700 Nigerians In Thai Prisons, Others Dead

[arthurwait]

When the white money leaves-the problems begin.

The Thais are open about their racism and nationalism.

The Thais know what races cause most of the problems.

Paradoxically, they are doing very little to eradicate the Muslim problem in the south.

What race causes the most problems in Thailand you mean ? My bet would be Asian and yes that is the same race as the Muslims down south.

Do people still believe that farang money leaving would make a dent on this country ? The money that keeps this countrys economy running and pays most it's taxes is Thai Chinese.

[Oberkommando]

"Ok, I'll bite. I have visited Nigerian, worked and lived in-country. Yes, there are some genuine people there, but their presence is far out shadowed by the scum who run the country and / or run rife over all things criminal related. If you are a foreigner in Nigerian, you might as well paint a target on your back for the bad guys, cause they are going to find you, regardless"

You have visited Nigerian?

Touche brother.

I have the same experiences of Nigeria and its people and it is now too dangerous for me to go there for work even if I have the required armed guards accompanying me.

[HardenedSoul]

The truth is that most of them prefer the warm blanket of anonymity that the internet affords to the risk they would face were they to express their opinions face-to-face to ANY black person let alone one fresh from the African continent.

Says he with the generic nick.

Racism stinks in all forms, but it's ironic and typical that dark fellas find it ok to bash and berate the white man. That doesn't count does it.

Yeah it does stink in all its forms but the effect is nowhere near as profound when those being discriminated against occupy the highest positions within the power structure of the country. Your argument would carry more weight if applied to, say, Zimbabwe but then again, aren't the "dark fellas" there just dishing out some payback for the shit they dealt with while the country was called Rhodesia?

Strange that I, as a black guy in Thailand, don't experience issues over my skin tone but "mighty whitey" who is forever crowing about being easily-accepted here on account of their perceived wealth and aesthetic proximity to the Thai beauty ideal, should whinge day and night about over-charging etc and then have the audacity to call it racism.

[transam]

The truth is that most of them prefer the warm blanket of anonymity that the internet affords to the risk they would face were they to express their opinions face-to-face to ANY black person let alone one fresh from the African continent.

Says he with the generic nick.

Racism stinks in all forms, but it's ironic and typical that dark fellas find it ok to bash and berate the white man. That doesn't count does it.

Yeah it does stink in all its forms but the effect is nowhere near as profound when those being discriminated against occupy the highest positions within the power structure of the country. Your argument would carry more weight if applied to, say, Zimbabwe but then again, aren't the "dark fellas" there just dishing out some payback for the shit they dealt with while the country was called Rhodesia?

Strange that I, as a black guy in Thailand, don't experience issues over my skin tone but "mighty whitey" who is forever crowing about being easily-accepted here on account of their perceived wealth and aesthetic proximity to the Thai beauty ideal, should whinge day and night about over-charging etc and then have the audacity to call it racism.

Hmmmmmm, could we not say Zimbabwe is in a worse state now. It seems you ''dark fellows'' are always belly aching about something. In UK you can call us what you like but if a native refers to you by their own word, can end up being prosecuted.

[HardenedSoul]

Hmmmmmm, could we not say Zimbabwe is in a worse state now. It seems you ''dark fellows'' are always belly aching about something. In UK you can call us what you like but if a native refers to you by their own word, can end up being prosecuted.

Perhaps there was more to "belly ache" about back then, lack of opportunity, police suss laws etc. Compare those grievances with whites carping on about "racial discrimination" visited upon them by Thais who may charge them a little extra for a motorbike taxi journey.

I think black people are subject to the same laws as the whites and I'd hope that a black person using a derogatory term with a white person in an office or whatever would be dealt with accordingly. Thing is though, as I said in a previous post, most bigots don't air their dislikes in public for fear of "reprisal"

[dude007]

I do not justify the Thai authorities for their racist approach to these Nigerians but I ask myself questions WHAT these Nigerians are doing here in such great numbers, pastors included? Tourism??? Or do these pastors have an assignment here? Workpermit?

