What To Do If You Are Threatened By A Thai

[girlx]

Curious... I have been in this situation myself once and luckily it blew over with time... but a Thai friend of mine appears to be in trouble. He has a business associate that he doesn't know well, but he decided he needed to trust this person to acquire some materials for him as an agent. So my friend gave this guy (Thai) some money to get the materials. The guy promised to deliver them the next day. Three days passed with no word. Obviously my friend was freaking out, thinking he had simply lost his money. He called the guy's house, his friends, everything, no one would tell him a thing. Finally my friend went directly to the guy's house and picked up the materials himself. My friend was entirely polite, but the guy didn't bother to apologize or anything. When my friend returned home, he realized that all the materials were not even in the package. He decided to blow it off, and knows not to do business with this man anymore.

Now this man has sent his friend to my friend, with a threat that he should "watch his step". There is a group of people who now seem to be following him and giving thinly veiled threats to him. It is ridiculous and petty, but also scary.

How would a Thai normally deal with this? How would a farang?

I have heard way too many stories of Thais simply offing their competition or even business partners after a loss of face. I would hate to see that happen to my friend.

[MP5]

Curious... I have been in this situation myself once and luckily it blew over with time... but a Thai friend of mine appears to be in trouble. He has a business associate that he doesn't know well, but he decided he needed to trust this person to acquire some materials for him as an agent. So my friend gave this guy (Thai) some money to get the materials. The guy promised to deliver them the next day. Three days passed with no word. Obviously my friend was freaking out, thinking he had simply lost his money. He called the guy's house, his friends, everything, no one would tell him a thing. Finally my friend went directly to the guy's house and picked up the materials himself.  My friend was entirely polite, but the guy didn't bother to apologize or anything. When my friend returned home, he realized that all the materials were not even in the package.  He decided to blow it off, and knows not to do business with this man anymore.

Now this man has sent his friend to my friend, with a threat that he should "watch his step". There is a group of people who now seem to be following him and giving thinly veiled threats to him.  It is ridiculous and petty, but also scary.

How would a Thai normally deal with this? How would a farang?

I have heard way too many stories of Thais simply offing their competition or even business partners after a loss of face. I would hate to see that happen to my friend.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your a great friend to watch your friends back.

Who's watching yours?

Be careful.

Does your friend not have a friendly police officer he can liaise with.

Again and if anyone on this forum disagrees please state why.

BE CAREFUL this is not your concern and by way of your good and commendable intentions could end up a victim.

Watch your back and be aware also tell your friend to notice the the unobvious like being watched, cars parked outside the house not seen before and use the 6th sense.

Paranoia can also be described as acute awareness

Stay Safe

[girlx]

yowza. now i am even more worried.

so would a thai normally go to a policeman friend? i don't think my friend has one.

unfortunately i am involved because i loaned the money to my friend to get these materials (silver for jewelry making) and they know that.

[thymode91]

This is scary games. try to advice your friend to be friendly with that guy again, maybe buy some materials and keep the relationship as is..and gradually decrease his orders... and stop at all soon...but for the meantime he should very careful secondly, we are foreigner, its too hard for us to have an argument nor disagreement with the locals. good luck..

[Cpt_M0ney_Sh0t]

Watch your back, yes by all means. Advise your friend to kiss this scum bag's azz? Never, they prey on that kind of mentality possed by some farangs that think "Oh I'm here in their country so It's ok for me to be victimized." If he buys from this guy again it will just perpetuate the cycle.

[Tornado]

If anyone brings a fight to my door, thats what they will get. I dont say that to be a hero, it comes down to standing your ground.

People whatever culture, will back down if they are confronted back with the same ferocity as they have shown. If they dont, well theres nothing else to do but "do what ever you can" and primal instincts set in - survival.

Ask him what the problem is, let him know you dont want an argument/problem, if he does not see sense, break his nose. Ofcourse you would definately have to move afterwards.

I get sick of hearing about "mafia" in Thailand. Mafia? yeah right a couple of unorganised thugs is all they are.

Ofcourse there is the other way and that would be to make friends quickly and show your numbers, be it a high up police man or local thug. It all comes down to money here, if your wallet is bigger than his, you get will get better help.

Many people here would opt for an easier approach, like befriending him or buying him a bottle of whiskey - not me!

