Strange Farang Phenomenon

[Ijustwannateach]

After way too many experiences of nutters- sometimes people who were literally completely crazy- I have pretty high barriers to socialisation with strange foreigners here. After all, the Thais are a bell curve- MOST of them should be ok, at least. But the foreigners are self-selected- mostly unfortunately so, I find.

[bernie66]

I think this is the number one place in the world people go who are wanted, on the run, or in hiding.

So, who ya runnin' from Bernie??

An Italian and a group of Nigerians that took a liking to my wife and were planning on killing me for insurance money. But i have never been a criminal or victimized a human being in my life so not the law. Less they are in cahoots with the italian guy from NYC. Im sure he renders certian vacation packages of a perverse naturre to at least one i belive they call the director.

[Kilgore Trout]

Saying that farang is a derogatory term instantly indicates that the person saying that has very little knowledge about Thailand or the Thai language. It is in fact one of the stupidest things I have heard here, and that is saying a lot.

Depends on the context its used; any Thai with a decent upbringing knows this.

Yours is one of the "stupidest" posts I have ever read, someone who thinks they know it all about Thai culture/ language, but really knows squat

[thaibeachlovers]

I don't really care one way or the other...

It's obvious that you do care, otherwise you wouldn't even bring this up. We had a thread about this awhile back and it perplexed me a great deal. Why would a farang have an obligation to acknowledge every other farang they walk by? It's asinine to think that just because we share the same....what exactly (skin color?)....that we'd have to treat one another differently than we would any random Thai (or Japanese or Korean). Let's try this: treat everyone the same. Can you do that? And if any farang (or Thai) were to ignore your incredibly humane efforts at friendliness (or creepiness), don't get so bent-out-of-shape about it. Everyone has their own comfort zone and it doesn't mean that people are "(attempting) to lose their western identities." Where do people come up with this stuff?

Congratulations on your reply, and that of Pattaya Parent.

Some people never speak to their neighbours back 'ome and no one writes to the papers about it, so why should any of us feel obligated to respond differently just because we're here?

[thaibeachlovers]

Its the same for Thais, we where in London and we bum-pt into some big money Thais on Holiday they just looked through my wife, You would have thought an Sawadee would have gone down well, but apparently they look down on Thai women who marry farangs.

A farang is not a derogatory name but a name for a foreign person who comes from the west. Just as Ker is a name for people who are from India or the Middle East.

Did it not occur to you that you burst their bubble? They've spent fortunes coming to the UK on holiday only to find that your wife had beat them too it?

That reminds me, is there a more vicious species in Thailand than the " Lonely Planet Adventurers "?. You see them pouring over maps and guides and just when you think it would be polite, gracious and helpful to give them a little bit of local knowledge you get met with a withering and contemptuous look that says " How dare you undermine MY LONELY PLANET GUIDE AND HOURS POURING OVER THE INTERNET ". Another bunch of sociopaths if you ask me.

"Lonely Planet Adventurers". Love it.

I have to restrain myself from offering to help tourists pouring over their maps, as, like you say, the reception is less than greatfull!

It does amuse me though, when I see them asking questions of some poor Thai that does not even understand what they are asking, and getting no helpful information, when I'm right there.

One of the first things I learned is that farangs that look as though they live here are probably a much better source of information than the local passing by that will just tell me what he thinks I want to hear.

[Kananga]

I have to be honest, if I was a tourist in Bangkok and needed assistance I would probably ask a local instead of a blotchy white man staring at me and trying to restrain himself at the same time. In fact I'd probably find that quite unnerving, what with Thailand's sex-pat reputation. Now I'm not a tourist I leave tourists alone. If one asks me for directions then I will gladly help, or if one strikes up conversation in a bar then I'll offer any relevant advice, but anything more than that seems to be people looking for self congratulatory pats on the back.

Edited October 28, 2011 by Kananga

[eslteacher]

Man, I have the same experience. I did a motorbike trip in the North of Thailand and on occasion i'd see a farang in a pretty small village town and I would say hello to him and he'd pretend I didnt even exist. Its incredibly strange. Some people are happy to see other farang especially when they go so long without seeing one. For me, its a good opportunity to speak my own language freely and not have to talk dumbed down english.