I have been approached myself many times in Pratunam by Nigerians offering me to buying drugs. I suspect the majority of them are dealing in drugs but I admit at the same time that they should have a fair trial and fair correct treatment. Some capital punishment for some Nigerian major drug dealers will probably solve this issue faster than the hoped meddling from the Nigerian Embassy, who is probably also well informed about this matter

[HardenedSoul]

I do not justify the Thai authorities for their racist approach to these Nigerians but I ask myself questions WHAT these Nigerians are doing here in such great numbers, pastors included? Tourism??? Or do these pastors have an assignment here? Workpermit?

I have been approached myself many times in Pratunam by Nigerians offering me to buying drugs. I suspect the majority of them are dealing in drugs but I admit at the same time that they should have a fair trial and fair correct treatment. Some capital punishment for some Nigerian major drug dealers will probably solve this issue faster than the hoped meddling from the Nigerian Embassy, who is probably also well informed about this matter

Didn't stop it after Thaksin tried.

Besides, the majority of the demand for drugs in BKK comes from Thais and whites - I personally know many white folks who cane the chang and the shards on a daily basis. I'm guessing that very few Nigerians get high on their own supply.

Edited October 8, 2011 by metisdead
Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons.

[Oberkommando]

Besides, the majority of the demand for drugs in BKK comes from Thais and whites - I personally know many white folks who cane the chang and the shards on a daily basis. I'm guessing that very few Nigerians get high on their own supply.

Unproven nonsense.

[starguard69]

Besides, the majority of the demand for drugs in BKK comes from Thais and whites - I personally know many white folks who cane the chang and the shards on a daily basis. I'm guessing that very few Nigerians get high on their own supply.

Unproven nonsense.

much like Acranger

[HardenedSoul]

Besides, the majority of the demand for drugs in BKK comes from Thais and whites - I personally know many white folks who cane the chang and the shards on a daily basis. I'm guessing that very few Nigerians get high on their own supply.

Unproven nonsense.

It doesn't have to be proven - well, no more so than suggestions that all Nigerians are engaged in nefarious activities in this country. As I said, it's based on my personal observations. Still, using a little common sense, one can deduce that Thais, as the majority in Thailand would be the biggest group and whites, the largest group of foreigners in this country who, judging by their drunken antics in the clubs, would come in a logical second place.

Lots of the Nigerian dealers are devout Christians and, although that seems ridiculous given their profession, they believe that selling is one thing, using is another.

[HardenedSoul]

Don't shoot the messenger, chump and try not to get "very angry". They're not my "views" - I'm just telling it like it is. Sure, devout Christian drug dealers ARE hypocritical <deleted> - I couldn't think otherwise seeing as there are many places in the world where they can ply their trade without the threat of capital punishment. The fact they come here would suggest that they believe the risk of ending up with a noose around their necks have been "taken care of" by way of "protection" from the only people in a position to provide it.

As for ruined lives, how many does alcohol and cigarettes take credit for? Just because they're legal, doesn't make them any less dangerous. They might take longer to kill you if you abuse them but you'll still die, right? Shit, you might even beat your wife and children to death if you get aggressive on booze

Edited October 7, 2011 by Scott
Unnecessarily long quote

[HardenedSoul]

Ridiculous argument. I smoke, drink beer too access, so my mrs says but l love my wife immensely, never a thought of thuggery so noooooooooooo argument. Drug dealers don't give a shit about ruining lives or lives lost, verrrrrry different, it's about easy, non earned money, laaaaaaaazy people.

I'm stunned at the narrow-mindedness on display here. So what if you love your wife!! Are you the only drinker and smoker in the world? Have you never heard of a bloke having too much too drink and then becoming aggressive and, perhaps, picking a fight in the bar or, failing that, going home and getting angry or punchy with his missus provided, of course, he hasn't mown down a pedestrian whilst driving under the influence on the way there?

Of course drug dealers don't give a monkey's about the lives of their punters any more than, say, the tobacco and beverage companies do about the people drinking and smoking their products. A "Please Drink Responsibly" message written in tiny print on the label on your bottle of JD doesn't mean they care. The fag companies raised an uproar when they had to start putting warnings on packets even though smoking is KNOWN to cause cancer and other nasties so, <deleted>, stop being so parochial.

