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[Mobi]

[

An exceptionally good post from Colpyat, absolutely on the money.

As to your post, a little Pollyanna-like if I may say so.The concept of "constructive criticism" is not understood in Thailand. Ask any farang manager who has to endure the annual round of staff appraisals.

In terms of fair distribution of wealth, to take just one example, Thailand is a great deal worse than most other countries.There are many other examples.

As to not staying here if the bad outweighed the good, many of us have no choice given our family responsibilities.I would also remind you that some of us were sent to Thailand by our employers.We are not all ex-tourists who liked what they saw and stayed on.(I am putting that last part very politely!)

I suppose I really meant constructive as opposed to DE structive. There are many examples, but one could be suggestion for better enforcement of traffic laws, rathger than just slating Thai driving. I think you know what I mean and I think you are being pedantic.

Please be careful what you say when you have no idea of the backgrounds of those you speak to. I have spent over 10 years working in Thailand back in the seventies/ eighties, and it was here as much as anywhere that taught me the skills of being a good manager. Just because you can't deal with your employees and their culture, it doesn't mean it can't be done.

I would venture to suggest that there are precious few farangs who are here because they have no choice, and I would further suggest that of those who are sent here by their employers, a vast majority are only too happy to be enjoying life here on their expatriate salaries, and living off the fat of the land.

[Cassandra]

Well .... with all the predictions of doom and gloom that some people keep coming up with the idea of continuing to stay in a country they are predcting a full-scale civil war for etc etc is AMAZING ...

Loving Thailand is like really loving a person ... you probably don't like one thing about about your best friend but you love him anyways. If you really do love your friend you may try to gently steer them from a destructive course but you don't TELL them what to do .. you don't incessantly whine about them etc etc. You accept them with their warts and all ... and focus on their good points!

Really ... why incessantly whinge on about what is part of reality here? At some point the cry-babies need to take a look at themselves and see if they can cope with reality here. If not well ... there ARE other places to try ... but then they'll shortly find out that no matter what ... wherever they go ... there will be a common element.

"Wherever you go; There you are!"

I've noticed that those with, how to put it, specialised interests often seem to lose the ability to think straight, if I can use that term, about the pros and cons of expatriate life in Thailand.

"Loving Thailand is like really loving a person".You couldn't make it up.

[zzap]

It's often those who have recently 'achieved' the status of living here who seem to have misplaced their heads.

Happens to many people, I reckon it's only a stage in the process of making oneself at home, so to speak.

[OldAsiaHand]

...I would venture to suggest that there are precious few farangs who are here because they have no choice.....I would further suggest that of those who are sent here by their employers, a vast majority are only too happy to be enjoying life here on their expatriate salaries, and living off the fat of the land.

I suppose the go-back-where-you-came-from crowd needs to insist that most every foreigner in Thailand is here voluntarily and because we chose to be here, otherwise they'd have to stop with their standard prattle and say something that actually made sense. Still, tossing off a comment like this is so breathtakingly narrow-minded that really does make you shake your head, doesn't it? Why do some people have such a hard time grasping that almost eveyone else is not necessarily, alas, just like them?

And for the 'living off the fat of the land line'....well, now we're getting down to it. Not only are we all here voluntarily, those very few of us who aren't, are overpaid, upperclass twits who are taking advantage of the poor working classes by being here at all. Both, we assume, the hard-working, always smiling Thais, and the low-life, semi-retired sex tourist foreigners who couldn't get jobs at home. Good Lord.

[Siripon]

How the colonel likes to see doom, Thailand in 'serious trouble', civil war predicted in his other posts!

I would say more than smiles Thailand is a land of laughter, and for those foreigners who don't enjoy simple pleasures such as going out in groups, eating together and making gentle fun of each other, then they're never going to be content.

A land of laughter?

Hmmm, right.

A near civil war in the three southernmost provinces, no solution in sight...

Bangkok's industrial suburbs descending more and more into a nightmare of youth gang violence...

A still unsolved political crises with a population polarised to an extend it never was...

An economy that is getting worse...

Still unsolved land right issues in the north and northeast...

Huge debts under especially the rural population...

Drugs on the way to make a huge return...

But no, everything is perfectly in order, because we can go out and have a laugh. Simple pleasures for simplistic people...

Colonel, look back over world history,has there been a time since The Garden Of Eden when there hasn't been problems?

There's a famous poem by WH Auden, I forget the painting he's referring to but his point is in the painting there are people suffering, people having fun, people bored , people interested,etc.all at the same time.

Human life, with all its emotions, goes on continously.Many Thais have, and still do suffer,but there is a joi de vivre, excuse my spelling if it's wrong, in Thai culture which cuts across social classes, a sense of fun- be it ramwong dancing, Issan dancing, Thai comedy,satire, students'songs, the pleasure in enjoying each others' company.

Even the word for work and fun is the same.Sanuk is integral to Thai life.

If you haven't experienced this then I have to say you're mixing with the wrong people.

It's admirable you're concerned about Thai social issues but the sociological viewpoint is only one window to view a society.

Should we all be miserable because Thaksin messed up the south?

