Why do locals never know where or how far things are?

[steve187]

You should ask on here, you will always get precise, direct, honest, truthful, quick, helpful, on topic, none judgmental answers here

Edited December 28, 2014 by steve187

[bonobo]

I am American, and we tend to be somewhat anal with numbers. A large percentage of us know how many miles to another city, the population of a city, where their city ranks with other cities (not just in population, but in all sorts of categories), sports statistics, etc.

Thais don't seem as fascinated/controlled by numbers. Ask an American how far it is from San Diego to LA, he or she will tell you 100 miles. Ask a Thai how far it is from Bangkok to Korat, and he or she will tell you four hours--unless they drive a car, and then they will tell you three hours. Ask someone in Phoenix how many people live there, he or she will tell you 1.5 million, and in the next breath, that it is the sixth biggest city in the country. Ask a Thai in Bangkok how many people live there, he or she will tell you "many."

For Americans, this lack of knowledge can seem strange and is proof of some sort of Thai flaw. For a Thai, our obsessiveness with numbers can seem strange and is proof of some sort of American flaw.

[villagefarang]

I am American, and we tend to be somewhat anal with numbers. A large percentage of us know how many miles to another city, the population of a city, where their city ranks with other cities (not just in population, but in all sorts of categories), sports statistics, etc.

Thais don't seem as fascinated/controlled by numbers. Ask an American how far it is from San Diego to LA, he or she will tell you 100 miles. Ask a Thai how far it is from Bangkok to Korat, and he or she will tell you four hours--unless they drive a car, and then they will tell you three hours. Ask someone in Phoenix how many people live there, he or she will tell you 1.5 million, and in the next breath, that it is the sixth biggest city in the country. Ask a Thai in Bangkok how many people live there, he or she will tell you "many."

For Americans, this lack of knowledge can seem strange and is proof of some sort of Thai flaw. For a Thai, our obsessiveness with numbers can seem strange and is proof of some sort of American flaw.

I was going to write something about our fixation with measuring stuff but you pretty much covered it.

[kannot]

I am American, and we tend to be somewhat anal with numbers. A large percentage of us know how many miles to another city, the population of a city, where their city ranks with other cities (not just in population, but in all sorts of categories), sports statistics, etc.

Thais don't seem as fascinated/controlled by numbers. Ask an American how far it is from San Diego to LA, he or she will tell you 100 miles. Ask a Thai how far it is from Bangkok to Korat, and he or she will tell you four hours--unless they drive a car, and then they will tell you three hours. Ask someone in Phoenix how many people live there, he or she will tell you 1.5 million, and in the next breath, that it is the sixth biggest city in the country. Ask a Thai in Bangkok how many people live there, he or she will tell you "many."

For Americans, this lack of knowledge can seem strange and is proof of some sort of Thai flaw. For a Thai, our obsessiveness with numbers can seem strange and is proof of some sort of American flaw.

Yet one of those countries landed a man on the moon

[daveAustin]

Careful, op, you'll upset all the doddery old boys who won't have anyone criticizing the place or its people. I think it's more to do with not wanting to mess up giving directions (they're not very good with maps either) and thus losing face. They're rather just say don't know.

[ocejanic]

No harm intended. Just wondering in what way I would have to adapt to Thai thinking.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I am American, and we tend to be somewhat anal with numbers. A large percentage of us know how many miles to another city, the population of a city, where their city ranks with other cities (not just in population, but in all sorts of categories), sports statistics, etc.

Thais don't seem as fascinated/controlled by numbers. Ask an American how far it is from San Diego to LA, he or she will tell you 100 miles. Ask a Thai how far it is from Bangkok to Korat, and he or she will tell you four hours--unless they drive a car, and then they will tell you three hours. Ask someone in Phoenix how many people live there, he or she will tell you 1.5 million, and in the next breath, that it is the sixth biggest city in the country. Ask a Thai in Bangkok how many people live there, he or she will tell you "many."

For Americans, this lack of knowledge can seem strange and is proof of some sort of Thai flaw. For a Thai, our obsessiveness with numbers can seem strange and is proof of some sort of American flaw.

Yet one of those countries landed a man on the moon

Allegedly!