[Scott]

Several unnecessarily long quotes were edited out. One flame was deleted and some nonsensical posts.

By the way, there are Nigerians with work permits. I worked with two for several years.

[rustydick]

nigerians are the parasites of the earth.i stopped stopping over in bkk since my last trip as soi5 was over run with them .whispering if you want hashish ecstasy coke etc..they stand around in large groups intimidating people.my pal worked for a while in the immigration department in lagos and told me that the nigerians wer master scammers .they never tell the truth and all them have numerious identies.when they arrive at the airport and hand their passport in they dont even know how to spell their names and dont know their date of birth..sukimvith wil end up in sum state by the time the nigerians are finished with it..the thai police should round them all up and deport them..there are 160million of them in nigeria and the other african states hates them also..

[transam]

Ridiculous argument. I smoke, drink beer too access, so my mrs says but l love my wife immensely, never a thought of thuggery so noooooooooooo argument. Drug dealers don't give a shit about ruining lives or lives lost, verrrrrry different, it's about easy, non earned money, laaaaaaaazy people.

I'm stunned at the narrow-mindedness on display here. So what if you love your wife!! Are you the only drinker and smoker in the world? Have you never heard of a bloke having too much too drink and then becoming aggressive and, perhaps, picking a fight in the bar or, failing that, going home and getting angry or punchy with his missus provided, of course, he hasn't mown down a pedestrian whilst driving under the influence on the way there?

Of course drug dealers don't give a monkey's about the lives of their punters any more than, say, the tobacco and beverage companies do about the people drinking and smoking their products. A "Please Drink Responsibly" message written in tiny print on the label on your bottle of JD doesn't mean they care. The fag companies raised an uproar when they had to start putting warnings on packets even though smoking is KNOWN to cause cancer and other nasties so, <deleted>, stop being so parochial.

My now love was at the receiving end of empty bottles for many years, so please don't put me in that category eh. Those who cannot handle stuff are different from me so do not stereotype all drinkers, smokers or those who like a Bigmac now and again eh.

[HardenedSoul]

Ridiculous argument. I smoke, drink beer too access, so my mrs says but l love my wife immensely, never a thought of thuggery so noooooooooooo argument. Drug dealers don't give a shit about ruining lives or lives lost, verrrrrry different, it's about easy, non earned money, laaaaaaaazy people.

I'm stunned at the narrow-mindedness on display here. So what if you love your wife!! Are you the only drinker and smoker in the world? Have you never heard of a bloke having too much too drink and then becoming aggressive and, perhaps, picking a fight in the bar or, failing that, going home and getting angry or punchy with his missus provided, of course, he hasn't mown down a pedestrian whilst driving under the influence on the way there?

Of course drug dealers don't give a monkey's about the lives of their punters any more than, say, the tobacco and beverage companies do about the people drinking and smoking their products. A "Please Drink Responsibly" message written in tiny print on the label on your bottle of JD doesn't mean they care. The fag companies raised an uproar when they had to start putting warnings on packets even though smoking is KNOWN to cause cancer and other nasties so, <deleted>, stop being so parochial.

My now love was at the receiving end of empty bottles for many years, so please don't put me in that category eh. Those who cannot handle stuff are different from me so do not stereotype all drinkers, smokers or those who like a Bigmac now and again eh.

Ok, Mr. Missing the Point

[HardenedSoul]

i stopped stopping over in bkk since my last trip as soi5 was over run with them

Yeah and the city's just torn up over your absence

I can still hear residents sobbing, "If only he'd been told there were other places to go in Bangkok"

[tonyfromcambodia]

nigerians are the parasites of the earth.i stopped stopping over in bkk since my last trip as soi5 was over run with them .whispering if you want hashish ecstasy coke etc..they stand around in large groups intimidating people.my pal worked for a while in the immigration department in lagos and told me that the nigerians wer master scammers .they never tell the truth and all them have numerious identies.when they arrive at the airport and hand their passport in they dont even know how to spell their names and dont know their date of birth..sukimvith wil end up in sum state by the time the nigerians are finished with it..the thai police should round them all up and deport them..there are 160million of them in nigeria and the other african states hates them also..