[tuky]

For such a serious topic there sure are a lot friends in it

[MP5]

yowza. now i am even more worried.

so would a thai normally go to a policeman friend? i don't think my friend has one.

unfortunately i am involved because i loaned the money to my friend to get these materials (silver for jewelry making) and they know that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Curious... I have been in this situation myself once and luckily it blew over with time... but a Thai friend of mine appears to be in trouble. He has a business associate that he doesn't know well, but he decided he needed to trust this person to acquire some materials for him as an agent. So my friend gave this guy (Thai) some money to get the materials. The guy promised to deliver them the next day.

This now seems contradictarory as you have said it blew over in the past and now you say you lent the money.

Learn this lesson well and if you think you are in danger report to the Tourist Police.

Get your insurance in order too. Sorry that's as people know my warped sense of humor.

Stay Safe and just really be on yor toes until this if anything at all blows over.

Have 1155 auto dial in your mobile.

Sorry if it sounds scary but it is what it is.

MP5 Out

[girlx]

i feel the same tornado, but that is sort of a farang perspective, isn't it? i don't think my friend should be a doormat, but i don't think confrontation is the thing either.

what it boils down to i think is the guy is jealous of my friend. they are in the same business but my friend's is doing better and that is why he got this big order. plus he had a farang to lend him the money. the guy probably sees this as an unfair advantage rather than "just life". jealousy can be a sketchy thing in thailand.

when it comes down to it though, my wallet is definitely bigger. and i know a lot of thai boxers!

hopefully it will blow over like my previous situation eventually did. which by the way was similar but not the same (MP5).

Edited June 28, 2005 by girlx

[Jai Dee]

[girlx]

p.s. what is 1155? i thought the police was 191?

[The Dude]

Never have any dealing with Thais, males especially.

[MP5]

p.s. what is 1155? i thought the police was 191?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1155 is the Tourist Police Hotline and they speak English and have interpreters for other languages.

How long have you been here? (That is not meant to be rude) It's an enquiry!

Is there any body else who doesn't know of this service?

[girlx]

having an innate distrust for authority i don't pay much attention to these things, and would probably not use it unless i really had no other alternative... i was told to call 191, but i will change it in my phone to 1155, thanks!

[MP5]

having an innate distrust for authority i don't pay much attention to these things, and would probably not use it unless i really had no other alternative...  i was told to call 191, but i will change it in my phone to 1155, thanks!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yor welcome and I can truly understand the distrust factor also many fat wallets have never stopped a 9mm

We wont name here out of sensitivity who have fallen prey.

Make peace be Greng Jai and be wary of lending money.

Sorry to misinterpret previous observation comment.

[HarryHacker]

I get sick of hearing about "mafia" in Thailand. Mafia? yeah right a couple of unorganised thugs is all they are.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I tend to agree, the myth is greater than reality in my experience.

If your friend is in the right and has nothing to hide and he has been scammed then tell the cops, you don’t have to know a cop but of course it helps if you do. Also by informing the Police, the situation is booked and noted, therefore a degree of protection is forthcoming. If the Police can recover the money is another story.

[jomama]

If you can, just let everything cool down. Stay away from the other guy and another resentment or drama might replace yours in his mind. But as the other posters have noted it is possible to have a big problem over even petty things, especially if it comes to business or face (probably related in this case). Just stay away from the guy....

[The Gentleman Scamp]

What To Do If You Are Threatened By A Thai

Keep calm.

Offer them a drink or gift.

If all else fails, make yourself cry because this will make them feel superior which is all they really want in that kind of situation.

BTW I'm not speaking from experience.

Edited June 28, 2005 by The Gentleman Scamp

[Insight]

If all else fails, make yourself cry because this will make them feel superior which is all they really want in that kind of situation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Scamp, you are kidding, right?

Stand firm, make eye contact, be reasonable (as Torn said previously). You hold the superiority and let them back off. Violence as a last resort, but what's the chances of it coming to that?

[girlx]

i am a girl so i could possibly use crying to my benefit, though i am more likely to bite off their nose.

against the advice of an above poster, i have dealt almost solelywith Thai men since i first came to Thailand 8 years ago, and i know that indeed something totally petty and imagined can be a big problem... yes resorting to violence but generally that is when they are extremely emotional and in your face... but i don't think it would come to that.

if it does i hope the best man wins. i for one will never grovel. i think i would outsmart them somehow!

[terdsak_12]

Never have any dealing with Thais, males especially.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My sentiments entirely.

