Thailand is the land of smiles? With growing list of violent attacks you have to be having a laugh

[aslimversgwm]

Absolutely. Too easy to become slightly if not acutely off balanced! Wish contributers on here would take note of that. Open your minds to other opinions than your own home grown prejudices.

[smew]

LOS: land of scams and dirty beaches

[CNXBKKMAN]

Thailand remains one of the safest countries in the world, with a surprisingly low crime rate - so says the Tourism Authority of, you guessed it, Thailand.

This is the reason it has made the press: Because of the blatant lies and B/S coming from TAT.

If I ignore road safety Thailand is safer place than UK. That's just my opinion based over the last 25 years.

[gamini]

It depends on entirely where you live in Thailand. Much the same as in many countries. Tourist places like Pattaya, Phuket and others attract criminal elements both Thai and foreign, as a place to commit crime and get away with it.

Many places in Thailand are very safe with a very friendly attitude towards foreigners and tourists. There is far too much "generalising" on this forum. Not all Police are corrupt as many claim.

[cumgranosalum]

You can be the victim of random violence anywhere in the world. Thailand is more safe than most popular tourist destinations.

What you say about random violence anywhere in the world is factual. But to say Thailand is more safe than other popular tourist destinations is rather naive. I've been in the north of Thailand for 6 years and have never once felt threatened or in danger. Those who choose to frequent or dwell in the truly tourist areas like Pattaya or Phuket or Samui or Koh Whatever, are indeed asking for trouble as organized crime is there in force as well. People are much different in those areas than in non tourist places. But they are still generally haughty and racist. And they like farang money everywhere in Thailand.

I don't live in the north of Thailand. I live in Bangkok (Nana-Asoke). Previously, I've lived in Pattaya for three years. I have never once felt threatened or in danger.

This may of course simply be a reflection of your powers of perception?

[bazza40]

If you smile at a Thai, they will usually smile back, which is not the norm in most countries.

Possibly places such as Pattaya and Phuket have more than their fair share of violence. Living in Chiang Mai, I haven't heard of many examples. Usually a result of too much alcohol. Or behaving like an ####hole.

I did hear of one falang here years ago who threw a kid into the city moat after being pestered to buy flowers - all of 20 baht. The kid couldn't swim and was rescued by another falang. The police handcuffed the first falang to the bullbar of their pickup, and the bar girls lined up to kick him in the goolies. IMHO, he got exactly what he deserved.

Trouble will find you if you go looking for it.

[bbbbooboo]

I for one am certainly not laughing, nor I suspect will the Thais be,as it starts to impact on tourism more and more

[gandalf12]

"...racist, religious zealots" racist yes but so is every other country, zealots no way. Money is far more important than religion

[keskeseksa]

Disinformation is the norm. Nothing new here.

Surely you mean disinformation by the corporate media.

With tourists in the millions coming each year, incidents, accidents, even murder are bound to happen.

In other countries they are swept under the rug, in Thailand the foreign press is lying in wait for the smallest incident and turn it into a major Thailand bashing event, Pff.

[Mot Dang]

40 years ago Thailand was the land of smiles. Thainess has modernized itself.

We have to ask, is it our foreign influence, is it modern technology, or the frustration of being Thai in the new age.

Absolutely agree, it was when I first came here! (A little less than 40 years ago)

You can still get the nice smiles but a few of them hide something!

I also agree, I arrived in 1980 and before moving up to my wife's village in the Buriram panhandle I lived in BKK. I quite often spent time down in Patpong (a very different happier funnier place in those days). Sometimes if I had to be somewhere else I left Patpong about 5:00pm. Just as the office blocks, all 4 stories of them, were emptying for the day. Out came all the office girls, all in standard military style tailored uniforms. They looked great, and when they saw a falang they always gave a big smile. A wonderful Thai smile. There was no hurry, not like today's hustle and bustle. My wife always said to me that her mother told her that all young ladies should walk like an elephant. This had be puzzled. But what she meant was, an elephant walks very slow and deliberate, careful choosing its steps. An elephant cannot be heard in the jungle she would say.

These days when I'm not in Pattaya (where I have a condo, or Buriram) I'm looking up old friends in Soi 22 Sukhumvit. Between 3 and 4 in the afternoon a big private girl's school empties (a 5,000 students I'm told). The girls will just walk you off the footpath, heads in smart phones, say something and you get abused with Thai slang. The local shop keepers are always have it out with them. Their mothers, my generation, were just so different.

Like so many other emerging economies, wealth, corruption, technology and contact with the outside world (tourism) has changed Thailand.

