Do Many Thais Suffer From Little-Man Syndrome?

[EmptyBasementBin]

I have a nice motorbike, worth the average annual salary of a Thai. I cannot go one day without at least half a dozen Thais cutting me off/overtaking me on scooters and kicking their leg out in a victory salute…. ‘I beat you’, ‘I win’.

That’s on a good day. Many days it is vicious. Attack me, swerve right in front and then brake before violently flicking some body-part at me. For some it’s their arse stuck up in the air and then waved at me.

On a very good day it will be a non-fatal style of racing in order to beat me, embarrass me, or whatever these poor people feel the outcome is. God help me if I happen to overtake someone. It’s like a declaration of war. And none of it is a friendly bit of play, it's deadly serious. It literally seems to drive them insane.

What’s wrong with all these people?

Is it little-man syndrome? delicate egos or something else?

6 or so years ago I was on a bus and took out my discman and put in a CD. Immediately the Thai man opposite me took out his MP3 player, held it in his hand as he let him arm hang over the ailse and had it facing towards me while coughing.

Last week in a market my wife was looking at t-shirts, I said ‘The DJ one is nice’, quick as a flash the woman next to it went for it, held it with massive beaming smile for about 10 seconds, then took it over to buy it while grinning like a cheshire cat….. I’ve almost never seen a woman so happy.

I see these example every day here. Far, far more than in any other country I’ve lived or travelled in.

Just some examples off the top my head that I see every day while observing Thai society.

In your opinions do many Thais come across as suffering from little-man syndrome? Very delicate egos? And a bitter joy at getting one over on someone?

PS.

Please remember the forum rules and not attack all Thai people, please.

[transam]

Buy a pickup. Problem solved.

[EmptyBasementBin]

^ and ^^ No trolling please.

If you have an opinion of the questions it would be great to get them.

Edited July 19, 2012 by EmptyBasementBin

[LucidLucifer]

^ and ^^ No trolling please.

If you have an opinion of the questions it would be great to get them.

My opinion is......you're the one doing the trolling.

[inthepink]

Don't buy a pick up. They are for people who cannot afford cars. Unless you are in the habit of transporting produce to market or running a removal business I can't see the point of them.

[EmptyBasementBin]

I'm sure many are familiar with the German word Schadenfreude - 'delighting in others misfortune'.

It sums up a lot of what I see or pick up from observing Thai society compared to others I have lived in.

Any one else notice this or am I misinterpreting Thai social behaviour.

[inthepink]

I've never noticed any behaviour like that. The only annoying character trait that I can ascribe to a fair proportion of Thai people is walking in front of me when I am waiting to be served at a 7-11.

[transam]

Don't buy a pick up. They are for people who cannot afford cars. Unless you are in the habit of transporting produce to market or running a removal business I can't see the point of them.

, troll of the day.

[Semper]

EmptyBasementBin.

I think you should seek some professional help for your problems.

[BookMan]

I've never noticed any behaviour like that. The only annoying character trait that I can ascribe to a fair proportion of Thai people is walking in front of me when I am waiting to be served at a 7-11.

Make sure you get some height measurements next time of the offenders ...for the OPs benefit

[EmptyBasementBin]

Odd that we've had quite a few personal attacks on me, trolling, but not discussion of the topic.

Perhaps people don't want to acknowledge such things about the society they have chosen to reside in. Too painful for them perhaps.

Edited July 19, 2012 by EmptyBasementBin

[giddyup]

Don't buy a pick up. They are for people who cannot afford cars. Unless you are in the habit of transporting produce to market or running a removal business I can't see the point of them.

If you live somewhere with bad roads (anywhere in Thailand) you'll soon see the merits of a pick-up. I had a Jazz before I got the Isuzu, great little car, but after I nearly tore out the suspension a couple of times, I bowed to common sense and got the pick-up.

[transam]

Odd that we've had quite a few personal attacks on me, trolling, but not discussion of the topic.

Perhaps people don't want to acknowledge such things about the society they have chosen to reside in. Too painful for them perhaps.

What a sad twonk. God 'elp us. We all deal with stuff every day and if your topic is cos you are worried then perhaps you are in the wrong place. Come back to report if a 9mm was waived in your face eh.

[EmptyBasementBin]

^ Is that a bite.

Out of interest, is it that you want to ignore the points in the OP as it is too close to home and you cannot bring oneself to deal with it?

(soon to be 4 posts in this thread without once commenting on something from the OP).

Edited July 19, 2012 by EmptyBasementBin

[mca]

Odd that we've had quite a few personal attacks on me, trolling, but not discussion of the topic.

Perhaps people don't want to acknowledge such things about the society they have chosen to reside in. Too painful for them perhaps.

Possibly like myself they've never experienced anything like you describe perhaps?

[Semper]

I have a nice motorbike, worth the average annual salary of a Thai

You've just described the "little-man syndrome".

Edited July 19, 2012 by Semper

[TommoPhysicist]

Buy a pickup. Problem solved.

Yep, a battered old one, it work's for me.

I can face down new shiny Isuzu as well.

Edited July 19, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[inthepink]

Odd that we've had quite a few personal attacks on me, trolling, but not discussion of the topic.

Perhaps people don't want to acknowledge such things about the society they have chosen to reside in. Too painful for them perhaps.

I discussed the topic - as I said, I've never come across the type of behaviour that you describe.