Your handle name says what does the thinking for you. Rusty prick, you must be an idiot.

I am no fan of 98 percent of the Nigerians you see in Bangkok, but I guess they fit in with the quality most of the countries send in as well.

In Nigeria, we dont really bother about being loved by other African states, we are just the ever loving big brother.

Now the Nigerians have started taking over Phnom Penh. I can't go to any bars any more without running into this scum....

[inquisitive]

It's amazing how no one gives a sh.t about the way they're kept in prison here simply because they're from Nigeria. If they were white there would be an outpour of sympathy for them. You are all such hypocrites. The point is this: The system in Thailand sucks and the condition prisoners are kept in suck and the extrajudicial killings suck as well!!! Everyone has the right to a fair trial no matter where they're from and this should be true in Thailand as well!!!

You are completely right in your belief that Nigerians should receive a fair chance to prove they are innocent, and further that until they are found guilty through a fair judicial system, they should not be forced to suffer any more than absolutely necessary. This is based on the British concept that all accused should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

I am in total agreement with this concept, even though a large section of the world has a judicial system of Napoleanic origin which is based on the idea that an arrested person is guilty until they prove themselves innocent. After all, the theory goes, if they weren't guilty, then why were they arrested? I don't agree at all, but I just want to make the point that there is a chunk of humanity that feels I'm wrong, so maybe it's true. If that's the case, then the Nogerians under discussion are already receiving proper judicial process. (God, I hope that's not the case!)

What I see we have on TV is a group that believes in the English system, but is intelligent enough to be prejudiced. ("Intelligent enough to be prejudiced?!" you ask. "Isn't that a contradiction?"

No, my friend, it is not.

Suppose you saw a child stick his hand into a flame and then pull his hand back out screaming because he got burned. Poor little chap, you'd think, but now he knows that flames are hot.

But then you saw the little fellow stick his hand into a flame a second time, and then a third. By then you'd be starting to think he's got some learning disability. Why can't he see that a flame causes burns?

Now let's change our focus to a guy standing in front of the cashier at a 7-11 wearing a mask and holding a gun. Would you consider the cashier to be a slow learner when he tells the nice gentleman that he can't give him the money because it isn't his? Or would you say he was smarter if he showed an obvious social prejudice and believed that the man with the gun cares more about money than the welfare of the clerk, and handed over the cash before a bullet ripped through his chest? Yes, it's politically incorrect to carry such a prejudice. Maybe the guy with the gun just wanted to smell the money and then give it back. Maybe he was taping a segment for a TV show. He shouldn't be considerd a criminal until he is found guilty by a jury of his peers, and all that.

I think we'd all agree that only an extremely stupid person would not be prejudiced against the holder of the gun under those circumstances.

Let's face it, one of the things that let humans rise above other creatures is their ability to see subtle patterns and to make generalizations that help them make quick and mostly accurate decisions. Sometimes that quick generalized judgement can be wrong, but most of the time it's right. But somehow if we generalize about people, we give it a special name and say it's bad.

I bet you can already see how this very positive trait fits into this discussion about whether it is probable that the whole OP as well as most of the arrested Nigerians that their own embassy refuses to be associated with are getting what they deserve. The slow-learners, of course, will have difficulty with this. The rest of us may decry the lack of judicial process while we still feel that justice is being served.

[inquisitive]

Just one more gripe (although I appreciate the gist of what you have written):

I resent the fact that Obama is considered black. Although his father was black (African, not African American), his mother was white. And he was raised by his white mother/grand-mother.

It can be factually stated that Obama is genetically 50% black.

Wow. Where do I start?

• First I am a black American living in Thailand. Let's get that out of the way first.

