xenophobia, is it (still) beneficary for thailand or not ?

[benalibina]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_cultural_mandates

On another topic somebody referred to this mandate written in 1939.

This is 1 out of 12 cultural mandates. ( mandate nr 2 )

"Thai people must not engage in any business without considering the benefit and safety of the nation.

""Thai people must never reveal anything to foreigners that might damage the nation. These actions are a betrayal of the nation.

""Thai people must not act as agent or spokesman for foreigners without considering the benefit of the Thai nation, and must not express opinion or take the side of foreigners in international disputes. These actions are a betrayal of the nation.

""Thai people must not secretly purchase land on behalf of foreigners in a way that endangers the nation. These actions are a betrayal of the nation.

""When a person has betrayed the nation, it is the duty of Thai people to actively and quickly put a stop to it."

[NanLaew]

If this was University Challenge and that was my 'starter for 10', I would be totally buggered.

But if the mangled OP title is the question, I would submit that in order to live happily as a non-Thai in Thailand, one needs to be a xenophile and don't worry too much about what the host finds important. Or why.

[NanLaew]

Mandate 4.2 I guess that explains the convoys of boy scout laden buses with police escorts in the fast lane.

[maccaroni man]

No

[Indrid Cold]

I dont care so much about written mandates. If its good i stay if not i move along xenophobic or not.

[PaullyW]

Hard to answer, but it's certainly a pain for the non assimilated.

I've been doing some searching and reading when I have spare time.  This topic is really very fascinating, and the more I read, the more I understand about Thailand and the Thais and why they are the way they are.

I might suggest that the mods link to it in one of the sub-forums that might get more serious interest.  Thai history forum?

The topics are Thai-ification & Nation Building

Trying to get a copy of the book mentioned here: http://books.google.co.th/books?id=kj_a4IR8E9wC&lpg=PP1&hl=th&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false

"Re-imagining Language and Literature for the 21st Century: Selected Proceedings of the XXII International Congress of FILLM Held at Assumption University", Bangkok, Thailand from 19-23 August 2002

At page 159, you can preview a bit about the purposeful xenophobia that, at the time, was aimed primarily at the Chinese.

The topic is unfortunately VERY academic and complex, so it will therefore not appeal to most readers on the forum.

I would say the the 1930s was the most recent pivotal culturally significant period in Thailand.  From this period, we have the cultural mandates being created and the Thai-ification of other groups of people (Lao, Hill Tribes, Malay, Chinese, Indian, Lanna).  To this day, Thailand is still stuck in a 19th century Nation Building that is evident everywhere an

[NeverSure]

But this is Thailand. The Thai way is best. Thailand is best. Thailand is the center Hub of the universe. What's to question?

[harrry]

I am not sure that it ever was. Thailand pre 1939 in general was confident enough to adopt the best from outside and be part of the world. The PM in 1939 tried to change this and in the same way as Ataturk in Turkey build a new kind of country (in this case maybe not for the better.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaek_Phibunsongkhram makes for interesting reading.

[Indrid Cold]

But this is Thailand. The Thai way is best. Thailand is best. Thailand is the center Hub of the universe. What's to question?

Just like any country in the world in its own view, no big deal. I care mostly about how people are towards me and i doubt that the thais i have close uses mandates like mentioned as a set of comittmends.

[ExpatJ]

Bear in mind one thing- over the years, tens /hundreds of thousands of farang tourists of the most undesirable, drunken, rude, obnoxious, penny pinching type have come to Thailand and interacted with Thais. No wonder then that some thais seem rude to us back, or only see us as walking ATMs- frankly im amazed that there are not far more beatings of these tourists by Thai's.

[benalibina]

But this is Thailand. The Thai way is best. Thailand is best. Thailand is the center Hub of the universe. What's to question?

Alot, as about most countries of the world. I considered it as quite an interesting link. Mandate nr 2 is what most expats (un)knowingly deal with in business, buying houses/land and immigrationregulations.

[MrWorldwide]

Bear in mind one thing- over the years, tens /hundreds of thousands of farang tourists of the most undesirable, drunken, rude, obnoxious, penny pinching type have come to Thailand and interacted with Thais. No wonder then that some thais seem rude to us back, or only see us as walking ATMs- frankly im amazed that there are not far more beatings of these tourists by Thai's.

Why don't you get out there and sort these drunken scum ? Give them the beating they so richly deserve ! They'll soon get the message that they dont have a license to play up on the streets of *your* nightlife precinct.

[ExpatJ]

Bear in mind one thing- over the years, tens /hundreds of thousands of farang tourists of the most undesirable, drunken, rude, obnoxious, penny pinching type have come to Thailand and interacted with Thais. No wonder then that some thais seem rude to us back, or only see us as walking ATMs- frankly im amazed that there are not far more beatings of these tourists by Thai's.

Why don't you get out there and sort these drunken scum ? Give them the beating they so richly deserve ! They'll soon get the message that they dont have a license to play up on the streets of *your* nightlife precinct.

Luckily, you and I can avoid these types of tourists quite easily- the Thais who work in the tourist sectors cant.