No they don’t. Maybe you’re referring to specific demographics such as the bar girls. Ordinary Thais are nothing like that. Again, agreed. The irony is that "emptypockets" makes a sweeping statement through the lens of his own morality and personal observations, as though there is a single Thai view on the subject. There isn't. Having interacted with people across a broad cross-section of Thai society, I've found opinions vary enormously depending on education, wealth, social standing, family background and geography. At one end of the spectrum, among some of the poorest communities, it can be viewed as a route to financial security, social mobility, or simply a means of supporting family members. At the other end, among those who are financially independent and socially established, it is often regarded with varying degrees of disapproval, embarrassment or outright disgust. The reality is that Thailand's attitudes towards the sex trade are neither uniform nor simple. They exist on a spectrum. Some see it as an economic necessity, some as a legitimate occupation, some as an unfortunate reality, and others as morally objectionable. To suggest that all Thais think one way or another is every bit as flawed as the stereotypes being criticised in the first place.