Difference Of Values, Thailand Still Surprises After 10 Years

[Lancelot]

you married into the wrong family.....

I understand the comment, Father in law is a piece of work for sure. Regardless, My wife is a treasure and the best decision I have made in life. Living on the land she inherited is a separate issue, and it comes with challenges such as the OP.

Ahmmm, thank goodness for the ignore button

You are the lucky one C, good on you for having a wife you adore. The FIL <deleted> up but he is a saint compared with our (some) of our Thai Visa members.

[ggold]

This isn't an example of 'Thai' values, it is an example of the family you married in to. You should also consider the possibility, that the father deliberately sold the dog because he knew you liked it. Might be something going on there.

Indeed. I've met characters as you suggest before . . .

Technically it was his dog, although it was impossible to tell.

My father in law actually likes me quite a bit, he says that me and my brother n law are the only ones that give a crap about him. Actually I am simply respectful and have as little to do with him as possible. I am quite convinced though that he had no concept of how I felt about the dog. Because I don't think he can comprehend that a dog could be anything more than a tool or livestock. It is a concept out of reach.

Very true I have a Labrador, when I take him for walkies people look with bemusement at me. Sadly to say they eat dogs in this village. He went missing for a few days, I was really upset, he got lost in the hills. We went looking for him even offered a reward to the farmers if found. I didn't want him being eaten! On the third day we got a call he had been sighted, so we went off looking for him, we called out his name and after a few minutes came running down the hill to me. He was about 15klm away from our village.

I get the feeling people here were surprised he was still alive.

[mca]

This isn't an example of 'Thai' values, it is an example of the family you married in to.

Not aimed at the OP in any way cos I like his posts and I fully sympathize with his feelings but we get a lot of stuff on TVF like " Why do Thais X, Y or Z?"

Usually not a single Thai of my acquaintance does the things mentioned.

It's a bit like me going to Detroit, marrying Yolanda from the projects and saying " Why do Americans sell their kid's clothes and toys to buy crystal meth?"

Edited January 30, 2013 by mca

[canuckamuck]

This isn't an example of 'Thai' values, it is an example of the family you married in to.

Not aimed at the OP in any way cos I like his posts and I fully sympathize with his feelings but we get a lot of stuff on TVF like " Why do Thais X, Y or Z?"

Usually not a single Thai of my acquaintance does the things mentioned.

It's a bit like me going to Detroit, marrying Yolanda from the projects and saying " Why do Americans sell their kid's clothes and toys to buy crystal meth?"

Thanks MCA, and I agree with you. This is not Thai thing, because attitudes change from region to region. Most places don't eat dog for example. But tribal life is part of the Thai culture, is it not?

[Trembly]

This isn't an example of 'Thai' values, it is an example of the family you married in to.

Not aimed at the OP in any way cos I like his posts and I fully sympathize with his feelings but we get a lot of stuff on TVF like " Why do Thais X, Y or Z?"

Usually not a single Thai of my acquaintance does the things mentioned.

It's a bit like me going to Detroit, marrying Yolanda from the projects and saying " Why do Americans sell their kid's clothes and toys to buy crystal meth?"

Thanks MCA, and I agree with you. This is not Thai thing, because attitudes change from region to region. Most places don't eat dog for example. But tribal life is part of the Thai culture, is it not?

I'm not sure what you mean by tribal, but I don't think I would ever really describe 'Thai culture' (the term 'Thai culture' itself is a rather broad brush) as such. Fundamentally agrarian and pretty clannish but not tribal.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Trembly

[Trembly]

Whats the old rhyme "East is east and west is west and never the two shall meet..."

The longer I'm here, the less I understand the place.

I just keep saying (to myself) It is what it is...

"East and West". I have given up to truly find common grounds. The whole value system and the way we socially interact is so completely different, there is no bridge large and broad enough to change this fact. No marriage certificate between a Farang and a Thai Lady will change it.

Cheers.

That line from The Ballad of East and West is one of the most prolific misquotations around. The original meaning is quite opposite :

Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,

Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;

But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,

When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!

I agree with Kipling.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Trembly

[cooked]

Most distressed by your story, I know what I would do, playing with fire in my village, but they know what happens when I feel crossed.

[Briggsy]

Who bought the dog initially? If the FIL bought it, he can sell it.

[canuckamuck]

This isn't an example of 'Thai' values, it is an example of the family you married in to.

Not aimed at the OP in any way cos I like his posts and I fully sympathize with his feelings but we get a lot of stuff on TVF like " Why do Thais X, Y or Z?"

Usually not a single Thai of my acquaintance does the things mentioned.

It's a bit like me going to Detroit, marrying Yolanda from the projects and saying " Why do Americans sell their kid's clothes and toys to buy crystal meth?"

Thanks MCA, and I agree with you. This is not Thai thing, because attitudes change from region to region. Most places don't eat dog for example. But tribal life is part of the Thai culture, is it not?

I'm not sure what you mean by tribal, but I don't think I would ever really describe 'Thai culture' (the term 'Thai culture' itself is a rather broad brush) as such. Fundamentally agrarian and pretty clannish but not tribal.

Are you serious, all we have up here are tribes. Hence the term hill tribes. I am in the northern part of Chiang Rai. And yes they are part of the culture of Thailand.

[Trembly]

Are you serious, all we have up here are tribes. Hence the term hill tribes. I am in the northern part of Chiang Rai. And yes they are part of the culture of Thailand.

I hope I don't come across as arguing (not my intention at all), but in that case I would say that you're living in hill-tribe culture, which is somewhat foreign to the lowland Lanna folk, let alone Thais (by Thais I mean anyone who has grown up in or adopted contemporary Bangkokian social mores).

It was not apparent that you live in Chiang Rai. Whereabouts are you? I know Chiang Rai quite well as I'm from Chiang Rai and spent a good amount of my childhood there.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Trembly

[mca]

I agree with Kipling.

Yes he makes exceedingly good cakes.

( I hope you're a Brit of a certain age or you'll be thinking <deleted> mate?)

[Trembly]

I agree with Kipling.

Yes he makes exceedingly good cakes.

( I hope you're a Brit of a certain age or you'll be thinking <deleted> mate?)

Especially the ones he made with Prince Battenberg!

[IAMSOBAD]

Total savages. Kill a dog...and eat it!

Disgusting!

[Trembly]

Total savages. Kill a dog...and eat it!

Disgusting!

I have read that the Swiss are some of the keenest dog eaters in the world, with farmers producing hams, steaks, sausages, dogballs etc. Sort of gives a new meaning to hotdogs. Their does however forbid them to commercialise it (private consumption only).

I would be interesting to hear from the Swiss contingent on TV regarding this!

[canuckamuck]

Are you serious, all we have up here are tribes. Hence the term hill tribes. I am in the northern part of Chiang Rai. And yes they are part of the culture of Thailand.

I hope I don't come across as arguing (not my intention at all), but in that case I would say that you're living in hill-tribe culture, which is somewhat foreign to the lowland Lanna folk, let alone Thais (by Thais I mean anyone who has grown up in or adopted contemporary Bangkokian social mores).

It was not apparent that you live in Chiang Rai. Whereabouts are you? I know Chiang Rai quite well as I'm from Chiang Rai and spent a good amount of my childhood there.

It is not really worth splitting hairs over. Hill tribe culture is a legitimate part of Thai culture (of course it doesn't define Thai culture) but none of that is relevant to the point that; I am still often surprised at value differences here from my own. If you think that outside of the tribes there is vastly different value system then you should explain your thoughts. Before I moved to the north (North of Mae Suai, since you asked) I already found a less compassionate attitude in Thailand and life seemed much cheaper here. Maybe the poverty and lack of education in the villages brings more of this out into the open. But I am of a mind that the rich in the cities can be equally dispassionate to man and beast. In fact I often see the villagers looking after each other and working together in ways that you would never see in the city. You could say I am being judgmental, but really this is just an observation.

Edited January 30, 2013 by canuckamuck

[tuky]

When my ex-wife and I had our first child I bought a kitten.

I am in no way an animal lover but thought it would be nice to have around.

The kitten was called Srisawat.

After a few weeks, I come home from work and asked where Srisawat is?

The ex said she didn't know but thought "Pappa" had eaten her and shrugged her shoulders.

I chose to disbelieve her and it was never spoken of again.

Yep, funny the difference of values.

[Trembly]

Are you serious, all we have up here are tribes. Hence the term hill tribes. I am in the northern part of Chiang Rai. And yes they are part of the culture of Thailand.

I hope I don't come across as arguing (not my intention at all), but in that case I would say that you're living in hill-tribe culture, which is somewhat foreign to the lowland Lanna folk, let alone Thais (by Thais I mean anyone who has grown up in or adopted contemporary Bangkokian social mores).

It was not apparent that you live in Chiang Rai. Whereabouts are you? I know Chiang Rai quite well as I'm from Chiang Rai and spent a good amount of my childhood there.

It is not really worth splitting hairs over. Hill tribe culture is a legitimate part of Thai culture (of course it doesn't define Thai culture) but none of that is relevant to the point that; I am still often surprised at value differences here from my own. If you think that outside of the tribes there is vastly different value system then you should explain your thoughts. Before I moved to the north (North of Mae Suai, since you asked) I already found a less compassionate attitude in Thailand and life seemed much cheaper here. Maybe the poverty and lack of education in the villages brings more of this out into the open. But I am of a mind that the rich in the cities can be equally dispassionate to man and beast. In fact I often see the villagers looking after each other and working together in ways that you would never see in the city. You could say I am being judgmental, but really this is just an observation.

Thailand is a political construct. Culture pays no mind to borders. Vastly different value system in the hills? Perhaps not, but there are subtle nuances, small but significant differences. I live in Isan and as far as culture is concerned I'm not in Thailand but Lao.

[maturebrit]

Total savages. Kill a dog...and eat it!

Disgusting!

I have read that the Swiss are some of the keenest dog eaters in the world, with farmers producing hams, steaks, sausages, dogballs etc. Sort of gives a new meaning to hotdogs. Their does however forbid them to commercialise it (private consumption only).

I would be interesting to hear from the Swiss contingent on TV regarding this!

the Froggies....oops..our French bretheren are quite fond of horsemeat too

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[HeijoshinCool]

Very sad story.

Very sad story.

Yeah, I really hope the OP wasn't trying to be funny, but I'm not sure.

Tell us, Canuck, that you are devastated ....

Having had a similar experience years ago, I can imagine how you feel. Really sorry, man.

[cooked]

Total savages. Kill a dog...and eat it!

Disgusting!

I have read that the Swiss are some of the keenest dog eaters in the world, with farmers producing hams, steaks, sausages, dogballs etc. Sort of gives a new meaning to hotdogs. Their does however forbid them to commercialise it (private consumption only).

I would be interesting to hear from the Swiss contingent on TV regarding this!

I lived in Switzerland for 40 years and never heard of anyone eating dog or cat meat. Any Swiss I knew would be most upset if you suggested eating it.

However they aren't all rich bankers, plenty of poor people, plenty of dogs walking around...

[Trembly]

Total savages. Kill a dog...and eat it!

Disgusting!

I have read that the Swiss are some of the keenest dog eaters in the world, with farmers producing hams, steaks, sausages, dogballs etc. Sort of gives a new meaning to hotdogs. Their does however forbid them to commercialise it (private consumption only).

I would be interesting to hear from the Swiss contingent on TV regarding this!

I lived in Switzerland for 40 years and never heard of anyone eating dog or cat meat. Any Swiss I knew would be most upset if you suggested eating it.

However they aren't all rich bankers, plenty of poor people, plenty of dogs walking around...

That's what I would have thought, but here's the article : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/02/farmers-eat-dogs-cats-switzerland_n_2398224.html

And a wiki for good measure : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_meat#Switzerland

[cooked]

Ah well, Appenzell, that's the Isaan of Switzerland, every country has one...

[barefoot1988]

is this dog eating thing really real in thailand? i had only stayed in muang of bkk, cm and mhs which people dont really eat dogs. which areas in thailand do the local eat dogs regularly?

[MAJIC]

Very sad story.

Very sad story.

Yeah, I really hope the OP wasn't trying to be funny, but I'm not sure.

Tell us, Canuck, that you are devastated ....

Absolutely gutted, full of rage, and at the same time understanding that it wasn't my dog and there isn't anything I can do to assuage the reality.

I trust you told the Father to find a new place to eat in future.

[Briggsy]

Dog eating in Thailand only really found in hilltribes and the areas of Sakhon Nakhorn and Nakhorn Phanom with Vietnamese (now rebranded as Thai) immigration.

[WilliamCave]

I feel for u as a dog lover my self. We have a local dog comes to stay in my yard all the time I don't mind one bit he is friendly and he is fed good

[tim armstrong]

The collar is a good idea. But yes the story sickens me too. I think it is a values thing. There is a kind of fatalism in this society, where everything has to have a purpose and a dollar value. Be it people, animals or things if its no use it doesn't matter anymore. I like Art but have a hard time finding my thai family to look at something and admire it without asking - how much was it? Animals seem to get more respect in the country - but they're useful. Dead people on roads get little respect. Anyway very sorry about 'your'dog.

[Kilgore Trout]

Your wife and father and law should be locked up.

Most Thais I know would agree.

If my wife sold my dog for food she would no longer be my wife

[Thongkorn]

Maybe he should be congratulated on his Business enterprise. still back to money number one in Thailand.

ps you will know when you are eating Dig, because when you drop your fork your meal will fetch it for you.

Edited February 2, 2013 by Thongkorn

[loong]

Your wife and father and law should be locked up.

Most Thais I know would agree.

If my wife sold my dog for food she would no longer be my wife

Most Thais that I know would not agree.

I would think that every family in this Isaan village has exchanged dogs for a bucket or a bowl, knowing full well that they are headed for somebodys dinner table.

Mind you most of them say that they will not eat dog.

Not had any of the pick-ups around for a year or so now, so nobody collecting the dogs anymore.

Dog population has increased, but a fair few dissappear when they get older. Wonder where they go. I guess that the owners either kill them or leave them on a busy road somewhere.