• The fact of the matter is it is an absolute joke for anyone to accuse any particular group of rampant wrongdoing of any type in Thailand. For all intents and purposes Thailand is lawless. The law can be bought here. The Nigerians here are not doing anything the Thais are not already doing. Do you really believe Thais(that is the illegal activities element) would allow Africans or anyone else to profit from illicit activities and they are not? For those of us that live here we know that Thais in one way or another are receiving ill gotten gains from these Nigerians and their illegal activities here. The Thai police are at the top of that list. Just look at the gambling den scandal. It was "discovered" that the Thai police not only knew about the gambling dens but were protecting them, participating in activities at the gambling dens and receiving ill gotten gains from the dens. Its the same with everything here-prostitution, gun running, human trafficking- at the end of the day a Thai is controlling it and making money from it. These Africans are making such a small amount no doubt and are handing the bulk of those ill gotten gains back to their Thai handlers. It does not make their activities moral or legal. Its just the facts behind it.

• Lets look at the leak in the dam so to speak. How are these Nigerians getting here? They are not walking like some drug traffickers do when they cross from Tijuana, Mexico into San Ysidro California. They are stepping off of airplanes. And Thailand is letting them in. That is a fact. If you see a 20 year old Nigerian arriving at the airport from a West African country who has never had a stamp in his passport and is carrying one bag I think it is fair to ask him what hotel he is staying in etc. In the USA immigration will do the same if they spot irregularities. Its not racist-it makes sense to do that. Right wrong or indifferent American is flooded with drug traffickers (though they usually are not stupid enough to try and bring it into the country on airplanes) and persons intent on terrorist activities. People who fit certain profiles should be asked what are they going to do while they are in Thailand. It is fair to ask for a hotel reservation or a return ticket. Thailand has to protect its sovereignty just like America does. But guess what? Either because of ineptness, laziness, ignorance or because they are on the take they allow these West Africans into Thailand through the airports. They can stop the foolishness at Suvarnabhumi. But they are not doing it.

• Further on that subject I have not know a single African in Thailand with a work permit. How and why does that matter? When Thailand grants these Africans visa extensions to stay in the country they are encouraging them to stay! These men (and some women) can't get work permits. No Thai company will here them for sure and they can't teach English because it is not their mother tongue and the EP programs have poor views of them at the schools from what I am told. So if they are staying here long term with no work permit you know what they are doing. And the Thai government knows as well. And yes some of them are here illegally. But I have also met some that have extension after extension in their passports.

• After being here a very long time I can tell you that not once has a Thai thought I was an African. Not once. But do you know who has (on three occasions)? The Thai police. And in what area? Sukhumvit. The funny thing was when they stopped me and asked for my "papers" (for a moment I thought I was a spy in a WW2 film and the Germans were checking my papers) they heard my American English and as I laughed at them and showed them my copy of my work permit, visa and passport along with my Florida drivers license they quickly said I could go. In fact before I could even get it all out of my wallet they said "its ok we thought you were African". I asked them how did they know I was African?. Their response? A dumbfound look of "I don't know but I know I look stupid now so I am going to walk away". I didn't get angry (but in my own country I would have because we have some semblance of law and order) but tried to explain to them that if Barack Obama was walking down the street would you think he is African? I got a good laugh out of that. Why did the police really stop me though? Read on.

• For you non persons of colors out there let me make you aware of some things you don't know. First have you ever seen an African in a taxi in Bangkok? I bet you have not and if you did he/she was probably black American, Black Englishmen etc. Africans don't use taxis not because they cant afford it (after all they are all drug dealers so they have money(I am being sarcastic)) but because of the police checkpoints particularly at night. And its not the fact the police are stopping them and asking them for their papers. The police are shaking them down. Thats what they are doing. Not only that but I know for a fact that police around Asok BTS escalator is famous for shaking down Africans who are walking along Sukhumvit anytime of the day or night. The police stopped me hoping I was carrying money and they would simply take it from me (if I had been an African). The Africans know that thus they avoid taxis and take the bus because the police don't stop buses. Again to my earlier points-the Thais allow them here, know what they are doing, and then continue to support their presence and benefit from it.

