'I Hate Thailand' star comes clean: Video funded by TAT

[WhizBang]

Just watched it and I am dumbfounded. The video is dumb, stupid and condescending. Not to metion promoting illegal activities. He stayed 2 years, on what, a tourist visa?

[KuhnPaen]

A blonde Thai girl stopping for him on a scooter to "help" him is an obvious bargirl reference. The TAT really does know their TRUE audience.

I don't have a problem with that.

[Colabamumbai]

How about truth in advertising.? T.A.T. is so desperate for tourists they will lie to get them.

[cup-O-coffee]

I just found the whole thing nauseating, from start to finish.

Nauseating is a good word.

FACT: Throw a rock at any Thai and you are dead or maimed for life.

FACT: Any Thai girl who stops on her motorbike in the middle of nowhere to ask a bum (and he looks like a bum), "Hey! You alright?", is a myth that will never happen, and if it does, I guarantee she is not doing this to take him home to daddy for the village to take him in, clothe him and adopt him. What utter BS.

FACT: I could not get past two minutes without feeling insulted by the sheer lies they are portraying here. Disgusting!

Glamorizing in advertizing is an accepted fact.

Glamorizing to the point of endangering tourists with a false sense security, as well as insulting Thai culture (to name a few):

• That it's OK to throw rocks in Thailand is ironic and hypocritical:
• That this is how Thais see us: scum bums who dress like Tarzan, get drunk the night before, pass out on the beach in a drunken stupor, have everything stolen from us except for the 40,000 THB Smart Phone, get upset and stomp around in the middle of the road (still hung over) throwing rocks at these "sweet Thais" and on and on. Quality Tourist not! Screw you, TAT for describing to the world how you see and interpret a quality foreigner! Yeah! That is an insult to you.
• That this is how Thais insult Thais by letting the foreigner get away with throwing a rock in an ad.
  • Thai thugs watching this video probably laugh when they see the bum throw the rock and wink at each other.
• Thais insulting Thais by showing a "nice girl" stop and talk to a bum (and I mean he looks like a scum-bum in this video)
• I couldn't go further... the video is simply too unreal and quite revolting

So this is Thai-style glamor... all lies, and the likelihood of any of these scenes playing out in real life (especially with a bum in the driver's seat, is simply a no go.

Bad bad choice for an ad and typical of how Thais do things when foreigners are involved... We don't need your help. We know more about you than you know.

I do not think I am too far off here, but I would not let my family go anywhere near that bum, and I would not want my son dating a Thai girl who stops for bums, or men, at all. Nice Thai girls keep driving, and report it on down the line, or not. As her father, that would be one of my first directives for a girl growing up in this country, be safe and avoid men or places where it is only you and a man.

What utter BS, and I am insulted that this is how TAT sees me, the foreigner: a scruffy looking scumbag befriended by the enlightened HUB of Nirvana and Wisdom.

[anto]

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A blonde Thai girl stopping for him on a scooter to "help" him is an obvious bargirl reference. The TAT really does know their TRUE audience.

I don't have a problem with that.

Exactly .She lives on an Island ,so is hardly University educated ,but yet knows very good English .Its easy to join the dots .lol

[Colabamumbai]

A beautiful tale this is: A quality tourist comes to Thailand, loses his belongings after heavy drinking. Then he overstays as he doesn't have a clue about laws. Finally he starts teaching and working as a diving instructor illegally without a work permit and a teaching licence. He grows to understand life more and more in Thailand, and he's living the dream now.

Until someone finds him drunk or asleep on the beach and then his dream will become a nightmare, if he lives.

[mauGR1]

The video is a decent effort from TAT, but it has the potential to backfire..

... Some gullible guy may throw stones at cars, and think that nothing will happen

[CapeThai]

This is an excellent video. I've seen it going around FB for a few days, now. It captures The Dream of an entire segment of would-be vacationers and visitors from the West. Extremely well done. People knocking the quality of this video haven't got a clue.

