Loosing control while being bored.

[Dancealot]

There's a saying my grandfather used to say to me that went something like "idle time is the devils work".

We've all heard that before right?

Last week in my wife's village, 5 of the local kids actually 3 minors aged about 16 and 2 others about 20 paid a visit to a village up the road to some kid they had a grudge with and shot him. Not fatally but he's in hospital. Now I've known these 5 kids(even the 20year olds I call kids) since they were little. Always good boys. I've seen them all get older, leave school and all they do along with most that age is sit around bored shitless. Such it seems is village life. Last time I was there I said to my wife these guys are heading for jail 1 day. Well that days come. It's like the parents just accept these lazy kids as lazy.Go work then I say. Where? Farms. No farms now. Go Bangkok then. No, to far, to hard blah blah blah. Everything I suggested is met with a shrug. Their parents shrug it off also. Unbelievable. Now their parents are angry they're going to jail!!

What did you think?? Its bloody hopeless. Idle times the devils work. Grandpa was right.

Edited September 21, 2013 by Dancealot

[saakura]

'An idle mind is a devil's workshop' if i remember correctly. Very true.

[Dr Robert]

Time for the village leaders and political leaders to provide something, some facility or opportunity, for bored young men to work off their energy and frustrations. In some countries the police and similar institutions like the military provide boxing and fight training, or a gym or some physical outlet to give kids a sense of worth and community. Leaving them to rot is setting the fuse to a bomb that will explode in the face of innocent bystanders.

[Dancealot]

'An idle mind is a devil's workshop' if i remember correctly. Very true.

Thank you for the rectification, saakura. Much obliged.

[Farma]

I think a lot can be put down to the general mindset of certain villages.

I regularly travel through 6 villages from the town I call home to the wifes village. Of those villages there are 2 no matter what time of the day or night I travel through I see bored teens on stripped down motorbikes in mini gangs or older addicts looking bored, drunk or stoned.

Those 2 villages always seem to be having parties for one reason or another and stand out due to the lack of pride they take in their houses and surrounds. The money must be available to cover the cost of all the parties they have...it's just not being used to improve life.

Meanwhile in the other villages they keep their houses tidy and clean away litter. Teens don't appear bored and they lack motorbike gangs. The number of teens is also lower. I've often asked why the difference in the village lifestyles. The answer is always the same. The tidy villages are using their income wisely and sending the kids onto further education.

[Dancealot]

I think a lot can be put down to the general mindset of certain villages.

I regularly travel through 6 villages from the town I call home to the wifes village. Of those villages there are 2 no matter what time of the day or night I travel through I see bored teens on stripped down motorbikes in mini gangs or older addicts looking bored, drunk or stoned.

Those 2 villages always seem to be having parties for one reason or another and stand out due to the lack of pride they take in their houses and surrounds. The money must be available to cover the cost of all the parties they have...it's just not being used to improve life.

Meanwhile in the other villages they keep their houses tidy and clean away litter. Teens don't appear bored and they lack motorbike gangs. The number of teens is also lower. I've often asked why the difference in the village lifestyles. The answer is always the same. The tidy villages are using their income wisely and sending the kids onto further education.

Interesting, Farma, so you are observing a difference between village cultures. In other words: Local village culture influences general village consensus.. And this is different in every village.

The village I know, constitutes a firm segregation between the tidy and the sloppy. Here the tidy tend to dominate the lifestyle and therefore kids are encouraged to do good, rather then bad.

Still there are some who I have lost faith in...

Edited September 21, 2013 by Dancealot

[Farma]

I understand where you're coming from Dancealot and not having a dig at your village.

I mentioned mindset rather than income and education as I tend to believe its more the general attitude of the village. The villages I mentioned all have similar incomes and education levels and are all within 20 km of each other. I'm also cheating a little as I was privy to a recent report involving these villages.

The majority of the villages I mentioned are improving economically as the kids get educated. Education improves the kids income which then filters down to the families. These villages are showing signs of modernisation, have less drug problem and fewer health problems.