• Again for you non persons of color-a black American can 90% of the time look at an African and know he is African and vice versa. Believe me we can tell. And the fact is the black Americans here not only dislike the Africans greatly but we avoid them all together. And the Africans avoid us as well. We can't stand them. The black American women I know here particular dislike the men and their touchy feely as they walk down the street. Why do you ask (I know some of you racist are saying we are all alike") that black Americans don' tlike them? For the same reasons everyone else does. They are drug dealing vermin and should be removed. Any man should be able to walk around anywhere without being molested by some African fool trying to sell you drugs that we all know for sure destroy peoples lives. In addition it makes non blacks think that all blacks in Bangkok are doing the same thing. That is what I personally dislike them. Now again I have never been thought of as an African and Thais have always treated me with kindness especially after they found out I was American. But lets face it-most Thais know Tiger Woods mother is Thai and they know at least who Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Barack Obama is. So their image of black Americans is not tarnished but these Africans are making me stay in Thailand difficult at times.

• And the problem is not isolated to Thailand. It has spread to China! I was in Beijing and the number of Africans there was a shock to me. And they are up to the same illegal activities there. You would think with the Chinese with their zero tolerance of foreigners acting stupid and drugs they would end the problem in a snap. Not so. In fact check out Youtube and type "blacks riot in China". You will see most of them are in China illegally and although the video does not mention drugs rest assured these men are not sidewalk chicken sandwich vendors! And two years ago an African women was sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling but she was sentenced to life because the UK government intervened on her behalf to get her life in prison because she was pregnant.

• The influx of Africans in Thailand in particular and Asia in general will not stop. Why? China. China is aggressively pursuing every resource it can on the African continent. As a nation they are the largest investor in Africa-over 100 billion dollars a year! As a result of this massive investment and trading it has drawn Africans to Asia-the good ones and the bad ones. So no matter what you want these Africans are not going anywhere one way or the other. Africas resources are needed frankly because the resources everywhere else has dried up or the West controls.
• It is sad to see so many obvious racists on this board. Drugs a social and not a racial problem. In different parts of America different groups control the drug trade including the Irish in Boston, Puerto Ricans in the Bronx, Mexicans in Southern California and even Russians in New Jersey. For you racists it is sad you cannot accept the fact that the majority of the world is brown and not white. Barack Obama is the most powerful man on the planet earth. That is a fact. Look just open your mind a little and realize its not all white. If you truly want to discuss who causes trouble and mayhem think of this-I have never seen any black Army invade China; or a Chinese Army invade Mexico. It has always been Anglo-Saxons raining terror on other peoples. And for you racists who believe your skin color makes you superior-the Chinese are coming on the world stage in a economic and military way that the world has not seen since American at the end of WW2. And the Chinese don't like me OR YOU. Now don't get me wrong-I am a red blooded American and believe in our causes and actions for the most part. But historically speaking we all know Timbuktu had lighted streets when London was still a village. We are all on the same planet people. As Rodney King said-"can't we all get along"?

The bottom line is the influx of drug dealing Africans will stop when the Thais take real steps to end it. That means ending corruption, ignorance and more. And we all know that will not happen anytime soon.

I wish I had a cute Andy Rooney type one liner to end my post but I will just say we will all miss you Andy Rooney!

You the proud American-black..stop clearifying your position or making the kettle lighter than the pot...

check your facts out too...the young Girl was caught in Laos not China.....Your write-up doesn't make you any different in color, You will still be looked at the same way...Lots of Africans and Nigerians with work permit...I can show you some of them if you so desire..

First it is universally known as Black American. Not American black

Second the women I was talking about was not a young girl she was a middle aged women and she was caught in China. And my write up, had you bothered to read it completely rather than replying with a poorly written, grammar lacking tirade, you would have seen that 90% of my post was explaining much of the situation surrounding the Africans here and was not American centric. And I would love to know what industry Africans are working in where there are lots of work permits for them in Thailand.

And you are wrong about being looked at the same way. That is what you want the readers of this board to believe to support whatever subliminal message you are trying to convey to the members of this board. How can you possibly know how a black man is looked at if you are not black yourself and have experienced it so you can tell what the experience is? Perhaps you are the same person who told Koreans at the beginning of the Korean War that black soldiers had tails. I see your angle with your post and it is disheartening.

