Poll: Foreigners In Thailand: When You're Here, Do You Consider Yourself A "guest" Of Thailand?

[geriatrickid]

Guest?

The Thais consider us prey to be harvested.

Some Thais consider us prey.

However, for those of us with loved ones or good friends that is not what they think. My closest friend didn't even want to accept a gift I got him, admonishing me that it was too expensive. Perhaps one day you will fall in love with one or be lucky enough to have friends like that.

[Naam]

a number of Thailand's brilliant opportunities invited me. an invitation i could not resist = i am a guest.

[Naam]

Guest?

The Thais consider us prey to be harvested.

have you been harvested?

[PoodMaiDai]

You can describe this how you like. Guests, glorified tourists or long term RESIDENTS.

guest? However, doesn't it involve showing respect for one's guests, providing for their needs, and treating them as equals. I think we are not even guests in this country , if we were guests then we would be treated fairly and with respect .. are we guests ....I dont think so.

If expats were to be considered as being equal to Thai citizens and given equivalent statutory rights, than the Thais would have to categorize us as Thai farangs, an ethic community being part of this country`s society, similar to Thai Chinese and not just as Westerners living here. I can never envisage this happening, not in my lifetime, anyway.

If any of you believe that we have any forms of status here, over and above the average Western tourist, than you are living in cloud cuckoo land. As a matter of fact, even a dirt poor Burmese refugee or worker has more rights and less restrictions placed on them here than we do.

That`s the reality and something I am constantly aware of.

"Resident" isn't bad, as it says I reside in this area. Even a "visitor" is OK. I am visiting this location. But "guest" is way off base. We are generally not wanted here, and I hate when it turns into a "their country / my country" issue. That is so shallow minded.

We have no rights here, no doubt about it, but that is their short comings, not ours. A civilized society would give all visitors or residents proper rights. The fact they are Thai, someone is Burmese, or you are English, should have nothing to do with anything in terms of basic rights.

It saddens me to see so many people accepting their role as a not even a 2nd class citizen here, but a 3rd or 4th class citizen. In some cases looked at as someone lower than a farm animal. To the back of the bus you go, and please don't drink from the "Thai only" water fountain. The irony of it all is, for as much as foreigners are generally not liked here, they have no problems holding their mixed children as the most beautiful (like most of their stars), getting plastic surgery done to get a "farang nose," copying western fashion, watching western movies, listening to western music, and even coping western TV shows like Thailand's Got Talent. They want everything that has to do with us, they just don't want us.

That said, it pleases me to know that in a few hundred years there will be no more "Thai" people, or anyone else for that matter. Interracial breeding will put an end to all of that nonsense eventually.

[Soutpeel]

I'm surprised at the results so far. I figured a small majority would say NOT GUEST.

What term do you think best fits the description of foreign residents in Thailand that do not officially hold residency status?

Perpetual tourists...

[itchybum]

I'm surprised at the results so far. I figured a small majority would say NOT GUEST.

What term do you think best fits the description of foreign residents in Thailand that do not officially hold residency status?

Perpetual tourists...

eXpats.

[kennedy]

Some would consider themselves as a host, with a variety of Thai overnight guests.

[Kitsune]

I am a guest on the planet.

I respect it wherever I am.

[Naam]

Mummy.... Mummy!

We are generally not wanted here...

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm not a guest as I work here.

[bangkockney]

No rights here? I think some people need to wake up. Some of you are claiming to be treated like refugees or asylum seekers. Just think for a moment when you claim to have no rights - get a grip.

[rubberduck]

Im not a guest im an occupier

[itchybum]

I am a guest on the planet.

I respect it wherever I am.

Most people are vandals.

[Soutpeel]

I'm not a guest as I work here.

I work here too and consider myself a guest...as simply if someone official/goverment department decides to change employment rules for what ever reason, I could find myself out of a job as could a lot of other people...ie we are here only as long as they want us here to work

[Soutpeel]

Im not a guest im an occupier

A squatter is you will...

Actually the more I think about it....we are pikey's...

Edited May 7, 2013 by Soutpeel

[gmac]

Not being wealthy I suspect I am a barely tolerated visitor rather than a guest.

