Are Thai people racist? They keeping calling me "Farang"!

[Stradavarius37]

Nothing gets me more irritated than being the victim of racism. I have experienced it my whole life. From the moment that my father looked at my darker skin tone as a newborn and accused my mother of sleeping with the Mexican gardener, and then proceeded to calling me his little "burrito baby" until I was 15, to the time in university when my gf drew a <deleted>-manchu mustache on me in permanent marker when I was passed out drunk, and I had to walk around like that all semester with people thinking I was oriental...it was humiliating, but it also made me understand what it is like to be a minority...

Yesterday I was making my way down Silom Road in Bangkok, wearing my traditional Thailand-wear ensemble of my favorite least-stained Beer Chang tank top, camouflage cut offs and crocs with athletic socks. I stopped in to the local 7-11 and bought myself 4 bottles of Cheers beer (the absolute finest, imo) and set myself on the curb outside to enjoy a bottle of refreshing liquid courage...(It takes courage to go home to my old lady these days. She's taken to pulling out my man boobs and motor boating them viciously when I am late...)

Well, imagine my surprise when a group of Thai teenagers walked by, saw me (minding my own business, of course) and proceeded to point in my direction saying "Blah blah blah farang blah blah blah". Well, I KNOW that the word farang is racist, because I learned that from my daily readings of the fantastic threads on the TV General Forum - and I did what any upstanding middle aged man of European decent would have done. I stood up and said "POM MAI FARANG!" "MAI DAI MAI DAI". Well needless to say they were shocked at my suddenly revealed language skills, and they scampered off.

I was sad at having to raise my voice, because I am very respectful of the local cultures and traditions...but the use of that racist word always gets me angry. Who do those group of Asians think they are anyway???

Edited November 4, 2013 by Stradavarius37

[ToddWeston]

The blah blah blah blah was probably them saying look at the farang - why isn't he home reading Thai Visa about bum guns and toilet paper.

[cooked]

What a waste of time answering this Farang at all.

[HeijoshinCool]

Another perennial topic, but it does beat the $hit out of wiping techniques.

I was in a restaurant just today. Twelve, count'm, twelve tables. Each had, in heavy marker, the table number written on the table edge, and again on poster, over the table, on the wall.

Yes, including mine.

Noodle soup was being prepared by two women at lightning speed, and two others were making deliveries. I sat down at table six.

Readied bowls were handed off along with the words yelled out, in Thai,

Table one!

Table eight!

Table four!

Farang!

Table two!

Table nine!

[CharlieH]

Farang , simply means foriegner, that is no racist term in itself, but the manner and tone in which it is used can be offensive, in my opinion. To use and old phrase, its not what you say its the way you say it.

[uptheos]

Wow, your Thai language skills must have blown them away!

[JLCrab]

Another perennial topic, but it does beat the $hit out of wiping techniques.

I was in a restaurant just today. Twelve, count'm, twelve tables. Each had, in heavy marker, the table number written on the table edge, and again on poster, over the table, on the wall.

Yes, including mine.

Noodle soup was being prepared by two women at lightning speed, and two others were making deliveries. I sat down at table six.

Readied bowls were handed off along with the words yelled out, in Thai,

Table one!

Table eight!

Table four!

Farang!

Table two!

Table nine!

Maybe next time they should yell: Antlers!

[Totster]

Next time you might be rewarded with a gang beating...

totster

[partington]

Farang , simply means foriegner, that is no racist term in itself, but the manner and tone in which it is used can be offensive, in my opinion. To use and old phrase, its not what you say its the way you say it.

I realise fully that the original post was a joke: skilfully evoking the scenario of a completely deadbeat westerner objecting to being singled out, even though his behaviour and appearance deserves both attention and scorn.

And I don't care at all about the word farang being used to refer to me or anyone else.

However it DOES have a racial identification component: it does not just mean foreigner. It is a word used to refer only to non-Asians, so a Japanese or Korean would never hear the term, even when guzzling beer in the street wearing a wifebeater.

