racism among expats in thailand

[FiftyTwo]

I've seen it on here too, although not directed so much at black people in particular, it was more aimed at national groups.

If discrimination is aimed at nationalities, then it isn't racism.

Discrimination aimed at the different religions isn't racism either.

[hookedondhamma]

Ten years in Thailand have never seen racism against anyone, except from Thais to anyone that isnt Thai. 2nd post in a month for the OP stating he feels racism exists, firstly from potential employees and now expats. Sometimes it isnt down to ones colour or culture that they are rejected or not particulary liked but down to the way the individual comes accross.......and sometimes it is imaginary. Would be nice OP if you post the 'highest forms of racism' you have experienced so wehave more of an idea what you are going through.

like no thai have ever called me a NIGGA, i dress well like a teacher that i'm. i have sat down with expats and they say,hey man what are u doing here (in Thailand) i reply i'm a teacher' i see they all looked each other..and one stupid one asked..'are u kidding me? what school? and i don't have a job?....i cant really count these meetings..i applied through and agency to get a teaching job, they bluntly told me that the agency will never put a black man on their radar..i told him i was in a school that don't really care about color but want to only take me if i had an agency buy they still refused

Why is it that a black person can call another one nigga but if someone else does it, it's racist

Not all black people use that word, and not all are the same, and regardless of being black or any other ethnic group, it displays stupidity using a racial slur.

now please, don't try and derail the topic more.

Edited February 21, 2014 by hookedondhamma

[Gillyflower]

OK I understand perfectly what OP is talking about I am white and of a certain age. I was born bred and educated (at a rather posh school) in Australia of white English parents. Here in CM I come across "racism" quite frequently. I went to live in France many years ago- because of immigration problems etc I took French citizenship (also because a French passport was one hell of a lot cheaper than an Aus. one - they are God's gift to the world don't you know?) I speak English without a French accent - a sin. If I am Anglo Saxon why do I speak French without an English accent. Another sin. I speak posh - as most of the grammar of Australians is abysmally bad - that's not so difficult. I have been verbally agressed several times. and quite nastily too. I could go on about the snide remarks.........I am accepted amongst the ENGLISH community if I am not too obviously Aus. I would like to say that these remarks are not meant at all for our North American friends. They don't give a s.... It just makes the person more interesting.

i have met the odd bit of racism in France - but it is so rare......nothing like the world of expats here in Thailand.

[PJcm]

To everyone who has lived here more than six months go to school, learn some basic Thai I know people, mostly Brits, 99% English who learn no Thai and wonder why they don't get along with the locals, you listening Andrew in Sansai with the Olde Bell Sign.

[Scarpolo]

Yes, so many expats have nothing good to say about Thais about whom they generalize appallingly....

... and Indians, Chinese, Russians, Africans ...

For some people it's all about :

Have you lived in these countries?

I lived in China(10y) and Thailand(1.5y)

I'd need to live in China for at least a hundred years, to pull par with racism as to the magnitude of that of Thailand!. Sure, Chinese are not that open as far as SEX is concerned, but apart from that - China is WIDE open, Thailand? "Closed"!

Please explain this sentence from your post; thanks

""Chinese are not that open as far as SEX is concerned, but apart from that - China is WIDE open, Thailand? "Closed"!""

what does this mean, Thailand closed?

closed to what?

[FiftyTwo]

OK I understand perfectly what OP is talking about I am white and of a certain age. I was born bred and educated (at a rather posh school) in Australia of white English parents. Here in CM I come across "racism" quite frequently. I went to live in France many years ago- because of immigration problems etc I took French citizenship (also because a French passport was one hell of a lot cheaper than an Aus. one - they are God's gift to the world don't you know?) I speak English without a French accent - a sin. If I am Anglo Saxon why do I speak French without an English accent. Another sin. I speak posh - as most of the grammar of Australians is abysmally bad - that's not so difficult. I have been verbally agressed several times. and quite nastily too. I could go on about the snide remarks.........I am accepted amongst the ENGLISH community if I am not too obviously Aus. I would like to say that these remarks are not meant at all for our North American friends. They don't give a s.... It just makes the person more interesting.

i have met the odd bit of racism in France - but it is so rare......nothing like the world of expats here in Thailand.

