Some things that really annoy me seem to only happen in Thailand. Do you notice it this way too or is it just me? For example:

When seeing a movie in Thailand, people must choose their seats beforehand. I always choose seats that don't have people around me. Without fail, after we sit down, some other people always come and choose seats right next to us even when there are plenty other seats open. Why?

In Thailand, for some reason, people are very hesitant to step onto an escalator. They always pause for a second before stepping onto it. Why?

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

- Different notions of privacy and personal space. They probably wonder why you want to sit all by yourself.

- Lack of experience. If you grew up in the West you have been riding elevators all your life. If you grew up in Buriram you didn't ride one until you went shopping in Bangkok.

- First-come-first-served is a Western value. In fact, it is not a very efficient means of queue management. When I ran a Federal Government office in the US I took a hint from Asia and abandoned first-come-first-served. Instead we used a a chaotic but managed queue that I first observed in a China Airlines office in Shanghai. It worked beautifully. The only ones who didn't like it were middle-aged Americans....

- Lack of experience. If you grew up in the West you have been riding elevators all your life. If you grew up in Buriram you didn't ride one until you went shopping in Bangkok.

When my wife's niece first came to Surin at about two years old, we took her to a department store that had kid's rides on the 3rd floor. She was not interested in the kid's rides but only wanted to travel up and down the escalator. Cheaper for me!

When seeing a movie in Thailand, people must choose their seats beforehand. I always choose seats that don't have people around me. Without fail, after we sit down, some other people always come and choose seats right next to us even when there are plenty other seats open. Why?

In Thailand, for some reason, people are very hesitant to step onto an escalator. They always pause for a second before stepping onto it. Why?

- Different notions of privacy and personal space. They probably wonder why you want to sit all by yourself.

- Lack of experience. If you grew up in the West you have been riding elevators all your life. If you grew up in Buriram you didn't ride one until you went shopping in Bangkok.

Ok, for the first one, if you are correct that they wonder why I am sitting all by myself, is that why they choose to sit right next to me? That isn't going to change my view at all.

On the second one, I don't buy lack of experience as a reason when considering the people of BKK. Lets use for example the Mah Boon Krong shopping center where this happens all the time. I know that the people in there have frequented the place time after time. You mean to tell me they still haven't gotten the jist of it yet?

OK, I'll try again:

- As a wise Man of the West you obviously know the best seats in the theater. By choosing to sit next to you the Thai's are showing their respect for and envy of your obviously superior intellect and knowledge.

- Thai escalators are unreliable and frequently break down. (The "down" elevator from the second floor to the first at Klang Plaza here in Koret has been busted for a week now.) The hesitation you see is actually just the time it takes to evaluate whether or not the mechanism is operating properly and gives the Thai rider time to bail if they should sense that anything is awry.

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

I'd disagree with you on this one. Thailand seems to be one of the few countries in Asia where people do form queues. Could reckon it's because of conditioning in the school system.

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

I'd disagree with you on this one. Thailand seems to be one of the few countries in Asia where people do form queues. Could reckon it's because of conditioning in the school system.

Thats not my experience lamphun. I find the Thais totaly unable to comprehend queues and see it as an opportunity to jump to the bginign of the line...

I've always found that a growl and a sharp elbow makes them realise that pushing in front of me isnt a good idea

Sure it is not the fangs Wolfie?

When seeing a movie in Thailand, people must choose their seats beforehand. I always choose seats that don't have people around me. Without fail, after we sit down, some other people always come and choose seats right next to us even when there are plenty other seats open. Why?

In Thailand, for some reason, people are very hesitant to step onto an escalator. They always pause for a second before stepping onto it. Why?

- Different notions of privacy and personal space. They probably wonder why you want to sit all by yourself.

- Lack of experience. If you grew up in the West you have been riding elevators all your life. If you grew up in Buriram you didn't ride one until you went shopping in Bangkok.

Ok, for the first one, if you are correct that they wonder why I am sitting all by myself, is that why they choose to sit right next to me? That isn't going to change my view at all.

On the second one, I don't buy lack of experience as a reason when considering the people of BKK. Lets use for example the Mah Boon Krong shopping center where this happens all the time. I know that the people in there have frequented the place time after time. You mean to tell me they still haven't gotten the jist of it yet?

I can relate to the escsalator . When im using the skytrain and putting the card into the the gate machine I run very quickly through . I do not want those red gates closing on my ... richard

Some things that really annoy me seem to only happen in Thailand. Do you notice it this way too or is it just me? For example:

When seeing a movie in Thailand, people must choose their seats beforehand. I always choose seats that don't have people around me. Without fail, after we sit down, some other people always come and choose seats right next to us even when there are plenty other seats open. Why?

