Common sense, is it common here?

[canuckamuck]

I was trying do discuss common sense the other day because I wanted to know if it is a western concept or do other cultures also have a term for this. However I couldn't figure out even how to say it in Thai.

Does Thailand have a special term for common sense?

Here is the dictionary.com entry for it:

common sense

noun

sound practical judgment that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like; normal native intelligence.

[Buckeye21]

I was told there isn't even a saying for common sense in the Thai language.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Patronus]

I was told there isn't even a saying for common sense in the Thai language.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

They at least have the words:-

saa man sam neuk

[CharlieH]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

[Stradavarius37]

This thread is going to end well....I can feel it....

[Clutch]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

However, it should be 'common'!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[canuckamuck]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

Yes I agree with you. What i was searching for was; is the concept here, and what would be included under the heading of Thai common sense?

[Forethat]

Ahh...common sense - not to be confused with the as equally common phenomenon "incompetence", which is often the result when people try to use the aforementioned common sense instead of listening to those who actually knows.

Here on TV, posters are using common sense all the time.

[taotoo]

Common sense doesn't equal sense.

[Suradit69]

I was told there isn't even a saying for common sense in the Thai language.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Common sense would make that seem unlikely.

มีสามัญสำนึก mii-​sǎa-​man-​sǎm-​nʉ́k adj.

commonsense

Paiboon Publishing

Edited October 21, 2013 by Suradit69

[monkeycountry]

Why have a word(s) for something that does not exist?

[muratremix]

Thais lack common sense in traffic!

[ThaiTrav]

I was told there isn't even a saying for common sense in the Thai language.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

and that's why they don't have any !!!!!!!

[Always18]

I have frequently encountered "common sense" in Thailand..................just never exhibited by Thais though...............

[wayned]

I have frequently encountered "common sense" in Thailand..................just never exhibited by Thais though...............

Ah, and those "farang" in Nana Plaza and Soi Cowboy exhibit it every night!

[sirchai]

I'd say that "common sense" for somebody who grew up in a westernized country isn't necessarily the same "common sense" people develop in Asia.

We all develop our "common sense" under different circumstances. Can't say that Thais don't have "common sense". They just live and act differently. - .

Edited October 21, 2013 by sirchai

[ezzra]

Here are some definitions of common sense....

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes

16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18 Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

26 If you had to identify, in 1 word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

29. You should not confuse your career with your life.

30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

31. Never lick a steak knife.

32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

35. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

36. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender,religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we All believe that we are above average drivers.

37. Your friends love you anyway.

38. Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

39: How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

[salapau]

There isn't a phrase because they don't have any, only thoughts for themselves.

[sirchai]

Here are some definitions of common sense....

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.

3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention! It never fails.)

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.

14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes

16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18 Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

25. It ain't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

26 If you had to identify, in 1 word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

29. You should not confuse your career with your life.

30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

31. Never lick a steak knife.

32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

35. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

36. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender,religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we All believe that we are above average drivers.

37. Your friends love you anyway.

38. Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

39: How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

40. Amen.-

[Dellie]

common sense = มีสามัญสำนึก

Alltough many uneducated Thais will not understand this as it is so called "high" language and not something you would normally use in conversation.

[samjaidee]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

That's a fair point. There are always cultural differences at play. That having been said, western countries have a level of sensibility that is common to all of them. These sensibilities are not as common in SE Asia, in general.

Examples of lack of common sense, by our standards, are:

Allowing people to leave a lift before getting on.

Servicing a vehicle, or any mechanical device, at predetermined intervals to decrease the chances of it breaking down, inconveniently.

Going through a red traffic light without looking for traffic moving perpendicular to their own direction.

Most westerners were given the common sense gene but it seems that most Thais were not.

[mrtoad]

Common Sense, is about as common as rocking horse shit, and it's not just like that in Thailand.

[lostinisaan]

The definition of common sense is usually based on where and how somebody grew up, And under which circumstances.

When you grew up here, sitting on the roof of a Pick up truck driving to school, you wouldn't see that as a lack of common sense..

People grew up mostly isolated from other cultures and therefore have a different approach to what we call "common sense,"

I'd guess that even Americans and Europeans have a different opinion what common sense is.

Edited October 21, 2013 by lostinisaan

[willyumiii]

Why have a word(s) for something that does not exist?

Can you say Santa Clause?,Easter Bunny?, Military intelligence?

Don't get me started on religions / superstitions!

There are many many words for things that do not exist!

[risky11]

Ahh...common sense - not to be confused with the as equally common phenomenon "incompetence", which is often the result when people try to use the aforementioned common sense instead of listening to those who actually knows.

Here on TV, posters are using common sense all the time.

On the contrary, I believe common sense means a shared competence in living. I learned of the concept from my parents with sayings like "he doesn't know better than to come in out of the rain." Or "get your feet off the table! were you raised in a barn?" or "it's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt." or "quit running with the scissors. you'll fall and put your eye out." hahaha

I look at ghetto culture on YouTube sometimes and can't believe the idiocy I am seeing. Those folks have no common sense. Even their names. Sean is out, LeShawn or DeShawn is in. LeDamian, LaTroy, LaMichael... I WANT to respect other cultures, but I just can't do it. They seem so very inferior - and proud of it!

I guess I have a certain standard in mind and I judge others according to it. We all do it, don't we? I'm certainly not trying to be arrogant. I realize I am nowhere near the level of many wise men and women. Perhaps it stems from the Biblical belief that God created the heavens and the earth and ordered everything perfectly according to his character. Our purpose is to emulate him and bless others in the process. Since Thailand is largely Buddhist and Animist, perhaps this explains the lack of what we consider common sense. Just some thoughts.

[KRaymond]

They do have the word for common sense, but they obviously don't know what it means. I find Thai people more emotional and understand things by how THEY feel, not how others do.

[drdoom6996]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

Totally agree, common sense is not common. It changes from country to country, and culture to culture.

[anselpixel]

Common sense is usually a set of mistaken perceptions sanctified by collective agreement.

As in: sailing too far in any direction from Europe would be a bad idea, as the world is flat, and you will fall over the edge.

[mancub]

Common sense is a level of intelligence obtained by a sentient being , regardless of which region of the globe he originates.

Not to be confused with logic......

In both cases it's a question of how the individual chooses to apply it .....or ignore it !

[hellodolly]

What one person or race perceives as common sense is not neccessarily the same as anothers.

Not sure but I believe my wife has such a term in English when we are talking about the difference in some ways of doing things (mostly me trying to get my way) she says

"I Thai"

ends that conversation.

A silly subject any how subject to time location and circumstances.