Yes, but you do agree - that it does not line up, very well, with the new way of administrating VISAS and Extensions.....right? And it does not fit, the "quality turist" agenda. Those western backpacker-types, are the ones they got rid of during the summer....now they are paying for videos, that should bring them back? Ehh...?!?

Yes, I agree, with one qualification. Do not discount the impact of this video on older, wealthier "quality tourists," too. What makes it so good, what makes its vision of the The Dream so effective is the almost retro nostalgic feel it generates--for a Thailand that was (in older visitors' minds) and it might just make them want to reconnect to their own desire for adventure and romance when they were young. It will appeal to more than backpackers. It generates the feel of the exotic, the romantic, and adventure among the palms. I think whoever made this caught lightning in a bottle.

Agreed 100%. Certain people should have a look at the " bigger picture " within this production and should not just view it for what it displays. It will leave an impact or more meaningful message in the older generation's mind as well.

Just avoid seeking adventure on Danger Island ( Koh Tao ) as it might come looking for you in an very unpleasant way...

[SpokaneAl]

It is a nice, touching commercial. But then again I am moved by the puppy who wants to grow up to be a Clydesdale and pull the Budweiser beer wagon.

[sz1a]

In all honesty the video made me think life is better on the islands than bangkok. But from experience the islands house some of the fiercest Thais. It's a great video nonetheless and helps bridge the gap in understanding between the cultures.

[maidee]

i guess 100% of TVF members saw true that shitty AD

2 years in thailand, in what freaking visa ? not married, working illegally, overstaying ...

he would have been detained, fined, deported & blacklisted for many years

TAT is the truth

[TheMacMan]

In fairness, I liked the advert....

No, i don't believe that the village would help.

No, i don't believe that jumping up and down and swearing at a cop would elite a response of "calm down, i am trying to help you" in near perfect English....

No, i don't believe they would get the bag back with all his stuff in it.

But mostly i don't believe he would still be here 2 years later....

I mean.... no problems with the immigration, registration, visas, visa runs, and of course, he has a job teaching english and tours on a speed boat.... he was a back-packer and party animal by the look of it in the video.....

So basically, absolutely everything that Thailand does NOT allow.

Great video, but the TAT are basically implying that you can come to Thailand poor and stay, get a job and a wonderful life..... wrong, wrong, wrong

(they dont even make life simple for those that bring in millions and millions of baht,!)

LOL

Best promotion from TAT so far though, even if it does send the wrong message!!

[KuhnPaen]

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A blonde Thai girl stopping for him on a scooter to "help" him is an obvious bargirl reference. The TAT really does know their TRUE audience.

I don't have a problem with that.

Exactly .She lives on an Island ,so is hardly University educated ,but yet knows very good English .Its easy to join the dots .lol

Man, true dat.

Bargirls speak better English than most university grads.

[sitti]

So many sick heartless people here. This video just reminds me of how much local Thais helped tourists affected by tsunami in 2004.

[KuhnPaen]

When he said he had no money in the video, it was ok, because a seasoned bargirl would know he had to wait a few days and he would be able to get money wired. Hooker with a heart of gold indeed.

I have a soft spot for those.

[stoli]

Nicely done TAT

[KuhnPaen]

In fairness, I liked the advert....

No, i don't believe that the village would help.

No, i don't believe that jumping up and down and swearing at a cop would elite a response of "calm down, i am trying to help you" in near perfect English....

No, i don't believe they would get the bag back with all his stuff in it.

But mostly i don't believe he would still be here 2 years later....

I mean.... no problems with the immigration, registration, visas, visa runs, and of course, he has a job teaching english and tours on a speed boat.... he was a back-packer and party animal by the look of it in the video.....

So basically, absolutely everything that Thailand does NOT allow.

Great video, but the TAT are basically implying that you can come to Thailand poor and stay, get a job and a wonderful life..... wrong, wrong, wrong

(they dont even make life simple for those that bring in millions and millions of baht,!)