On the other hand the 2 villages mentioned are stagnating and it could be debated going backwards. The levels of HIV and TB along with yaba use are on the rise which then has a knock on effect of reducing income and quality of life.

There have been a series of education programs introduced to try and turn those villages lifestyles around but so far has fallen on deaf ears. Even the local temples have become involved to no avail.

[SantiSuk]

'The devil makes work for idle hands' is the phrase I grew up with in Yorkshire - same same.

I have 2 BILs, both early thirties and have the same background, education and opportunities. One is a lazy @rse who sits around does nothing and still lives with his wife and two daughters in one bedroom in my in-laws family home. The other is on the go all the time doing jobs here there and everywhere and has just finished building, with local help, his own small home for his family. I give him plenty of work around the house and so does my wife around her farm, which he always does with dilligence and application. We've given up employing the other worthless to$$er.

Limited opportunity in an Issan village is too easy an excuse.

[Dancealot]

Thanks for the input, guys.

Question still remains why the lazy ness? Why do I keep hearing everytime, BIL's, for instance waste their time, while the girls appear docile....

My best guesses for their motivations are:

1 lack of structure and hope for a good future.

2 they are not responsible enough to handle their freedom

[chuckd]

"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop".

St. Jerome, 420 AD

That's the way I always heard it.

[Dancealot]

The Idle hands phrase is condemning and not constructive. I see this as an easy answer.

[Bpuumike]

Couple of years military service should sort them out.

[krisb]

Time for the village leaders and political leaders to provide something, some facility or opportunity, for bored young men to work off their energy and frustrations. In some countries the police and similar institutions like the military provide boxing and fight training, or a gym or some physical outlet to give kids a sense of worth and community. Leaving them to rot is setting the fuse to a bomb that will explode in the face of innocent bystanders.

Spot on DrRobert. Correct in saying village leaders and governments need to step in, but, it starts with their parents I feel and they themselves could be doing more a lot of the times. Sitting around waiting for the rice to grow after they've just sewn it is crazy. Their kids are watching thinking this is easy. Cut some sugar, pick some rice and then sit around instead of leaving the comfort zone and heading for the big smoke to work f/t. Bored and uneducated mind is a dangerous weapon.

Now, head back to the villages come songkran and you see there's many going away to work. The village has been empty up until this time of the year. So it's not the majority of youth laying around all year, but it is a noticeable number of a certain age bracket.

Simple fixes?....

In our village some,any even 1 police officer making his presence felt would be good. Never have I seen a cop around until someone gets shot or stabbed at a mor lum or even worse a funeral. Nearest cop is 20km away.

School should/needs to be free all the way through or some type of pay back once your employed system.

Government training centres, more needed. There's 1 in our village, it's for older ladies to learn textiles, sewing etc. Nothing for young men.

Armed forces easier to get into. A rifleman in the army doesn't need to be in the top 10% of his school.

20 million people in Isaan . There must be a million young guys sitting around bored as bat shit at this very moment. At least 1% are probably planning to commit a crime of some type today and it's boredom driving the bus.

[youreavinalaff]

Couple of years military service should sort them out.

Spot on. Stop this "lottery" rubbish where the guys that pull out a red card go and those that pull a black one go home.

I was once witness to this with 2 local kids. One was working as an apprentice air con engineer. Good job, got paid and gave money to hi parents. The other was a lazy git that did nothing.

Sounds like a long tale I know but the air con engineer got the red card. Off to the Army he went for 2 years. Had to give up his promising career and all.

So....those that give up school and do not go to work should fill the gap. Those that are employed, and I don't mean 4 weeks in a rice field every year, should be able to continue to be so.

[Dancealot]

Is this behaviour signifigantly different from kids in the west?

[barrybankruad]

There have been many posts by members of Thaivisa complaining that they are unable to get and keep staff. Why are there one and a half million Burmese and Cambodians living and working in this Country? There is plenty of work available for those that want it.

Of course millions of Isaan people do leave their homes and work in Bangkok or other industrialised areas, This often leads to social discord, how would you like to be only able to see your family twice a year at New Year and Songkran? Many are not prepared to leave their home comfort zone, or are just too plain idle.