I though posh Australians were called Kiwis!

PS

I think the reaction you are encountering is more likely due to the "arse factor".

[anon467367354]

I find the most racist in America are the black population. Easy to prove if you think I'm full of <deleted>.

You're asking about racism, you've only been here 5 months but you passed Mor4 in Thai, written and spoken?

Were you not briefed before your assignment?

I feel something's just not right about this?

[Tchooptip]

Do you wear something like this?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1360953795_saggy-pants.jpg

If you do they were probably just taking the piss!

No harm done.....

Sorry, have to click the link, wouldn't let me upload the picture..

LOL ...But not sure its fair :-)

[Gillyflower]

I had a laugh at your reply/ "Arse factor" - do you mean because I am a female? Then I understand - but if not you must explain. I am already having another laugh. Please DO explain. These English are 'macho' - is that an English word?

[Sam Gold]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

[grandmasterchang]

But "Berkshire" the berk does not want to see signs that say "no blacks". Do they have signs like that in the USA "Berkshire" ?

Not anymore. They actually had to make that stuff illegal. They had to TELL Americans that wasn't on. Some of them miss those days.

Someone got sensitive pretty quickly.

[wym]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

Well if you count Internet hate speech, and here on TV as "in Thailand" there sure are plenty of examples to be found right here if you bother looking.

And if your point is that farang tend to be MORE PC than Thais, obviously.

But the other Asians here are also very racist towards blacks.

[HardenedSoul]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

And what form, pray tell, did this "racism" you've seen take?

[Munger]

But "Berkshire" the berk does not want to see signs that say "no blacks". Do they have signs like that in the USA "Berkshire" ?

Not anymore. They actually had to make that stuff illegal. They had to TELL Americans that wasn't on. Some of them miss those days.

Someone got sensitive pretty quickly.

It was YOU that got sensitive pretty quickly. Read my reply and think, as it was for the thai apologist "Berkshire". I was taking the phiss. Of course the USA made it illegal

[mrfaroukh]

I come and go to Thailand for the past 5 years and spend at least 7 months a year each time. Until now I never had any serious problem with any Thai people. Of course once in a while they show some anger at something which irritate them but nothing serious. On the other hand I had very bad experience unfortunately with white expats. They still feel that now Thailand is their country and you are living in their country.

[Sam Gold]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

And what form, pray tell, did this "racism" you've seen take?

Derogatory remarks such as "chocolate man", "King Kong" and so on. In this country your value as a person is assessed in a glimpse of an eye based on your appearance, the opposite of Martin Luther King's dream.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wym]

I get called King Kong all the time just for my body hair.

I've had girls seriously ask why I don't go down to the salon for a full-body wax.

Apparently it's a metro-sexual trend these days?

No thanks, I like my fur if it means I have to pay a little more so be it.

[Cat ji]

i am so looking forward to living in Thailand. .........but they should get rid of the Nigerians ASAP.

Edited February 21, 2014 by Cat ji

[rgs2001uk]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

And what form, pray tell, did this "racism" you've seen take?

Derogatory remarks such as "chocolate man", "King Kong" and so on. In this country your value as a person is assessed in a glimpse of an eye based on your appearance, the opposite of Martin Luther King's dream.

Sent from my GT-S7270 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

In this country your value as a person is assessed in a glimpse of an eye based on your appearance,

Not going to argue, thankfully Thailand operates an equal discrimination policy, that statement applies to everyone irrespective of, race, colour, creed or religion.

Thais included, my mrs as a Mon is well aware, maybe your hiso white skinned Chinese Chula grad g/f hasnt experienced it yet?

the opposite of Martin Luther King's dream.

Did he ever live in Thailand or Asia, if you think Thailand is bad head down the road to Malayasia with their

Bumi laws, strange how the PC liberal lefties who were so anti apartheid SA dont jump down the Malays throat.

How many Thais do you think have ever heard of MLK?

Personally I appreciate more what Martin Luther did, led us out of the darkness and into the light, thankfully as a non American I can afford to be self indulgent.

[yanyk]

how on earth did this topic get more that five pages of replies if racism is not a very sensitive issue??

[wym]

It obviously is.

White people just get freaked out when they start to experience the tiniest taste of what the rest of the world had to routinely deal every day.