LOL

Best promotion from TAT so far though, even if it does send the wrong message!!

You're missing the comedy of it. The TAT knows that....but they still want the dirty hippies to come because the "quality tourists" don't by puke bukets full of booze at full moon parties. They can always deport him for an overstay later. Keeps the "myth" about a carefree life in Thailand alive. I don't think "Come to Thailand to experience our Kafka-esque bureaucracy" would sell.

Edited November 21, 2014 by KuhnPaen

[ScotBkk]

In fairness, the best bit of marketing done by TAT for years.

Cheesy, but a good effort.

Did people really believe 100 Thais would take to a beach with candles for free to find someone's bag?

Depends what's in the bag.

Sorry, was a cheap shot that I couldn't resist.

Going by recent events. Lucky it wasn't a suitcase ......

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Everyone can go to hell. I LIKED IT!

BTW, as much as it is irrelevant to this subject, today I read a Canadian cop who killed a 5 year old kid will have no charges laid against him. In Thailand you'd at least know the cop's name. In Canada he is protected by secrecy of his pig buddies.

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/family-devastated-no-charges-laid-after-speeding-police-officer-killed-5-year-old-boy-1.2109227

Seriously, go back to your western shtholes and have the rest of us who like Thailand enjoy it like the guy in this advertisement.

[Tatsujin]

For all those saying this was a great promotional video from TAT, I would simply say that you and everyone else have been misled ... if this was indeed an aboveboard TAT promotional video, we would have heard all about it from them before it was even released.

The reality is, they tried to pull the wool over people's eyes, by (attempting) to make out it was a nice foreigner's "personal" video to big up how great Thailand is in an attempt to show "Thainess" in a more favorable yet completely unrealistic light.

Cheesy doesn't even come close to describing the actual video itself.

TAT, you failed (again), cos we are not "Thai" and (some of us) don't just believe automatically the shit that is put out in the public domain.

[arminbkk]

I watched it and not even 5 seconds in I knew it was staged.

I watched it with a Thai, she said it was "unbelievable" (as in watching an over the top scifi movie) and that "it does not go like that in real".

[falangjim]

Everyone can go to hell. I LIKED IT!

BTW, as much as it is irrelevant to this subject, today I read a Canadian cop who killed a 5 year old kid will have no charges laid against him. In Thailand you'd at least know the cop's name. In Canada he is protected by secrecy of his pig buddies.

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/family-devastated-no-charges-laid-after-speeding-police-officer-killed-5-year-old-boy-1.2109227

Seriously, go back to your western shtholes and have the rest of us who like Thailand enjoy it like the guy in this advertisement.

You do know that the guy in the advertisement was just an actor, don't you?

[mataleo]

Funny part is many thais think its real story.

Like my gf. She watched and was impressed. I don't want to burst her bubble. ..

[cup-O-coffee]

So many sick heartless people here. This video just reminds me of how much local Thais helped tourists affected by tsunami in 2004.

Yeah! Right! And Charles Manson getting married reminds me of Princess Diana's Fantasy wedding. The complaints here are realistic, and no one could ever possibly imagine that they have offended you and whatever it is that reminds you of whatever.

I think calling me and others sick and heartless is a bit naive. You may want to reconsider.

[Time Traveller]

A video about Thai hospitality was fake? So very Thailand

Edited November 21, 2014 by Time Traveller

[cup-O-coffee]

Everyone can go to hell. I LIKED IT!

BTW, as much as it is irrelevant to this subject, today I read a Canadian cop who killed a 5 year old kid will have no charges laid against him. In Thailand you'd at least know the cop's name. In Canada he is protected by secrecy of his pig buddies.

http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/family-devastated-no-charges-laid-after-speeding-police-officer-killed-5-year-old-boy-1.2109227

Seriously, go back to your western shtholes and have the rest of us who like Thailand enjoy it like the guy in this advertisement.