Your desire to shoulder Thai social, political or economic problems has blinded you to the fact that most Thais only worry about issue number 4 on your list. And only then if they can't borrow more money!

The

Are you suggesting from your dubious list that Thais shouldn't smile?

Thais had far worse problems than these Humans don't

I believe you're American, let's look at the problems in Thailand that prevent you from laughing here

[Mobi]

I suppose the go-back-where-you-came-from crowd needs to insist that most every foreigner in Thailand is here voluntarily and because we chose to be here, otherwise they'd have to stop with their standard prattle and say something that actually made sense. Still, tossing off a comment like this is so breathtakingly narrow-minded that really does make you shake your head, doesn't it? Why do some people have such a hard time grasping that almost eveyone else is not necessarily, alas, just like them?

And for the 'living off the fat of the land line'....well, now we're getting down to it. Not only are we all here voluntarily, those very few of us who aren't, are overpaid, upperclass twits who are taking advantage of the poor working classes by being here at all. Both, we assume, the hard-working, always smiling Thais, and the low-life, semi-retired sex tourist foreigners who couldn't get jobs at home. Good Lord.

So somebody put a gun at your head and forced you to come and work in Thailand? You people who claim 'you had no choice but to come here', are so breathtaking unreal, it really does make you shake your head doesn't it? Of course you had a choice. You could have said: "No thank you, I don't wish to go to Thailand." And as you obviously have very special skills and qualifications that are not available in Thailand, then surely you would have few problems in finding work elsewhere?

Paid well? For sure. Deny it.

Over paid? - I didn't say that, but you be the judge.

Upperclass twits taking advantage of the poor? I didn't say that either. Why do you insist on putting words in peoples' mouths?

What on earth has " the low-life, semi-retired sex tourist foreigners who couldn't get jobs at home" got to do with anything anyone was discussing?

All I said was "living off the fat of the land" which is patently true, and we get a diatribe which ranges from 'upper class twits' to 'low life sex tourists'.

Me thinks you have a few chips on your shoulder.

Edited May 14, 2006 by Mobi D'Ark

[ColPyat]

I believe you're American, let's look at the problems in Thailand that prevent you from laughing here

Can we leave the insults out of this, please?

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN!

I am not even a native English speaker, so, in some twisted sort of way that might even be some sort of compliment on my language skills.

Now, if you would actually read my posts, then you would find out that i have written that i do enjoy life here tremendously, because i love living in Asia. Which i have done now since nearly two decades - all my adult life.

Nevertheless, i am not blind, i do see Thailand's huge problems. I don't "shoulder" Thailand's problems, but i deal with the ones that infringe in my personal space of happiness. And additionally i try my best to help where my help is appreciated and where it has a chance to improve things. That simply is my way of repaying the joy that i have since living here.

"Joi de vivre" i can see in many places, that is not exclusive to Thailand. I have seen lots of "joi de vivre" and laughter in warzones as well, but that doesn't mean that things are not shit there, it just means that people have to laugh in order to keep sane.

Mixing with the wrong people? Please don't assume with whom i am mixing, and wether my friends are the "right" or "wrong" people - that is none of your business.

What is it with you people? Just because some of us are intelligent enough to see that this society has serious problems you believe that we are all miserable?

Edited May 14, 2006 by ColPyat

[Jai Yen Yen]

I believe you're American, let's look at the problems in Thailand that prevent you from laughing here

Yes, ColPyat, please tell us what we can do to help make you laugh.

For a start, reading some of this rubbish might help!

[meadish_sweetball]

This is nice and all, but I believe it could be even nicer if we started to talk with eachother instead of past eachother.

You are all right, alright?

Thailand has problems, for sure. But in the eyes of many Thais, these problems are too complex to solve, so why worry about them? If we smile more and try to enjoy ourselves and be good to the people that surround us in our everyday lives, surely that will create a good result in the end?

(Not all Thais, of course.)

I know the mai pen rai attitude can be tiring at times, but it is also something that can save you from worrying about things you cannot change anyway. The old classic has been quoted here on Thaivisa many a times:

Lord give me the strength to change the things I can change

The patience to accept the things I can not

And the wisdom to know the difference

I'd like to add "And the ability to smile in the face of adversity".

I would also like to quote a Swedish poet, but my translation would not do his work justice. If you speak or understand Swedish, google for "En broder mer" and "Dagerman".

[OlRedEyes]

The danger is that mai pen rai makes for a great excuse...

I cannot improve things > I cannot improve myself > I stand still while the world progresses > I become the servant of the world > I become frustrated and aggressive > violence.

Edited May 14, 2006 by OlRedEyes

[Totster]

The danger is that mai pen rai makes for a great excuse...

I cannot improve things > I cannot improve myself > I stand still while the world progresses > I become the servant of the world > I become frustrated and aggressive > violence.

Bor bpen nyang dork..

totster

[jdinasia]

It is a simple fact that people that are generally unhappy in one place ... and move to another place ... are generally unhappy there too.

Lowest common denominator all in all.

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

[thaibebop]

I believe you're American, let's look at the problems in Thailand that prevent you from laughing here

Can we leave the insults out of this, please?

