Mezmerized Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) Consider the following when contemplating the opposite: Relax behind that steering wheel. When you start jumping up and down due to some idiot driver, be aware that there is another one a block away. To let another idiot driver affect your behavior, you are giving them control over your behavior. Calmly go around, wait or whatever. Impress your passengers with your steady character, maturity and wisdom. In fact, I appreciate the Thai drivers. The penchant of those #$%^&^&* drivers in your home country to lean on the horn at every opportunity is more annoying than anything, and I enjoy the Thai demeanor in this regard. I try to emulate them. Next time you get annoyed because a Thai person gives you a blank stare when you are saying something extremely simple in English, aided and abetted by very clear gesticulating, dont. It is your responsibility to speak Thai, not their responsibility to speak or understand your English. Can you imagine a Thai being upset in Germany, England, the Excited States or wherever, because someone doesn't understand their Thai language! When you see some young buck roaring down the street on his motorcycle, remember this is a trait of testosterone-laden youth everywhere, not just in Thailand. I recall vividly my first visit to Holland, seeing these young guys roaring down narrow cobblestone streets. So accept it, relax and chalk it up to a state of being that perhaps reflect your own behavior at that age. Just some ideas to give you pause next time. And I am speaking to myself more than anyone. Edited September 18, 2009 by Mezmerized Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junki3korean Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) nice...thanks dont know what else to say.... Edited September 18, 2009 by junki3korean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fresnoboy Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I agree, and I try. Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't. I do my best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMA_FARANG Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 About 2 years ago my Thai wife was in hospital for about a week with a Gall Bladder problem. While she was there she told me about the Farang ( British I believe) who was there at the same time. He was about 150 pounds overwieght. He had an accident with his car, and was in hospital for treatment for his injurys. He was the prime example of what NOT TO DO as a Farang in Thailand. He swore at everybody, including the doctors. He didn't like the food they served....all that %4 rice, he said. He threw the food at the nurses. He couldn't get out of bed without help, because he was to obese. So he urinated in his bed, because he couldn't make it to the toilet. He was always yelling at everyone...he was in a semi-private room with two others and he either wanted the lights off when they were on or vice versa. He didn't want any of those #### Thais visting the others in his room. He was just aregular pain in the a##. Anyway after the third day the doctors had enough of him. I guess he enjoyed the rest of his time in the hospital, because he was doped up until they finally released him. They put him in a private room, kept him on painkillers all the time. Once every hour or so a nurse might check to see if he was still alive. He spent the last 3 or 4 days in a haze of painkillers and sedatives. The perfect example of the kind of Farang NOT to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tywais Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Inflammatory posts removed. Keep it civil please. Personally, I thought for a first post it was well done. The "relax behind the wheel" is something I certainly need to be better at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpdjohn Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Good post. ( and I liked the " Excited States "....good one. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry9999 Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Nice first post, but is Mezmerized a pseudonym? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onnut Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I do need to relax more behind the wheel, after 5 years I am getting better. but still the odd Tantrem! I would of liked to meet that fat farang in the hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 i wish they put english subtitles for that "X" show that's on a midnight. that show is cool, but they always gotta ruin it with the poor elephant stuck in the mud or some buffalo that got loose in the moo baan. anyway, yeah, stay cool behind the wheel and let's get some subtitles on that X show. and for what it's worth, when i'm out driving around, i'm only shouting at you guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Can you imagine a Thai being upset in Germany, England, the Excited States or wherever, because someone doesn't understand their Thai language. No, because it's not the international language and they wouldn't be so foolish, but appreciate where you're coming from... IamMaiC, Ajarn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensingto Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Great advice. No matter where you live on this earth. If you respect others, they will do in return, if not then a curse behind a smiling face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
givenall Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I agree with everything except to say when a taxi drives crazy driving just to get a fare or go faster to drop the fare. It really makes me upset and sorry that I do not yield to them any more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yabaaaa Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Yes thats right just lie back relax and dont worry when the testosterone youth mows down your wife or kids killing them all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuky Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) May I add to this point? Relax behind that steering wheel. When you start jumping up and down due to some idiot driver, be aware that there is another one a block away. To let another idiot driver affect your behavior, you are giving them control over your behavior. Calmly go around, wait or whatever. Impress your passengers with your steady character, maturity and wisdom. In fact, I appreciate the Thai drivers. The penchant of those #$%^&^&* drivers in your home country to lean on the horn at every opportunity is more annoying than anything, and I enjoy the Thai demeanor in this regard. I try to emulate them. In order to remain alive, you need to adapt to the Thai driving style. Otherwise you are a liability of the road. If you want to pull out into a street, you have to pull out into a street, not wait for a Thai driver to let you in otherwise you will never get anywhere. In fact, I appreciate the Thai drivers. The penchant of those #$%^&^&* drivers in your home country to lean on the horn at every opportunity is more annoying than anything, and I enjoy the Thai demeanor in this regard. I try to emulate them. I dont know where you come from, but the Thais lean on their horn more than I ever heard in my home country, where the horn is a way of saying goodbye to your friend as you drive off rather than an act of aggression, and in my opinion #$%^&^&* drivers in your home country is referring to the police speed traps? or the