[Axpat]

I have to be honest, if I was a tourist in Bangkok and needed assistance I would probably ask a local instead of a blotchy white man staring at me and trying to restrain himself at the same time. In fact I'd probably find that quite unnerving, what with Thailand's sex-pat reputation. Now I'm not a tourist I leave tourists alone. If one asks me for directions then I will gladly help, or if one strikes up conversation in a bar then I'll offer any relevant advice, but anything more than that seems to be people looking for self congratulatory pats on the back.

I avoid tourists at all costs. Especially in Bangkok and Pattaya.

[Moonrakers]

Whenever I see this thread, I can't help but think of Borat chasing some guy in New York to shake his hand. (can't find the youtube clip)

Edited October 28, 2011 by Moonrakers

[Zodiac]

OP: after many years in Thailand i do now avoid most farangs here if I can, but only because many if not most of them are bull sh*t artists, liars, con men , ex cons, drug traffickers, penniless, or criminals, fraudsters, perverts, egotists, walter mitteys, time wasters, toxic friends, hypochondriacs. losers or running away from something or someone etc etc etc.

understand?

[Kananga]

OP: after many years in Thailand i do now avoid most farangs here if I can, but only because many if not most of them are bull sh*t artists, liars, con men , ex cons, drug traffickers, penniless, or criminals, fraudsters, perverts, egotists, walter mitteys, time wasters, toxic friends, hypochondriacs. losers or running away from something or someone etc etc etc.

understand?

I'm with you all the way on this one. Especially those silly old twits you find in Pattaya who try and insinuate they were in the Vietnam war when they probably spent their working lives wiping people's bottoms in mental institutions. Although it is VERY funny watching them squirm when confronted.

[Shotime]

Whenever I see this thread, I can't help but think of Borat chasing some guy in New York to shake his hand. (can't find the youtube clip)

Me too. I don't understand what the confusion is. When you're in your home country, do you say hello to everybody? I was taught to avoid eye contact. That doesn't mean you can't meet some nice people, but it's kind of goofy trying to talk to everyone. People would think you're crazy.

[Kananga]

Whenever I see this thread, I can't help but think of Borat chasing some guy in New York to shake his hand. (can't find the youtube clip)

Me too. I don't understand what the confusion is. When you're in your home country, do you say hello to everybody? I was taught to avoid eye contact. That doesn't mean you can't meet some nice people, but it's kind of goofy trying to talk to everyone. People would think you're crazy.

The obvious difference is that in your own country you are all the same. The opposite analogy you should be using would be do all Thai people who visit your country smile and say hello to other Thai people they may come across.

[Berkshire]

Saying that farang is a derogatory term instantly indicates that the person saying that has very little knowledge about Thailand or the Thai language. It is in fact one of the stupidest things I have heard here, and that is saying a lot.

Agreed and it is repeated over and over again by these types.

Agree as well. But if these people want to lose sleep over something that they can never change, have at it.

[Kananga]

Saying that farang is a derogatory term instantly indicates that the person saying that has very little knowledge about Thailand or the Thai language. It is in fact one of the stupidest things I have heard here, and that is saying a lot.

Agreed and it is repeated over and over again by these types.

Agree as well. But if these people want to lose sleep over something that they can never change, have at it.

The use of the word irritates me because it doesnt define the person being discussed any deeper than the fact they are white, so why not just use the term white people, especially when every other word in the sentence is written in English.

But like you I learned a long time ago not to lose any sleep over it.

[ludditeman]

Saying that farang is a derogatory term instantly indicates that the person saying that has very little knowledge about Thailand or the Thai language. It is in fact one of the stupidest things I have heard here, and that is saying a lot.

Agreed and it is repeated over and over again by these types.

Agree as well. But if these people want to lose sleep over something that they can never change, have at it.

I find it both ignorant and insulting.

If I were a coloured gentlemen, I would find people commonly referring to me as "The Darky" equally offensive.

It certainly doesn't indicate that I have little knowledge about Thailand and the Thai language.

I would equally accuse those who are happy with the term to be Thai apologists and to have little knowledge of Thailand , Thais and the Thai language.

A simple little test I give people who claim to be experts on Thailand and everything Thai.

Write your wife/gfs name down for me in Thai script?

But back on topic.

I rarely want to speak with random foreigners just because we happen to share similar skin colouring. Why would I even think they can speak English (they might be Russians)?

