Dealing With Continual Attention For A Western-Western Baby

[SteeleJoe]

The simple reason is, as is often said on these forum, apples for apples. I have looked after a friend's Luek Krung child on a number of occasions and he simply doesn't get the same level of attention as our little blonde baby. It could well be the hair colour. I can't see why that would reflect badly on me.

Why is it people can't accept that a blonde child IS perceived differently to a dark haired child?

Perceived differently? Well if you use perceive in the literal sense, then obviously -- they are different colors and that's visible. If you mean attract more attention, then I imagine that's generally true. If you mean regarded as somehow far more special or superior, then I'm less sure.

But if someone has a Luke Kung child that regularly gets the sort of unwanted attention that you speak of -- leaving aside any pissing contest or ridiculous attempt to quantify the level of attention -- why would that experience be of no comparative value? Surely you are not unaware of the particular appeal to Thais -- as evidenced by their in-proportionate representation in the media -- of the biracial kid here? You must have noticed how many of them are physically attractive? I'm sure your child is beautiful and unquestionably exotically appealing. However Is it not possible that a couple of physically attractive people have a strikingly good looking biracial child that would consistently attract excessive attention, unwanted touching attempts to pick the child up etc? Let me in form you that it is. A couple of people gather around in a public place and make a big deal out of the kid, want to touch him/her even attempt to pick the child up -- I experienced that regularly; how is that not the same thing? Are we talking about some sort of Beatlemania-like frenzy of adoration?

I'm not at all surprised that you can't see how your attitude might reflect on you or what it suggests might be the case.

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[Morakot]

Surely you are not unaware of the particular appeal to Thais -- as evidenced by their in-proportionate representation in the media -- of the biracial kid here?

Odd phrase! Surely you mean: mixed ethnicity.

[SteeleJoe]

Surely you are not unaware of the particular appeal to Thais -- as evidenced by their in-proportionate representation in the media -- of the biracial kid here?

Odd phrase! Surely you mean: mixed ethnicity.

Oh, dear. Is this a semantics issue, a anthropological issue or a PC issue? Mixed ethnicity is fine with me if you prefer. I believe that such a thing as "Asian race" while perhaps biologically inaccurate or imprecise (Im no expert on such things) is not uncommonly used (by the US Census and others if Im not mistaken).

Not an odd phrase at all. It's a rather common one but if you mean it's incorrect then I beg your pardon.

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[Morakot]

I see you are American. Some background information. According to European Union Council Directive, "The European Union rejects theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races." Council Directive 2000/43/EC I was really just curious about your choice of words.

[SteeleJoe]

I see you are American. Some background information. According to European Union Council Directive, "The European Union rejects theories which attempt to determine the existence of separate human races." Council Directive 2000/43/EC I was really just curious about your choice of words.

Ah, well my apologies to the European Union Council and all who hail her! Can't imagine how that escaped my notice. Normally I'd obviously take great care to adhere to all directives issued from that source and shall do so more assiduously henceforth...

You know us Americans -- racists to a man. (Freakin app has no sarcasm emoticon)

I know American dictionaries still have a definition like:

A local geographic or global human population distinguished as a more or less distinct group by genetically transmitted physical characteristics.

A group of people united or classified together on the basis of common history, nationality, or geographic distribution: the German race.

A genealogical line; a lineage.

But I'm cool with banning that use of "race" and would be very pleased (though surprised) if it made any impact on efforts to eradicate consciousness of differences between people's.

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Edited October 11, 2012 by SteeleJoe

[ExpatJ]

Its so difficult having cute beautiful children isn't it ( i have 2 toddlers)!!? We should form a support group (excluding ugly children natch.) and plan our departures from Thailand since clearly this culture- which adores children- just cant deal with our beautiful kids.

What say you?

Edited October 11, 2012 by ExpatJ

[SteeleJoe]

Its so difficult having cute beautiful children isn't it ( i have 2 toddlers)!!? We should form a support group (excluding ugly children natch.) and plan our departures from Thailand since clearly this culture- which adores children- just cant deal with our beautiful kids.

What say you?

Fine idea! Of course it'll have to be TWO support groups: one for "Western-Western couples" and one for "Others" (if for no other reason, how could the latter understand the burdens of the former?)

Coincidentally, I have just now returned from a trip to Big C with my (needless to say, gorgeous) daughter -- she of the extremely fair skin and striking head of tightly wound natural dark reddish brown curls. The boy stayed home as did their Thai mother.

As we walked through the early deserted place (in the suburbs and opened only minutes previously) it was easy to notice and even hear the predictable but good natured commentary. When we stopped and a few lovely young women came over to make a fuss ( like her brother she is an unfailing chick magnet) one of them asked me, as they others showed keen interest in the question, if she was half Thai. Oddly enough I didn't notice any change when I replied in the affirmative. I wonder if they would have suddenly started mauling her if I had said her mother was Western?

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