How prevalent is racism in Thailand?

[Ws93]

Back in April, i met my cousin's friends. The discussion radically changed the moment were saw a South Asian man on a bike go by.

They started talking about Indians, blacks and white people.

the attitude is incredibly shocking about how racist it was. My Thai isnt good but i know a lot of slang, insults and slurs (my own cousin taught me) so i understood some of the conversation.

It hurt a bit since i am half British myself, but atleast they saw me as Thai. This big Thai guy, even asked what i call myself: Thai or farang. A few thai friends asked me the same question.

I also watched him stick his finger up at multiple tuk tuks with white foreigners on them.

Other members of my cousins were more annoyed with myanmar but disliked Muslims.

The shocking part, was my cousin muttering slurs near foreigners in Suvarnabhumi airport itself, my more friendlier cousins thought it was hilarious.

Is it just my generation or the older generation as well? Im slighty concerned how my family will be seen if they know they have a half thai cousin and how i will be treated as well.

should i prepare myself for racism? Ive grew up with it in england, its weird being mixed and still seen as foreign. No sense of belonging if i can call it that?

[HeijoshinCool]

Racism in Thailand is as prevalent as white on rice.

[Ace of Pop]

Thais dont like the Nigerians that swagger round BKK ,thats about it. .But than who does.

[cornishcarlos]

How prevalent is racism on TVF ?

[ExPratt]

How old is your cousin ? Sounds like he was just showing off. "Sticking his finger up at tuk tuks ? , what is he 12 ?

If anybody "Hates" anyone for any reason , Race ,Religion there are plenty of them around normally for these "Haters" to vent on. Normally its just bullshit and people doing what they think will impress others and make them part of the gang. If your cousin Really hates then how many Farangs has he smacked in the mouth ?

I come from London and there has always been racial tension but very rarely does it end in violence, just people giving it large when they are with their mates

Edited December 1, 2014 by ExPratt

[timewilltell]

Here is my take for what it is worth. Racism is rampant through all the institutions. It is not as obvious as other countries because it is veneered with the Thai smile and obligatory courtesy that is the Thai protection measure. Beneath the smile the mechanics are fastidiously working against you as a foreigner.

The average Thai bod is not immune to the brainwashing that emanates from the institutions, especially school. The average person is however somewhat detached from doing anything to help or hurt a foreigner beyond price gouging. Then there are the criminal elements who see an opportunity to steal and scam from foreigners in the knowledge that the authorities will be so biased towards them that even the most feeble excuses will succeed against a foreigners solid evidence.

If you challenge and end up in the Justice system then lawyers take over the abuse whilst extracting as much money as possible on the pretense of helping you.

Racism is a curse on this country and the deceitful courteous treatment you get belies the truth of what will be done to hurt you. Of course sometimes the facade will break and then people die. No one gives a hoot!

[Thongkorn]

I think the poster has not been to Thailand many times,or has not been around Thailand a lot.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Thongkorn

[Ws93]

My cousin is 20.

ive been to thailand many times, granted as a teenager, child and baby to see family.

[Ws93]

Ive never seen racism on this website. We are all adults here.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Ws93

[ExPratt]

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My cousin is 20.

ive been to Thailand many times, granted as a teenager, child and baby to see family.

Cheers mate. When people "Talk" amongst their own you'll usually hear some kind of racist remark if the subject arises , people are for one reason or the other,racist. There are very few who do something about it.

[Laughing Gravy]

Thais dont like the Nigerians that swagger round BKK ,thats about it. .But than who does.

I have actually spoke to many Thais who are quite affluent on this and consider themselves educated and they said 'they are not racist it is just that they don't like these people". After explaining that's what racism is, I got a blank expression. I have had similar responses regarding Cambodians and Burmese. I have given up and accept the fact that many Thais are racist but just don't understand the concept.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Laughing Gravy

[simple1]

Ive never seen racism on this website. We are all adults here.

Unsure if you're being sarcastic...

Racist posts are against forum rules; usually such posts are removed fairly quickly.