Fact is I know a great deal more about this situation than you do if for no other reason than I am a person of color and we hear things that non persons of color will not . After all I am a American Black Seriously though you are permitted your own opinion-well in my country anyway (that by the way is run by an American black

I'm sorry to be including such a long set of quotes, but somehow I thought any way I shortened it would greatly diminish it in other more important ways as well. And while maybe I could quibble with a tiny point here or there (for example, other groups besides the whites have invaded their neighbors. I remember the Moors taking over some of the European continent, and what do you think the Tibetans would say about the Chinese? And I vaguely remember teh Japanese trying to kill my father without even announcing their intention first. And how about the Chinese communists [by proxy], versus the world - beginning in SE Asia? Or the communists in North Korea attacking South Korea? And even more recently what about Iraq and Kuwait? Or Iran and well, everybody?) but golly, what a great and thoughtful post. It was one of the very best I've seen on TV. Thanks for your reasoned contribution.

I would say, Sinsod, that I am a Caucasian, but have been told by a few Thais that they ARE prejudiced against blacks in general. Part of it is just that they look different, and Thais are not very adventurous by nature or training. Different is slightly scary for them. But I was surprised to hear that the biggest reason is because of the West African's penchant for a substantially lesser standard of personal hygeine than the Thais. I have to admit, that after a few experiences I, too, started holding my breath whenever a black woman in her bright African cloth was about to walk past me in Foodland. It can be a shocking experience if you don't expect it. As an American I know darn well that the odor wasn't caused by hyperpigmentation, and so I never associated it with being black, but rather just not bathing. The Thais I just mentioned, however, are less experienced and had not yet made the distinction between Western Blacks and Afican Blacks (and weren't even ready for the finer distinction of class levels).

Frankly, there is no causal relationship between being smelly, African, American, Black, or White, but to the Thais that have only seen Africans and have gagged on the body odor, they naturally connect blackness with odor. It ain't fair, but it's just one more negative thing that you have to deal with. That you have been kept blissfully unaware of this particular facet of interracial relations is a tribute to the politeness (and shyness) of the Thais. Thankfully the mere presence of people like yourself is the greatest agent for change in this perception.

Anyway, thanks again for your thoughful contribution. I hope to see more.

[softgeorge]

The truth is that most of them prefer the warm blanket of anonymity that the internet affords to the risk they would face were they to express their opinions face-to-face to ANY black person let alone one fresh from the African continent.

Says he with the generic nick.

Racism stinks in all forms, but it's ironic and typical that dark fellas find it ok to bash and berate the white man. That doesn't count does it.

You can't be racist towards Anglo Saxon whites there is no such thing.

[chome4]

This is an indication of how useless politicians are. You can't scam in Singapore or Japan - I know that tourism isn't a major sector in these nations - but the fear of a good flogging in the case of Singy is enough to deter the most hardcore scammer. Asian nations need to get their heads together on this. Western nations are [slowly] taking action about this section of unsavoury 'tourist' but it's forcing the problem over to the developing nations.

Apparently, China are hurriedly amending their immigration laws as they've been having the same problems as Thailand. A Nigerian businessman in China is working with the authorities to sort things out. It can be resolved. The story was referred to in an Aljazeera news clip.

[jackdawson]

I think it's safe to assume the West Nigerians are not working as rocket scientists.

[transam]

"It is an honor and a privilege to be born white" These great words are not racist in nature. In fact they are nothing more than an expression of ethnocentrism, yet any pride that we show in our race is rapidly condemned as being racist rhetoric.

Also, I view the frequent derogatory terms directed towards whites the same why I would the rantings of a child. However, children do not blow people up, slaughter innocents with machetes (with the exception of African child soldiers) burn people alive with flaming automobile tires, riot in major cities, organize violent hate groups who threaten death to non-believers, etc.

