Thais and facebook

[Neeranam]

I'm amazed at the number of people in this country that are addicted to facebook, my own wife and kids included.

Is it like this in other countries?

I remember before facebook, adult Thais seemed less social than people in my country. These days facebook really has taken off in a big way.

Do you think it's because of the 'anonymity' of it and Thais general lack of social skills?

[Chittychangchang]

I think it's the same for most of us in the world, go on Facebook when your bored.

Addicting no that's Thaivisa forum

It's not that anonymous unless your whole FB account is fake, carn't see the point in that.

Good for keeping in contact with people/family around the globe.That's it!

CCC

Edited June 27, 2013 by Chittychangchang

[David48]

I don't have a FaceBook account ... I survive quite nicely thanks ...

[Tywais]

I have a FB account but only started it to be able to see other people's accounts.

It was empty for a very long time but due to a project at work and a team they wanted me to populate it some with updates to the projects. My wife also and most Thais at work seem to be on it, professionals and non-professionals.

[Neeranam]

I don't have a FaceBook account ... I survive quite nicely thanks ...

I'm sure I would as well, apart from not being able to play candy crush.

But it's Thais I'm talking about - even on the Thai tv, I hear them talking about facebook all the time on the chat shows, news etc.

[Neeranam]

Good for socially inept people to avoid learning how to socialize normally.

[Pacificperson]

I am a lurker on Facebook. I seldom post anything, but it is a good way to keep up to date with those who use it (wife, kids & some friends).

[chonabot]

Social Media platforms are a great way to generate income and promote your business, free advertising to a potentially huge audience.

The poker is good as well

Regarding Thai people and their usage of Facebook, I grew quite bored of my students constantly taking photos of each other during lessons for their Facebook uploads.

My wife only recently started using it and I am constantly quizzed on who these ladies are that have been on my friends list for years. She also thought that some of the cuties that are used for Thai dating adverts on my Thai Visa portal were females that I 'knew' ...*sigh*

Edited June 27, 2013 by chonabot

[SPG]

Likes = Face

[rubberduck]

Look at me !

Edited June 27, 2013 by rubberduck

[SPG]

^^ haha. What makes me laugh are when a couple go for a meal, take a photo of each others meal then post it on Facebook then like each others photo, <deleted> is the world coming to?

[marstons]

Good for socially inept people to avoid learning how to socialize normally.

I am amazed at how judgmental some people can be about what others do with their lives, i use it and have many Thai friends on it who OK post a lot of rubbish but also interesting youtube links. Each to there own, you would be surprised how critical people in Thailand would be about somebody who had made 9200+ posts on Thai visa, so what social skills did you need for that. Live and let live and get to work on hitting the 10k posts.

[pomchop]

Facebook is what YOU make of it. You can use it like a self centered idiot and post a message everytime you go to the bathroom as if the world is interested in your every move and utterance. Or you can use it to reconnect with long lost high school or college or work buddies in which case it can be a wonderful thing...sometimes.

Without facebook frankly I would have completely forgotten or lost touch with some long ago friends ...and as a result got together and shared in person some really good times.

Up to you.

[petedk]

The Op is surprised that so many Thais are "addicted" to Facebook.

Yes I use Facebook sometimes (maybe 30 minutes a day) and so do most of the people I know. I think it's also OK to sit on the BTS or MRT and read FB but what really annoys me is the number of people who really are addicted to it.

You see tham walking along the busy streets, up and down escalators and running around in shopping malls with their heads glued to their iPads, smartphones and they have absolutely no idea of what is happening around them.

I have lost count of the number of people who have bumped into me because they had their heads down looking at the phones.

I don't understand that they can't put the phone or tab down for five minutes.

[BigBadSeattleLad]

Good for socially inept people to avoid learning how to socialize normally.

Then, the same can be said about those who socialize on ThaiVisa of course(?). Or is that "normally"?

[GreenSnapper]

Good for socially inept people to avoid learning how to socialize normally.

Then, the same can be said about those who socialize on ThaiVisa of course(?). Or is that "normally"?

We don't socialize, we flame!

[Beetlejuice]

I have a FB account but only started it to be able to see other people's accounts.

It was empty for a very long time but due to a project at work and a team they wanted me to populate it some with updates to the projects. My wife also and most Thais at work seem to be on it, professionals and non-professionals.

Exactly the same for me.

I hardly publish anything on there about myself or family.