The Thai culture of condescending towards their children does not help. Seems to me that many Thai parents just cannot say no to their offspring. I'll bet every single one of us has witnessed, time after time, at the local mom and pop shop parents indulging their overweight kids with unhealthy 'kanom' (sweets). This indulging does not end when the kids reach adulthood, young adults (usually males) sponging off their parents. This is how the family works in Asia, I look after my kids whilst I can, later they will look after me in my old age. Centuries of tradition aren't going to change overnight.

Look on the bright side. Bangkok is sinking, perhaps in the future more thought will be given to locating industries in Isaan (it's already happening to some extent) and there will be more job opportunities closer to home.

[Dancealot]

Seems to me that many Thai parents just cannot say no to their offspring.

This is a very just and objective observation, barrybankruad. I have witnessed this, first hand, time and again and think this approach to raising children will hurt and jeapardise their develpoment.

[kurnell]

Nothing to do with boredom. In my wife's family, the 2 girls went out and got themselves a university education and the boy loafed (as per Thai culture), mixed with the wrong crowd and joined in a group of other like minded idiots and kicked another lad to death, costing the family a fortune in compensation (naturally none of them felt guilty). He was banished to Bangkok to work in a factory and the 2 girls now have management jobs with expat sized salaries. As they say TIT. I get along with the sister in law, but have zero in common with the murderer.

[krisb]

"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop".

 

St. Jerome, 420 AD

 

That's the way I always heard it.

Not the devils workshop idly makes hands?

[tingtong]

Couple of years military service should sort them out.

Sort out what?

Teach them better aiming next time they decide to settle things with shooting?

I dont see how idling around in military would be solution for the villagers.

Getting a job would be, but there isnt that many jobs, especially in the countryside, period.

Thai stat is a big fat lie about unemployment beeing 1% in the country.

[Billmont]

I consider our village to be very good, most houses are smart, very good community spirit but there is also an small element of lazy youth. Why? I think several posters have hit the nail on the head, PARENTS! If one child is industrious he is encouraged, if the other is lazy the parents just seem to accept this and give him handouts to play snooker, have a beer and invariably get into trouble. While this type of youth needs a good kick in the pants so do the parents, in my opinion they are more at fault than the lazy youth.

Bpuumike and Youeavinalaff are both correct, what they say seems so logical to myself and I am sure many others but the status quo continues. We also had a similar case, a good guy, good job, married and wife expecting got the red card. My youngest BIL, lazy, usless, completely spoit by parents got the black card. He has now been "encouraged" to leave the village and is now holding down a job in a factory in another province but MIL "worries" about him, he is still her baby at 26. I had previously employed him for a week and the first day he worked really hard and I was very pleased, but like the <deleted> I am at times, I paid him at the end of the first day and told him that there would be a good bonus at the end of the week if he continued to work as he did that day. Second day he never turned up, said nothing, drove by on a borrowed motorbike without a care in the world. His mother got hold of him as she could see how angry I was, also my wife, he said he had a sore hand. He would have had a sore nose if I got hold of him but that would be before he used his youth against my age and then gave me a good beating. Ha! But there is hope when the rest of the family take action as happened in this case forcing him to leave and find work but I do not hold out much long term hope as some are beginning to weaken and feel sorry for him away from home etc etc especially MIL.

As Barrybankruad correctly points out there is plenty of work for those that want it.

Must finish now other wise my stress level will rise to "heart attack" level from "pissed off thinking about it" level.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Billmont

[zyphodb]

Thai Boys get spoiled by their Parents while Thai Girls have to do all the work & support their Parents when their older, I know this is a generalisation but Iv'e watched this happen in my own family & most of the ones around me.

So you end up with a load of mollycoddled Poo Chai's who expect everything to be handed to them on a plate, & when it isn't they either turn to crime,or the more motivated leave for the city & a deadend job, blame it on their families & then have little more to do with them.

Will this change? probably not given the general lack of education of everyone.. No wonder it's so hard to find any Thais willing to work hard for you despite giving them good wages, When I built my house the best workers were invariably Women...