I have got some news for the whining little babies who are still blaming the white man for their problems. Slavery and colonialism is a thing of the distant past(except in the Sudan: http://webcache.goog...nk&client=gmail)

,so stop blaming others, and take responsibility for your own lives. Incidentally, you should research the extent of African complicity in the Atlantic slave trade. What you find may surprise you.

+1

[Geekfreaklover]

I've seen many Western Africans (I guess that was their origin due to body shape and size and colour) in the Ramkamheng area of Bangkok recently. Some training athletics and some playing football. Most Thai premier league teams have a couple of African players in their teams. Some were attending the university there, which has an international program where any one can attend for the same fee. These guys and girls were African and not pimping nor whoring nor selling drugs. Bascially they were trying as far as I could gather better themselves in a country that is cheap to live in.

As for lower sukhumvit, yes there does seem to be a lot of nasty characters of late. But there always has been. The only thing that has changed is the colour of their skin. I've never been attacked or ripped off by an African in Thailand, but I can imagine (like most of the posters) it might be quite scary if it actually happened. Sure.

[starguard69]

The truth is that most of them prefer the warm blanket of anonymity that the internet affords to the risk they would face were they to express their opinions face-to-face to ANY black person let alone one fresh from the African continent.

Says he with the generic nick.

Racism stinks in all forms, but it's ironic and typical that dark fellas find it ok to bash and berate the white man. That doesn't count does it.

You can't be racist towards Anglo Saxon whites there is no such thing.

Tell that to Elridge Clever and Malcom X

[JemJem]

When the white money leaves-the problems begin.

The Thais are open about their racism and nationalism.

The Thais know what races cause most of the problems.

Paradoxically, they are doing very little to eradicate the Muslim problem in the south.

What a load of bull, plus some disgusting bigotry !

Why are there so many bigots on the Thaivisa forum ?

Jem

[Soutpeel]

"It is an honor and a privilege to be born white" These great words are not racist in nature. In fact they are nothing more than an expression of ethnocentrism, yet any pride that we show in our race is rapidly condemned as being racist rhetoric.

Also, I view the frequent derogatory terms directed towards whites the same why I would the rantings of a child. However, children do not blow people up, slaughter innocents with machetes (with the exception of African child soldiers) burn people alive with flaming automobile tires, riot in major cities, organize violent hate groups who threaten death to non-believers, etc.

I have got some news for the whining little babies who are still blaming the white man for their problems. Slavery and colonialism is a thing of the distant past(except in the Sudan: http://webcache.goog...nk&client=gmail)

,so stop blaming others, and take responsibility for your own lives. Incidentally, you should research the extent of African complicity in the Atlantic slave trade. What you find may surprise you.

...Very well said

[JemJem]

What the f.ck is this ? Thaivisa forum is becoming a mouthpiece for 'White pride' neo-fascists ?!

So, hyku, you are not accepting that the stuff you wrote is racist ?! In my mind, you are no different than jihadis and other fasco-fundamentalists who are also full of hatred.

Anti-fascists like me will continue to speak out against this bigotry.

By the way, the Nigerians whom I met in Bangkok were all decent folks. On the contrary, I came across some dodgy 'white' people. I didn't want to bring race into the discussion like this but I couldn't have argued better against the white supremacists here in another way.

Jem

Edited October 9, 2011 by JemJem

[rustydick]

This is an indication of how useless politicians are. You can't scam in Singapore or Japan - I know that tourism isn't a major sector in these nations - but the fear of a good flogging in the case of Singy is enough to deter the most hardcore scammer. Asian nations need to get their heads together on this. Western nations are [slowly] taking action about this section of unsavoury 'tourist' but it's forcing the problem over to the developing nations.

Apparently, China are hurriedly amending their immigration laws as they've been having the same problems as Thailand. A Nigerian businessman in China is working with the authorities to sort things out. It can be resolved. The story was referred to in an Aljazeera news clip.

hmmm obama is half white half black not half chinese half black..what country would he like to be president off.maybe im being a bit tough on nigerians but i dont know one case of an honest nigerian.my pal is the samw and he worked at lagos airport for the british immigration bureau,,he said you cant believe a word from any nigerian..master conmen..