necronx99 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 As I'm in the area I was reading up on the airbase in Takhli and came upon this, printed at the end of a handbook given to US Servicemen posted to the base in the late 60's Was it true then, is it true now? keep these nine rules in mind...... Remember, we are guests here; we make no demands and seek no special treatment. Every American is an ambassador to the Thai he meets and should act accordingly. Get Acquainted with the Thai people. Understand their life and honor their customs and laws. Treat women with politeness and respect. Establish friendships among the Thai people, both military and civilian. Adjust to local driving. The situations and laws are often different from those to which you are accustomed. Don't attract attention by loud, rude or unusual behavior. Avoid separating yourself from the people by a display of wealth or privilege. The last rule was very military specific so I dropped it. The booklet is here http://www.takhli.org/bob/GurnerBooklet/Welcome1.htm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I reckon that is sound advise; change American for any other nationality and the points should work as well. Would work today as I'm sure it did then for all new-comers. Of course, there should be a warning section as well as advise for todays visitors................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacktrip Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) troll thread... Edited August 17, 2012 by jacktrip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
necronx99 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... I don't see how you reach that conclusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Think the booklet points out how a military guy should behave in any country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
draggons Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... EH? Also think those guidelines are just as usefull today as they were 40 years ago for all nationallities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
necronx99 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... EH? Also think those guidelines are just as usefull today as they were 40 years ago for all nationallities. well, he originally wrote a big reply objecting to being classified as a guest and refusing to change his beliefs. Though I don't see where the latter is suggested in the list. I see the list as describing a path of least resistance and possibly maximum enjoyment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 All very good advice. Wish every foreigner would adhere to said advice, but alas, will never happen. Too many d*ckheads among us who do the opposite most of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carmine Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Should be a blueprint of how everyone should behave when travelling. How on earth does anyone come to the conclusion its a troll thread though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diablo Bob Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It went beyond booklets. I first arrived in Thailand in 1960 as a dependent. My father was an employee of the US Navy. The whole family had a 2 day orientation upon our arrival which covered in depth the Monarchy, Religon and my favorites poisonous reptiles and rabid dogs.....and naturally the list above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p_brownstone Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I used to visit Thakli quite often in the early '70's when it was still an active Base. I must admit I found the American Servicemen there much more polite and relatively well behaved than their counterparts who use to infest the American oriented Bars, Nightclubs and Dancehalls on Petchburi Road in Bangkok around the same time. Apart from one very scary episode in an Hotel there my most memorable experience was learning not to order "Whisky Soda" in an American Bar (F 1-11 if I recall correctly). I was served that nasty, sweet stuff called Bourbon, instead of the proper Scotch I expected, and d@mn near choked. Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
necronx99 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 All very good advice. Wish every foreigner would adhere to said advice, but alas, will never happen. Too many d*ckheads among us who do the opposite most of the time. Polar opposites are always fun, so that would be; Act as if you own the place and the locals should feel privileged to have your presence. How you act will have no bearing on how locals will treat others from your country. Remain ignorant of local customs and traditions. Assume all local women are on the game and are doable if enough cash is offered. Make no local friends. Drive as you would at home, expect everyone else to accommodate your driving style. Be loud and brash, make sure they know you are there. You are obviously far wealthier, flash the cash and show the bling so there are no misunderstandings. Yes,I can see some people living here like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garrya Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... Agree. Just another thread to instigating arguments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 All very good advice. Wish every foreigner would adhere to said advice, but alas, will never happen. Too many d*ckheads among us who do the opposite most of the time. Polar opposites are always fun, so that would be; Act as if you own the place and the locals should feel privileged to have your presence. How you act will have no bearing on how locals will treat others from your country. Remain ignorant of local customs and traditions. Assume all local women are on the game and are doable if enough cash is offered. Make no local friends. Drive as you would at home, expect everyone else to accommodate your driving style. Be loud and brash, make sure they know you are there. You are obviously far wealthier, flash the cash and show the bling so there are no misunderstandings. Yes,I can see some people living here like this. That would work for a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxme Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... Agree. Just another thread to instigating arguments. And I thought that was what everybody was doing here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisinth Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 troll thread... Agree. Just another thread to instigating arguments. I can't see that from the OP; he is asking are the rules the same for then and now. However, the polar opposites list...................... that should instigate a debate........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 All very good advice. Wish every foreigner would adhere to said advice, but alas, will never happen. Too many d*ckheads among us who do the opposite most of the time. Polar opposites are always fun, so that would be; Act as if you own the place and the locals should feel privileged to have your presence. How you act will have no bearing on how locals will treat others from your country. Remain ignorant of local customs and traditions. Assume all local women are on the game and are doable if enough cash is offered. Make no local friends. Drive as you would at home, expect everyone else to accommodate your driving style. Be loud and brash, make sure they know you are there. You are obviously far wealthier, flash the cash and show the bling so there are no misunderstandings. Yes,I can see some people living here like this. sounds a lot more realistic..... You should add: if anyone complain, remind him what happened to Iraq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattayadingo Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Very different attitudes in the 60's. Many these days do not have those manners and attitudes. Sounds as good now as it did then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theblether Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I think P Brownstone should be telling us what happened in that hotel.........come on Patrick......how about? Also I wish I could go back in a time machine and stand beside Diablo Joe in 1960........it must have been fascinating visiting Thailand then. As for the advice.........spot on. I remembera book given to US personnel in Germany that warned "Inside every German there is a hidden policeman".............true, so true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonD Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 The US military issued that sort of advice to service personnel for every country they had a large presence in. There was a similar one for GI's in Britain during WW2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Very different attitudes in the 60's. Many these days do not have those manners and attitudes. Sounds as good now as it did then. Well in the 60s America had to show that they are better than the communists. In many countries communism sounded like a good option. Now as remaining and only superpower, the USA doesn't need to be friendly anymore. They won already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSixpack Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I was served that nasty, sweet stuff called Bourbon, instead of the proper Scotch I expected, and d@mn near choked. Only as a consequence of your own rigidity and provincialism. Nor can you judge a bourbon when it's mixed with--soda, of all things. Too bad for you. Not all bourbons are sweet and few are nasty. Try some Wild Turkey 101 for example. It ain't sweet. How do you like the cheap Scotch blends sold around Thailand? Most would agree they're pretty vile. Here's a list of UK mini-reviews of bourbons: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-10-best-bourbons-7546091.html Me, I can appreciate both a good single malt and a good bourbon. I'm glad I can. A fine cigar paired with a fine bourbon--ah, one of life's great pleasures, not to be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Don't attract attention by loud, rude or unusual behavior. When I was young my friends older brother was a Royal Marine and I've been on a night out with those lads so I would imagine the above rule being an exercise in futility. I was given the sterling advice of " MCA mate always take your pint to the bog when you go for a slash because it's a sure bet if you don't one of these dirty ******* will whip his cock out and dip it in your drink." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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