[Beetlejuice]

No I do not consider myself a 'Guest'.

I pay more taxes here than almost any Thai I have ever met and obey more laws here than most Thais would consider 'decent'.

Take my money... Take my f'king opinions too.

So you do not consider yourself a guest if you are living in Thailand. Now all you need to do is convince the Government, the Police, Immigration and the Thai public to share your views on this subject, as our opinions or whatever status we consider we have here, means nothing unless it has official backing and support.

Of course we are guests and as foreigners have very few statutory rights here in Thailand. We can be thrown out on the whim at anytime

I'm betting I enjoy more rights and suffer less abuse of my rights than the vast majority of Thais do in their own country.

Meaning:

If you become sick, you can receive Government funded benefits and healthcare,

You have the freedom to own any types of businesses, can be a sole owner or majority shareholder of any business or work at any job,

You can legally purchase and own your home, invest in real estate, property and land, have total control on your home utilities under your name,

Pay equal to the Thais for any services, goods, visits to national attractions - museums, etc, without prejudice.

Work voluntary either within your local community or on behalf of a charity without Government permission,

Form a band or drama group and play in public either for free or for a fee,

Have a say within your local community by being able to vote in any local community or authority elections,

Live freely or stay anywhere nationwide without the authorities keeping tabs on you,

And if you get down on your luck financially, you can beg, work or borrow without the fear of being arrested, detained by the police, fined and deported.

It may appear on the surface that we have relative freedom in Thailand, but the reality is that the Thai authorities have has well under the thumb, inhibited and restricted in many ways with virtually no statutory rights. I am not saying I don`t like it here, as in my case I am retired and financially secure, presently meeting the criteria, but I`m certainly not living a delusion that I am anything more than just permitted long term stayer in Thailand, having to be totally self supportive, independent and squeaky clean, entitled to virtually nothing under the Thai system.

Sorry guesthouse, but you don`t have that many rights to be abused.

Edited May 7, 2013 by Beetlejuice

[doggie888888]

Guest?

The Thais consider us prey to be harvested.

...a paying guest perhaps?

Euphemistically, I consider myself a guest. Legally, I am a non-immigrant resident.

[phuketjock]

22 posts 9 of them by the OP. What is the point really???

It's to smoke out the counting fetishists. Didn't you know?

Welcome to fairyland.

[kennedy]

I remember back in 60's when we got the military speech about being guests. Basically telling us not to make an ass out ourselves in public.

[Khun Ngo]

The poll should really have three options:

1. Paying customer

2. Guest

3. Resident

In such a poll only a minority would be guests in the real sense of the word.

[lannarebirth]

Regardless of the poll results, examining this definition of guest, I'm now wondering if considering ourselves guests of an entire nation is simply incorrect:

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/guest

From this definition, being invited is one definition. The country doesn't invite us. A visa isn't an invitation: you APPLY for a visa. You can also be a guest in a hotel and of course generally you just book or show up at a hotel and are not invited. So guest can be used for situations of being invited and also not being invited. So you could stretch it and see Thailand as a hotel where you stay and they never invited you. But I don't think that makes sense. A hotel is one thing, an entire nation something else. That's the key I think, if you really can see a nation the same way as a hotel.

Generally we need visas or even a 30 day stamp is a sort of official permission to stay in Thailand. You don't need a visa to get invited to dinner as a guest. To stay at a hotel, you can pay with a VISA card, but again you don't need a visa.

Does staying/visiting a foreign country really fit with the word guest? I think not so much.

I do nnot consider myself a guest. I consider myself to be a supernumeray of Thai society.

[pattayadingo]

I'll always be a 'guest' here until I am allowed to buy a house in my name on a small plot of land I own. I do not want much land, enough to park my car, have a small garden and put the house on. I do not want to buy tracts of land to use for farming or to deprive the locals.

Edited May 7, 2013 by pattayadingo

[canuckamuck]

"So where are you living?"

"Well currently I am a guest of Thailand"

"Wow that sounds great! So you stay for free?"

"No I paid for a house in my wife's name"

"Oh, but you travel for free, right?"

"No I pay for all my travel."

"I see... Food vouchers then? Free visa? Expense account?"

"No... "

"Then why do you call yourself a guest?