Is this racist? Hmmm. Imagine walking on the street in New York, say, and on seeing a Chinese person walking past, you nudged your friend, pointed and yelled "OOOH look, an Oriental!!!"

I myself do this all the time as I find Asians very fascinating with their funny ways, so it can't be racist....

EDIT: correcting spelling, and noticing the OP also used the word "oriental" in his post...surely triple satire, as "oriental" is only used to refer to inanimate objects, and so is generally recognised to be racist when applied to people

Edited November 4, 2013 by partington

[JLCrab]

Next time you might be rewarded with a gang beating...

totster

Table six was probably too small for a gang beating.

[mca]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

Edited November 4, 2013 by mca

[wolf5370]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" that while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

I have almost the same thing ... two old ladies with a basket of small pumpkins - Jeez should have heard their language!

[kurnell]

It didn't take long for someone to take this piss take seriously

[Totster]

Next time you might be rewarded with a gang beating...

totster

Table six was probably too small for a gang beating.

It was aimed at the OP

totster

[HeijoshinCool]

Dear Mrs Crab:

JL is still not paying attention in class, confusing one person with another, blurting out single words that make no sense. Words like "antlers!," whatever that means. Perhaps you know.

In addition, he does not play well with others.

Please take steps to correct this before next school year, or I believe, one day, he may grow up to publicly make inappropriate comments, embarrassing himself, and alienating those around him.

Sincerely,

J.L's Teacher

[richard_smith237]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" that while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

I had the same experience - Two ladies in the market... so rude... kept saying "Mun Falang"...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/676613-itwhat-an-insult/

Gosh my blood was boiling so much at this insult that I went straight home and made some french fries with the Potatoes I bought....

[mca]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" that while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

I have almost the same thing ... two old ladies with a basket of small pumpkins - Jeez should have heard their language!

Yeah there's a guy sells pumpkins at our local market and I swear the guys got Tourette's Syndrome.

[cooked]

What shape were the pumpkins? Were the old ladies fondling them lovingly? Maybe your presence stirred up romantic memories.

[wolf5370]

Farang , simply means foriegner, that is no racist term in itself, but the manner and tone in which it is used can be offensive, in my opinion. To use and old phrase, its not what you say its the way you say it.

I realise fully that the original post was a joke: skilfully evoking the scenario of a completely deadbeat westerner objecting to being singled out, even though his behaviour and appearance deserves both attention and scorn.

And I don't care at all about the word farang being used to refer to me or anyone else.

However it DOES have a racial identification component: it does not just mean foreigner. It is a word used to refer only to non-Asians, so a Japanese or Korean would never hear the term, even when guzzling beer in the street wearing a wifebeater.

Is this racist? Hmmm. Imagine walking on the street in New York, say, and on seeing a Chinese person walking past, you nudged your friend, pointed and yelled "OOOH look, an Oriental!!!"

I myself do this all the time as I find Asians very fascinating with their funny ways, so it can't be racist....

EDIT: correcting spelling, and noticing the OP also used the word "oriental" in his post...surely triple satire, as "oriental" is only used to refer to inanimate objects, and so is generally recognised to be racist when applied to people

Interesting, but Oriental isn't more or less racist in my opinion. It simply means (in old French) "The East" (from Latin: Oriens - "direction from which the sun rises" ). It was actually originally used for the Middle East, but French Indo-China "moved" its use further east. It is as racist as saying "eastern" - and yet we say "western" to refer to the "farang" in a more polite way! It's also several thousand years old!

Words are just words: it is their context that makes them abusive and offensive. No chip on my shoulder - don't care if they collectively call me "farang", might be less impressed if they used a derogatory term, but I don't see a grouping noun used for white western humans (which I happen to be - and thus correctly fit) as an insult - why would I?

