one thing what really annoys me is that almost everybody can't lift their feet. doesn't matter where you go if it is the supermarket,home pro or even in upper restaurants staff is always dragging their feet.is it custom here or are they just too lazy to lift them?

Slow day/week/month in Nakhon Nowhere is it?

It's the Harlem shuffle

apparently it is a custom here - next gripe please.

both

Walking in flip flops ruins your tread.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by Chonburiram

Thats what happens when you are brought up wearing flip flops and its whatever you get your foot into when you walk outside the door, not necessarily your size.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by CharlieH

It's the rice paddy shuffle.

All of the above and more, I think. The only safe way to walk on a slippery surface is to shuffle. (the rice paddy walk) You can't lift your feet properly when wearing flip-flops. It's considered rude to make noise and annoy those below when walking on the wooden floor of a Thai-style home. It's also considered rude, in general, to draw attention to yourself which could happen if you walk with a firm stride. Every noticed how junior people, especially women, will also bow their heads and try to make themselves a little lower when passing in front of of senior person. Same-same.

We must seem like arrogant, self-centered pigs to polite Thai people when we come clomping onto the scene, drawing attention to ourselves.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by NancyL

Nonsense. Nowt to do with the above. It is the easiest way to walk with the least expulsion of energy. People do it because everyone else does, not because they might offend someone by walking like the rest of the world does.

Its normally pronated feet with a lazy gait also the children are taught at school to walk quietly therefore not lifting the feet,

Sport here is very layback and of course the physical fitness instructers do not incourage running with children if you notice with most Thais they cannot run.

Its normally pronated feet with a lazy gait also the children are taught at school to walk quietly therefore not lifting the feet,

Sport here is very layback and of course the physical fitness instructers do not incourage running with children if you notice with most Thais they cannot run.

What a load of rubbish.

I agree with Crazy chef..not lifting the feet when walking is very common in Thailand.

I disagree with some of the posters here.

It does not come from working in rice fields.

It is not only rice farmers who walk like this.

And....

Anyone who has walked in a rice field knows that if you do not lift your feet while walking, you get stuck in the mud!

You develop strong leg muscles pulling your feet out of the sticky mud while walking all day.

I also disagree that it is done to be quiet.

Dragging your feet while walking makes a louder sound than lifting your feet while walking.....unless you stomp I guess.

While living in a small village years ago, I learned to identify who was approaching from behind me, day or night by the sound of the shuffle they made while walking

To this day I can identify the sound of my wife's sister or her son or my mother in law by the sound of their shuffel.

Why they do it, I am not sure.

Maybe it is monkey see monkey do?

When my daughter was 3 years old, she started to shuffle like that, I had to teacher her to lift her feet when walking.

I jokingly told her that it is easier to sneak up on people when they do not hear you walking.

Jesus. Is there any petty little aspect of Thai behaviour left that we haven't criticised them for yet?

Jesus. Is there any petty little aspect of Thai behaviour left that we haven't criticised them for yet?

Haven't seen any topic about picking noses in public...

Btw criticising and discussing are two pairs of shoes...

where the christ do you luddites hangout? flipflops and shuffling ???

Jesus. Is there any petty little aspect of Thai behaviour left that we haven't criticised them for yet?

Haven't seen any topic about picking noses in public...

Btw criticising and discussing are two pairs of shoes...

Shoes and flip flops

Better that they shuffle and drag their feet than that they start doing the goose-step.

where the christ do you luddites hangout? flipflops and shuffling ???

Why, we live in Thailand..

Not that westernized city in the south where most people wear pretty lace up shoes!

Yeah. All the motorcy guys down my soi wear brogues.

Don't give us the 'real Thailand' crap.

where the christ do you luddites hangout? flipflops and shuffling ???

Why, we live in Thailand..

Not that westernized city in the south where most people wear pretty lace up shoes!

Willy don't waste your breath- small minds need also something to do...

There is a difference in the manner of walking between people that have been wearing soled and heeled shoes since they could walk and people that wear no shoes at all (or mocassins, American Indians) and flip flops. I know that I certainly walk differently since I wear flip flops all the time, and that when you are on a wet surface or in a muddy rice field, you don't walk as though you had mountain boots on.

Enjoy...

Yeah. All the motorcy guys down my soi wear brogues.

Don't give us the 'real Thailand' crap.

Titty Car Car ?

Grammar police posts have been removed as well as other off topic trolling nonsense posts, apologies for removing the associated replies.

I must admit, among the many faults of my ex was that she shuffled when she ran.

Most disconcerrtting when she waS IN FROUNT OF ME!

It really is about NOT losing your flip flops.............. .............I have studded this phenomena at length, and it really is not losing your prized foot hardware...........

SoiBiker, on 15 Feb 2015 - 19:58, said:

Yeah. All the motorcy guys down my soi wear brogues.

Don't give us the 'real Thailand' crap.

Damn..can't understand most of what you say!

motorcy?....brogues??

Must be one of those Britts who is so proud to speak "the Queens English" that most people who speak English don't understand?

Keep it o that little island where it belongs please!

It does not work in "the real Thailand".

excuse me iif it is from that big island of Oz.

And you seem like such a skilled linguist.

Are we starting again???

This one is about dragging feet( without s)...