"The Thai Visa 'you're a guest' brigade said I was."

[itchybum]

The poll should really have three options:

1. Paying customer

2. Guest

3. Resident

In such a poll only a minority would be guests in the real sense of the word.

I tried to tell him that

[weecree]

No I do not consider myself a 'Guest'.

I pay more taxes here than almost any Thai I have ever met and obey more laws here than most Thais would consider 'decent'.

Take my money... Take my f'king opinions too.

So you do not consider yourself a guest if you are living in Thailand. Now all you need to do is convince the Government, the Police, Immigration and the Thai public to share your views on this subject, as our opinions or whatever status we consider we have here, means nothing unless it has official backing and support.

Of course we are guests and as foreigners have very few statutory rights here in Thailand. We can be thrown out on the whim at anytime

I'm betting I enjoy more rights and suffer less abuse of my rights than the vast majority of Thais do in their own country.

Meaning:

If you become sick, you can receive Government funded benefits and healthcare,

You have the freedom to own any types of businesses, can be a sole owner or majority shareholder of any business or work at any job,

You can legally purchase and own your home, invest in real estate, property and land, have total control on your home utilities under your name,

Pay equal to the Thais for any services, goods, visits to national attractions - museums, etc, without prejudice.

Work voluntary either within your local community or on behalf of a charity without Government permission,

Form a band or drama group and play in public either for free or for a fee,

Have a say within your local community by being able to vote in any local community or authority elections,

Live freely or stay anywhere nationwide without the authorities keeping tabs on you,

And if you get down on your luck financially, you can beg, work or borrow without the fear of being arrested, detained by the police, fined and deported.

It may appear on the surface that we have relative freedom in Thailand, but the reality is that the Thai authorities have has well under the thumb, inhibited and restricted in many ways with virtually no statutory rights. I am not saying I don`t like it here, as in my case I am retired and financially secure, presently meeting the criteria, but I`m certainly not living a delusion that I am anything more than just permitted long term stayer in Thailand, having to be totally self supportive, independent and squeaky clean, entitled to virtually nothing under the Thai system.

Sorry guesthouse, but you don`t have that many rights to be abused.

Some of those you can get in a lot of countries, but a few of them youll never get without the proper papers (land, titles, voting rights. living freely, and in plenty of cases own your own visa)... Well, unless this was the 90s and you were buying yourself an irish passport. Wha im suggesting is that fighting fro basic rights (even as a tourist) is one thing, but demanding citizenship is quite another.

[Payboy]

I'm a paying guest, does that count?

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm not a guest as I work here.

I work here too and consider myself a guest...as simply if someone official/goverment department decides to change employment rules for what ever reason, I could find myself out of a job as could a lot of other people...ie we are here only as long as they want us here to work

A guest is someone who has been invited, or receives hospitality from the inviter. I provide a service, receive a salary and pay tax. I'm not a citizen and, as you say, could be out of a job and the country at short notice, but I still don't consider myself as a "guest".

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm not a guest as I work here.

I work here too and consider myself a guest...as simply if someone official/goverment department decides to change employment rules for what ever reason, I could find myself out of a job as could a lot of other people...ie we are here only as long as they want us here to work

A guest is someone who has been invited, or receives hospitality from the inviter. I provide a service, receive a salary and pay tax. I'm not a citizen and, as you say, could be out of a job and the country at short notice, but I still don't consider myself as a "guest".

[Beetlejuice]

"So where are you living?"

"Well currently I am a guest of Thailand"

"Wow that sounds great! So you stay for free?"

"No I paid for a house in my wife's name"

"Oh, but you travel for free, right?"

"No I pay for all my travel."

"I see... Food vouchers then? Free visa? Expense account?"

"No... "

"Then why do you call yourself a guest?

"The Thai Visa 'you're a guest' brigade said I was."

And if that includes the land the house is situated on, and the real state is not part of your registered company, than you have broken the law and you are not entitled to any of it, and your Thai wife has also broken the law by accepting your money to purchase the land.

Everyone has to pay for they`re own food and travel, wherever they are.

And the fact that you need to obtain a visa free or otherwise, means you are a guest here requiring a regular visa or permissions to stay.