The Bare-Faced Cheek Of Our Hypocrisy: Thai Opinion

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STOPPAGE TIME

The bare-faced cheek of our hypocrisy

By Tulsathit Taptim

To the Songkran girls who have whipped up a storm of controversy by doing what Patpong showgirls are paid for, I want to say, "Thank you."

Sorry, but I don't know what's politically correct anymore. The first time I heard about it, I thought "Whoa, what naughty ladies". Then the social uproar began and I backtracked, a little. "Well, maybe it was a bad thing to do," the saint in me whispered, not so convincingly, though.

The videos looked outrageous, I have to say. But if you close down bustling main streets all over the country to allow Songkran celebrations until late into the night, with youngsters packing every inch of space, you have that coming. And no, if the hidden objective is to gradually "nationalise" Koh Phangan, I'm not here to oppose the idea; that would be sort of fun. I'm just questioning the wisdom of holding the brave (or foolish - your choice) girls accountable for everything.

Back to the "thank you" part: everyone knows we are a nation of hypocrites, but the girls have exposed our ability to take it to greater heights. The uproar has confounded many of my foreign acquaintances on Twitter, who know Patpong, Pattaya, Hat Yai and a few other places very well and are gaping at what's happening to the Silom teenagers. What message are we sending? That it's okay for foreigners to come and have a look (if they pay fees, of course), but it's not okay if Thai kids do it for free for cheering Thai spectators?

However, the outcry is easier to understand than the proliferation of photos and video clips of the "showgirls" on the mainstream and social media sites. People can have a knee-jerk reaction and temporarily forget the numerous Thai women who pole-dance for a living. As for those who disseminated what they decry as "obscene" pictures or video footage, what they were thinking is beyond me.

I mean, if it's really unacceptable, or dangerous, or potentially infectious, you don't spread it, right? You don't pass along a lab tube containing killer germs and say, "Look, this thing can destroy the human race."

Blurring the pictures or the video clips didn't help anything. It can't blur the fact that the "obscenity" now has a bigger audience, whether in a clear form or not.

I watched it. Or, to ease my sense of guilt a little, the clips found me. How did I feel, honestly? Anything but great anxiety that our decent "Thainess" or culture is on the edge of a disaster. People go wild, and more so for youngsters, whether we like it or not.

I'm not defending the Silom girls. Defending the behaviour of a younger generation is like defending the specs of the first iPhone version. And who am I to talk ethically and righteously about toplessness? There were times when bare breasts were part of our culture, as some people have pointed out.

No, I don't have a daughter. But yes, I would have been very upset and definitely would have sat her down for a serious reprimand if she had done it. But all the while I would have prayed she would not ask if I'd ever been to a go-go bar. If push came to shove, I could have said it's different to do it for a living, in front of a limited audience. As a father I could have ended the debate right there, no matter how lame that argument sounded.

As I'm writing this, the Silom girls are reportedly planning to turn themselves in. This may turn the tide. After all, they didn't kill, or steal, or evade taxes, or embezzle, or hit and run. The police, the media and all the cultural watchdogs can be proud of their help in arresting this "social decline", but, again, all I can say to the girls is, "Thank you for not going into hiding, and I hope the authorities go easy on you."

That's all I'm asking for - some decency on our part in dealing with what is admittedly a difficult situation. We put naked bodies on canvas and call it art. Real bare breasts on a stage with some good light and sound and choreography and, presto, it's high-end entertainment to go with a good wine. Even I am confused by this and what's happening to the Silom kids. The girls have reportedly said they are sorry, and that's the best they can do. The ball, therefore, is in our court now.

-- The Nation 2011-04-20

[animatic]

A voice of reason, for a change.

No over-wrought hand wringing, just a reasonable appraisal of how little this really means in the big picture of Thailands culture.

Edited April 20, 2011 by animatic

[pisico]

I can only hope that this excellent piece of writing will be published in Thai and that politicians and all members of the Powers that Be can start to see the light this article is shining on the subject.

[jimbeam1]

I heard something very similar to this, being read by a guy, on radio 107FM last night. Read with true meaning and feeling.

jb1

Edited April 20, 2011 by jimbeam1

[virtualtraveller]

As usual the indignant old ladies from the 'culture police' are evoking every silly law they can, which means the best they get the girls for is 500 baht indecency charge, whereas the guy who uploaded the film to the net gets stung for 10,000 baht from the computer crimes act. Once again Thailand's authorities make the country into a laughing stock

[Insight]

Good write up, but still missing a fundamental point. Thailand's infamous sex industry aside, the sexualisation of girls happens at a young age here, by the very parents who are probably condemning the acts committed by these young girls during Songkran.