random breath testing? perhaps the traffic lights that everyone adheres to and astonishingly actually work rather than just flash amber. As for the rest, thanks for pointing out the obvious. Edited September 19, 2009 by bonobo See PeaceBlondie's comments about quoting the OP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel_Mustard Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Great advice. No matter where you live on this earth. If you respect others, they will do in return, if not then a curse behind a smiling face. Wouldn't it be nice if that was always true but sadly it isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geriatrickid Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 If you are really smart, let someone else drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeaceBlondie Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Car horns? Seldom hear them used wrong here. But in Mexico, it's the national anthem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lopburi99 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 (edited) Yes thats right just lie back relax and dont worry when the testosterone youth mows down your wife or kids killing them all The OP's point is well taken, but yaba has a point too. Seems there is a better response from us than to just blithely accept or ignore dangerous behavior such as this. I have not made scenes, but I have glared at people who have done this on motorbikes. At least I am showing some form of disapproval in a respectful manner I believe to blatantly irresponsible behavior which is dangerous to others. Interestingly enough, it was in Pattaya at the time and the biker was an old farang, not a young Thai, who was crazily racing down a little soi. Edited September 19, 2009 by Lopburi99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanForbes Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I'll agree with everything the OP typed, but then I live by those rules all the time. I can't be bothered by all the idiots in the world. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself every day. I do know a little patience goes a long way in solving most perceived problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felt 35 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Adapt and improve We adapt good things and try to improve. We don’t adapt to things who set us back. the horn at every opportunity eh...... together with Mexico, Thailand must be number one when it comes to use the horn in lack of driving knowledge I appreciate the Thai drivers Well when they have driven you down from behind and afterwards comes asking you to pay for a scratch they get on their vehicle that can change! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyFarthing123 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I rarely hear an abuse of car horns here. While in India we discovered you could drive without brakes but never without the horn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurnell Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I like to shout and swear. It keeps me sane. After 17 years here, it is my right. Take valium of you want to sit back and do nothing about the odd act of complete stupidity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmushr00m Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hard to keep calm when a couple of drunk idiots on a bike decides to do a brake test on you when you flash to tell them to move from the fast passing lane. <deleted> would you, on a bike, do a brake test on a couple of tonnes of steel coming towards you at over 100km/h???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mezmerized Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 I like to shout and swear. It keeps me sane. After 17 years here, it is my right. Take valium of you want to sit back and do nothing about the odd act of complete stupidity. No problem for you. Shout and swear all you like in your automobile - when you have no passengers. Subjecting your irrationality on them is extremely selfish, and makes you look like a fool. But most passengers are too kind or too intimidated to say that to your face. Your shouting and swearing increases the tenseness and discomfort in your vehicle and it is not your right to do that to anyone........... By yourself...OK, no problem. Shouting and screaming at Thai drivers is not merely you expressing your vehemence at their driving habits, underlying it is a sense of superiority. Down deep you think you are better than they are and your shouting and swearing is an outward manifestation of it. Shouting and swearing has nothing to do with maintaining ones sanity, and everything to do with immaturity...or as you say, someone acting with complete stupidity. "It is my right?".....think again. It would be equally someone else's right to beat the ---- out of you when you do that. At least I would consider that my right. I just wouldn't exercise that right as your behavior will not control mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundman Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hard to keep calm when a couple of drunk idiots on a bike decides to do a brake test on you when you flash to tell them to move from the fast passing lane.<deleted> would you, on a bike, do a brake test on a couple of tonnes of steel coming towards you at over 100km/h???? Has gotta be in the running for the Darwin award. Me, I keep my road rage at bay by driving as fast as I can so I don't have to use the rear-vision mirrors, especially at night when every scond car has theor high beams on or are so overloaded that the low beams are pointing over the horizon anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauGR1 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 I'll agree with everything the OP typed, but then I live by those rules all the time. I can't be bothered by all the idiots in the world. Life is too short not to enjoy yourself every day. I do know a little patience goes a long way in solving most perceived problems. I agree too,although i use the horn quite often,every time i see a car on the edge of my lane,i know quite often they are going to cross my path without noticing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alwaysright Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Why does anybody drive in Thailand?Transportation is easily available.Bangkok is a cab town,I think you have to be a little"nuts" to drive in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeaceBlondie Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Why does anybody drive in Thailand?Transportation is easily available.Bangkok is a cab town,I think you have to be a little"nuts" to drive in Bangkok.We don't all live in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 where is Bangkok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lopburi99 Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 (edited) Car horns? Seldom hear them used wrong here. Me neither PB. In the 3+ years of living in Thailand only one time I remember hearing a horn being laid on, and even then only briefly. Little defensive toots, especially to the bikers, are prudent use of horns. But I've lived mostly in smaller towns or villages. Even while living in Lopburi we were outside the city. Excessive horn usage? Ever been in the Big Apple? Edited September 19, 2009 by Lopburi99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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