Farang V Farang Why are we ignoring each other?

[Dr Robert]

This is a fundamental puzzler -why do Farang skillfully ignore each other in passing. Is it that I am much uglier than my kind tgf tells me and that they are avoiding eye contact so as not to reveal their revulsion?

Is it that they feel as though they are the only Farang in the village and by ignoring me they will remain so? Or what is it? Am I missing something here? Why are fellow farangs so overtly and covertly rude to other farangs? (and no you acerbic wits, it aint just me- I have seen it many times in others)

I always attempt to at least nod, even to cap-rear-facing sunglass clad posers as a way of saying I understand how it is to be here and hey arent we all in this together? Has magnamanity and decency drowned in the milk of human kindness?

[transam]

I think it is something ingrained from farangland.

[keith101]

the lack of comment on this post says it all about most farang living here . i admit that when shopping i dont always aknowledge other farang which is how it is in my home country unless i actually know the person . so i am acting normaly which i imagine every one else is .

[Curt1591]

For me, it depends on the person.

If he/she is wearing the equivalent of slap shoes and a beep nose, I give a wide birth.

[turgid]

I wear prescription sunglasses whenever im outside so I assume everyone here hates me automatically.

[razorramone]

If I was in some small town and hadn't seen a gringo for weeks, then yes i might be happy or enthusiastic to see one, strike up a conversation if they seemed friendly.. talk about our shared experience of being out by ourselves with no-one sharing our culture.

But there are almost 100,000 of us in Bangkok, i see dozens every day so its nothing special to me. We don't have that shared experience, Bangkok is extremely foreigner-friendly and there is never that feeling of isolation or being alien.

So in that case its not much different from being in a city back home. I wouldn't nod at strangers back home in the UK, why would i do it here.

Edited August 27, 2013 by razorramone

[jpinx]

Been here almost 4 years and only once casually met a farang I actually liked. Too many weirdos, (semi-)alcoholics, wife-beaters and downright slovenly presented farangs. I also avoid similarly poorly presented Thais, Chinese, Russians, etc. I am very friendly to people in all countries, including my own, if the person is presentable and appears equally amenable.

[AdamBangkok]

As a rule I dont talk to people I dont know if I can avoid it - too many undesirables in Bangkok.

Dont get me wrong, I dont think my s*** smells of roses, but a casual 'hello' in reply to one from a passer-by has turned into a conversation I'd far rather not be having way too many times here.

[DeeMaiDee]

I had always put this indifference, shown to me by farangs down to the age-old social stigma associated with my advanced case of leprosy.

Edited August 27, 2013 by DeeMaiDee

[villagefarang]

I still nod and smile but if one has enough negative encounters it becomes more of a chore. As others have said it really depends on where you are, what you are doing and how common other foreigners are in your area.

Bumped into a guy the other day while walking the dogs in the village. Since I am the only one who lives here full-time, that I know of, I figured I should be friendly and say hello. We have nothing in common except for proximity but that is no reason to be rude.

[Nowhereman60]

They seem to get upset with me when I say you have a very lovely daughter.

[hanno]

I live in Cambodia but why should I say hello to every Farang I see (would be a lot of hellos in Siem Reap anyway)? Just because 2 whiteys pass each other? OK, if I had been Stanley meeting Livingstone, perhaps.

[cooked]

When you are out in the sticks and see one Farang a week, this can be annoying. I now go into town every day and with one or two exceptions, the few Farnags I see every day, including one whose daughter goes to the same school as ours, ignore my presence.

This doesn't really matter but I sometimes the 'avoid eye contact at all costs' (otherwise known as 'dont come near me you piece of sh..) does. Maybe these guys should get T-shirts made to save ordinary human beings from wasting time

[transam]

They seem to get upset with me when I say you have a very lovely daughter.

You sound like an old guy with hormones still doing stuff...................

[Nowhereman60]

They seem to get upset with me when I say you have a very lovely daughter.

You sound like an old guy with hormones still doing stuff................... alt=laugh.png>

You got it all wrong the daughter is not really the daughter

[coconutbar]

If I was in some small town and hadn't seen a gringo for weeks, then yes i might be happy or enthusiastic to see one, strike up a conversation if they seemed friendly.. talk about our shared experience of being out by ourselves with no-one sharing our culture.

 

 

But there are almost 100,000 of us in Bangkok, i see dozens every day so its nothing special to me. We don't have that shared experience, Bangkok is extremely foreigner-friendly and there is never that feeling of isolation or being alien.

 

So in that case its not much different from being in a city back home. I wouldn't nod at strangers back home in the UK, why would i do it here.

 

exactly the attitude he is asking us about must be a uk thing to be a rude and arrogant .