EDIT: On second thought... this view is exactly what TAT is looking for and it truly is sad. I offer my sympathies and RIP to this poster in advance of poor decision making due to extreme gullibility and not listening to Dad growing up.

Edited November 21, 2014 by cup-O-coffee

[Richardbhh]

I didn't realise it was supposed to be true. Almost as bad as the one they show on the Lomprayah that is to promote Samui and Phang.an. Who says the French make the best cheese in the world? Thais win hands down.

Edited November 21, 2014 by Richardbhh

[icare999]

Just par for the course.

All we need now is TAT to deny any involvement.

come on all of us living here for a long time like me for over 30 years can get very cynical about Thais and start to think its all bad. We forget how bad it is in west.If you've been here a long time (over 30 years ago was my first time) you will remember your first visit to Asia (mine was 37 years ago in Indonesia). The buzz you got the experiences the pure joy compared with rat race hole of UK and USA. Sure I like most got scammed a bit in first few years was taken in my outside beautiful smiles of most gorgeous females I've ever seem and sure I lost in money terms a few thousand gbp which luckily was at the time not much to me. So some of rose tinted grasses wore away as a few years rolled on and i got more wise and a bit more careful but in all honestly i also found great true frendliness and kindness. Sure this was partly so they could make a living but for most of my guides it was more than that. It was about service and wishing to please and being kind. So after 5 years or so I discovered Thailand and by then was very vary of any Asian ladies and determined never to fall into same trap id seen so many. Like most who've been here a very long time I fell totally in love with Asia. I met true love and saul mate of my life and we've been together for 30 odd years. Like all marriages we've had our rough patches.

TO point I know this film is of course grossly exaggerated and sadly Thailand like all developing countries is not the paradise it used to be. The ladies have grown hard and cynical due IMO to hordes of forang especially in Vietnam days basically just treating them like and throwing them on rubbish without a thought later.

I guess its good TAT are learning some proper PR even if its like any PR its a long way from truth.I recall after a few years in Indonesia saying this place is like paradise and like Hell but tourists and short visitors only normally see paradise bit and not the hell bit. Thailand is same as often us olduns forget why were still here and will never ever return to decedent rotten to core western societies.

[smellthecoffee]

I think Mr Oliver Smith should be ashamed of himself this is a slap in the face to the parents of the recently deceased on Koh Tao and looking at that propaganda piece of fiction it helps the side of the corrupt Thai establishment project the myth that Thailand is the Land of Smiles and Thais didn’t do it and don’t do bad things.

I hope you are enjoying your 30 pieces of silver. The full wider implications of his involvement in this project might not yet be apparent to Mr Smith. To deny there is a serious problem in Thailand might help lure the lure back the gullible for this up and coming high season but it is not forcing Thai authorizes to clean their act up and also for us to examine the cause of Thailand flippant attitude to foreigners lives deep seated in xenophobia from the highest levels. People act on example and when individuals are unstable for whatever reason that example can become violence against what Thai society see's as a dehumanized harvest of income.

[smellthecoffee]

I think Mr Oliver Smith should be ashamed of himself this is a slap in the face to the parents of the recently deceased on Koh Tao and looking at that propaganda piece of fiction it helps the side of the corrupt Thai establishment project the myth that Thailand is the Land of Smiles and Thais didn’t do it and don’t do bad things.

I hope you are enjoying your 30 pieces of silver. The full wider implications of his involvement in this project might not yet be apparent to Mr Smith. To deny there is a serious problem in Thailand might help lure back the gullible for this up and coming high season but it is not forcing Thai authorities to clean their act up and also for us to examine the cause of Thailand's flippant attitude to foreigners lives deep seated in xenophobia from the highest levels. People act on example and when individuals are unstable for whatever reason that example can become violence against what Thai society see's as a dehumanized harvest of income.

Edited November 21, 2014 by smellthecoffee