams, voicing disgust at the blatant lies and erroneous information. Most people who post or read the forum are at least semi-mature enough to judge for themselves if something warrants merit, is just a rant or is out and out thai bashing (of which I have been guilty of in the past, but thankfully have developed into a kinder gentler Tod).

Great post, (albeit just as much of a rant as the posts you mentioned) …

Keep up the great work, maybe a career in motivational speaking or something

(edited for sa-pelling)

I have to agree with your posting. We all know Thailand is a great place to live. Could this be improved? Of course it can. Could the indigenous people improve their use of systems they have adopted from the West, such as driving, elections, English Programmes, justice etc. Yes they could. It is essential to recognise the problem before changes can even be considered. Therefore, it is extremely important that TV posters continue to promote ' awareness' of both the good and bad of living in Thailand so that those who have a little foresight could learn from bitter experiences, mistakes, corruption and scams. Keeping posting 'warts and all'.

[beerchang]

Good post OP. As for rip offs, yeah, I mentioned in another thread about seeing asian tourists ripped off to bits in luvverly London style...4 quid for a can of coke! Do they moan ? (I don't know.)

"If you don't like it go home" Now this will always be true but some people don't like to be reminded! (They seem to moan!)

"Defenders of everything Thai" I almost qualify for that but hey, you seen these people driving...WHOA! Stevie Wonder drives better in his sleep!

To sum up this brief post.. Let 'em moan. It sure as heck makes me feel better seeing some of these rants. Carry on moaning boys and girls or I'd moan about it!

[dbrenn]

I haven't posted this to stir up a hornets' nest, and to be honest I rarely get involved in the angry threads on TV. But after logging on here to see threads like Tuk Tuks Trying It On, Khao Soi Ripoff, Apartment Rental Problems, and other such threads, I wonder why folks bother to post to begin with? This is not a direct pop at the afore mentioned, but to pick up on such threads generally.

Maybe some foreigners think they are giving a good service to others by warning of the perils and pitfalls of living in Thailand as an expat? Or perhaps they are just letting off steam by putting virtual pen to virtual paper as it were? Who knows, but it's usually the case that if you hang on to your anger or discontentment, then it typically gets worse, never better, until you mange to let it go.

When I first came here and started up a business in Bkk, I got so uptight and disgruntled on a daily basis that I thought my head was going to blow up on some days. I'd happily say things like, "Oh, if this was in the UK, they would never be allowed to get away with this or that!, and other such daft one-liners.

One night as I lay in bed after another stressful day in the office, it dawned on me that Thailand was not the UK, never will be the UK, and nothing or nobody is going to change it so that it more resembles the culture of the UK. I realised that I couldn't change anything around me other than me myself. In other words, my attitude.

So I had but 2 choices with no compromise in-between!

1) Sod off home and call it a day before I had a nervous breakdown

2) Learn to go more with the flow of things and to stop finding fault at every given opportunity.

I chose the latter and both my attitude and outlook with regards to living as a foreigner in Thailand have changed for the better. Because of the nature of the place, I never expect anything to go according to 'my plan' and if it does it's a bonus.

Moaning about Thais and Thailand, however justified it might be, or might seem to be at the time, is not going have the Thais adapt their way of doing things for the sake of the expat.

London cabby's are notorious for ripping off foreigners, at airports and train stations, so trying to get a bit of extra money from a fare is by no means unique to the Thais. The Pakistanis and Bangladeshi's are sick to the back teeth with British law and are currently protesting for a change which will allow them to adopt sharia law within their own communities.

So the pattern seems to be that anyone living as an 'alien' (for want of a better word) in a foreign country, fits into one of two categories. 1) The disgruntled 2) The contented. The latter have their ups and downs of course, but deal with their gripes locally, and let them pass before they have the chance to grow into huge resentments with a long life expectancy. The former refuse to let go of a grievance as they attempt to spread their misery to anyone who will lend them their ear and join their gang of happy complainers. The 'disgruntled' ones generally tend to be repeaters and if they're not moaning about one thing they're moaning about another…

It's like my old grandmother used to say, god rest her soul, if you can't stand the heat of the kitchen lad, then get out!!

Aitch

That's the right attitude to have, and you will be successful in Thailand with that frame of mind.

All that moaning does is increase the blood pressure. Thailand is a friendly and hospitable place, where living as an expatriate is as good as it gets. Some people are never happy, and I agree with you that they should sod off home if they don't like Thailand for what it is. The moaners won't change the place one jot, and give us all a bad name.

[JohnSkliros]

A while ago I penned a piece, for some or other reason (not TV related), which has been languishing on my hard drive for much the same reasons. Seems it was destined to wait for an appropriate opportunity:

Not having had the ignominy of been colonized, Thailand didn't experience the "benefits of a good English education" as did Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and some other Asian spots where English was imposed as a compulsory official language during more than a hundred years of colonial rule. Consequently, Thais tend to lag behind some of their regional counterparts insofar as the English language is concerned.

I noticed that many vociferous expats find it annoying that the usage of English by native Thai speakers often isn't quite up to scratch – as up to scratch as they themselves determine "scratch" to be of course. So I decided to trawl the comments on ThaiVisa.com to establish what standard of English was being dispensed by their particularly clamorous crowd.

Having waded my way through several hundred postings at random, what I found alarming wasn't the consistently appalling English (sorry chaps), it was the prevalence of negative and hostile attitudes towards Thais and all things Thai. The inflammatory drivel and invective in some of the ThaiVisa postings would be classified as "hate speech" in sunny South Africa, where I hail from, and be cause for a criminal prosecution. Frankly, expats displaying such an unacceptable level of enmity really need to take stock and evaluate their life experience here in the Land of Smiles. Seriously!

But I digress.

Whilst it may come as a surprise or perhaps even a shock to many English expats, the English language has, over many centuries, evolved into a multitude of flavours and these days, the Queen's English simply isn't strictly applicable outside southern academia.

That English has become the de facto Esperanto* of Planet Earth (more than 1.5 billion people now speak English of a sort), should be a source of pride for the English - not cause for snide and sniffy comment - after all, the benefits of being a native English speaker on distant shores must far outweigh the slight of hearing one's beloved language being fractured by the investigating officer as he empathises with your side of the story ....

[mahtin]