Being laughed and sneered at by Thais.

[shirtless]

they nailed you to the wall and were proud of it next time go in there and waste their time for 40 minutes asking stupid questions which they wont be able to answer and have a good laugh at them.

[Banzai99]

they nailed you to the wall and were proud of it next time go in there and waste their time for 40 minutes asking stupid questions which they wont be able to answer and have a good laugh at them.

Yeah, that'll show em !

[Gecko123]

No one here was there, so everyone is just speculating based on the OP's one sided account of what happened.

My advice to the OP is to learn Thai so that the next time something like this happens, he can ask the Thai person directly why they are unpleasantly laughing and sneering at him.

[chuang]

what does maa lao mean?

In this context... He's 'returned already'...

Here he comes..

[simon43]

what does maa lao mean?

Dog whisky (rum) as in it tastes like dog

Laotian horse??

[rwdrwdrwd]

Could be 'mao laew' - drunk already. IE they thought you were acting like a drunk person.

[CharlieH]

MOVED to the Pub

[chickenslegs]

You should have challenged their behaviour - like this guy did.....

[berybert]

They all hate us, pack your bags and move to a country that welcomes you with open arms, it's a Farangs only hope.

Always anazes me that with all the moaning and whining Farangs do on this forum, they still stay here by choice, why?

If it's that bad, why do you stay and suffer, why not just pack up and move on, now I know that doesn't apply to most TV members as most don't live here, but those that do and do nothing but complain, why stay ?

Pretty much the same as coming onto a form full of people you don't like just to bitch and moan at them.

Take your own advice and pack your bags and find a forum where only fluffy clouds and puppy dogs roam.

[Time Traveller]

what does maa lao mean?

In this context... He's 'returned already'...

Interesting,,, He has returned already,means they new he would, So something is fishy as usual. Maybe the price or the brand?

The usual cheating going on?

You guys are completely misreading the situation.

It means: "He's coming"

It's exactly what you would say when you were talking about someone who was far away then came within hearing distance and was embarrased by what you said., The girls could have been talking about anything : How lovely he looks or his cute kid. Or even another person nearby.

OP, don't get in the miserable paroniod state of thinking that everyone is talking about you behing your back and trying to screw you. If that's what all the people here want to believe then let them.

[samsensam]

OP,i know it's the hot season but if you're letting little things like this get under your skin then it's time you headed to pastures new.

IMHO.

[green job]

They all hate us, pack your bags and move to a country that welcomes you with open arms, it's a Farangs only hope.

Always anazes me that with all the moaning and whining Farangs do on this forum, they still stay here by choice, why?

If it's that bad, why do you stay and suffer, why not just pack up and move on, now I know that doesn't apply to most TV members as most don't live here, but those that do and do nothing but complain, why stay ?

Pretty much the same as coming onto a form full of people you don't like just to bitch and moan at them.

Take your own advice and pack your bags and find a forum where only fluffy clouds and puppy dogs roam.

I quite agree old chap,,,There is nothing like a good old moan, Fxxk those curry munchers,

[Water Buffalo]

They are children at heart. In other words, childish. Not all, but many.

Farang are often a source of amusement. Most Thais would not have had the "brass neck" to try to exchange it after paying - it would make them look cheap and they would feel ashamed - the big "loss of face" everyone talks about.

It also makes them feel good as Thais to laugh at non-Thais, as well as to make distinctions between "us" and "them" in general.

They come from a very nationalistic place. They get-off on being that way. Makes them feel good about their identity.

Like i said, not all.

Let us not forget one thing most of us probably love about the Thais: they are young at heart. Problem is sometimes it can be a double edged sword.

Better just to say "doesn't matter" and move on. Causing yourself further harm will not help.

[rayongchelsea]

You must be pretty thin-skinned to let a handful of giggling girls get to you.

Why are so many farangs so concerned about what the locals think of them?

I have never seen so many insecure foreigners as have settle here in the last few years. You bring your insecurities with you. Worried about being called a farang ( the word has been used for decades), worried about budgets ( then live within your means) , worried about their wives behavior ( usual because they are young, poor and uneducated ), worried about the being a scammed, the list is endless.

Just be polite, be presentable, and be principled..that's enough..you'll get by..

[slapout]

there are little ways to get back at the rude/overcharging ones.

i like the songtaw who asks for 80 baht to take you about 1 kilometer when you tell him your destination.

i ask which way he will travel to get there, how long will it take and will he pick up other riders? i am agreeable to his answers and then say i only have 10 baht, is that enough. some of them puff up like a puffer and face turns red before speeding off,

lots of little things/ways to upset those with the '' you must use my service'' attitude. never be disrespectful but be overly pleasent in questions, comments, etc.

i havewatched service people leave lugs nuts off of tires, let them let the jacks down and then point it out. i really enjoy living here even if they seem at times to be on another job, in another world.

[Banzai99]

They all hate us, pack your bags and move to a country that welcomes you with open arms, it's a Farangs only hope.

Always anazes me that with all the moaning and whining Farangs do on this forum, they still stay here by choice, why?

If it's that bad, why do you stay and suffer, why not just pack up and move on, now I know that doesn't apply to most TV members as most don't live here, but those that do and do nothing but complain, why stay ?

Pretty much the same as coming onto a form full of people you don't like just to bitch and moan at them.

Take your own advice and pack your bags and find a forum where only fluffy clouds and puppy dogs roam.

Berty, Berty, Berty, I don't know a single person on here, all I know is, the majority bitch and moan about Thailand and Thai people at every given opportunity, but I guess that's because they wouldn't dare do it in person to a Thai, ThaiVisa is their safe outlet.

[fey]

Annoying, isn't it. People can be pretty immature over here. Similar to children in the states.

