Braddockrd Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Isn't it easier to just write TH???? Edited April 4, 2014 by Braddockrd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post andre47 Posted April 4, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wym Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 usually sarcastic land o' scams 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptheos Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 usually sarcastic land o' scams Land of Sex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seajae Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) LOS is easier to make up things that suit your situation, land of smiles, land of sex, land of sh*t, land of shonks, lack of service, loss of savings etc, etc...... Edited April 4, 2014 by seajae 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berkshire Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Geez, not this topic again. Places have nicknames. The Big Apple. The City of Angels. The Land of the Rising Sun. The Motor City. Etc. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre47 Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, Of cause it is much better outside the tourism areas, but it has nothing to do with ghettos full of moaning retirees... and not everything was better 20 years ago, but this point for sure... The last 10 years I personally recognized a steadily worsening of the manners. The commercial thinking is getting more important. This is happening in many countries not only in Thailand. 10-20 years ago it was different here in Thailand and it was the reason that Thailand was called LOS (land of smile). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, Of cause it is much better outside the tourism areas, but it has nothing to do with ghettos full of moaning retirees... and not everything was better 20 years ago, but this point for sure... The last 10 years I personally recognized a steadily worsening of the manners. The commercial thinking is getting more important. This is happening in many countries not only in Thailand. 10-20 years ago it was different here in Thailand and it was the reason that Thailand was called LOS (land of smile). I'll grant you that and I think it is just a sign of the times, not just in Thailand but everywhere. Having said that, I do know lots of down-to-earth Thais that are gracious hosts, friendly, helpful, and much better to be around with then some of the miserable foreigners that have made Thailand their home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddockrd Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 (edited) Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, You seemed to have spent too much time at a bar doing all those things you say others do..... I bet you can't even read Thai. Stay on the topic or just keep your opinion to yourself Edited April 4, 2014 by Braddockrd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HooHaa Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. yes, big mango is much more apt. i get a kick the transients "romance travelers" out there whose limited experience of thailand leads them to believe that all of the locals are out to get them. in my experience they stop smiling once they have confirmed what a buffalo most of you really are Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddockrd Posted April 4, 2014 Author Share Posted April 4, 2014 I think Andre actually got it right and HooHaa got it wrong, 555 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminbkk Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I can't see why anyone can think of 'LOS' (Land of Smiles) while walking into and dealing with staff in any 7-Eleven on lower Sukhumvit, for example. I know it is not like that everywhere, and there are places where you will find real friendly smiles....but there are not enough of those places that would make Thailand deserve the monniker 'Land of Smiles'. And of course, it was a tourism marketing slogan once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swissie Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. "If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling." Mainly in Tourist-Hubs, no doubt. But there are many other reasons to smile in Thailand, can mean: - A form of overall politeness (in the "west" we mumble things like" "Nice to meet you" etc.) - I am sorry, excuse me. - I don't know the answer to your question, can we skip the subject. - Can be applied as a general remedy to avoid "loosing face" in public (ever been a witness to a car accident and wondered why the folks involved smiled at each other?) The smiling-ritual helps to defuse all kinds of potentially "explosive" situations. This serves the country well, because Thai's are not as docile, peaceful and easy going as it appears on the surface. Far from it. Cheers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedtripler Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 land of suckers planeloads of them arriving every 20 minutes with fat wallets to be emptied ..........ASAP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Is it Friday already? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munger Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, But reading post this week (Pattaya thread), why go to Pattaya and suck up to the old moaners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watcharacters Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, . " I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees,"… Not all retirees have a reason to moan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdanielmcev Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I asked the gf. She said, "no, we call it Thailand>" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sustento Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, . " I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees,"… Not all retirees have a reason to moan. Apparently the retirees that hang around the girlie bars moan on a regular basis... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaraC Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 usually sarcastic land o' scams Land of Sex -pats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munger Posted April 4, 2014 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, You seemed to have spent too much time at a bar doing all those things you say others do..... I bet you can't even read Thai. Stay on the topic or just keep your opinion to yourself YUP, "hanno", was in Pattaya at the weekend, with all those moaning retirees. Funny that he was not with all his wonderful Thais far away from the farangs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ulysses G. Posted April 5, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted April 5, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It is to me. Thais still smile a heck of a lot more than people do where I come from. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Not all retirees have a reason to moan. But a lot of them do anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braddockrd Posted April 5, 2014 Author Share Posted April 5, 2014 Ok, as expected most of you missed the forest for the trees. It is childish, or teenagerish at best to refer to a country constantly by its nickname, even more so using acronyms. What is generally termed as a literary license has become mainstream. From now on, all of you, just write Thailand. And if you are too lazy to spell it out just write TH. It's shorter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Nonsense. People call it Thailand. People call it Siam. People call it LOS. People call it The Kingdom. You don't have to use the same word every time. It is called variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanno Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Yes, I also was thinking this already. Thailand is not the LOS (land of smile) any longer. It seems to me like a marketing trick. People are smiling only when they want to get your money but not because they are so friendly. Especially in the main tourism areas like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket this can be observed. If they detect that you are not a stupid buffalo than they stop smiling. It isn't? Funny that, I find that once you get away from the girlie bars and the ghettos full of moaning retirees, Thailand is actually a very friendly country. But then I do tend to actually meet and greet Thais, not just sit in a bar and bitch about how much better things were 20 years ago, You seemed to have spent too much time at a bar doing all those things you say others do..... I bet you can't even read Thai. Stay on the topic or just keep your opinion to yourself YUP, "hanno", was in Pattaya at the weekend, with all those moaning retirees. Funny that he was not with all his wonderful Thais far away from the farangs. Yupp, I was in Pattaya. No, I was not on Walking Street, I was there because if business. And no, I did not talk to any sexpat the whole week. Happy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benalibina Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Nonsense. People call it Thailand. People call it Siam. People call it LOS. People call it The Kingdom. You don't have to use the same word every time. It is called variety. Woowww. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atpeace Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Lived here since 1998 and find the Thais extremely social and happy. They seem even happier today than 10 years ago. I think posters may be confusing how foreigners are treated today compared to years ago. Drive over to Laos or Cambodia if you need the locals to smile and wave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wym Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Well the whole point of "Land of Smiles" is that they're supposed to be smiling AT US! Few ever cared about whether they're truly content deep inside, nor how they treat each other. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now