The Starting Point for Respecting Thais and Thai Culture

[GuestHouse]

The Starting Point for Respecting Thais and Thai Culture, is surely respecting yourself and your own culture - an anchor point from which you can appreciate others and their culture.

Or do you need to reject respect for your own past to accept the new life you have in Thailand?

[In Search of Space]

Very deep, you need to respect both, I just view them as different, no right or wrong

[manarak]

what is the difference between respect, tolerance and indifference ?

[FiftyTwo]

Sorry, I don't have much respect.

The politicians, police and officials are crooks.

And everyone else wants in on the game.

Not to mention Thai culture ..... a culture of greed.

Edited December 25, 2013 by FiftyTwo

[KarenBravo]

Their culture won't get my respect until they move beyond the concept of "face".

Edited December 25, 2013 by KarenBravo

[khunpa]

I respect all people on this planet, no matter culture, skin color and religions etc... And I do this, until they show me disrespect. If e.g. a Thai thinks I am a naive and stupid Farang, then I will think the same of him/her.

For me, Thai people are very different and all are unique in their own personal way. (just like all other people in this world) I always judge and respect people based on their personality and actions towards me - not their nationality.

You get very far with just using common sense, when it comes to integrating into another culture.

Edited December 25, 2013 by khunpa

[cooked]

Sorry but I don't respect any large groups of people, why should I give the Thais any special treatment. Many years ago, when I saw how people drive (not in Thailand) I decided that there was no hope for humanity, peace, common sense.... you name it.

Happy Christmas anyway.

[txp158]

I respect all people on this planet, no matter culture, skin color and religions etc... And I do this, until they show me disrespect. If e.g. a Thai thinks I am a naive and stupid Farang, then I will think the same of him/her.

For me, Thai people are very different and all are unique in their own personal way. (just like all other people in this world) I always judge and respect people based on their personality - not their nationality.

You get very far with just using common sense, when it comes to integrating into another culture.

What you are saying doesn't help if you have low self esteem. How do you know what other people think, unless you can read their mind? Not too many people will say out right you are stupid.

[mauGR1]

In my humble opinion, if you have some culture, you respect all cultures.

[khunpa]

I respect all people on this planet, no matter culture, skin color and religions etc... And I do this, until they show me disrespect. If e.g. a Thai thinks I am a naive and stupid Farang, then I will think the same of him/her.

For me, Thai people are very different and all are unique in their own personal way. (just like all other people in this world) I always judge and respect people based on their personality - not their nationality.

You get very far with just using common sense, when it comes to integrating into another culture.

What you are saying doesn't help if you have low self esteem. How do you know what other people think, unless you can read their mind? Not too many people will say out right you are stupid.

I judge people individually based on their actions towards me and I treat people as I would like them to treat me...

I do not care where they are from or if they are Thai or not. You can find good and bad people all over the world.

Edited December 25, 2013 by khunpa

[txp158]

Then you are living in a la la land. You probably think parents hate their own children when you see the kids get punished.

[473geo]

Respecting a person, respecting a culture, two very different things, a person can constantly adjust their behavior to suit a situation, a culture does not present such immediate opportunity for change

I hold a high respect for people prepared to ignore their 'culture' if they see an improved alternative

Respecting your own culture must also allow for the possibility your culture is not alone in the perpetuation of both good and poor education regarding values

I'm not perfect, I don't expect the Thai to be either

Life is good

[soi41]

Parts of Thai culture I respect very much!!

[paddyjenkins]

I think the starting point might be when Thais can move beyond the "Thailand number 1" nonsense and learn to respect other races and cultures. Once that happens I see Thais beginning to gain the respect they will then deserve.

[Hedghog]

Be respectful to all.

They will reciprocate.

Thai folk are no different to any other.

[txp158]

Parts of Thai culture I respect very much!!10.jpg835-583x874.jpgBeautiful-thai-Women.jpg

I'm sure you make your mother proud

[khunpa]

Then you are living in a la la land. You probably think parents hate their own children when you see the kids get punished.

When I see parents hitting their children here in Thailand (which I sometimes see), then I think that the parents are stupid, under-educated and should never had had children... They for sure do not get my respect.

[txp158]

Then you are living in a la la land. You probably think parents hate their own children when you see the kids get punished.

When I see parents hitting their children here in Thailand (which I sometimes see), then I think that the parents are stupid, under-educated and should never had had children... They for sure do not get my respect.

I'm sure many Thai parents hit their own children in public place....for you to see 555.

I'm sure that the terms "get punished" only means hitting spanking for you -- which tells me the kind of a person you are.

[txp158]

Sorry for turning this nice post into crap, OP.

But my point is some farangs are not what they claim to be. Soi41 is a pretty good example.

Btw Mr. Khunpa, respect is earned not given. I'm sure a smart guy like you know that.

Edited December 25, 2013 by txp158

[ABCer]

The OP is right - without self respect and upholding one's own culture first, - any 'respect' for foreign culture becomes a worthless outward gesture, kind of 'wai' without its meaning (to the point of 'kiss my ...').

