Have you changed your viewpoint of Thais and Thailand since arriving

[kannot]

I came with an open mind but what I saw was not pleasant at all and despite the odd glimmer ( see my paint thread in motors) of hope it remains pretty negative.

Ive come to expect poor service and attitudes, bad workmanship in just about everything Ive ever had to try and get done or an air of indifference with any blame being squarely landed at my feet not the Thai including stealing fish after being offered some for free a while back (Thai workmen) where the boss of the workers actually told my Wife its my fault for giving them some free fish so now they expected to help themselves etc

The only thing I found was the four women I met on arrival were pretty honest in their situations and their "wants".

A couple of locals out of maybe 50 who ARE decent the rest being petty and childish etc

I dont feel any "welcome" from Thailand.

My life is not a misery as some might think, I can ignore or remove myself from most of it.

So did your opinions change?

[georgemandm]

I come and go to thailand to have fun not bash thais I take them as they are , it is bad some times but not care because I have good fun good sex and when I am sick of the bullsh?T

[georgemandm]

I come and go to thailand to have fun not bash thais I take them as they are , it is bad some times but not care because I have good fun good sex and when I am sick of the bullsh?T

Sorry did not finish when I am sick of the bullsh?t I get on a plane and go home and when I feel like it I go back to thailand and have fun again so if you can't stand go home to were you come from sorry to say that but sick of western man get on here and just bush thais not all thais are bad ok it is the same were I come from have dick head to you no .

[Somtamnication]

Same same but different.

[Rod Wallop]

It's the loud, corrupt, ugly, rude, selfish 10% that ruin it for the rest

[kannot]

It's the loud, corrupt, ugly, rude, selfish 10% that ruin it for the rest

I find it more than 10%

[benalibina]

[Major4608]

Visited Thailand 5 times, the longest for 3 months. Always had a good or great time. Would not want to live there. Just want to have a good time in Thailand and then go home.

[WhamBam]

My perception of Thai females has changed for the worse.

My perception of the Thai males I have met remains the same, that they are more loyal and less likely to try and rip you off.

[CharlieH]

Moved to the Pub

[BudRight]

Moved to the Pub

That's how it felt to me as well.

[SoiBiker]

Not really. I knew things wouldn't be the same here as back home, and expected some cultural differences. I wasn't under the impression that the locals would give me any special treatment because I was a foreigner.

[Katipo]

For the most part I my thinking is in line with OP, but it wasn't always that way.

When I first arrived, and everything was new and exciting, it was easier to overlook or make excuses for the 'differences' I experienced. I told myself (and anyone else who would listen) that Thailand was a developing country and that things would get better. 12 years on and I see very little has changed. Sure there are some shiny new Bangkok shopping malls.... but that's about it. The vast majority of changes are superficial to satisfy self serving needs. Very little has been done for the betterment of society as a whole.

Perhaps in another 10 - to 20 years?

[razer]

Not all Thais are as you described because I know many kind and generous Thais, but I think a very large portion of the population is as you described. It is ingrained in the culture and will take many generations to change, primarily through the education system providing the education system can get its act together. I don't think Thais, generally speaking, are adept to complex thinking and don't really understand cause and effect. Keeping this in mind, it lends to a better understanding.

[Thaddeus]

I come and go to thailand to have fun not bash thais I take them as they are , it is bad some times but not care because I have good fun good sex and when I am sick of the bullsh?T

Sorry did not finish when I am sick of the bullsh?t I get on a plane and go home and when I feel like it I go back to thailand and have fun again so if you can't stand go home to were you come from sorry to say that but sick of western man get on here and just bush thais not all thais are bad ok it is the same were I come from have dick head to you no .

Got your priorities sorted then, go to the restaurant, eat like a pig, make a mess of the table, and then leave without a care for the staff.

Nice.

[Soutpeel]

For the most part I my thinking is in line with OP, but it wasn't always that way.