These days facebook is the the only way I can see what is happening with family and old friends abroad. But it is a little sad when people I have known and were very close with me in the past are now only facebook friends, just lists of names and photos.

Problem is that facebook and other similar social networking sites has killed the art and enjoyment of actual social interaction with real people.

[theblether]

You need to work at it Beetlejuice, the occasional message or acknowledgement goes a long way. This very day my cousin who I love dearly is getting married, I can't be there. When she gets in from her wedding and settles down to post some photos on fb she'll find a bunch of flowers on her fb feed from me, and her new husband will receive a message too.

Right, it was the same cousins birthday recently, I sent her a rose via Facebook......today while I was Skypeing my Mother she brought it up, she said my cousin was delighted that I had thought of her.

It's these simple gestures that make the World a better place, all it takes is a little bit of imagination, and a little bit of effort.

ps. Here's the rose I sent to my cousin ( taken at the Botanical Gardens in Sydney ), it took me ten seconds out of my day, do you think she will appreciate it?

Edited June 27, 2013 by theblether

[yoslim]

FB is conplete garbage time waster, used to have a lurker account but I deleted it as I found it so useless. Keeping in touch with virtual friends doesn't interest me at all and my real friends will always be there when I go home...

[wooloomooloo]

But it is a little sad when people I have known and were very close with me in the past are now only facebook friends, just lists of names and photos.

People move on and probable sign of a fair weather friend. Wasn't much there in the first place.

I prefer all or nothing in life and wouldn't keep history dangling on a string. Personally, I'd remove them.

Edited June 27, 2013 by wooloomooloo

[MrRealDeal]

Because of their general lack of social skills ? ummmm ...... probably not , it's probably because they have more social skills than you and enough friends to make it sensible to use , and skills enough to make more on Facebook than you rather than the other way around. However I'm sure you can rationalize how not having enough friends to enjoy Facebook or not having many new Facebook friends makes your social skills superior even though that would be absurd.

[NeverSure]

Sometimes you need an account to log in and read something. For that reason only I created an account with a false name and no picture.

Otherwise, pppppppptttttttttttttttt.

Edited June 27, 2013 by NeverSure

[kannot]

I have a friend who spends her whole life telling the world whats shes doing, its pathetic ie just going for a dump , phew that was a relief, got a bogey up my nose that wont come out etc etc

[kannot]

Because of their general lack of social skills ? ummmm ...... probably not , it's probably because they have more social skills than you and enough friends to make it sensible to use , and skills enough to make more on Facebook than you rather than the other way around. However I'm sure you can rationalize how not having enough friends to enjoy Facebook or not having many new Facebook friends makes your social skills superior even though that would be absurd.

Yeah we call them "fair weather friends"

[MrRealDeal]

Actually that's my point .... People with REAL friends use Facebook because they can post their pictures and thoughts and activity's their friends care about in 1 place rather than having to send it to 20 places ...... People with few real friends don't have that problem and hence can't understand what Facebook is even mostly used for.

To answer the question , Facebook is the number one website in the world when it comes to length of time spent per user on average , so yes it's a worldwide thing not just Thailand ...... making the idea that Thai's lack of social skills compared to other countries or people as the explanation absurd once again.

Edited June 27, 2013 by MrRealDeal

[Scottythai]

To keep it on topic I think it's the way of showing one up man ship. Taking pictures of being at XXX mall then pictures of what was had for lunch then pictures of what was bought then the tickets of the movie that was seen. Just to show everyone look at me I am awsome and you all want to be like me (face). Others use it to show a bit of life. Like pictures of time spend with family ect. I am not sure if it's any different because its a case of look at my family don't we look good. Others still use it as a place to post notices and Youtube vids they think are important for their world of people to see. Others still use it as a popularity contest. Person x has more than 12,000 friends so I must get 15,000 soon. Though they know about 5% of the people on their lists. Others yet use to it creep or stalk others to see what they are doing with profiles devoid of anything and just check out so and so becuase thats who they are courious about. It's social networking so it can be what ever you want it to be and everyone is going to say theirs is the right way to use it. Hell some people even use it as a dating site....

[rene123]

I have belly gas from eating too many vegetables. Shall I announce it on Facebook?

[MrRealDeal]

As opposed to announcing it here ? Don't see why announcing it there would be different than here except here more stranger's will see it

[GuestHouse]

If you've got kids who are not yet adults and they are on Facebook.

You need to be on Facebook.

[GuestHouse]

Thais on Facebook.

50% of their posts are photos of food.

The other 50% photos of themselves eating food.