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[transam]

They seem to get upset with me when I say you have a very lovely daughter.

You sound like an old guy with hormones still doing stuff................... alt=laugh.png>

You got it all wrong the daughter is not really the daughter

Think I am now confused, but that is normal for me.

[balo]

Why should I talk to a complete stranger in the middle of the soi ? Just because we have the same white skin ?

I dont think so , I choose my friends based on interests , in a bar its easy enough to talk to others but not outside .

[transam]

Why should I talk to a complete stranger in the middle of the soi ? Just because we have the same white skin ?

I dont think so , I choose my friends based on interests , in a bar its easy enough to talk to others but not outside .

Wear a ZZ Top or V8 muscle car T-shirt then we can talk stuff.................

[jpinx]

Why should I talk to a complete stranger in the middle of the soi ? Just because we have the same white skin ?

I dont think so , I choose my friends based on interests , in a bar its easy enough to talk to others but not outside .

Wear a ZZ Top or V8 muscle car T-shirt then we can talk stuff.................

Vroom Vroom .....

[transam]

Why should I talk to a complete stranger in the middle of the soi ? Just because we have the same white skin ?

I dont think so , I choose my friends based on interests , in a bar its easy enough to talk to others but not outside .

Wear a ZZ Top or V8 muscle car T-shirt then we can talk stuff.................

Vroom Vroom .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Vppbdf-qtGU............

[A1Str8]

I think it is just our attitude in general.

It is like thais seem to care about each other, stand up for each other if necessary. Foreigners too often show the opposite.

Of course, all due respect to those that act otherwise but from my experience foreigners usually just ignore each other.

It all goes back to how we were raised. Thais hear the following from a very young age: as thais, you supposed to be there for each other.

On the other side what we were taught: mind your own business.

[jpinx]

I think it is just our attitude in general.

It is like thais seem to care about each other, stand up for each other if necessary. Foreigners too often show the opposite.

Of course, all due respect to those that act otherwise but from my experience foreigners usually just ignore each other.

It all goes back to how we were raised. Thais hear the following from a very young age: as thais, you supposed to be there for each other.

On the other side what we were taught: mind your own business.

Speak for yourself !

[razorramone]

If I was in some small town and hadn't seen a gringo for weeks, then yes i might be happy or enthusiastic to see one, strike up a conversation if they seemed friendly.. talk about our shared experience of being out by ourselves with no-one sharing our culture.

But there are almost 100,000 of us in Bangkok, i see dozens every day so its nothing special to me. We don't have that shared experience, Bangkok is extremely foreigner-friendly and there is never that feeling of isolation or being alien.

So in that case its not much different from being in a city back home. I wouldn't nod at strangers back home in the UK, why would i do it here.

exactly the attitude he is asking us about must be a uk thing to be a rude and arrogant .

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I suggest you never go to London if you are that desperate to make a new fwend on the street.

[Hedghog]

Don't talk to strangers.

That is what I was taught.

Most foreigners I come across are 15/20 years my senior why would I want to converse with them.

I wouldn't in my home country,so I don't here.

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Goompa]

I am sure that we just fear the inevitable , cant converse awkwardly , don't converse at all , everybody happy !

[coconutbar]

 

If I was in some small town and hadn't seen a gringo for weeks, then yes i might be happy or enthusiastic to see one, strike up a conversation if they seemed friendly.. talk about our shared experience of being out by ourselves with no-one sharing our culture.

 

 

But there are almost 100,000 of us in Bangkok, i see dozens every day so its nothing special to me. We don't have that shared experience, Bangkok is extremely foreigner-friendly and there is never that feeling of isolation or being alien.

 

So in that case its not much different from being in a city back home. I wouldn't nod at strangers back home in the UK, why would i do it here.

 

exactly the attitude he is asking us about must be a uk thing to be a rude and arrogant .

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

I suggest you never go to London if you are that desperate to make a new fwend on the street.

why are you comparing london with thailand ?? Do you even live in bkk??? get your head out your ass this is thailand your allowed to be happy here and talk to everyone.

Sent from my LT26i using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Curt1591]

Most foreigners I come across are 15/20 years my senior why would I want to converse with them.

I wouldn't in my home country,so I don't here.

Some of the greatest knowledge that I acquired was from people 20, 30, 40 and even 60 years my senior.

[transam]

Don't talk to strangers.

That is what I was taught.

Most foreigners I come across are 15/20 years my senior why would I want to converse with them.

I wouldn't in my home country,so I don't here.

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

What a crazy statement to make. So we must all wear a sign quoting our age for you. Gawd.........

[longstebe]

I don't go around in Bangkok or pattaya letting on to every farang but in the smaller towns I do go out my way to at least acknowledge them/us.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited August 27, 2013 by longstebe