In Thailand, for some reason, people are very hesitant to step onto an escalator. They always pause for a second before stepping onto it. Why?

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

Only in Thailand?

Sounds more like Yankland to me.

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

I'd disagree with you on this one. Thailand seems to be one of the few countries in Asia where people do form queues. Could reckon it's because of conditioning in the school system.

This is also not my experience. Perhaps you have been lucky so far with this. I can specifically recall on my last trip to Thailand at least two occasions where it happened to me. One was at a Skytrain station. I was standing in line to buy my ticket at the machine and as soon as my turn was up, some Thai girl rushed right in there, jumped in front of me and acted like nothing had happened. Other one was at a store in the check-out line. Again me and the wife were next in line and some Thai lady runs right up, cuts the line and starts putting her things on the belt. I looked at my wife as if to say "<deleted>?" and she just shrugged her shoulders. Also, I cannot count how many times we flew Air Asia to see the wifes family and everyone is supposed to line up to get on the plane. Even as we start getting on the plane, people just jump right in front of us in the line. Its bullshit! On one particular occasion upon boarding the airplane, I was complaining about this to my wife and she said "Thai people don't like to wait in line." A Thai lady in front of us could actually speak English and she turned around and said rather angrily "Not all Thai people are like that!"

Only in Thailand?

Sounds more like Yankland to me.

No way, this is Thailand all the way man!

In Thailand, people have no idea what it means to wait in line and form a queue (sp?). They just cut in front of other people that were there first. Why?

I'd disagree with you on this one. Thailand seems to be one of the few countries in Asia where people do form queues. Could reckon it's because of conditioning in the school system.

This is also not my experience. Perhaps you have been lucky so far with this. I can specifically recall on my last trip to Thailand at least two occasions where it happened to me. One was at a Skytrain station. I was standing in line to buy my ticket at the machine and as soon as my turn was up, some Thai girl rushed right in there, jumped in front of me and acted like nothing had happened. Other one was at a store in the check-out line. Again me and the wife were next in line and some Thai lady runs right up, cuts the line and starts putting her things on the belt. I looked at my wife as if to say "<deleted>?" and she just shrugged her shoulders. Also, I cannot count how many times we flew Air Asia to see the wifes family and everyone is supposed to line up to get on the plane. Even as we start getting on the plane, people just jump right in front of us in the line. Its bullshit! On one particular occasion upon boarding the airplane, I was complaining about this to my wife and she said "Thai people don't like to wait in line." A Thai lady in front of us could actually speak English and she turned around and said rather angrily "Not all Thai people are like that!"

Only in Thailand?

Sounds more like Yankland to me.

No way, this is Thailand all the way man!

I have experienced all these things here in America. Drives me crazy!

On the skytrain with my prego wife I was pleasently shocked to see several folks stand to let her sit...of course I always pushed in and sat down first but it was nice to see.

Regarding the escalators, getting on to them I can deal with, but when people stop at the bottom and you have to walk backwards thats what gets me.

OK, I went to the Mall in Korat today and did my best to observe the elevators. I have to admit that I sympathize with the OP on this one as Ms. B is one of those who hesitates before getting on the moving staircase. I constantly have to remember to adjust to this or I end up two or three steps above or below her.

What I observed is that a very small number of people around here do the moments' hesitation before boarding. It's very strange to watch -- almost as if they are in suspended animation for a moment.

I asked Ms. B about this later -- why do you and others wait a few seconds before getting one. Why don't you just walk right on.

She answered, with a very straight face, "Well, you know, we Thai's are very concerned about safety."

A moment later she burst out laughing and I never did get a straight answer.

And another thing....when "driving" (using the term loosely) Thai's tend to come to an almost stop when turning left from a road that is larger than the road they are turning into.

This behaviour is really starting to piss me off!

It's almost as if they get half way round the corner and then decide it was a bad idea...or maybe they saw a ghost or something. They just seem to hang around half way round the ######ing bend with the arse end of their pick up blocking the main road they have not yet departed from.

Is it only me who has noticed this or are ther others?

rant over!

And another thing....when "driving" (using the term loosely) Thai's tend to come to an almost stop when turning left from a road that is larger than the road they are turning into.

It is common practise... but I thinks it's more to do with safety than anything else... they don't want a collision with a motocyc coming the wrong way.

Left hand turns here can be dangerous.