I first saw the phrase Amazing Thailand when it was first coined around Xmas/New Year of 1983-1984. That was the start of the first campaign to attract tourists. Yes there were extremely few tourists them. Most of the expats were American, English, Germans, French, Australians and a few assorted Mediterraneans. There were no Russians, no mainland Chinese, no Africans, very few Japanese, but they were on the increase. I spent a lot of time up in Chiang Mai in those years and the biggest number of any nationality up there were French hippies. The Germans were around Phuket. The islands were ALL pretty wild. Nothing there. It noticeably took about 3 to 5 years before we started to see increases in the number of falang tourists.

When in Chiang Mai I often had a morning stroll at sun-rise, mainly going down the small sois off the main road out to the railway station (can't remember its name), of course all these quaint interesting shops are gone now. At this time in the morning all the Mum and Dad shops were opening up. All the Thai folk said good morning too me with a broad smile, some beating me to the salutation.

I remember a ranking police officer I knew in BKK telling me sadly that "they lost about 8 falang a year in BKK". Mostly getting run over by buses on Sukhumvit, when it was one way, except for the bus lane. A bit different now, but I wont make a list, we all know what is happened now.

I'm happy I saw those early years. Thailand was a very happy country then. I saw the smiles.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Mot Dang

[keskeseksa]

I for one am certainly not laughing, nor I suspect will the Thais be,as it starts to impact on tourism more and more

Sure, more tourists are coming every year. Where do you get your figures?

[thhMan]

BRAVO... So many lies over the years and now the media is seeing past it.....

Well Thailand, you have cried WOLF one to many times.... Its a big hole you have dug... not only do you have to fix the crime issues, you have an even harder task of getting people to believe anything that you say from now on....

[keskeseksa]

LOS: land of scams and dirty beaches

If you look at scams they are rarely aimed at honest citizens but greedy idiots. As for dirty beaches why not help to clean them? That is a small price to give back to all the beautiful things we receive everyday from living in Thailand

[NeilSA1]

Well, I agree that there are far more dangerous places to live than in Thailand but, there seems to be a marked increase in reported violence in Thailand the past 2 or 3 years.

[DaveinAsia]

And you wonder why Thailand is now getting closer to China and Russia and becoming less interested in improving relationships with the West, when foreign media publishes a second grade piece of journalism that damns the entire country. I mean, what does that article actually say and why is it newsworthy, a short piece that reminds everyone that nowhere in the world is 100% safe, sad.

For some people it's just too difficult to accept that their 'paradise' retirement place is not what it turned out to be so they do everything they can to protect it, even if that means sticking their heads deep in the sand. I know it's kind of embarrassing towards the family back home to have to confess that you bought a condo in the wrong country, after all, they all kept telling you to go to Spain. It's a fact that TH is becoming more and more violent so it's not exactly click baiting. Back in the day when many of us started coming here, late 90's, it really was the land of smiles. TH was extremely chilled out. When you have a look now you can see a huge difference. There are murders and violent attacks almost every week. Some people will argue and say it only seems like that because everything is published on the internet these days compared to back then, when it was all covered up or only the biggest stories would end up on the news or in the papers. Not true. The atmosphere was different. People were really laid back and smiling a lot. Since the greed took over there has been a huge increase in gun ownership, drug addiction, murders, abuse, rape, scamming, etc, etc. It's just a fact. So to say TH is the same chilled out place as 15 years ago is wishful thinking. To all you guys who just turned up between 2005 and now; this is all you know so yes, if you compare TH to the US or the UK or Syria it still is paradise but for us long termers it's not the place it used to be. We can see the sharp increase in all sorts of crime and a large decrease in smiles. As for tourists; I'm glad I've done all that back then already. I wouldn't want to be a tourist in TH these days with so many 'sharks' trying to get your cash out of your pocket in any possible way; jet skis, canopy walking, elephants, tigers, ladyboys, tuk tuks, etc, etc, etc. The list is endless.

I understand too that some of you guys live up in sticks and some of these places are still very chilled out so to you it might seem as if TH is still the same as 10 years ago but reality is different in the tourist places, incl BKK.

[arrowsdawdle]

Don't see anybody laughing about the reality of unprovoked violence in Thailand....except the locals that laugh at motorbike fatalities.

[SoiBiker]

Bangkok is not a 'tourist place'. Sure, parts of it attract tourists, but the that's only a small fraction of the place. Get outside that bubble and it's a different, and mostly friendly place - and certainly not a particularly dangerous one compared to other big cities.

[dageurreotype]

And you wonder why Thailand is now getting closer to China and Russia and becoming less interested in improving relationships with the West, when foreign media publishes a second grade piece of journalism that damns the entire country. I mean, what does that article actually say and why is it newsworthy, a short piece that reminds everyone that nowhere in the world is 100% safe, sad.

It's called 'Click Bait'.

really ? is it click baiting ? by the way , does this vid remind you something ? it is called "murder in paradize" ! enjoy !

http://video.toggle.sg/en/series/undercover-asia-s3/ep7/377702

http://images.toggle.sg/images/01031601421170_640X360.JPG

An interesting video going into a little more depth from the personal point of view of Andy Hall and Dr Pornthip. However. Yet again no mention of the fact that the initial investigating officer quickly identified Nom Vichien and his uncle as being the real perpetrators of this heinous crime and then being quickly replaced on orders direct from Bangkok. This alone would prove without doubt this was a cover up. Talk to any Thai and they will tell you that attacks on foreigners have been going on for years but are routinely unreported to protect the tourist industry. I believe the rise in social media as an alternative to the 'spoon fed' mainstream kind is a very powerful tool in bringing these attacks to light. Good.

[JohnDodd]

And you wonder why Thailand is now getting closer to China and Russia and becoming less interested in improving relationships with the West, when foreign media publishes a second grade piece of journalism that damns the entire country. I mean, what does that article actually say and why is it newsworthy, a short piece that reminds everyone that nowhere in the world is 100% safe, sad.

Unless/until Thailand has a semblance of a democracy, they will have problems dealing with the West.

However China and Russia have no such compunction.

Haver you not noticed how other similar governments seem inextricably drawn to either Russia or China?

Why would they want to deal with the West, all the Western countries are broke, and their "Leaders" a bunch of war criminals. Put your prejudice's aside, China and Russia are the future economically as they have no external debt, and they have vast quantities of Real gold. Regarding the safety of travel in Thailand, its as safe as you can be if you understand Thai people, who are generally a emotionally immature People, and unsure of themselves, observe their faces when they are unaware, usually tight lipped or scowling, many rural Thais are filled with bitterness, (this from my Thai wife of 21yrs) and as another post noticed they are the most dangerous, I know this from personal knowledge and experienced, avoid rural Thai teens they are Very! dangerous if they have even sniffed the fumes from a bottle of laow khaow. But after all this apparent negativity, I love living here, I avoid ALL contact with Thais other than shopping.Every month or so I will get into my Vigo champ and take off for a 2 day drive around the quiet rural roads of jangwat Loei, admiring the views and tranquillity of the silence when I stop and go for a stroll. Thailand safest place in the world for this Farang.

[dageurreotype]

I still find people smiling without any ulterior motive !

Sweeping generalisation. I too know many good Thais. But like any other country there are good and bad in all. The difference being that in this particular country, lack of law enforcement and corruption ensures those with ill intent have a very good chance of getting away with it.

[Andster 68]

14 years living in Thailand and no Thai has ever raised a hand to me.

Very nice people on the whole and more often than not very friendly and helpful. I'm not fluent in Thai but can speak quite a bit which helps a lot. Once they can communicate with you you'll find Thais just the same as anyone else.

This article must be taken with a pinch of salt. Most miserable face sods I see are aged Europeans and Americans who remember the days when Thais were super subservient. They now have trouble handling Thais who have woken up to the fact that they don't need to view the white man as superior. These miserable old gits just assume they are superior because they are flat out racists.

And they surely get way more smiles than they deserve.

[Thaidream]

Mot Dang and Dave have hit the nail on the head- it is the same thought for me- Thailand was paradise 50 years ago when I first came. The influx of technology and mass tourism have changed Thailand forever and not for the better.. Thais will still smile when you smile first. That is part of their psyche but what has also developed is a deep seated anger that whatever they do, no matter how long they work- they cannot seem to get ahead. Just like in other countries- the wealth is in the hands of a minority and greed has become good. Watch the faces of Thais commuting to work on buses or the Skytrain- most are exhausted. Children still trying to get home from school at 8 or 9 pm. I wouldn't smile either. Then there are the hordes of tourists that have descended on the country fueling the abuse of alcohol and fodder for the ever increasing prostitution industry which supports families who cannot get ahead working a normal job. Do you really think the average Thai person loves foreigners drunk and debauching their children. I am not a moralist preaching to anyone- I am just tell you the reality and its tough to see the real truth.

Thailand is a society built on a class structure in which people have been taught from birth to avoid confrontation; follow the teachings of Buddhism and accept the inevitable. The problem is that as the society has developed- the land does not provide enough food; children want to be educated; a consumer society has developed; and tourism and technology has opened the eyes of the population.When you learn to speak and understand Thai- you see Thailand in a different light than the tourist who comes here for a short stay. Thais you meet initially always have their mask on. It takes a long time to get them to remove it. Sometimes when they remove it- we don't like what we see.. After the new millennium arrived we are seeing more and more Thais without that mask .We either accept it, adapt or move one. As we say in Thailand- Up To You.