I find it quite funny that people are so scared to use the obvious differences, such as skin colour, as a descriptor or pointer over other terms. I have been at offices etc, when asking for someone that I don't know but having a meeting planned, that happens to be black or Indian etc, surrounded by white faces, they say things like "the guy over there wearing patent shoes" - yeah like that's easier to spot that , "he's the black guy over there". We obviously stay away from things that could be offensive - "she's the ugly bird over there on the phone"; "he's the one with the comb-over", "He's the one with bad BO", "she's the one dressed like a prostitute", "He's the short fat guy stuffing his face in the corner"... etc. But is "black" derogatory? How about, "He's the good looking black guy over there" ? does "good looking" cancel out the "black" term? Some of us come from countries that did away with slavery over 200 years ago - some of us never had segregation - yet we still hang on to the same old BS baggage. Use the N word, its derogatory and you deserve a slap of course, but there is such a thing a positive racism too. Get over it <deleted>!

BTW - I wonder how many people know that one of the first, longest reigning and best Roman governors of Britain was a black man from Carthage. Basically the first British ruler (first person to rule the whole of the British Isles - given the walled out Scottish bit was not in his realm) was black - and much of the "farangs" in the world either date back to Roman occupation and/or British Imperialism. Even those that don't, like Russia, shared royal families. So get over it already.

I'm a human. I'm white. I'm a westerner. I'm a heterosexual. I'm average height. I'm a Brit/Englishman. I'm a husband. I'm a farang. No worries.

[h90]

The can call me Farang, Pinky, Whity, Longnose or whatever.

Thais look like Thais so I call them Thais

I look like a Farang so they call me Farang.

We are looking different and we are called that way....That is in no way racist.

Racist would be, if you are only allowed to sit in the back in the subway. Or racist would be if you have to pay more entrance in the Nationalpark.

Edited November 4, 2013 by h90

[krisb]

You said I no falang, can not can not.

Well said falang!

[h90]

You said I no falang, can not can not.

Well said falang!

that will give them something to thing about:

"what is that Farang talking about?"

[ToddWeston]

I'm still trying to get over being called Mun by the FIL for the last 25 years, I'll take farang anyday of the week.

[JLCrab]

Dear Mrs Crab:

JL is still not paying attention in class, confusing one person with another, blurting out single words that make no sense. Words like "antlers!," whatever that means. Perhaps you know.

In addition, he does not play well with others.

Please take steps to correct this before next school year, or I believe, one day, he may grow up to publicly make inappropriate comments, embarrassing himself, and alienating those around him.

Sincerely,

J.L's Teacher

Yes JL's Teacher -- He certainly is a problem child but since, before he was even able to drive, he was doing the sophisticated probability calculations for our family company which helped us earn us sh-tloads of money, we tend to put up with his eccentricities . Thanks however for your concern. Jl's Mom

[Scottythai]

Being as I am a hairy fella I find most Thai people refer to me a Farang o Tang. Maybe its cause I am strong grrrr

[Neeranam]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

I went to the fruit stall on Saturday night and bought some guavas and the seller didn;t make any joke about farang buying a farang. If Thais change to being politically correct, I think I'll leave.

[Neeranam]

I'm still trying to get over being called Mun by the FIL for the last 25 years, I'll take farang anyday of the week.

It can be a term of endearment in families.

[h90]

Once I was sitting on a songtaew and there were two old ladies sitting opposite me with a large basket of guava. One of the rude old crones kept saying " farang" this and "farang" while sorting through the basket. All of this was within easy earshot of myself and to compound their blatant rudeness they completely ignored me whilst saying "farang" as if I didn't even exist.

I went to the fruit stall on Saturday night and bought some guavas and the seller didn;t make any joke about farang buying a farang. If Thais change to being politically correct, I think I'll leave.

Farang gin Farang......and it is sooooo new....but OK they enjoy it again and again....

[thailiketoo]

It is a difficult language. There was a lady in the market the other day who really wanted to meet a western guy. But to no avail. She kept asking for a, "Man Farang" and the clerk kept giving her potatoes.

[donniereadit]

I never associate with people who utter the term. You can feel the spite coming from them.

I have never had someone come up and address me directly with it (which says a lot about how it's used).

"Hi Falang, How are you?"

Pretty easy to gauge the deragatory nature of the term. If you get a woman who uses the term with you, or with other Thai's I would advise you to examine carefully whether she is right for you.