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

Edited December 1, 2014 by simple1

[CharlieH]

An overly negative remark has been removed.

11) You will not post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, Thai people or any other group on the basis of race, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

[Ace of Pop]

Why should they think like you

[sdanielmcev]

You mean bigotry. I've noticed the people here don't adhere to the same constraints as we did in the western world, and I'm glad of it. If he's a dope, he's a dope. Why not just call him that?

And, no. I don't see them as racists. Or bigots. They're proud of their country.

[Beetlejuice]

Ive never seen racism on this website. We are all adults here.

You`re either extremely short sighted or you haven`t lived. Racism is alive and well and thriving among many posters here on Thai visa.

In my opinion and from experience, extreme racism is way, way more prevalent among the ex-pats in Thailand than it is among the Thais. At most times they try to keep it all below the surface but every now and then they crawl out from underneath the woodwork. Every time there is a thread regarding some crime committed by a Thai, many use this as a platform to air their views as to how they really feel about the Thai people, Thainess is how they describe it, and the Hitler threads are another prime example that exposes who are the real extreme racists on here.

Obviously there is prejudice in Thailand but it`s a different type of prejudice as portrayed by westerners. Thai prejudice is more based on class and cultural differences. For example many Thais believe that peoples of African, South Asian, middle eastern decent and even other certain south east Asian countries are of a poorer class and to them westerners come across as arrogant with a total lack of respect for any cultures other than their own, so intend to put them down for these reasons but western racism is more based on what certain people are rather than who they are, which is undoubtedly more extreme.

I have personally experienced mild prejudice from some ignorant Thais mainly because they believe all farangs are rich and taking advantage of living cheaply in their country, but never has a Thai disliked me for the colour of my skin and believing I am inferior to them because of my race. That`s the difference.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Beetlejuice

[EmptyHead]

Very common here and it is considered normal by most Thais.

When you say, "That's racist". They laugh and say something like, "No, just talking about different people...nothing wrong..normal"

[arthurwait]

Many thais have a superiority complex and poor education. Both go hand in hand with racism. Its a very selfish , blame others culture which is what racists in any country do instead of looking at themselves.

[David48]

Thais have their own opinion on how they perceive non-Thais.

Non of my damm business what they think.

Just quietly ... Ws93 ...non of your business either.

your attitude, in your home country ... sure.

But in Thailand, your opinion counts for naught.

.

[arthurwait]

Thais have their own opinion on how they perceive non-Thais.

Non of my damm business what they think.

Just quietly ... Ws93 ...non of your business either.

your attitude, in your home country ... sure.

But in Thailand, your opinion counts for naught.

.

yes you can take it or leave it. Many foreign companies and most tourists are now choosing to leave it. I hope the racists enjoy the loooong recession thats about to hit them.

[h90]

Thais dont like the Nigerians that swagger round BKK ,thats about it. .But than who does.

The Political Correct does....

[Ace of Pop]

Then im Raciest, i cant stand any of them P.C. Cowards who creep around Thai Visa.Thai Ways Rule here

[David48]

This, most likely will get deleted ... but, it's still free speech.

The Thais have this general relation to foreign nations.

Blacks ... they don't like ... African Blacks especially.

Essentially because because they never want their genes for their family ... Thai's want to be whiter.

Plus, those in the metropolitan areas as they see them as little money and drug/pimps.

Indians ... they don't like ... they smell, they are tight with their money ... the working girls generally won't touch them.

Why ... cafe, 1 coke, 5 straws, 10 Indians ... ditto the working girls.

Middle East ... violence. They see the Thai lassie as breathing meat ... not much more.

White Westerners ... we are tolerated. Depending on the individual we become an ATM, a partner, a revered partner.

As for the Asian Cousins.

Cambodia, Burma, Vietnamese ... under the sole of the shoe.

Malaysians .. bit of respect.

Japanese ... marry ... OK ... Customer .. 3 +3 +3 rule .. desired.

Korea ... Jackpot. But probably just a passing fad ... curious to see their attitude in 5 - 10 years time.

These comments are mine ... but just observations from discussion with various Thais.

