Has The Smile Departed Los?

[thaibeachlovers]

Back ( a very long time ago ) when I first arrived in Thailand it really was LOS.

Now though, I rarely see a Thai smile, unless it's part of their job ( like hotel receptionist, shop assistant ). This applies as much in the village as in the city.

Anyone else noticed this?

I'm not talking about people interacting with myself, just people going about their lives, passing by.

It is also evident that girls don't hold hands with each other, like they used to, while walking about. I rarely see that anymore, though it used to be commonplace.

I previously noticed the phenomenon in Fiji. One trip the place was full of genuine smiles, and then a few years later, gone.

Edited April 15, 2013 by thaibeachlovers

[CharlieH]

As with most things and places, time moves on, people and places change, time stops for no man. Reflecting and comparing what once was is sign of growing older, its just inevitable, sadly.

[soi41]

Please stop travelling !

[thaibeachlovers]

As with most things and places, time moves on, people and places change, time stops for no man. Reflecting and comparing what once was is sign of growing older, its just inevitable, sadly.

Hmmmm, I don't see that just because time moves on people stop smiling. That's depressing if it's inevitable in today's world. Surely there must be a reason for it?

[Dancealot]

Don't want to spill your sherry, but.. This afternoon along route 21

I got 6 smiles just from a glance...

Edited April 15, 2013 by Dancealot

[Travel2003]

The smile is still there.

Just look at all the advertising vids and posters.

Surely they don't lie about that.

[FunFon]

It is also evident that girls don't hold hands with each other, like they used to, while walking about. I rarely see that anymore, though it used to be commonplace.

-

Word got out that foreigners thought same-sex couples holding hands meant they were gay.

[Kitsune]

Yes it's called industrialization, office/factory workers don't smile, farmers (and yes construction workers like on the photos too) do.

[Dancealot]

I would like to add this, TBL.

If you don't smile to the mirror, the mirror don't smile back.

[cooked]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Payboy]

Has The Smile Departed Los

Back to the re-education centre with you.

[thaibeachlovers]

I would like to add this, TBL.

If you don't smile to the mirror, the mirror don't smile back.

I'm not talking about people interacting with me, as I already said in the OP, just people going about their lives.

[Dancealot]

It is also evident that girls don't hold hands with each other, like they used to, while walking about. I rarely see that anymore, though it used to be commonplace.

-

Word got out that foreigners thought same-sex couples holding hands meant they were gay.

And i thought that stating the obvious once,.. sufficed....

[thaibeachlovers]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Oh my goodness, I didn't know that you have seen me out and about, avoiding eye contact with everyone!

BTW, unless young and good looking, try "smiling" at women in the west, and they'll be hassling you for being a pervert.

[Dancealot]

I would like to add this, TBL.

If you don't smile to the mirror, the mirror don't smile back.

I'm not talking about people interacting with me, as I already said in the OP, just people going about their lives.

And you claim to have the ability to observe and summarise this, like another poster here?

I am leaving this dicussion.

[thaibeachlovers]

It is also evident that girls don't hold hands with each other, like they used to, while walking about. I rarely see that anymore, though it used to be commonplace.

-

Word got out that foreigners thought same-sex couples holding hands meant they were gay.

I can see that affecting girls in tourist areas, but they don't do it anymore in back of beyond where there are no farangs, like where I live, either.

[swissie]

In full agreement with the OP.

Anyone in disagreement, just diden't have the fortune to experience Thailand 15 years ago!

Cheers.

[thaibeachlovers]

I would like to add this, TBL.

If you don't smile to the mirror, the mirror don't smile back.

I'm not talking about people interacting with me, as I already said in the OP, just people going about their lives.

And you claim to have the ability to observe and summarise this, like another poster here?

I am leaving this dicussion.

Bye bye, don't hit your head on the way out

[Johnniey]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

So true, OP have you ever thought that it is because you are wearing different tinted spectacles that when you first came here.

