The Cheap Charlie experience.

[alanrchase]

I have been watching Thaivisa for a couple of months and have been visiting the country for 25 years and have seen no mention of the "Cheap charlie" subject.

Sometimes this phenomenon amuses me and sometimes it angers me. What are your views and experiences of it?

[CharlieH]

Why are taking my name in vane ?

[alanrchase]

I apologise! !!!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[alanrchase]

But are you cheap?

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[fiddlehead]

You mean the restaurant off of Sukimvit?
Or farangs being Keen Neow? (or Thais?)

[CharlieH]

But are you cheap?

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Dependx on the circumstances, I think we can all be "frugal" on occasions.

Never spend a pound when a penny will do !

[alanrchase]

Is there a restaurant called kii neaw on Sukimvit? I mean farangs paying for various things ( not BG ) and then when they question another bill and say no the kii neow phrase comes out!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Jingthing]

I think these labels are loaded.

When I was a yuppie and raking in the dough I spent liberally.

Now I have no choice but to watch the baht because if I didn't there would be no baht.

Does that make a cheap person or a sensible person who is smart enough to live within their means?

Yes there are extremes of frugal behavior but there are also extremes of decadent spending behavior as well.

[Briggsy]

It is a form of shaming behaviour. It is surprisingly effective. It is often employed by locals working in the bar field. I have not heard it used outside of this [demi-]world.

[Jingthing]

It is a form of shaming behaviour. It is surprisingly effective. It is often employed by locals working in the bar field. I have not heard it used outside of this [demi-]world.

That is so true.

Mostly spoken by people who consider people who don't spend as CCs as total suckers and fools.

[alanrchase]

Sorry, you miss my point. I am not asking anyone about their financial circumstances just about their experiences wkith being called "kii neow"

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Briggsy]

Look at Jingthing's post! The epithet was not even aimed at him but automatically he has gone very defensive. You see how effective it is. Just the mere mention of it sets many people into shame and guilt thought patterns.

Once you realise that the user is trying to manipulate you using your own moral code, you are able to see things more clearly and avoid over-reacting.

[Briggsy]

No offence meant Jingthing, just you made such a perfect example!

[Jingthing]

Whatever.

I'd much rather be called a Cheap Charlie than a walking ATM.

[Briggsy]

What is a CC?

[Jingthing]

Cheap Charlie but perhaps it doesn't work as it could also be credit card!

[alanrchase]

Oops seem to have touched a nerve!

Only mentioned it as extended family seem to youse it to get money from my wife and she will not tell them no!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Donnie Brasco]

Thais use "Cheap Charlie" and kii nok to refer to European stereotypes who fail to conform to their expectations.

This epithet gets slapped on Europeans only. If a Korean, a Chinese, a Malaysian or one of the illustrious Sons of Heaven leaves nothing on the tray he NEVER gets called a Cheap Charlie. In fact these guys can squat for three hours on a beer or a Coke and leave NOTHING and STILL get their respect from the "mamasan".

A Cheap Charlie is a gringo punter or tourist who tips like a Thai. . . . . . . . a few coins or nothing at all.

Any sign of rudeness or any attempt to "sell my face" and I roll the little barstewards the Thai-style tip they've been building to all evening.

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit."

[Jingthing]

That's it exactly.

A Pegot (Pan European Guest of Thailand) that "knows too much" and doesn't act like a dumb tourist two week millionaire robot had better get used to being called that name.

[alanrchase]

Donnie, I thank you for your wise words!

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[wayned]

I have a "T" shirt with ATM printed in big black letters on the front. On the back, printed in egually big red letters is "OUT OF ORDER. When I saw ir I had to have it even though it's a little "tight"!

[Jingthing]

What's super annoying is when other Pegot people INTERNALIZE this obnoxious Thai method of shaming people and use it the same way as the aggressive Thais who use it. Now THAT is shameful behavior.

Edited February 23, 2014 by Jingthing

[CharlieH]

Its just another terminology for being "mean", if said because you wont give something, it says more about the person saying it because they cant get what they want.

Edited February 23, 2014 by CharlieH

[Skint]

Have a look at the thread that's asks how much to give your wife, there you will see cheap Charlie's who are control freaks with their wives

[zeichen]

I am very frugal but have never been called cheap. However I don't spend time in the service sector. I do wonder why being frugal is a bad thing. People that throw away money left and right are stupid to me. Back in the states where my family live, the economy hit them hard and most are pretty tight now.

I guess what others said must be true. Those that are calling you cheap or stingy would be those that are looking for tips or free money.

I love when people premis an op by stating how long they have been visiting. So 25 years does that mean you come here 1-2 weeks every couple of years for do you winter here 6 months a year or 25 years straight. Coming here as a tourist and throwing around money for a holiday is not the same as living in a community and adding to it. I have never heard this term or the Thai equivalent used, but perhaps because I run in different circles.

[alanrchase]

I do not think it is restricted to Thai/Farang encounters. As one or two people have mentioned it is used for a lazy person to get money from a sibling because they have some money. I give my father inlaw 1000B when I visit because I a very nice man (5555). He gets on his bike and spends it immediately because if other family members know he has money they will pressursise him into buying whisky.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[alanrchase]

Zeichen, dont know why you feel the need to " have a go", been married to a hot hearted Thai lady for 20 years.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Soutpeel]

I think these labels are loaded.

When I was a yuppie and raking in the dough I spent liberally.

Now I have no choice but to watch the baht because if I didn't there would be no baht.

Does that make a cheap person or a sensible person who is smart enough to live within their means?

Yes there are extremes of frugal behavior but there are also extremes of decadent spending behavior as well.

Jing, for me everyone to their own, its their money, but I think where this crosses the line certainly in the TV context, is the said "Cheap Charlies" start preaching and being all judgmental, ie if someone is spending more money than said "cheap charlies" they start being called people fools, sexpat's, alcoholics and these are the reasons people are spending "too much" money and then get all upset when people start slagging them off....

but I must say the "who can spend the least" threads are very amusing, "cheap charlies" pitting their wits against others over who can spend the least and going to great length's publishing their detailed monthly budgets trying to prove if someone is spending more than THB 20k/m the person concerned is not at one with their Thainess and is a sexpat alcoholic...funny stuff..

[Donnie Brasco]

Its just another terminology for being "mean", if said because you wont give something, it says more about the person saying it because they cant get what they want.

Agreed.

Trouble IS when you "give 'em what they NEED instead of what they want, many of them become SO pre-occupied with their disappointment and with having had their expectations shattered in the presence of other service people that they go into a THREE-DAY sulk.

I'd like to see a thread on THAT some day.

(Even the Thais joke about the three-day sulk routine (women) or the stink-eye routine (punks)

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit."

Edited February 23, 2014 by Donnie Brasco

[alanrchase]

Donnie, 5555.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app