Are Celebs In Thailand Also Considered High Society?

[JurgenG]

What is Hi-so ? Are the rich and famous automatically hi-so ?

Are Posh and Beckham hi-so ?

Would it be acceptable for William to marry a Spice Girl ?

[MJP]

What is Hi-so ? Are the rich and famous automatically hi-so ?

Are Posh and Beckham hi-so ?

Would it be acceptable for William to marry a Spice Girl ?

For UK hi-so, read bankers.

[scorecard]

No, not automatically.

Remind those of us who dont follow the lives of the beautiful people here in Bkk.

Where abouts does little Anny and her mother fit in, hardly HiSo, is she still on the A or B list, or has she just gone back to obscurity, not much face to be gained being seen in the company of yesterdays stars, even more face to be lost if God forbid your picture actually appears in one of those trashy dara rags pictured next to her.

When you say celebs, does that also include the Thai Superstars (whatever that may mean)?

Being a celebrity is not necessarily the same as being a member of no-society.

Just two examples:

- Some singers are in a way celebrities, but the real hi-so folks would consider some of them to be low-class.

- 'Quite a few 'actors' from Thai comedy cafes / TV comedy shows are celebrities but would not be considered hi-so.

[Bagwan]

I have heard more than one Thai remark that a particular star is hiso as opposed to stars who are not hiso. The woman who announces the upcoming shows on True Series is an example. More than one Thai has mentioned to me things like "Oh, she is hiso." As that seems to be a point of interest as it is not usual, I would have to surmise that only those celebs who were born hiso are hiso and merely being a celeb is not enough of a qualification.

Someone else pointed out that celebs are the hiso of the UK. That is certainly the case in the US. Celebs are the royalty/hiso/top dogs of US society. And that is sad.

Ghastly isn't it?

They leak pornographic films of themselves to increase their standing in the community.

It worked for Paris Hilton. And yes, it is ghastly and a pretty sad comment on our society.

Joan Rivers has yet to try this tactic. Thankfully. :jap:

Thank you very much - in loud outcry laced with sarcasm. Now have to mop up coffee from the screen and my desk.. A line worthy of Joan herself. Liz Taylor might get to use it.

Porn movies certainly brought Nong Natt into the public eye, and for some, their groin.

I wondered about the word celebrity so looked it up in my dictionary. I mean I don't celebrate on hearing the latest exploits of anybody. The book said 1. a famous person 2. fame or notoriety Seems to me that most 'celebrities' are notorious for their assiduous seeking of publicity.

[Thai at Heart]

Undoubtedly, celebs can be hi-so.

The question is, are all wealthy people considered to be upper class. The answer is a resounding no. There is a world of difference between Hi-so and the upper class. If someone willingly takes the title, "Hi-so" they most definitely aren't upper class. Climbing into being upper class is largely impossible, whereas having your picture taken and a headline "hi-so" beside it, shows that you can simply be awarded the moniker.

I think it is summed up perfectly be the measurement or whether you have to buy your own furniture, or inherit it.

[geriatrickid]

and the reason is, yes...because they have a lot of money and show it.

I thought a lot of actors here don't have that much money

You are probably one of the few to understand that. Most of the MTV and talk show kids have limited shelf lives and are shuffled off as soon as they are no longer "hot". The wardrobes are complimentary and the pay is sh*t because so many people want to work on those shows. The entertainment scene is distinguished by long hours, crap working conditions and sexual harassment. Hardly a hi-so life.

What happened to Tony Jaa? Good movies they were.

Who doesn't love Tony Jaa and hasn't shed a tear watching Ong Bak I? The man represents the heart of Thailand. He's had so many offers to go and make millions in Hong Kong and the USA, but said nah. He can't speak much English and seems very shy and reserved in his limited interviews. A humle down to earth guy. No way he could ever be considered hi-so since he walked away from money and became a monk for almost a year last year when the stress of fame got to him. Usually, a his so star will go on a booze and drug fueled binge making a spectacle of him or herself. besides, Tony is from Isaan, No way the Bangkok snots would let him into the hi-so club.

He's a man to watch though. He has a lot of star power, magnetism and devotion from his fans who come from all social classes in Thailand.

[drronnie]

and the reason is, yes...because they have a lot of money and show it.

I thought a lot of actors here don't have that much money

You are probably one of the few to understand that. Most of the MTV and talk show kids have limited shelf lives and are shuffled off as soon as they are no longer "hot". The wardrobes are complimentary and the pay is sh*t because so many people want to work on those shows. The entertainment scene is distinguished by long hours, crap working conditions and sexual harassment. Hardly a hi-so life.

What happened to Tony Jaa? Good movies they were.

Who doesn't love Tony Jaa and hasn't shed a tear watching Ong Bak I? The man represents the heart of Thailand. He's had so many offers to go and make millions in Hong Kong and the USA, but said nah. He can't speak much English and seems very shy and reserved in his limited interviews. A humle down to earth guy. No way he could ever be considered hi-so since he walked away from money and became a monk for almost a year last year when the stress of fame got to him. Usually, a his so star will go on a booze and drug fueled binge making a spectacle of him or herself. besides, Tony is from Isaan, No way the Bangkok snots would let him into the hi-so club.

He's a man to watch though. He has a lot of star power, magnetism and devotion from his fans who come from all social classes in Thailand.

Tony Jaa's movies are cool. I have had the pleasure to meet him once. Very friendly and down to earth man, very much like the people from Isan who always show a warm heart. However the Thai - Chinese producers have abused and ripped him off I heard.

You say that MTV and talks show kids have shitty pay and lot of working hours. However why do they want to do it? Just for the fame? By the way many in the show business are from wealthy familes and are recruted from International Schools.