[isanbirder]

Part of the problem is the loss of authority within the village and the family. Before the advent of relatively cheap transport, the village was a self-contained unit. The pu-yai-baan was boss, but within the family, the father's word was law. If he told his sons to go off to Bangkok and find work, they damn well went.

Now the father's authority is negligible. My neighbour is a case in point. The father told his eldest son to go off to work; the son refused (and the mother supported him). Now the boy lies around all day doing nothing.

[phitsanulokjohn]

''The devil finds work for idle hands" don't you just love some of those old sayings that the over 50's of us grew up with.They say ''old is gold'' and they're right.I can think of too many what was taught to me and which i pass on to my 33 year old son and my 20 year old daughter may god bless them both.When i see bad kids,I never blame the kids instead I look at the teachings of the parents.FACT No baby is born bad.As a parent you have to expect to reap what you sow.

[phitsanulokjohn]

''The devil finds work for idle hands" don't you just love some of those old sayings that the over 50's of us grew up with.They say ''old is gold'' and they're right.I can think of too many what was taught to me and which i pass on to my 33 year old son and my 20 year old daughter may god bless them both.When i see bad kids,I never blame the kids instead I look at the teachings of the parents.FACT No baby is born bad.As a parent you have to expect to reap what you sow.

[NoshowJones]

Time for the village leaders and political leaders to provide something, some facility or opportunity, for bored young men to work off their energy and frustrations. In some countries the police and similar institutions like the military provide boxing and fight training, or a gym or some physical outlet to give kids a sense of worth and community. Leaving them to rot is setting the fuse to a bomb that will explode in the face of innocent bystanders.

If anyone does any harm to innocent people in anyway, for whatever reason, they deserve all the jail time the country gives them.

[Maggusoil]

'An idle mind is a devil's workshop' if i remember correctly. Very true.

Did you know his grandpa?

Great memory. Anyway, just joking.

We get the point and its a national shame and very reflective of a lot of Thai consciousness especially in the villages. Up to you. Its too hot.

and so on . . .

Within our village family we have some very bright kids whose parents are illiterate and who are top of their school. Very studious, very driven,

and lovely natures. . .

despite illiteracy, all the parents are very active. . . industrious, with the little they have

[dennisgb45]

I find that as a rule...the women have ambition...while many of the men don't. I think that is because, as children the boys are not disciplined like the girls are. The girls have to behave and are expected to do well in school. The boys aren't held to the same standard. I know of a 13 yr old boy who told his parents he didn't want to go to school for a year. His reason: He wants to go fishing everyday. So they let him stay home.

As far as one village being tidy and well kept...another not....Maybe that is due to some villages being occupied by only a few different extended families. Birds of a feather flock together.

As far as the government having programs to keep these kids busy...The government already has a program, it's called school.

[lucifer666]

"The Devil makes work for idle hands", was my grandma's version

[dao16]

I am going to float a theory that will seem odd, but I think there is something to it:

A lot of this laziness regarding young men is due to the easy access to sex for the young men. Hear me out.

When I think about the guys I knew back at home, even the ones who went straight from high school to a job, their primary motivation to work was women. Sure, they wanted cars and games and excitement, but you needed money to get women--to take them out to dinner, to have transportation for that, to have decent enough clothes and a haircut, to mention a few.

Here, I see many guys like my BIL (kind of...long story). He is about 20 now. For the last 2 or 3 years, he has worked off and on, but mostly he specializes in loafing around the house, smoking the odd cigarette, making omelets for himself and cooking up some pork....maybe some whiskey with when he runs into 60 baht or whatever it costs now turns up. So, he is not a degenerate or anything...no trouble with the law or any drugs or anything and he really doesn't drink much. It is just odd that he doesn't feel the need to make money (I would estimate that, on any given day, he wakes up with somewhere between 0 and 50 baht in his pockets).

Amazingly, the guy still gets girls and gets laid! And not the paid kind. So, he has no need to actively strive to get more money or even to get a date with a woman.

Again, I am not saying that this explains the whole phenomenon, but it must play a role. I know it would have for me as well when I was that age.