Dr Robert Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 In a candid moment with some Thai friends, where I asked their opinions of farang attitudes, I was somewhat taken aback by their responses; This is a brief summary of some of their ideas on the topic. 1. Farangs dress badly 2. Worse, many of them (especially men, but sometimes women) appear not to wash, are overweight, balding, crass and ugly 3. Farangs disrespect Thai culture with their boorish, superior attitudes 4. Why do farangs drink so much alcohol? They always seem to be drunk 5. Thai women are used and abused in the sex industry, much to their shame They were also grateful for the income and job creation which came from tourism and farang spending. The people who braved the above responses ( reluctantly in most cases) are smart professionals and high achievers. I am interested to know what you Thaivisa readers and contributors think on the topic and the summary of these responses and if it might be time to reconsider our attitudes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Not all correct but near enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FritsSikkink Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Topic 1/4 yes, there are certainly a lot of farangs like that. Topic 5 There are Thais using the same industry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookMan Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 umm...your brave friends candid , yet 'reluctant' responses? ...very candid indeed. Some answers for your smart and high achieving professional friends 1. Dress Thongs should be mandatory wear in the evenings 2. It's the cream of the farang crop in Thailand indeed!: Imagine how horrified your Thai friends would be over in farangland. I can imaghine also that your Thai friends dont know many farang? perhaps only yourself? But they are spot on. 3. What do the Thais know anyway 4. Farangs like to party and have fun, hence they drink more alcohol 5. Yes, farangs feel much ashamed about this abuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jingthing Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) Not surprising comments at all but I do wonder how being fat / balding / ugly disrespects Thai people. Are such people expected to hide in their rooms? Perhaps so. Edited October 20, 2012 by Jingthing 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post soi41 Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 What makes your friends such experts on farang-behaviour?? Two trips to Hua Hin yearly, staying in a rented house with 15-20 friends over the weekend, while eating their 35 baht noodlesoup with their still 36 months to pay bigface car parked, so no one misses it! If this came from someone interacting with farangs on a daily basis, I would listen to it, but it is just as stereotype as many farangs view on Thais. Dirty foreigners?? Ever been to a 7-eleven on a rainy day? Next time you have a "candid moment" with your friends, ask them, what they think would happen if the money from the barindustry stopped flowing to Isaan? Maybe, instead of being embarressed over the lack of farang "class', they should start a little closer to home, with a society where it is not uncommon to pimp out your daughters. Compared to that I find it a little easier to accept the odd exentric farang 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 What makes your friends such experts on farang-behaviour?? Two trips to Hua Hin yearly, staying in a rented house with 15-20 friends over the weekend, while eating their 35 baht noodlesoup with their still 36 months to pay bigface car parked, so no one misses it! If this came from someone interacting with farangs on a daily basis, I would listen to it, but it is just as stereotype as many farangs view on Thais. Dirty foreigners?? Ever been to a 7-eleven on a rainy day? Next time you have a "candid moment" with your friends, ask them, what they think would happen if the money from the barindustry stopped flowing to Isaan? Maybe, instead of being embarressed over the lack of farang "class', they should start a little closer to home, with a society where it is not uncommon to pimp out your daughters. Compared to that I find it a little easier to accept the odd exentric farang Hmmmm, but Thais expect better from a farang. So do l. Sorry. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post I Like Thai Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 To me this sounds like a Farang view of what a Thai view would be. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 To me this sounds like a Farang view of what a Thai view would be. It's not. Believe me. DO NOT take a Thai smile as OK if you are dressed like a slob. Just politeness, but the town will hear about their actual feelings for sure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TommoPhysicist Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 Thais same same ...... especially 3, 4, 5 Add 6. poorly educated to the Thais, and that includes the Thai graduates and most of the lecturers. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaorop Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 You can put any nationality/race in place and say the same thing, ignorance is also worldwide.......unfortunately. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangkokhatter Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 I would imagine they are basing their experiences on the foreigners they have seen while on their weekend jaunts to the seaside. Most foreigners i come into contact with are generally dressed ok and polite, true we do like a beer though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dancer Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 These sound like stereotypes to get a giggle out of. Think of negative typing of Polish, Irish, American, Japanese - you name your ethnicity - mostly in jest. My experience is that Thais are generally fair and respond to how you are rather than preconceived notions. E.g., minorities in some countries (say black and Hispanics in the US) have a far harder time dealing with stereotypes than we do here. It's true though that Thais like their guests to be well-dressed, washed, sober and respectful of Thai culture. Like most of the rest of the world. Not an unfair expectation and not hard to satisfy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaigold Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) Two sides to the pancake. Smelly unshaven Farang on BTS with bike and backpack. Many times accompanied by female with breasts and belly bouncing with the rhythm of the rails. Inebriated Euro tramp on BTS with his loose Euro panties on display. Two Farangs deep kissing and fondling each other on BTS platform. Euro scum with jellied hair and obscene tattoos (male and female). Western European yelling and berating a Thai service lady because she doesn't understand his garbled native tongue. The list is long.... Edited October 21, 2012 by metisdead : Bold font removed, again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cbrer Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 You care what Thais think? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlBkk Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Basically all true, but the smartest nicest Thais have already learnt to differentiate between the farangs that conform to those negative stereotypes and those whom they would like to be associated with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Scottish Gary Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 (edited) The same Thais are probably scathing about their Northern Countrymen as well. In reality if you are not part of their sheltered sweet smelling world then you are fat balding drunk and smelly. Edited October 20, 2012 by Scottish Gary 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post chiang mai Posted October 20, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted October 20, 2012 To me this sounds like a Farang view of what a Thai view would be. +1 Have to agree, there are items on the list that, from a Thai perspective, make no sense at all. The sex industry for example and the issue of demeaning women, the Thai sex industry was around a long time before farangs started to live in Thailand. also, I'm not sure that being fat and/or balding is a uniquely farang trait! I reckon the OP made up this list himself! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Issam rider Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 In a candid moment with some Thai friends, where I asked their opinions of farang attitudes, I was somewhat taken aback by their responses; This is a brief summary of some of their ideas on the topic. 1. Farangs dress badly 2. Worse, many of them (especially men, but sometimes women) appear not to wash, are overweight, balding, crass and ugly 3. Farangs disrespect Thai culture with their boorish, superior attitudes 4. Why do farangs drink so much alcohol? They always seem to be drunk 5. Thai women are used and abused in the sex industry, much to their shame They were also grateful for the income and job creation which came from tourism and farang spending. The people who braved the above responses ( reluctantly in most cases) are smart professionals and high achievers. I am interested to know what you Thaivisa readers and contributors think on the topic and the summary of these responses and if it might be time to reconsider our attitudes. with friends like them who needs enemy's ( maybe they were talking about you ) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baboy Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 # 5 made me laugh. Never seen any Thai guys at massage parlors. Plus never noticed any single mums working in said massage parlors or bars after their better half leaves them when the 1st kid arrives. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundman Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Not Bkk specific. Moved to general forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeverSure Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Not Bkk specific. Moved to general forum. The nerve. The very nerve. There are no fat, balding, smelly farangs outside of BKK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaiRaiJaiDee Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 4. Why do farangs drink so much alcohol? They always seem to be drunk Remember being surprised my first time to Thailand at what a heavy drinking culture it was. Granted folks aren't walking around in a blackout, but social drinking is a cornerstone of the culture (and I certainly partake on occasion). My first email to friends I told them they put the Irish to shame. My response to your high class pals would be that there is good/bad (depending on your perspective) everywhere, followed up with the comment I typically reserve for Thai bashers - clean up your own backyard before you go knocking on your neighbor's door. Not that there isn't elements of truth in the observations, mind you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurwait Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Yes there are plenty of farangs like that. You will usually find them in bars in the usual places or at Khao San Road if this is the only experience they have of farangs it suggests where they work. If they were high achievers they would most likely encountered a much different kind of farang at work , abroad, studying or in their social life. In that case this is either a troll fail or it tells us what your idea of high achievers are. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurnell Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 3. is most interesting. Which aspect of Thai culture would that be? Corruption, nepotism, cronyism, xenophobia, lack of education. Yep, I definitely have a lack of respect for Thai culture. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loong Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 So your Thai friends seem to find something obnoxious about being fat and bald. Aren't all monks bald? Why is that? They must be absolutely horrified at so many of the Buddha images. (Yes, I know that the majority of Buddha statues are not fat) I live away from the tourist areas and the majority of Farangs that i see are much better dressed than the locals. Do your friends expect us to wear suits all the time? Maybe the Farangs that your friends see that always appear drunk are on holiday? I have never seen a drunk farang in Khon Kaen, seen plenty of drunken Thais though. From what I see, Thai women are used and abused by Thai men much more than they are by Farangs, in or out of the sex industry. If a women offers her body for sale, is the client using and abusing her? Utter crap! If somebody is selling any sort of service, be it cleaning or whatever, how can the customer be accused of using and abusing them by using their services and paying for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Semper Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 "Farang dress badly" That's just to keep a low profile. It keeps beggars away. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Flame removed. I can see this thread is going to need a reminder of the forum rules so let me remind you now so that when you do get a warning you have no cause to complain http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?app=forums&module=extras§ion=boardrules These seem to be the most relevant so far. 3) Not to post in a manner that is vulgar, obscene or profane. 4) Not to flame fellow members.Flaming will not be tolerated. 'Flaming' is defined as posting or responding to a message in a way clearly intended to incite useless arguments, to launch personal attacks, to insult, or to be hateful towards other members. This includes useless criticism, name-calling, swearing and any other comments meant to incite anger. 7) Not to post slurs or degrading comments directed towards any group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation. 8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohnnyBKK Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I agree with those suspicious of this being a troll topic, but find it interesting enough to respond to. > 1. Farangs dress badly > 2. Worse, many of them (especially men, but sometimes women) appear not to wash, are overweight, balding, crass and ugly It is true that Thais are much more sensitive to body odor than those from most other countries, and this is one area where I do try to live up to their expectations. There are so many fat and balding guys here because Thailand makes its beautiful young girls so easily and cheaply available to us - the equivalent quality squiff back home in my case would cost over USD $1,000 per hour and even at that rate would be very hard to find. Judgement as to "crass" is certainly not just specific to national culture but socio-economic context, and to me implies class snobbishness on the part of the person making such judgement. IOW Thais are much snobbier than many other cultures, I find nearly as much as in the UK. IMO Thais value superficial appearance far too highly, act as if that indicates the value of the person. Not only for people, also in doing business, firms spending lot so of money on fancy-looking offices beautiful receptionist but not investing anything on delivering the quality in the goods and services, to the point of fraud. Of course none of these flaws are limited to Thailand, just pointing them out as the root cause of the above "observations". 3. Farangs disrespect Thai culture with their boorish, superior attitudes There are very many aspects of Thai culture that are not worthy of respect. It is true that we often speak judgmentally without considering the feelings of others, but then IMO Thais are much too sensitive about criticism, even when it's given in a constructive and sensitive manner. 4. Why do farangs drink so much alcohol? They always seem to be drunk An over-generalization but IMO very true, not just with those farang here in Thailand but very often just as true back home. But not useful or appropriate to criticize openly as the substance abuser will simply get defensive. 5. Thai women are used and abused in the sex industry, much to their shame This is a criticism of Thailand more than the small subset of customers which are foreigners. Perhaps they mean they are ashamed that their local pimping industry allows its activities to be so visible to the outside world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asanee Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I would imagine they are basing their experiences on the foreigners they have seen while on their weekend jaunts to the seaside. NO-these are indeed beliefs widely held by most mid-class Thai (from high-class it will be even much worse). But they are-like most Thai ''beliefs'' NOT from own experience-but from a common held and exchanged among themselvesset of standard Thai general beliefs-as they also have about any possible other class of people etc. Thai do not think for themselves-they parrot. Or simply rehearse what they have been told in school. There are not that many Thai who can afford ''weekly haunts to the sea''. The original list of OP could easily be extended with another 50 or so similar beliefs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts