Who Wai's Who?

[dundee48]

Don't wai anyone, it's not your custom.

PS

I don't kneel in the gutter with my shoes off in front of monks ....... it's not my custom.

Soooooooooooo if you were introduced to a Thai in farangland and YOU offered your hand as a sign of friendship, via our custom, and it was ignored, what would YOUR thoughts be ?

Come on, someone answer my question, honestly.

Probably the same as their thoughts to my non-waiing,`ignorant bloody foreigners`.

[Tywais]

The annual wai-oh-wai topic and the same tunes coming out of it.

My wife certainly would not expect me to initiate a wai to her older sisters, they always initiate it to me. First, I am older than them. 2nd, I'm the head of our house (just don't let the wife know). 3rd my position in the community as a government officer and university ajarn. After 35 years experiencing Thailand it is an automatic response for me as to who, why and how. I live here and do respect their culture and it reflects in their attitude towards me. Some members just don't get it and prefer to stay in their personal little mental ghetto.

[SteeleJoe]

I live here and do respect their culture and it reflects in their attitude towards me. Some members just don't get it and prefer to stay in their personal little mental ghetto.

There it is.

Truth.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[pattayadingo]

Been here a few years now, I wai the family as they respect me by showing me a wai, also some Thais or family members will me give a good old British hand shake ( usually the men), and a few broken words of English, Hello how are you but i dont go around giving a wai to every Tom Dick and Harry

Be careful of shaking with that Dick, though

[daoyai]

I live here and do respect their culture and it reflects in their attitude towards me. Some members just don't get it and prefer to stay in their personal little mental ghetto.

There it is.

Truth.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

I find this topic amazing, it aint that complicated if you are observent, go to a party or social gathering of your friends, everyone wai at first greeting, sametime, obviously "junior" folk initiate and slightly higher, in these situations, I can't imagine not givin'the wai...... also very spontanious thanks are demonstrated this way, not returned but acknowleged. After a year or so it should be automatic and normal, IF you live here.

[simple1]

if a hand is offered palm upward it's a sign of openess and trust, if the hand is offered palm down then that would be a sign of soperiority.NO'P wrong agian...

It's not worth the effort.

Just remembered

If a Thai girl shakes your hand and taps her finger in the palm of your hand it means bed-time.

That was worth the effort after all.

originated in western countries decades ago, the bar girls must have learned from farangs.

[Morakot]

I'll need to go for a lie down

Wouldn't prostration be the highest form of adoration or submission.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Morakot

[yoslim]

Why would you way anyone in the family if you're the one providing ? As long as I pay then all I would do is smile and nod

[transam]

Can't believe how many yobs we have on here. ................................

[Exsexyman]

I, and indeed the rest of the clientele particularly enjoyed watching a guy at a gogo bar on Saturday night who came in and then did a circuit of the stage, solemnly giving a bow and a Wai to each girl in turn, all of whom were in various states of undress. Yes you, the overweight fifty something guy with a baseball cap turned back to front and sunglasses on at 1-00 AM in one of the more popular establishments on Walking Street, you know who you are! You made a complete tit of yourself, but brightened up a lot of people's night out, including the dancing girls i may add, many of whom were openly laughing.

[mickjn]

My mate is married to a Thai Lady.He said to me I will never wai them,I do not want to learn to speak etc.The lady tried to teach me to speak Thai but gave up said I was hopeless.The first time I went up country with them to met her family I said to her what will I do when I meet your Papa.She said if you like just be like my husband wave your hand in the air and say how are you all going.But for me I would like if you wai my Papa.I knew he was in the Thai Army but I didnt know his rank.That wai has been repaid to me many times.I was lucky I still dont know a lot of people but that wai have got me to know a few of the right people thanks to Papa and that wai

[Kilgore Trout]

Don't wai anyone, it's not your custom.

PS

I don't kneel in the gutter with my shoes off in front of monks ....... it's not my custom.

Yes, and I don't shake hands with Asians; its not their custom.

Now do you see how silly your post is?

Edited February 27, 2013 by Kilgore Trout

[TommoPhysicist]

Don't wai anyone, it's not your custom.

PS

I don't kneel in the gutter with my shoes off in front of monks ....... it's not my custom.

Yes, and I don't shake hands with Asians; its not their custom.

Now do you see how silly your post is?

Not really, why would I want to shake hads with someone who may have personal hygene issues.

[transam]

Is this Tommo.......................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FNmBauXYzgc///

[TommoPhysicist]

Is this Tommo.......................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FNmBauXYzgc///

I'm a bit better looking, but the sentiments are spot on.

PS. I did once meet a woman as intelligent as me, we did have sex, but we both agreed sex with someone more stupid was more enjoyable.

Edited February 27, 2013 by TommoPhysicist

[waza]

I am farrang so I dont wai, I shake hands

[rattler]

I live here and do respect their culture and it reflects in their attitude towards me. Some members just don't get it and prefer to stay in their personal little mental ghetto.

There it is.