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

I am not even a native English speaker, so, in some twisted sort of way that might even be some sort of compliment on my language skills.

Now, if you would actually read my posts, then you would find out that i have written that i do enjoy life here tremendously, because i love living in Asia. Which i have done now since nearly two decades - all my adult life.

Nevertheless, i am not blind, i do see Thailand's huge problems. I don't "shoulder" Thailand's problems, but i deal with the ones that infringe in my personal space of happiness. And additionally i try my best to help where my help is appreciated and where it has a chance to improve things. That simply is my way of repaying the joy that i have since living here.

"Joi de vivre" i can see in many places, that is not exclusive to Thailand. I have seen lots of "joi de vivre" and laughter in warzones as well, but that doesn't mean that things are not shit there, it just means that people have to laugh in order to keep sane.

Mixing with the wrong people? Please don't assume with whom i am mixing, and wether my friends are the "right" or "wrong" people - that is none of your business.

What is it with you people? Just because some of us are intelligent enough to see that this society has serious problems you believe that we are all miserable?

[ColPyat]

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

Because maybe i might then suffer under humor deficiancy syndrom and to compensate would have to invade another country?

[thaibebop]

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

Because maybe i might then suffer under humor deficiancy syndrom and to compensate would have to invade another country?

Perhaps I suffer from the same problem...or you're just not funny.

[Donz]

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

Because maybe i might then suffer under humor deficiancy syndrom and to compensate would have to invade another country?

Perhaps I suffer from the same problem...or you're just not funny.

well i thought that was funny, but people do think i have a bizzar/good sense of humour.

[lampard10]

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

Because maybe i might then suffer under humor deficiancy syndrom and to compensate would have to invade another country?

Perhaps I suffer from the same problem...or you're just not funny.

well i thought that was funny, but people do think i have a bizzar/good sense of humour.

So did I.And with humerous lines like that the Col must be british (or Irish)

[Totster]

I AM DEFINATELY NOT AMERICAN! And why is this a bad thing?

Only a yank would need to ask that question..Are you sure you're not American... ?

totster

[Mobi]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

I noticed that.

He had a cheap shot at me after my completely innocuous posting, and then he made an even cheaper shot at you - couched in such a way that he can't be accused of flaming.

If you have a look at his posts, you will see they are quite revealing; quite fond of making unprovoked, supercilious attacks. Not exactly God's gift to humanity.

[BKKstan]

Whine or whing?Is telling someone to leave the country,if they don't like it,the same as telling someone to leave a forum if they don't like what is posted?

Is whinging about the whingers not whinging?

And ''love the country''?How did you fall in love?Was it gradual or short time?Do you practice ''acceptance ''of everyone and everything Thai,and draw the line against expats venting/whinging to excessively in your opinion?

[ColPyat]

So did I.And with humerous lines like that the Col must be british (or Irish)

Being a hopeless anglophile - YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!

[English Noodles]

Bor bpen nyang dork..

totster

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...ndpost&p=746132

[the gent]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

I noticed that.

He had a cheap shot at me after my completely innocuous posting, and then he made an even cheaper shot at you - couched in such a way that he can't be accused of flaming.

If you have a look at his posts, you will see they are quite revealing; quite fond of making unprovoked, supercilious attacks. Not exactly God's gift to humanity.

........... but as an intelligent observer of those prone to sentimental claptrap he is quite astute and seldom less than amusing in his comments. A dash of bitters to zest the anodyne but evidently not to your taste.

[Guest endure]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

I noticed that.

He had a cheap shot at me after my completely innocuous posting, and then he made an even cheaper shot at you - couched in such a way that he can't be accused of flaming.

If you have a look at his posts, you will see they are quite revealing; quite fond of making unprovoked, supercilious attacks. Not exactly God's gift to humanity.

........... but as an intelligent observer of those prone to sentimental claptrap he is quite astute and seldom less than amusing in his comments. A dash of bitters to zest the anodyne but evidently not to your taste.

He's a bag of bile.

[OlRedEyes]

Bor bpen nyang dork..

totster

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...ndpost&p=746132

Ban him!!!!

[Mobi]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

I noticed that.

He had a cheap shot at me after my completely innocuous posting, and then he made an even cheaper shot at you - couched in such a way that he can't be accused of flaming.

If you have a look at his posts, you will see they are quite revealing; quite fond of making unprovoked, supercilious attacks. Not exactly God's gift to humanity.

........... but as an intelligent observer of those prone to sentimental claptrap he is quite astute and seldom less than amusing in his comments. A dash of bitters to zest the anodyne but evidently not to your taste.

He's a bag of bile.

Without a doubt. Sad really.

[jdinasia]

It is a simple fact that people that are generally unhappy in one place ... and move to another place ... are generally unhappy there too.

Lowest common denominator all in all.

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

Didn't really expect an answer did I ?

[Ulysses G.]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

Didn't really expect an answer did I ?

Bargirls.

[Donz]

We should get a flaming forum, then everyone can vent there anger out there about anything they want.

[jdinasia]

Cassandra ... what "specialised interests" that cause one to "not think straight"? are you referring to?

Didn't really expect an answer did I ?

Bargirls.

Nah ... that aint it