[abhaya]

I am a racist and am neither proud nor ashamed of it. If I met a black American I would probably expect him to piss and moan about how hard it was growing up black therefore I have a racist preconceived notion about this individual. Another racist perspective I have is that I perceive black folks to be more racist and concerned about color than any white dude. Thanks for confirming my prejudices.

[darren84310]

Ten years in Thailand have never seen racism against anyone, except from Thais to anyone that isnt Thai. 2nd post in a month for the OP stating he feels racism exists, firstly from potential employees and now expats. Sometimes it isnt down to ones colour or culture that they are rejected or not particulary liked but down to the way the individual comes accross.......and sometimes it is imaginary. Would be nice OP if you post the 'highest forms of racism' you have experienced so wehave more of an idea what you are going through.

like no thai have ever called me a NIGGA, i dress well like a teacher that i'm. i have sat down with expats and they say,hey man what are u doing here (in Thailand) i reply i'm a teacher' i see they all looked each other..and one stupid one asked..'are u kidding me? what school? and i don't have a job?....i cant really count these meetings..i applied through and agency to get a teaching job, they bluntly told me that the agency will never put a black man on their radar..i told him i was in a school that don't really care about color but want to only take me if i had an agency buy they still refused

I'm afraid that it's not the agency that has a problem with you, it's their customers that are racist and anyone running a business wouldn't want to upset their customers. They probably didn't believe you that the school doesn't care about skin colour.

Thais won't say things to your face because they don't like confrontation.

There's no way you should be overlooked because of the colour of your skin.

I wish you the best of luck and out of concern for your chances of landing a decent job, you should try writing without making so many grammatical mistakes.

Your English on here is awful.

[rgs2001uk]

It obviously is.

White people just get freaked out when they start to experience the tiniest taste of what the rest of the world had to routinely deal every day.

Well I as a farang dont get freaked out when I pass by the Japanese knocking shops that have signs outside saying, Japanese only.

I dont accuse the Japanese of being racist or whatever.

I count myself lucky I live in a country where the business owner can make the rules (whether I agree with them or not), the alternative would be some PC gone mad socialist utopia like the facist EU.

[wym]

Same as the shop in MBK that says "no foreigners", completely within his rights here and not a problem from any true "morality" POV.

[Beetlejuice]

I really despise the Welsh, the people who will give you a welcome on the hillside, but won`t let you into their houses.

[wym]

Same with Japanese, very very rare to be invited to a traditional family's home even if you're genuinely BFF.

[Beetlejuice]

The only racism I've seen against blacks in Thailand came from Thais. It's due to ignorance and their ridiculous white skin neurosis.

I doubt this is true.

Many Thailand ex pats have extreme racist attitudes, for example read some posts on the Hitler threads, plus how much Thai bashing goes on in these forums.

Back during my young days in the West I have personally witnessed extreme racism against blacks and Asians, at work, during social events and in general society as a whole, so why would whiteys suddenly change their opinions once they arrive in Thailand? Is it something in the air or the food?

It`s there alright, even if just lying below the surface. It maybe difficult for us whiteys to relate to extreme racism and other people assuming we must be of a certain trait because of what we are, but anyone who can go around and say that many ex-pats do not hold racist views are going about with their eyes and ears closed.

If some Thais do exhibited racism against farangs, than I still do not think that this will change the ex-pats attitudes and opinions against people of other races, there is very few lessons learned.

[Tyrant]

like no thai have ever called me a NIGGA, i dress well like a teacher that i'm. i have sat down with expats and they say,hey man what are u doing here (in Thailand) i reply i'm a teacher' i see they all looked each other..and one stupid one asked..'are u kidding me? what school? and i don't have a job?....i cant really count these meetings..i applied through and agency to get a teaching job, they bluntly told me that the agency will never put a black man on their radar..i told him i was in a school that don't really care about color but want to only take me if i had an agency buy they still refused

Sorry for my lack of understanding but for the OPs reply here, no one calling him a "nigga" in any direct way, his friends were saying that no school would ever, I quote (will never put a black man on their radar). I understand the xenophobia present on that comment and I respect the OP, but it was not an act of direct racism.

[stickylies]

at OP (brother, yo-bro, nigga! ;-))

racism everywhere, here and there, enjoy your stay!