[thaibeachlovers]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

So true, OP have you ever thought that it is because you are wearing different tinted spectacles that when you first came here.

No, see swissie for someone that was here more than a couple of years.

Thailand was indeed a different country back then, but I was hoping that someone could come up with a reason for the change. People are generally better off now, but obviously unhappier than they used to be.

[Dancealot]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

So true, OP have you ever thought that it is because you are wearing different tinted spectacles that when you first came here.

No, see swissie for someone that was here more than a couple of years.

Thailand was indeed a different country back then, but I was hoping that someone could come up with a reason for the change. People are generally better off now, but obviously unhappier than they used to be.

Very interesting, but how did you come to reach this conclusion TBC?

[FunFon]

The "reason" for the changes is that time has passed, and everything but everything changes with time, including the perceptions and attitudes of yourself the observer.

Economic development has been rapid so traditional values and ways of life are eroding.

All around the world globalisation is creating homogeneity, and rarely for the better.

So it goes.

[Kitsune]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

So true, OP have you ever thought that it is because you are wearing different tinted spectacles that when you first came here.

No, see swissie for someone that was here more than a couple of years.

Thailand was indeed a different country back then, but I was hoping that someone could come up with a reason for the change. People are generally better off now, but obviously unhappier than they used to be.

They used to grow rice for a hundred Baht a day, but were their own boss, live among nature and their loved ones.

Now they left their province and their family to come to polluted Bangkok and spend 4 hours in transport per day to go to a job where their boss is treating them like dirt and come back alone every evening to a 3k rented room to watch telly or talk to imaginary friends on Facebook...No one would smile ...

Edited April 15, 2013 by Kitsune

[Ulysses G.]

Don't want to spill your sherry, but.. This afternoon along route 21

SMILE.JPG

I got 6 smiles just from a glance...

Agreed. Thais still smile nicely to me often and I have been here longer than 15 years.. The OP must be doing something wrong.

[Dancealot]

Don't want to spill your sherry, but.. This afternoon along route 21

SMILE.JPG

I got 6 smiles just from a glance...

Agreed. Thais still smile nicely to me often and I have been here longer than 15 years.. The OP must be doing something wrong.

Agreed, Let's keep it simple guys. Is he right or wrong?

[poanoi]

Children in thailand rocks, they are the finest

[rgs2001uk]

Don't want to spill your sherry, but.. This afternoon along route 21

SMILE.JPG

I got 6 smiles just from a glance...

Agreed. Thais still smile nicely to me often and I have been here longer than 15 years.. The OP must be doing something wrong.

Agreed, Let's keep it simple guys. Is he right or wrong?

He is wrong.

[geriatrickid]

Try Issan. Lots of smiles. All genuine.

I was recently in Krabi. Outside of the tourist zone, lots of smiles. Even in Hua Hin out at the military hospital rehab center where we spent a lot of time on the beach last week , everyone smiled at me, even those dour faced NCOs and I was probably the only farang around. Get out of the tourist zones and you'll get lots of sincere warm smiles.

[thaibeachlovers]

Try Issan. Lots of smiles. All genuine.

I was recently in Krabi. Outside of the tourist zone, lots of smiles. Even in Hua Hin out at the military hospital rehab center where we spent a lot of time on the beach last week , everyone smiled at me, even those dour faced NCOs and I was probably the only farang around. Get out of the tourist zones and you'll get lots of sincere warm smiles.

Jeez GK, I haven't been in a tourist zone for a year. Good to hear about Issan.

[thaibeachlovers]

Up to you, if you smile first instead of doing the typical Farang 'avoid eye contact' thing, you may be surprised. In any country.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

So true, OP have you ever thought that it is because you are wearing different tinted spectacles that when you first came here.

No, see swissie for someone that was here more than a couple of years.

Thailand was indeed a different country back then, but I was hoping that someone could come up with a reason for the change. People are generally better off now, but obviously unhappier than they used to be.

Very interesting, but how did you come to reach this conclusion TBC?

I thought you had left?

Observation, observation.