I think it comes from low education, low paying dead end jobs and such. They don't let themselves get mad or acknowledge problems so the frustration comes out in strange ways, like gossiping, snide looks, other unmanly or immature behavior etc.

[Melonade]

Similar thing happened to me the other night at an airport shop while returning from India. I'd made a trivial mistake about which chocolates were 2 for 1, and result was the cashier laughingly relaying my error to his coworker.

It's a human condition: laughing at the misfortune of others helps us feel better about our own misgivings.

[Jingthing]

They're bored.

Foreigners are stereotyped by many ignorant Thais as troublemakers and complainers.

Yes there is a big cultural difference from westerners of asking too many questions, not necessarily taking the way things are as is, so called thinking too much.

You provided entertainment for them, fed into their stereotypes. Goes with the territory.

[arminbkk]

What I'd like to know is, why did OP not pay attention and looked at what price came up as the items was scanned or added at the til?

[CapeCobra]

They all hate us, pack your bags and move to a country that welcomes you with open arms, it's a Farangs only hope.

Petulant Trolling?

Flatulent Trolling

[buhi]

They're bored.

Foreigners are stereotyped by many ignorant Thais as troublemakers and complainers.

Yes there is a big cultural difference from westerners of asking too many questions, not necessarily taking the way things are as is, so called thinking too much.

You provided entertainment for them, fed into their stereotypes. Goes with the territory.

Was in a similar somewhat perplexing situation this morning. My wife told me that Monday and Tuesday were holidays and knew I needed to send my 90 day renewal by registered post and this morning was the last chance. Went to the main local depot with wife, expecting a simple transaction, registered post to Chang Wattana.

Everyone was trying to be helpful, including my wife, but it all just complicated the situation.

My Thai is not too good, but instead of talking to me the two helpful people quizzed my wife.

She told them it was passport information for Immigration.

Next question, was I American.

No ,but irrelevant, the registered letter is for Immigration!

The poor girl could not read English ( in a main Post Office) or did not trust her English skills.

Next question, where in America is the letter going?

Now I am losing it!

Chang Wattana, Laksi, Bangkok, like it says on the the envelope.

HELP!

Supervisor comes over, oh Laksi, heres the receipt it will be sent today.

My wife had lost face and backed off, just answering what they thought were useful questions.

Completely on different wavelengths.

Dear wife was lost in a maze of Thainess and worried that I would explode; she knows I get frustrated by such scenarios.

Now had wife not been with me, the English speaking supervisor would have been asked to help straight away.

All part of the fun and pantomime!

[Trentham]

what does maa lao mean?

Dog whisky (rum) as in it tastes like dog ****.

If it meant dog whisky it would be written "lao maa"

[appleman]

OP: Let me get this straight, you live here, have a daughter here, but don't know enough Thai to clear up a price discrepancy? The majority of misunderstandings, and hurt feelings like yours are in this category, come from those who are ignorant and illiterate in the language of the country they are living in. Learn Thai to the point where you would understand what the girls were giggling about. They could be laughing at your haircut or about their date last night. At this point you would have no idea. To solve the problem: Learn to speak the language of the country you are living in.

As for "maa leo", most of the translations here on TV are basic dictionary translations, word for word, and therefore "almost" right. In this situation the girl is probably saying "He's baaack!".

[Suradit69]

I can tell you why, They could not give a <deleted> about anyone but themselves,always been the case. Most are the rudest folk on the planet,Period.

Why is it, I wonder, that some people feel like you do and others, including myself, have spent many years here, going on 9 years full-time plus nearly that many years before staying here 3 to 6 months per year in my case, without turning into a bitter, nasty piece of work like you?

Of course I have encountered a few grumpy salesclerks or the occasional cranky song taeow driver , but that happens any place on the planet. Generalizing one or two incidents into an indictment of all the people of the same nationality or race is simply a manifestation of your own issues.

Not qualified to make a psychological assessment of the perpetually angry farang residents, but have to believe it sums up their own assessment of their own lives. If anything, I'd say Thai people may possess an innate radar that picks up on the attitude of some farang and givea it right back. If you act like a clown, expect to be treated like a clown.

I know many farang suffer from acute perceived-loss-of-face syndrome that makes them go ballistic unless everyone within 5 metres doesn't kowtow as they approach, but the easiest solution is to stop assuming you're God's gift to the universe

Seriously, if you feel that way, why did you ever leave the farang paradise you once occupied and why not rush back there?

[Happy Grumpy]

What I'd like to know is, why did OP not pay attention and looked at what price came up as the items was scanned or added at the til?

I was paying more attention to my daughter.

[Happy Grumpy]

OP: Let me get this straight, you live here, have a daughter here, but don't know enough Thai to clear up a price discrepancy?

No, that's not straight.

You either didn't read the OP or are too stupid to understand it.

[Happy Grumpy]

Fascinating replies.

Absolutely fascinating.

Please continue, but more in depth.

Thank you.

[appleman]

OP: Let me get this straight, you live here, have a daughter here, but don't know enough Thai to clear up a price discrepancy?

No, that's not straight.

You either didn't read the OP or are too stupid to understand it.

Happy Grumpy, Calling someone stupid because they didn't understand your post is questionable. Could it possibly be that the writer has inadequately expressed himself. I didn't call YOU names.

But I digress; where did I go wrong? You don't live here? You don't have a daughter here? You do speak fluent Thai?

I was hoping to give you advice (learning the language) so that you aren't always defensive when young salesgirls giggle. I myself love it when young girls giggle. But then I know what they are giggling about. And if there is no price tag on an item I know enough to ask the price (learned in about the second week of Thai class).

Good luck in the future and I do hope that your life sees you laughed at and sneered at less.

[gandalf12]

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what does maa lao mean?

There here