[Chunky1]

I think it is summed up perfectly be the measurement or whether you have to buy your own furniture, or inherit it.

I don't get it.

[Heng]

Yeah, I'd disagree. Anyone with some spare change (and that's relatively speaking of course) can buy some furniture at River City and then simply hand it down to the next generation. That doesn't make the next gen a different class of people. It just means they don't have to buy furniture from some place called Habitat or Index. Lo-so's can own antiques too.

[Thai at Heart]

Yeah, I'd disagree. Anyone with some spare change (and that's relatively speaking of course) can buy some furniture at River City and then simply hand it down to the next generation. That doesn't make the next gen a different class of people. It just means they don't have to buy furniture from some place called Habitat or Index. Lo-so's can own antiques too.

That always assumes it is something worth keeping, and that your kids are smart enough to keep it. As the proverb goes, "you can't buy class".

A pop singer standing in their mortgaged apartment decked out in the latest from Index can be hi-so, but they most definitely aren't upper class.

[inthepink]

Yes, I don't think everybody is talking about the same type of furniture. Lying here on my million baht antique daybed, I know what it's all about.

[MJP]

Yes, I don't think everybody is talking about the same type of furniture. Lying here on my million baht antique daybed, I know what it's all about.

A daybed? I do hope you get well soon. Wish you all the best.

[Chunky1]

This guy really knows his stuff. From Forbes Thailand:

"Thailand's new No. 1 heads agribusiness conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), which father founded as small Bangkok seed importer. Over the past year stock more than doubled at 3 largest shareholdings: 7-Eleven store operator, CP ALL, on higher profits and successful expansion; as well as food producers Charoen Pokphand Foods and PT Charoen Pokphand on demand from China and high-margin food sales. Shares fortune with 3 brothers. Philanthropist restores Buddhist temples in Thailand, sponsors schools and orphanages AND He has many many very very nice furniture. Not the stuff from Index. The really good imported Italian stuff sold in Paragon. He keep it like new.

[inthepink]

Yes, I don't think everybody is talking about the same type of furniture. Lying here on my million baht antique daybed, I know what it's all about.

A daybed? I do hope you get well soon. Wish you all the best.

Thank you very much, you're very kind. My only comfort at the moment is all the antique furniture that I'm surrounded by.

[MJP]

Yes, I don't think everybody is talking about the same type of furniture. Lying here on my million baht antique daybed, I know what it's all about.

A daybed? I do hope you get well soon. Wish you all the best.

Thank you very much, you're very kind. My only comfort at the moment is all the antique furniture that I'm surrounded by.

At least you've got that. I had a dog. Had.

[inthepink]

Yes, I don't think everybody is talking about the same type of furniture. Lying here on my million baht antique daybed, I know what it's all about.

A daybed? I do hope you get well soon. Wish you all the best.

Thank you very much, you're very kind. My only comfort at the moment is all the antique furniture that I'm surrounded by.

At least you've got that. I had a dog. Had.

Yes I saw your post about that. I was hoping it was a joke...sounded like a bit of a nasty situation.

[MJP]

A daybed? I do hope you get well soon. Wish you all the best.

Thank you very much, you're very kind. My only comfort at the moment is all the antique furniture that I'm surrounded by.

At least you've got that. I had a dog. Had.

Yes I saw your post about that. I was hoping it was a joke...sounded like a bit of a nasty situation.

Been nasty for years.

I'm signing off TV for now. Been a rough couple of years and today was that final straw. I don't want to think about Thailand anymore.

Good luck everyone.

[bonobo]

Due to getting a degree at a US school with a large contingent of Thai students, I met many Thais who are considered hiso. And through them, I met others. And the whole concept fascinates me, not in admiring way, but as a piece of sociology.

Several of my friends/acquaintances are very firmly hiso, going to the right events, rubbing shoulders with the "right people." One of them, though, hasn't a pot to you-know-what in, and her biggest scramble is to scrape up enough baht to put on the appearance of having money. She lives like a pauper at her home (nice home, though).

But another of my friends is filthy rich. He has huge investment and real estate accounts, and could buy just about anything he could imagine. Yet he is not hiso as his money has been earned over only the last 30 years. And he is somewhat star-struck when he meets people considered hiso (mostly met through me, ironically.)

Given that, I cannot see celebs breaking into the hiso status. I could be wrong here, but I just don't see it.

[Chunky1]

Do they have HiSo playing cards? You know, the Top 52?

[JWJ]

Most celebrities are are medium-so but get to hang out with hi-so.

[bermondburi]

I have heard more than one Thai remark that a particular star is hiso as opposed to stars who are not hiso. The woman who announces the upcoming shows on True Series is an example. More than one Thai has mentioned to me things like "Oh, she is hiso." As that seems to be a point of interest as it is not usual, I would have to surmise that only those celebs who were born hiso are hiso and merely being a celeb is not enough of a qualification.

Someone else pointed out that celebs are the hiso of the UK. That is certainly the case in the US. Celebs are the royalty/hiso/top dogs of US society. And that is sad.

Ghastly isn't it?

They leak pornographic films of themselves to increase their standing in the community.

some good porn though !!

[bermondburi]

What is Hi-so ? Are the rich and famous automatically hi-so ?

Are Posh and Beckham hi-so ?

Would it be acceptable for William to marry a Spice Girl ?

For UK hi-so, read bankers.

for anyone who's just lost a load of money in the financial crisis change that ' b' to a ' w '.

[Thai at Heart]

In Japan, the term "Haiso", or in katakana as "ハイソ", is used as a reference to "High Society" and is commonly applied to luxury products, such as cars and fashion houses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_class

Seems that Thailand simply stole the term anyway. How terribly naff....