When I first arrived, and everything was new and exciting, it was easier to overlook or make excuses for the 'differences' I experienced. I told myself (and anyone else who would listen) that Thailand was a developing country and that things would get better. 12 years on and I see very little has changed. Sure there are some shiny new Bangkok shopping malls.... but that's about it. The vast majority of changes are superficial to satisfy self serving needs. Very little has been done for the betterment of society as a whole.

Perhaps in another 10 - to 20 years?

I think once you get over the "TAT portrayal" of Thailand, and the rosy spectacles come off and you start seeing through the veneer, there is a rather "dark undercurrent" that permeates everything in Thailand and the longer your here, you see it more and more.

for me personally it doesn't bother me, having worked in far worse places, but could well understand how this realization could become a bit of shock to people who have lived in their own countries most of their lives, never really been anywhere expect on holiday and up root everything and decide to settle in Thailand for "whatever" reason they have and then they find out Thailand, ain't that "tropical paradise" with the natives working the rice paddies who are happy with their lot in life

[ToddinChonburi]

Welcome to Thailand, living here you see the good and the bad. When on vacation you only see the good unless you get scammed.

Think about your home country ,not everyone is friendly and not all contractors are good. There are a lot of good people here you just have to find them. Not very hard I think. I have met great people, very friendly and not so friendly.

Why are you hear ? did you think this really is the land of smiles

Living cheap and warm winters, most of the people are good, good food for a very cheap price.

I do find it crazy that they teach English in school but most have no idea what you are saying .

[lucifer666]

I came here after hearing all the horror stories from the guys in my local (UK) bars. I found it almost the complete opposite and instantly loved it here. I know that they came here for the bars and girls, so i suppose that their viewpoint was a lot different than the views of Thailand that i experienced. Skip forward ( 12 visits later and i now live here), i still get the same guys messaging me on FB wanting to "catch up" ( Translate as, " they are coming back to Thailand and want somewhere to stay for free, along with a local tour guide")

Edited March 11, 2015 by lucifer666

[themerg]

The sex business is getting full of thieves who will get you in a hotel room, when you go to clean up after, will through your pants out the window and steal all your money.

The younger generation of Thais think we are rich and resent when we do not give them the FREE RIDE they think they deserve. NO ONE gave me a FREE RIDE, why should I give one.

THIS IS ALL because the government is more corrupt than when I was here in October, 1972 for six months, and the government is getting worse every day.

Normal Thais are in the sex business, because the daily minimum wage just got raised to 300 baht a day on 1/1/2015. A sex worker can make 1,500 baht or more in 1 hour rather than the normal 10 hour Thai workday of 300 baht.

In Chiang Mai, there are 150 - 200 new buildings being built. That means there is money in Chiang Mai.

Too bad the upper 5 % are highly protected by the corrupt military and the corrupt government.

In Thailand the poorer 95% are not fairly represented.

THIS WILL NEVER CHANGE----it has changed for the worst since 1972.

THE END

[themerg]

With all of its corruption Thailand is still the best place on earth.

I will live and die in Thailand.

[Soutpeel]

how much did she/he nick out your trousers then ?

[themerg]

The Thai government does not want all the people educated--you know why---They will learn how big of thieves that the government really is, that's why.

[ICECOOL]

I moved here about two and half years ago after about 5 years of visits and longer holidays because Thailand reminded me a lot of life growing up in the country on a farm in Australia. I am building a house here and have been in business with Thai. I have noticed positive improvements in both the service offered in business generally and the quality of food here. Not big improvements but noticeable. I am dealing with a lot of businesses and tradesman because I am buying all the materials myself and its been a good experience overall. Thais have a different way of doing business and that can be frustrating but its their way. The hardest part is sourcing the actual materials you want sometimes. Compromise is the word. I used to hate the traffic and the crazy thai drivers but have began to chill more and realise they use the ant principle. Can still be frustrating when you see outright dangerous behavior but the main attraction of freedom is still there for me.