Truth.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

I find this topic amazing, it aint that complicated if you are observent, go to a party or social gathering of your friends, everyone wai at first greeting, sametime, obviously "junior" folk initiate and slightly higher, in these situations, I can't imagine not givin'the wai...... also very spontanious thanks are demonstrated this way, not returned but acknowleged. After a year or so it should be automatic and normal, IF you live here.

Im not normal.

[rattler]

Can't believe how many yobs we have on here. ................................

I cant believe how much credulity can be stretched here.

Definition of a yob, someone who doesnt wai.

[FDog]

Don't wai anyone, it's not your custom.

PS

I don't kneel in the gutter with my shoes off in front of monks ....... it's not my custom.

Yes, and I don't shake hands with Asians; its not their custom.

Now do you see how silly your post is?

Not really, why would I want to shake hads with someone who may have personal hygene issues.

So the bar girl that shook your hand and tickled your palm with her finger is yet another figment of your imagination?

[FDog]

My mother came to Thailand with me a few months ago. On the first day she asked about the wai.

My gf told her that when someone does it to her just do it back or at least nod the head in recognition.

Nope, not good enough for dear old mum. Everytime she was introduced and the person wai'd she would then grab their shoulders and shake them whilst nodding her head like one of those toy dogs in the back of cars.

She's lost quite a bit of her faculties so I didn't bother trying to mend her ways. It was a good laugh anyway and certainly no issue for the Thais subject to her shaking abuse.

[canuckamuck]

I don't wai much, although I know the rules. If I do wai it is because I want someone to know I am happy to see them, or I am grateful for something they have done.

I don't go in for the who goes first thing, I just go ahead and wai if I feel like it. I will return a wai if given one; to not return a wai seems ignorant to me, unless that person is just providing some service and is required to wai you (like a clerk)

I return kids wais because I feel like it.

so mostly I return wais and don't give many out.

I don't like shaking hands anymore, but I do like to nod my head and I find it serves the purpose for all.

[mixolydian]

I don't wai much, although I know the rules. If I do wai it is because I want someone to know I am happy to see them, or I am grateful for something they have done.

I don't go in for the who goes first thing, I just go ahead and wai if I feel like it. I will return a wai if given one; to not return a wai seems ignorant to me, unless that person is just providing some service and is required to wai you (like a clerk)

I return kids wais because I feel like it.

so mostly I return wais and don't give many out.

I don't like shaking hands anymore, but I do like to nod my head and I find it serves the purpose for all.

I mostly agree with this but I don't think people that have decided not to wai are ignorant. the ignorant people are the opposite: going around wai'ing everyone, gogo dancers, receptionist, etc.

a properly placed, mutually understood show of respect is a sign of good character regardless of method.

[transam]

I don't wai much, although I know the rules. If I do wai it is because I want someone to know I am happy to see them, or I am grateful for something they have done.

I don't go in for the who goes first thing, I just go ahead and wai if I feel like it. I will return a wai if given one; to not return a wai seems ignorant to me, unless that person is just providing some service and is required to wai you (like a clerk)

I return kids wais because I feel like it.

so mostly I return wais and don't give many out.

I don't like shaking hands anymore, but I do like to nod my head and I find it serves the purpose for all.

I mostly agree with this but I don't think people that have decided not to wai are ignorant. the ignorant people are the opposite: going around wai'ing everyone, gogo dancers, receptionist, etc.

a properly placed, mutually understood show of respect is a sign of good character regardless of method.

Rubbish. A steep learning curve which takes time to understand.

[arthurwait]

Is this Tommo.......................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=FNmBauXYzgc///

No it's MIckjn.

[MRTELLYOUSTRAIGHT]

A good old fashion boisterous roughing up of the hair and pat on the head of the father-in-law always goes down a treat.

[thaibeachlovers]

I never wai anyone. It's too complicated.

If they don't like it, tough, but never had a problem yet.

[transam]

I never wai anyone. It's too complicated.

If they don't like it, tough, but never had a problem yet.

You will probably never have a problem, BUT, you will be known as a ....................

[wildorchid]

if you read my post I said "MY HUSBAND" so NO i dont go too men's toilet, firstly because I am a woman and secondly you can smell them before you can see them,

and Maybe you counting of men in toilets washing and not washing,,,, I think maybe you spend a little to much time in mens toilets???

You husband appears to be counting.

I'm not the one Quoting numbers,,,, take a look at Tommo,,,

[breadbin]

I don't wai anyone. I am not Thai.

If someone younger wais me I acknowledge with a smile look etc.

I don't go around waiing people.

I think people who do that (farang) look like knobs!!!

Don't do it!

[shaggy1969]

Don't wai anyone, it's not your custom.

PS

I don't kneel in the gutter with my shoes off in front of monks ....... it's not my custom.

Soooooooooooo if you were introduced to a Thai in farangland and YOU offered your hand as a sign of friendship, via our custom, and it was ignored, what would YOUR thoughts be ?

Come on, someone answer my question, honestly.

If they were new to my country and didn't know about the custom of hand shaking then they could be forgiven.....BUT if they already knew and didn't give me a hand in return then I would think 'you <deleted>'.