I can throw in a personal attack for free if you like. When you say you ride around on a motorbike that is worth the average annual salary of a Thai person, you sound like you have an attitude that makes you deserving of people's scorn, Thai or otherwise. Furthermore, if you are using the much bandied about figure of 10k baht a month in your calculations, that means your bike cost around 120k baht? You don't get much bike for that money in Thailand - what is it?

Edited July 19, 2012 by inthepink

[inthepink]

Don't buy a pick up. They are for people who cannot afford cars. Unless you are in the habit of transporting produce to market or running a removal business I can't see the point of them.

If you live somewhere with bad roads (anywhere in Thailand) you'll soon see the merits of a pick-up. I had a Jazz before I got the Isuzu, great little car, but after I nearly tore out the suspension a couple of times, I bowed to common sense and got the pick-up.

Actually my comment was tongue in cheek but a Fortuner seems to cope fine with the roads - probably because it's based on a pick up chassis! I wouldn't drive a Jazz in any country, they are a bit too gay for me.

[phl]

OP, I think you are either seeing things or creating things to see.

Bad driving is pretty normal all across, so you do not need to feel special in this regard.

The rest of your post is just your vivid imagination.

[EmptyBasementBin]

the drivers here are brain dead and its all about me first,perhaps its just in many Thai peoples nature to want to get one up on the other guy ,i dont think its targeted at farangs ,because they do it to each other as well

Oh I'd agree that it's not because I'm a farang, but it is an inner psychological issue that affects so many of them. Perhaps manifesting from deep lying inferiority complexes and delicate egos.

[EmptyBasementBin]

I can throw in a personal attack for free if you like. When you say you ride around on a motorbike that is worth the average annual salary of a Thai person, you sound like you have an attitude that makes you deserving of people's scorn, Thai or otherwise. Furthermore, if you are using the much bandied about figure of 10k baht a month in your calculations, that means your bike cost around 120k baht? You don't get much bike for that money in Thailand - what is it?

It's not much of a bike, and your price is close enough to it. I don't really see how that's a personal attack on me though.

[arthurwait]

I have a nice motorbike, worth the average annual salary of a Thai

You've just described the "little-man syndrome".

^^^^^^^^^

[phl]

the drivers here are brain dead and its all about me first,perhaps its just in many Thai peoples nature to want to get one up on the other guy ,i dont think its targeted at farangs ,because they do it to each other as well

Oh I'd agree that it's not because I'm a farang, but it is an inner psychological issue that affects so many of them. Perhaps manifesting from deep lying inferiority complexes and delicate egos.

or lack of education and training to know the road rules & road etiquette

[inthepink]

I can throw in a personal attack for free if you like. When you say you ride around on a motorbike that is worth the average annual salary of a Thai person, you sound like you have an attitude that makes you deserving of people's scorn, Thai or otherwise. Furthermore, if you are using the much bandied about figure of 10k baht a month in your calculations, that means your bike cost around 120k baht? You don't get much bike for that money in Thailand - what is it?

It's not much of a bike, and your price is close enough to it. I don't really see how that's a personal attack on me though.

The personal attack was about your attitude. I honestly don't see that kind of bike causing the reaction you have described. Edited July 19, 2012 by inthepink

[arthurwait]

Don't buy a pick up. They are for people who cannot afford cars. Unless you are in the habit of transporting produce to market or running a removal business I can't see the point of them.

If you live somewhere with bad roads (anywhere in Thailand) you'll soon see the merits of a pick-up. I had a Jazz before I got the Isuzu, great little car, but after I nearly tore out the suspension a couple of times, I bowed to common sense and got the pick-up.

Actually my comment was tongue in cheek but a Fortuner seems to cope fine with the roads - probably because it's based on a pick up chassis! I wouldn't drive a Jazz in any country, they are a bit too gay for me.

So what you are saying is you wouldn't drive a pick up ,but you'd buy a pick up with a boot for a lot more money ?

[EmptyBasementBin]

Interesting:

The Thai are first and foremost ego oriented, characterized by the highest ego value of being Independent-being oneself (Pen tua khong tua eng), and a very high value of Self esteem. Closer inspection reveals that it is constantly ranked top priority, with the exception of farmers who ranked it relatively low (8th) among all Thai groups. Thai people have a very big ego, a deep sense of independence, pride and dignity. They cannot tolerate any violation of the “ego” self. Despite the cool and calm front, they can be easily provoked to strong emotional reactions, if the “self” or anybody close to the “self” line one’s father or mother, is insulted. There are countless numbers of examples in the media, where people can readily injure or kill another person for seemingly trivial insults.

Suntaree Komin, Psychology of the Thai People: Values and Behavioral Patterns,

[TommoPhysicist]

Oh I'd agree that it's not because I'm a farang, but it is an inner psychological issue that affects so many of them. Perhaps manifesting from deep lying inferiority complexes and delicate egos.

Just wondered how they know you are a foreigner, I cover up on my bike, full face with mirror visor always down, no skin on show.

[EmptyBasementBin]

Oh I'd agree that it's not because I'm a farang, but it is an inner psychological issue that affects so many of them. Perhaps manifesting from deep lying inferiority complexes and delicate egos.

or lack of education and training to know the road rules & road etiquette

Oh no, it's much more personal and aggressive than that.

[EmptyBasementBin]

Oh I'd agree that it's not because I'm a farang, but it is an inner psychological issue that affects so many of them. Perhaps manifesting from deep lying inferiority complexes and delicate egos.

Just wondered how they know you are a foreigner,

They wouldn't.