Giving prevalence to local culture over one's own is a sure way of losing identity without acquiring a new one. How much one is losing is another matter. I would say it depends on the size of luggage.

Strictly speaking greed is a human trait, one of the locomotive forces of progress and has very little to do with Thai culture. As to corrupt politicians etc. - this is a universal worldwide phenomenon. (Fifty Two).

Personally I think that the whole issue of 'Thai Culture' is artificially overrated. I never had offended any Thai when responding 'Thank you' to their 'Kapuncrap' or saying 'Hello' to their 'Sawadicrap'. The rest is a mystery to me...

I live here. I like it here. I eat my own kind of food. I read my books. I speak my language. I am married to a Thai. I have my culture. And strangely enough it does not clash with local culture.

Happy Festive Season to all.

[meechai]

The Starting Point for Respecting Thais and Thai Culture, is surely respecting yourself and your own culture - an anchor point from which you can appreciate others and their culture.

Or do you need to reject respect for your own past to accept the new life you have in Thailand?

I respect myself based on my own self improvements they are not necessarily

gotten from my "own culture" as such is no anchor point. I may have cherry picked what I thought

was useful,right,morally correct etc. based on how I perceive things.

Perhaps it did not deserve my total respect. Why would I need to

first respect that which does not deserve respect in order to respect any other culture that may deserve my respect.

To put it simply respect is earned not given automatically due to where I was born or where I presently reside.

I know basically what you are trying to imply but cannot say I agree. Like so many things there are many

smaller parts to any whole

Edited December 25, 2013 by meechai

[StreetCowboy]

I respect all people on this planet, no matter culture, skin color and religions etc... And I do this, until they show me disrespect. If e.g. a Thai thinks I am a naive and stupid Farang, then I will think the same of him/her.

For me, Thai people are very different and all are unique in their own personal way. (just like all other people in this world) I always judge and respect people based on their personality - not their nationality.

You get very far with just using common sense, when it comes to integrating into another culture.

What you are saying doesn't help if you have low self esteem. How do you know what other people think, unless you can read their mind? Not too many people will say out right you are stupid.

But maybe he recognises perceptive people

[StreetCowboy]

Parts of Thai culture I respect very much!!10.jpg835-583x874.jpgBeautiful-thai-Women.jpg

Those all seem to be western-style dresses

[thailiketoo]

I respect all people on this planet, no matter culture, skin color and religions etc... And I do this, until they show me disrespect. If e.g. a Thai thinks I am a naive and stupid Farang, then I will think the same of him/her.

For me, Thai people are very different and all are unique in their own personal way. (just like all other people in this world) I always judge and respect people based on their personality and actions towards me - not their nationality.

You get very far with just using common sense, when it comes to integrating into another culture.

I couldn't notice that you posted very negative posts about rich people not being held accountable for crime and parents requesting money from their offspring who are involved in prostitution. Since these are both linked to Thai culture stemming back hundreds of years ago don't you need to qualify your statement that you like Thais until they violate the morals that you culturally ascribe to? There are hill tribe people who marry at 12 and don't shower. One assumes you would not approve of that?

[Bender]

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

[benalibina]

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

True....to answer ur question. Another drunken thai.

[CraigSchuler]

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

Respect everybody unless they give reason.

That drunk Thai might end up saving your life one day!

Edited December 25, 2013 by CraigSchuler

[canuckamuck]

I respect people not culture. There are aspects of every culture that should be valued, and there are parts that are divisive, oppressive and destructive. I strive to be understanding and not make too much of who I am.

[Bender]

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

True....to answer ur question. Another drunken thai.

you dont get respected when you show yourself in a weak position, never!

You might get some empathie, you migh get some help from good people but the average thai will crunch you...

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

Respect everybody unless they give reason.

That drunk Thai might end up saving your life one day!

actually there is more chance that the drunk thai will take your life in a car accident than save yours!

I did take the drunk thai as an example! So let turn the table, do you will get respect, if you are seen everyday completely drunk with the money that your daughter earn in pattaya? Do you will get respect if you are a thief, a scammer....?

No only honest and good people deserve to be respected!

[benalibina]

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

True....to answer ur question. Another drunken thai.

you dont get respected when you show yourself in a weak position, never!

You might get some empathie, you migh get some help from good people but the average thai will crunch you...

you respect people when they respect you

you respect people when they respect themself...( who gonna respect a drunk thai?)

Respect everybody unless they give reason.

That drunk Thai might end up saving your life one day!

actually there is more chance that the drunk thai will take your life in a car accident than save yours!

I did take the drunk thai as an example! So let turn the table, do you will get respect, if you are seen everyday completely drunk with the money that your daughter earn in pattaya? Do you will get respect if you are a thief, a scammer....?

No only honest and good people deserve to be respected!

Well..... what 1 deserves....1 not always gets....