Edited October 29, 2011 by ludditeman

[Kananga]

Saying that farang is a derogatory term instantly indicates that the person saying that has very little knowledge about Thailand or the Thai language. It is in fact one of the stupidest things I have heard here, and that is saying a lot.

Agreed and it is repeated over and over again by these types.

Agree as well. But if these people want to lose sleep over something that they can never change, have at it.

I find it both ignorant and insulting.

If I were a coloured gentlemen, I would find people commonly referring to me as "The Darky" equally offensive.

It certainly doesn't indicate that I have little knowledge about Thailand and the Thai language.

I would equally accuse those who are happy with the term to be Thai apologists and to have little knowledge of Thailand , Thais and the Thai language.

A simple little test I give people who claim to be experts on Thailand and everything Thai.

Write your wife/gfs name down for me in Thai script?

But back on topic.

I rarely want to speak with random foreigners just because we happen to share similar skin colouring. Why would I even think they can speak English?

What if people referred to you as Black if you were a coloured Gentleman?

[StreetCowboy]

...What if people referred to you as Black if you were a coloured Gentleman?

If I was a gentleman, I would feel slightly embarrassed for them.

SC

I take it you are not making a distinction between blacks and coloureds. From a laundry perspective, we might classify them as light and dark, or whites and coloureds, depending on your wardrobe. From a television perspective, we refer to monochrome as black and white, or colour for tri-colour broadcasts. Personally, I'm colour-blind.

[Kananga]

...What if people referred to you as Black if you were a coloured Gentleman?

If I was a gentleman, I would feel slightly embarrassed for them.

SC

I take it you are not making a distinction between blacks and coloureds. From a laundry perspective, we might classify them as light and dark, or whites and coloureds, depending on your wardrobe. From a television perspective, we refer to monochrome as black and white, or colour for tri-colour broadcasts. Personally, I'm colour-blind.

Black people

[Shotime]

"The opposite analogy you should be using would be do all Thai people who visit your country smile and say hello to other Thai people they may come across."

No. I gave up on the notion that just because a stranger might be the same color, race, or religion, it doesn't mean they want to talk or befriend you.

[qualtrough]

If the farangs I am likely to run into are anything like 90% of TV members on this forum I would steer wide clear.

Further to that, a while back I encountered a farang in our market, in an area with very few farangs. Gent slightly older than yours truly. Struck up a conversation and invited to have lunch in Bangkok later. Day comes, we grab a cab, and ten minute later I realize that I am with someone who is certifiably insane, out and out crazy. That was a long lunch. If I spot him now I dodge behind a telephone pole or wall. Sad thing is, most of the Thais that run into him are going to think that is normal farang behavior, forming their impression accordingly.

[onionluke]

If the farangs I am likely to run into are anything like 90% of TV members on this forum I would steer wide clear.

Further to that, a while back I encountered a farang in our market, in an area with very few farangs. Gent slightly older than yours truly. Struck up a conversation and invited to have lunch in Bangkok later. Day comes, we grab a cab, and ten minute later I realize that I am with someone who is certifiably insane, out and out crazy. That was a long lunch. If I spot him now I dodge behind a telephone pole or wall. Sad thing is, most of the Thais that run into him are going to think that is normal farang behavior, forming their impression accordingly.

I said hello to the blonde woman who won the Paris Dakar bike thingy a few years back . That was outside Det Udom Tesco . She was with a fella and they had really neat bikes with water tanks and all that on the sides . I was on my honda 125 . I admit I felt like a bit lonesome nutter but I managed to not offer them directions . I went across the road to my favourite beer shack after that to while away the day . I guess they were on a bike tour and possibly heading to Laos .

edit I said hello not hell

Edited October 29, 2011 by onionluke

[KimoMax]

10 + years ago, the Farongs here were different from today. Now all the time, I see Disrespectful, Jealous, overbearing, self reightious, god's gift's with a chip on their shoulder everywhere.

I seldom indulge a farong whom I do not know already.

Far to many Ego Maniac's and Wholier than Thao attitudes from lots of nationalities now.

Too many times recently, Farong's that have tried to start a conversation with me are only looking to make an argument or disagreement.

First question from farongs anymore and made with with contempt is "Where Do You Come From ?" In all reality, this quetion is meaningless as an opening statement or question to another farong.

This type of Farong behavior was abnormal years ago.

This is probalby why most farongs will no longer say hello anymore.