[themerg]

Pattaya and Phuket have become the robbery and murder cities in Thailand---why---DRUGS

[chicowoodduck]

It is what it is....no better or worse than most spots in the road....just grin and bear it and move on.....life is too short to sweat the shit when it hits the fan...?

[1FinickyOne]

learning language and customs take time and effort… some of the ways that it is not the same as home are better, others don't seem so, but if you learn how to deal with things, it gets much easier. I would never buy anything for workers on a project until the final day when work was completed. Family workers are treated differently. The more you accept and understand Thai ways, the less conflict/stress you will have… if that is what you want… good luck, keep an open mind.

[ExPratt]

I don't really hold a viewpoint or opinion on them as a whole. Like most expats I would suppose we live in a bit of an insulated world . Its only when you try and do something highly sophisticated , like getting a letter to the correct destination in less than a fortnight that the "Thainess" can be an eye opener

[Tchooptip]

The sex business is getting full of thieves who will get you in a hotel room, when you go to clean up after, will through your pants out the window and steal all your money.

The younger generation of Thais think we are rich and resent when we do not give them the FREE RIDE they think they deserve. NO ONE gave me a FREE RIDE, why should I give one.

THIS IS ALL because the government is more corrupt than when I was here in October, 1972 for six months, and the government is getting worse every day.

Normal Thais are in the sex business, because the daily minimum wage just got raised to 300 baht a day on 1/1/2015. A sex worker can make 1,500 baht or more in 1 hour rather than the normal 10 hour Thai workday of 300 baht.

In Chiang Mai, there are 150 - 200 new buildings being built. That means there is money in Chiang Mai.

Too bad the upper 5 % are highly protected by the corrupt military and the corrupt government.

In Thailand the poorer 95% are not fairly represented.

THIS WILL NEVER CHANGE----it has changed for the worst since 1972.

THE END

''Normal Thais are in the sex business''

In case you don't know Thailand is a country of 66,000,000 people

[Benmart]

My viewpoint is a positive one, as long as I keep these in mind:

I am not in charge of Thailand or the Thais

The world doesn't revolve around me

I take it easy and try not to judge others based on my preconceived values

I live life on life's terms, not those I fabricate based on past experiences

I try to do all things in moderation

Its not my country and I am only passing through, year by year.

When it becomes something I am not liking, I can move on.

I take one day at a time and try not to complicate the simple things in life

I try to be nice to people, particularly those that seem to be having trouble getting through the day.

Smile.

[KamalaRider]

The sex business is getting full of thieves who will get you in a hotel room, when you go to clean up after, will through your pants out the window and steal all your money.

The younger generation of Thais think we are rich and resent when we do not give them the FREE RIDE they think they deserve. NO ONE gave me a FREE RIDE, why should I give one.

THIS IS ALL because the government is more corrupt than when I was here in October, 1972 for six months, and the government is getting worse every day.

Normal Thais are in the sex business, because the daily minimum wage just got raised to 300 baht a day on 1/1/2015. A sex worker can make 1,500 baht or more in 1 hour rather than the normal 10 hour Thai workday of 300 baht.

In Chiang Mai, there are 150 - 200 new buildings being built. That means there is money in Chiang Mai.

Too bad the upper 5 % are highly protected by the corrupt military and the corrupt government.

In Thailand the poorer 95% are not fairly represented.

THIS WILL NEVER CHANGE----it has changed for the worst since 1972.

THE END

A few errors on your part, first of all it's 8 hours work shift, after it's OT (overtime), THE 300 thb raise was in effect 1'st of April, 2012.

Not all sex workers steal your money, they earn it.

More older Thais than younger assume we are rich, the youngers ones share their experiences over FB and twitter and they are becoming aware that not ALL farang are loaded with ATM cash.

Apart from that, I agree with you but I think you over estimate the percentage of rich Thai's.