Line up all those PC guys to stone me to death.

But I say to you ... Thailand is what it is.

Their attitudes are what they are.

Argue with me, not the comments, but where, the Thais have a different opinion.

.

[Gecko123]

I am a half black half white person of color. My skin color falls almost smack dab in the middle of the Thai skin color palette.

I have been coming to Thailand for close to 30 years and have lived here continuously for 12 years and am fluent in Thai. I have NEVER experienced overt racism from Thais and feel extremely at home here in terms of skin color. I have surveyed Thais about their attitudes towards people from Issan, Myanmar and white foreigners. Almost all of the responses I've received have been mild and tolerant in tone. I've never elicited the type of vitriolic responses being reported by the OP.

An interesting additional observation I would like to share is that in many Thai families there can be a significant variance of skin tone between members of the same family, and certainly among members of the extended family. In other words, the mother may be lighter complected while the father is darker complected (or vice versa), and if they have 5 kids, two might be lighter complected while the other 3 might be darker complected. This is the case in my wife's family. Because there can be such a wide variance in skin tone within a family, this serves as a natural inhibitor against people discriminating against someone because of their skin tone. In other words, how can you discriminate against people who are darker complected than you when your little sister is darker complected than you?

If any white people feel discriminated against by Thai people, they are only experiencing 1/10,000,000 (yes, that's seven zeros) of the racism and discrimination people of color experience every day of their life in Western countries such as America and England. Escaping Western prejudice was one of my primary motives for moving here, and if I thought that Thais were racially discriminating against me, I'd have left long ago. Trust me, coming from a mixed race background, my "radar" for detecting prejudicial attitudes and behavior is as highly-calibrated as they come, and I definitely don't pick up the racist attitudes from Thai people that many here on TVF are so fond of proclaiming exist.

When a foreigner walks around acting like they own the place, scowls constantly, angers quickly, treats Thai woman like they are all prostitutes and Thai men like they are all worthless idiots, can't be bothered to learn the language but is quickly exasperated when a Thai doesn't speak English, or otherwise regularly acts in a boorish manner, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many people resent and dislike this behavior (myself included).

But please don't confuse this resentment and dislike with racism, because its not.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Gecko123

[frollywolly]

Indians ... they don't like ... they smell, they are tight with their money ... the working girls generally won't touch them.

Why ... cafe, 1 coke, 5 straws, 10 Indians ... ditto the working girls.

.

Working girls?

Very enlightening where you get your opinions on Thailand from old bean!

[David48]

Indians ... they don't like ... they smell, they are tight with their money ... the working girls generally won't touch them.

Why ... cafe, 1 coke, 5 straws, 10 Indians ... ditto the working girls.

.

Working girls?

Very enlightening where you get your opinions on Thailand from old bean!

From your moral high ground ... do you use binoculars or a telescope?

Just asking like ...

Maybe your friend Soi Biker has an answer?

.

[uptheos]

Many thais have a superiority complex and poor education. Both go hand in hand with racism. Its a very selfish , blame others culture which is what racists in any country do instead of looking at themselves.

I think I'll go with Alfred Adler on this one.

"The superiority complex is an exaggerated striving for superiority in which the individual hides their feelings of inferiority".

[DerekMarshall]

Racism in Thailand is a cultural norm!

Local girl from the village fell pregnant to an American, eyes were wide open Rich man.... until the found out he was Black American.

How much money he had or did not have was not VIP or how good a daddy he is, not VIP...

Myself, I have a skin condition, I have to burn off with the sun ...and she turns her nose at that ...and then there is the Thai chinese racism, Thai Burmese ..wow!

One of the most racist societies I have visited! Bar none!

[frollywolly]

Seriously, this racist load of gutter tripe is allowed to run??

Agreed. Enlightening to see what certain member's opinions are and where they come from.

Edited December 1, 2014 by frollywolly

[David48]

Seriously, this racist load of gutter tripe is allowed to run??

Agreed. Enlightening to see what certain member's opinions are and where they come from.

The OP is allowed to state his, or in your case, her opinions.

.