[girlx]

p.s. did anyone see chuwit on tv yelling about corruption yesterday? hehe

[markee]

Never have any dealing with Thais, males especially.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

10000000000000000000000% agree

[chownah]

p.s. what is 1155? i thought the police was 191?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1155 is the Tourist Police Hotline and they speak English and have interpreters for other languages.

How long have you been here? (That is not meant to be rude) It's an enquiry!

Is there any body else who doesn't know of this service?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't.

[phuketsiam]

I thought it was pizza hut

[pnustedt]

What To Do If You Are Threatened By A Thai

I just turn the wife loose on them!

[sadman]

I get sick of hearing about "mafia" in Thailand. Mafia? yeah right a couple of unorganised thugs is all they are.

I tend to agree, the myth is greater than reality in my experience.

If your friend is in the right and has nothing to hide and he has been scammed then tell the cops, you don’t have to know a cop but of course it helps if you do. Also by informing the Police, the situation is booked and noted, therefore a degree of protection is forthcoming. If the Police can recover the money is another story.

Totally agree. I am a committed pacifist, which means I won't start a fight - but I'm quite happy to finish one. My (uneducated) view is fairly simple - I don't worry about veiled threats, which are generally sabre-rattling, mind games or just hot air. I don't respond, which means that things don't escalate and the cretin can walk away without losing face. I really don't care, and I don't make threats myself.

If they come after me direct, they are easy to deal with. I won't be bullied and won't back down, but maintain eye contact and let them ramble on. Usually, the problem can be talked through, and even if it can't, they almost always walk away once they have had their say. I'd really rather not make things physical, and I make that quite clear - along with the fact that my reluctance will not stop me from joining in if they bring it on. They are just thugs.

Bear in mind that intelligent, professional criminals are unlikely to get involved with you, as it detracts from their aim of earning a dishonest living and is bad publicity. Also, if you carry on honestly, you probably won't have crossed swords with them in business. The Tourist Police is the answer if you are uncertain.

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, and is not a solution, but the problem. But even pacifists defend themselves and their own.

It's very, very rare that I have encountered any real problems, in any country.

"Jaw-jaw is better than war-war" (Winston Churchill)

[yoot]

Curious... I have been in this situation myself once and luckily it blew over with time... but a Thai friend of mine appears to be in trouble. He has a business associate that he doesn't know well, but he decided he needed to trust this person to acquire some materials for him as an agent. So my friend gave this guy (Thai) some money to get the materials. The guy promised to deliver them the next day. Three days passed with no word. Obviously my friend was freaking out, thinking he had simply lost his money. He called the guy's house, his friends, everything, no one would tell him a thing. Finally my friend went directly to the guy's house and picked up the materials himself.  My friend was entirely polite, but the guy didn't bother to apologize or anything. When my friend returned home, he realized that all the materials were not even in the package.  He decided to blow it off, and knows not to do business with this man anymore.

Now this man has sent his friend to my friend, with a threat that he should "watch his step". There is a group of people who now seem to be following him and giving thinly veiled threats to him.  It is ridiculous and petty, but also scary.

How would a Thai normally deal with this? How would a farang?

I have heard way too many stories of Thais simply offing their competition or even business partners after a loss of face. I would hate to see that happen to my friend.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

unfortunately i am involved because i loaned the money to my friend to get these materials (silver for jewelry making) and they know that.

I'm just curious. Did you face all these situations by yourself or only listened to it from your friend ? Have you met the guy your friend deal with? I'm wondering who was ripped off- you or your friend.

[Dakhar]

"""What To Do If You Are Threatened By A Thai"""

I would try to remain calm, and control my laughter.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

If all else fails, make yourself cry because this will make them feel superior which is all they really want in that kind of situation.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Scamp, you are kidding, right?

Stand firm, make eye contact, be reasonable (as Torn said previously). You hold the superiority and let them back off. Violence as a last resort, but what's the chances of it coming to that?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

With repect mate, I don't believe I'm reading this.

Who's country is it at the end of the day?

Doesn't matter who's wrong or right, THEY have the upper hand and WE are in THEIR country enjoying it for our OWN benefit.

One of the best sayings I heard was LOSE TO WIN.

Alternitavely, don't have dealings with Thai males full stop which has already been rightly stated, and it's because we stand up to them in THEIR country when we are bigger than them in possibly all physical departments that causes them to be violent and want to kill us in those situations...

Put yourself in their shoes, to say you'd be thinking "What a &lt;deleted&gt; nerve that guy has" would be one heck of an understatement.

Edited June 28, 2005 by The Gentleman Scamp