Popular Post Morakot Posted July 10, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted July 10, 2013 Why can't Thai people look you in the eye? That would mean looking up from the iPad, iPhone, etc. And I thought it's something to do with nurture and socialisation into culture... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nottocus Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 It;s because they are not telling u the truth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rijb Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 These are funny and true. east meets west 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellydog Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 I've never noticed Thai folks not looking me in the eye. Shiftless farangs, yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuna Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 (edited) I belive Thai people think you want talk with them , but the don't want before loosing the face canot speak English look down or run away! Cambodia totally different ! Can't speak English = Loosing face? Are you confused? Dear OP, Don't look straight in the eyes, it's intrusive for Thais. Instead, try to focus on their face. My teacher taught me to look at nose bridge between 2 eyes or lower forehead. Edited July 10, 2013 by Nuna 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 No Asian will look you in the eye....when they are telling an outright lie, to your face. I'd say the same for any continent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 Why can't Thai people look you in the eye? That would mean looking up from the iPad, iPhone, etc. And I thought it's something to do with nurture and socialisation into culture... Surprised to see she isn't on facebook or playing candy crush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chittychangchang Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 No Asian will look you in the eye....when they are telling an outright lie, to your face.I'd say the same for any continent.Unless they are a timeshare sales person 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David48 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 These are funny and true. east meets west Do have a look ... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morakot Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 These are funny and true. east meets west Excellent! But more like Chinese meets Germans. Have you every heard an Irish man expressing his opinion? Guess which one will it be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morakot Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Why can't Thai people look you in the eye? That would mean looking up from the iPad, iPhone, etc. And I thought it's something to do with nurture and socialisation into culture... Surprised to see she isn't on facebook or playing candy crush. I presume you don't use bookface on cowPad . ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Regards CM specifically--as someone else noted--it's probably the big city thing but I've found people there generally are as friendly, if not more so, than others in this fair kingdom. Try to avoid looking random people in the eye by default, particularly so if you are 10-foot tall, move at speed and look like you've slept in a hedge. It is not natural here, particularly regards Thai males and especially if you are out on the razz... the latter often intimating you have a problem with them and wish to do battle. Thai females, on the other hand, think all farang males are only here for one thing and probably don't wish to 'do battle' with you either. Also be aware that the locals are a lot more receptive to body language and gait, so if you're charging around with your chest out you're likely giving off dodgy vibes. Try this: go steady and stop grinning at every Tom, Dick and Somchai. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morpho Posted July 11, 2013 Author Share Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) Well, it's been an interesting array of comments/responses up to this point. Everything from meaningful and insightful to funny to the snide and uninformative. No need for me to identify which comments are which...the commenter and others who responded know which are which. I appreciate all of them. First, I want to clarify that I don't go around staring at or looking directly in the eyes of others. But I do consider myself friendly and I'm not hesitant/reluctant to give a glance or make eye contact with someone I don't know and give a nod of the head to say hello or outright say "hi". If that's strange or weird, so be it. Like I said in my original post (and some commenters also noted here), when I travel in other Southeast Asia countries people seem to have no problems with making "eye contact". And in actually, they often initiate similar behavior. So I still see something unique or different in Thais IMO. Second, for those curious about if I am American, yes I am American...I admit it...and I am well-aware of the opinions (mostly negative) of many non-Americans about Americans. And on many points, I would probably agree with you but I also do not consider myself a "typical American". I've traveled extensively around the world and seen many cultures and religions so I'm not some hick from Mississippi who has never been past the county line. Even my European, South American, Asian friends will tell you I'm not your typical American cat. So I really don't think I'm carrying some American cultural baggage or biases. I could say more but no need for me to be snide on my part so I'll leave it at that for now. Thanks again for the responses. Edited July 11, 2013 by morpho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thailand2012 Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 i kind of like that good old isaan stare brings a smile 2 my face everytime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chittychangchang Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 (edited) i kind of like that good old isaan stare brings a smile 2 my face everytime You get that when you say "Fish sauce smells nice" Edited July 11, 2013 by Chittychangchang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminbkk Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Interesting. I had a friend who was living here before we arrived in the early 2001. He referred to this as the "no look". Enforced by the quick examination of the mobile Phone or the blank wall in the opposite direction. Indoors and outdoors. However, the opposite also frequently happens: Thais looking straight at you, even staring. When passing by, getting out of MRT/BTS etc. So to say that Thais, culture-wise or otherwise, don't look people, i.e. strangers, directly in the eyes, is not correct either. It keeps amazing me how Thais can do that with a semi angry looking expression and get away with it. Also among Thais. When that's the case, it doesn't matter how you respond, same look or smile, it Always seems like it is taken the wrong way. In fact, I think in most other big cities around the world, if you would do what they do, people would say something about it, but not here. By the way, I see this with farangs too sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodrules Posted July 11, 2013 Share Posted July 11, 2013 Even my European, South American, Asian friends will tell you I'm not your typical American cat. Don't broadcast that too widely, or the cat trading mafia will be looking for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABCer Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 morpho, don't pay much attention to some rude and aggressive posters here. Luckily they are a minority. This eye-to-eye contact you mention is a much more complicated thing than one can see on the surface. Here is what I think about it. - the meaning can be different depending on WHO makes the contact: man/woman, man/man, woman/woman. - the meaning can be different depending on circumstances under which contact is made. - the reaction to an eye-to-eye contact is also depending on duration of the contact which is estimated subjectively and can be judged as staring. - the reaction to an eye-to-eye contact can also depend on facial expression of one or both persons. Thais are no different from other nationalities in this respect. They do look you in the eyes. All people tend to avoid eye-to-eye contact when being not sincere. Most Thais are non-confrontational types, which may lead to less eye-to-eye contact compared to other people. But I have met some exceptional non-Thai people who look you in the eyes and lie through their throat and teeth. Finishing on a personal note. I tend to look people in the eyes a touch too often and maybe a touch too long. The reason - pure curiosity. I like to observe. Quite often it got me into fights against my intentions. But such staring often is taken as a challenge. Perhaps I never learned the 'good manners'... Any volunteers are welcome to add, change or expand the above thoughts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tchooptip Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Never understand why a guy writes a thread gets a ton of answers then never comes bacl. 17 posts troll thread maybe? Either was it's safe to say with the Avi that says Marine Corps Build Men pict he is from the States. "Never come back" in 24hours happened to 99% of posters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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