Edit to be more concise

Edited October 29, 2011 by KimoMax

[Hawkman]

If a farang acts like he's god's gift (and there's loads), is acting lika bit of a lad, dressed like he's from Khoa San or looks like a pervert (and there's loads) then, no, I avoid contact. Why? I would have no interest having a conversation with these people anyway.

If the person seemed a pleasant enough chap (or chapette), then nothing wrong with saying Hi.

Extra - Just saw a Thai couple laughing at a farang busking outside On Nut Tesco, then they looked at me and felt guilty they had laughed at him; as if all us farang stick together or something!!! Must say, I had to laugh as well; what an earth does he think will happen if the boys in blue turn up.

Edited October 29, 2011 by Hawkman

[Hawkman]

If the farangs I am likely to run into are anything like 90% of TV members on this forum I would steer wide clear.

Further to that, a while back I encountered a farang in our market, in an area with very few farangs. Gent slightly older than yours truly. Struck up a conversation and invited to have lunch in Bangkok later. Day comes, we grab a cab, and ten minute later I realize that I am with someone who is certifiably insane, out and out crazy. That was a long lunch. If I spot him now I dodge behind a telephone pole or wall. Sad thing is, most of the Thais that run into him are going to think that is normal farang behavior, forming their impression accordingly.

Ah so you have been avoiding me; I saw you hiding behind the phonebox!!!!

haha, nope not me; but great story and one that we have all faced at some point here.

[Geekfreaklover]

This is the thing. The first few years in Thailand are exciting for most of us. We have all these strange experiences and hurdles and each day is like some kind of accomplishment. Farang friends are important. We exchange stories, insolvency advice, compare livers. But after a few years we learn the language. We learn how to get along and to be frank we have no need to have this common bond with other whites. I have very few true farang friends in Thailand.

I often walk down my soi smiling skipping over sleeping soi dogs and generally happy with the world. I'll smile and talk to the people I know who usually happen to be Thai. If I see a foreigner walking towards me, sure I'll make eye contact and nod hello. But I'm thinking in the back of my mind please, please don't stop and talk to me, I'm in a good mood, and I could do without listening to any of your advice or problems. But hey, I'm kinda an asshol_e like that.

[Shotime]

If the farangs I am likely to run into are anything like 90% of TV members on this forum I would steer wide clear.

Further to that, a while back I encountered a farang in our market, in an area with very few farangs. Gent slightly older than yours truly. Struck up a conversation and invited to have lunch in Bangkok later. Day comes, we grab a cab, and ten minute later I realize that I am with someone who is certifiably insane, out and out crazy. That was a long lunch. If I spot him now I dodge behind a telephone pole or wall. Sad thing is, most of the Thais that run into him are going to think that is normal farang behavior, forming their impression accordingly.

Regardless of whom you're referring to, just to show I'm a nice guy, I had a 20 minute conversation with a drunk Englishman this evening who couldn't find his friend's bar to watch a Chelsea soccer game. That's a lot to put up with. Usually, I can discern who and whom not to strike up a conversation with.

[Geekfreaklover]

If a farang acts like he's god's gift (and there's loads), is acting lika bit of a lad, dressed like he's from Khoa San or looks like a pervert (and there's loads) then, no, I avoid contact. Why? I would have no interest having a conversation with these people anyway.

If the person seemed a pleasant enough chap (or chapette), then nothing wrong with saying Hi.

Extra - Just saw a Thai couple laughing at a farang busking outside On Nut Tesco, then they looked at me and felt guilty they had laughed at him; as if all us farang stick together or something!!! Must say, I had to laugh as well; what an earth does he think will happen if the boys in blue turn up.

I've seen that busker at On Nut Tesco. I'm sure he's a nice guy and all but I didn't stop to find out

[aneliane]

I noticed it too, the past few years.

Before when farangs were few here, it used to "Oh you're here too, you must share the same like of Thailand" kind of things.

I remember talking to strangers quite randomly,about they're experience here.

As most of us are making a living as Farangs (teaching, consulting, interpreting, copyrighting, ...)

I noticed that the more farangs we are, the more competition there is, and the more we see each-other as competitors, that's the vibe I get anyway.

Sad really

[chiangmaibruce]

I think it's just a phase that some relatively recently-arrived expats go through. sometimes it's fun to cross the road and say howdy, just to watch them squirm

Edited November 2, 2011 by chiangmaibruce