Check out any show in a temple fair, or videos on the karaoke CD's available and you'll see it. Young girls wearing make up and clothes, pulling off dance routines that probably wouldn't look that far out of place in the above mentioned red light districts.

It's amazing such parents can't make the connection between the two events. Maybe it is plain denial.

[jimbeam1]

I heard something very similar to this, being read by a guy, on radio 107FM last night. Read with true meaning and feeling.

jb1

It could almost be the Thai Desadorada? http://carolinanavy.com/fleet2/f2/zpoetry/POETRYhall/cas/38.html

[JohnAllan]

No question: the hypocrisy is breathtaking; absolutely mindboggling. Had I been there, I would have no doubt enjoyed the experience, something the moral [male] guardians no doubt did as well . . . before deciding to uphold the topsy-turvy law. Thailand's biggest export industry is sex, hidden behind closed doors, and much more explicitly displayed. The authorities managed to turn a blind eye to kiddy porn on Sukhumvit, until forced to act. They will continue to turn a blind eye when politic - and profitable - yet treat the girls who gave Silom revellers some lighthearted entertainment for gratis - and breasts hardly constitute indecency; quite the opposite when the owners are attractive young ladies - as criminals. What crass poppycock!

[SteeleJoe]

Excellent Op-Ed.

Thailand's biggest export industry is sex

Really? Care to back that casual absolutism up?

[lonewolf99]

Amazing Thailand....this is about the best press article I have read in my time here. Well said and well done for getting it out in print. :jap:

[ParadiseLost]

The videos looked outrageous, I have to say. But if you close down bustling main streets all over the country to allow Songkran celebrations until late into the night, with youngsters packing every inch of space, you have that coming. And no, if the hidden objective is to gradually "nationalise" Koh Phangan, I'm not here to oppose the idea; that would be sort of fun.

I too think this is an excellent post, apart from the slight at Koh Phangan, which I find tame compared to both Bangkok and Pattaya. I think very few Thais actually dare to visit KP; rather than say nothing they cave in to the negative hype their 'superiors' (for lack of a better word) like to spew. In this you are proving to be as hypocritical as the drivel you so rightly point out are destroying this country with their narrow minded quasi victorian morals.

But, you deserve tremendous praise for your stance. Pity it will win you no friends and most likely gain you some negative attention from the moral watchdogs.

[animatic]

Excellent Op-Ed.

Thailand's biggest export industry is sex

Really? Care to back that casual absolutism up?

Now that is it's large in country service industry that imports the customers.

[Oberkommando]

You'll find Thai prostitutes in every country around the globe though, almost without exception.

[ParadiseLost]

You'll find Thai prostitutes in every country around the globe though, almost without exception.

I guess if you know where to look...

[thaihome]

You'll find Thai prostitutes in every country around the globe though, almost without exception.

And generally there are far more Chinese (actually Mongolian), and Eastern European, with rising numbers or Vietnamese and Cambodian.

So what was your point?

In fact, I would suggest you find far more cars and trucks made in just one year in Thailand around the world then you would Thai prostitutes.

TH

Edited April 20, 2011 by thaihome

[raylo]

You'll find Thai prostitutes in every country around the globe though, almost without exception.

And generally there are far more Chinese (actually Mongolian), and Eastern European, with rising numbers or Vietnamese and Cambodian.

So what was your point?

In fact, I would suggest you find far more cars and trucks made in just one year in Thailand around the world then you would Thai prostitutes.

TH

Too true.

Also you forgot African. Go to Hong Kong and the Middle East and you will find more of the above than Thais. At one stage there

were a lot of Thais in Bahrain but that has mellowed. STill heaps of Europeans plying their wares. Go to Dubai and check it

out.

And OberK - loads of German men paying for it. If you are indeed German. Go to Berlin and check out the Turks.

[KKvampire]

And you can still see the Videos online Thai Snoopers cant close or block everything, hahahaha

[yellow1red1]

For the record, it is enforeced European culture that made topless of women 'unnaceptable'. Those young gals were actually reviving traditional Thai culture.

here's a 1930's Directive, ordering Thais to dress farang style. They didn't exactly invent shirts and ties. suits

1930'w

[teetersb]

For the record, it is enforeced European culture that made topless of women 'unnaceptable'. Those young gals were actually reviving traditional Thai culture.

here's a 1930's Directive, ordering Thais to dress farang style. They didn't exactly invent shirts and ties. suits

1930'w

Thank you y1r1, this (ad) is one of the ones I saw in my Thai culture class a few years ago, but unfortunately current (& past) Thai culture administrators have had their blinders on concerning the recent past.