[Thaidream]

I have never had a confrontation with a Thai person in 50 years-other than my wife- and I have never felt superior or felt that any Thai was below me no matter what so please do not generalize about someone being old or older not understanding how to behave or how to interact with the Thai population. Thais by nature were and still are friendly to foreigners and act in polite ways towards other Thais. This is part of the mask they al wear. However, I understand completely how they have grown up and the challenges they now face as a society. Their dependence on mass tourism has brought the good, the bad and the ugly into Thailand and fueled a large increase in the vices that keep them coming. Unless you know a Thai person a long time- they will never open up to you exactly how they feel about you' the World or their hopes and dreams. They keep it inside- suppress their feelings' hide the truth and then when confronted- it will come out in a way that is shocking and often violent. You can see this every day if you stay in Thailand long term.

the three most important rules for living a stress free existence in Thailand are Never Get into a Confrontation with a Thai Person; Never raise your voice; Always Smile. Actually one more- never-ever make a Thai lose face. The result could be fatal.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Thaidream

[swerver]

Personally I see Thais smile to me all the time. It happens whenever they try to sell something to me or when I am paying for something. Other than that, if you watch them walking by or driving past or standing somewhere, they never smile.

You're talking 21st century.

Smiling Thais is from the old days midfifties and before.

Present day Thais mind are burdened with the same problems as all workingclass people the world over ae burdened with, and there is nothing to smile about that.

[chiang mai]

And you wonder why Thailand is now getting closer to China and Russia and becoming less interested in improving relationships with the West, when foreign media publishes a second grade piece of journalism that damns the entire country. I mean, what does that article actually say and why is it newsworthy, a short piece that reminds everyone that nowhere in the world is 100% safe, sad.

The report is giving information about the increasing frequency of unprovoked attacks in Thailand and the warnings from multiples of Tourist Authorities, what's wrong with that?

Are you Thai? Or have you been here long enough to be xenophobic about Thailand. Do you not see the constant reports of violence against foreigners? Do you not here the attitude many Thai's have towards foreigners? This has been written about by many, including Thais who are ashamed of their country mens behavior.

You can live with head buried in the sand but I would rather be informed if I were making a choice for a holiday destination..

Unless you read only The Star or the Daily Rag every day, it's a crap piece of journalism, it's not the article's message that I find fault with, it's the degree to which it's a crappy piece of reporting.

[Muggi1968]

I am convinces that the Thai's simile because they see farrang's and think about the money they can cheat them....

[GAZZPA]

Still safer than the states, that's not even up for debate.

Is it? I am not so sure, especially if you take road deaths into account.

[Thunderbirds20]

I think the Burmese were scapegoats to cover up a crime by a well to do Thai, so I would not be surprised if the Cambodians were also being sacraficial lambs to cover up the aggressive nature that lurks behind the smiles

[Squeegee]

Why would they want to deal with the West, all the Western countries are broke, and their "Leaders" a bunch of war criminals. Put your prejudice's aside, China and Russia are the future economically as they have no external debt, and they have vast quantities of Real gold. Regarding the safety of travel in Thailand, its as safe as you can be if you understand Thai people, who are generally a emotionally immature People, and unsure of themselves, observe their faces when they are unaware, usually tight lipped or scowling, many rural Thais are filled with bitterness, (this from my Thai wife of 21yrs) and as another post noticed they are the most dangerous, I know this from personal knowledge and experienced, avoid rural Thai teens they are Very! dangerous if they have even sniffed the fumes from a bottle of laow khaow. But after all this apparent negativity, I love living here, I avoid ALL contact with Thais other than shopping.Every month or so I will get into my Vigo champ and take off for a 2 day drive around the quiet rural roads of jangwat Loei, admiring the views and tranquillity of the silence when I stop and go for a stroll. Thailand safest place in the world for this Farang.

A finely observed (albeit negative) post that definitely reflects part of my experience too (having lived in the Thai city, suburbs and countryside). I wouldn't subscribe to avoiding all Thais though, as the people are a large part of what makes a place what it is and amazing experiences in a foreign field are only partially gained by looking at the nature. Reality is there are a lot of happy positive Thais still in the countryside.

Some of the nicest people I know are Thais from poor backgrounds and those with old money, though not so much the middle classes who are too busy aspiring to have much of a thought for others. Whilst I will never forget the kindness and generosity I have received from individuals I do get frustrated by the masses and particularly their blood-sucking overlords.

That should be the same in the West really: lowest common denominator behaviour and dodgy politicians etc. but in the West a lot of dodgy stuff is better concealed where the Thais have a knack for parading their buffalo dung. Culturally ironic really, on both counts given the stereotypes of Thais keeping their indiscretions hidden and Westerners supposedly being more overt.

For the most part though, I find they are generally looking more happy in organized happy situations, whether that be formal or informal, but just going about their daily lives they don't smile much at all other than for functionality. Perhaps that's another disconnect between East and West though: for us smiling is very emotional but for them it's very functional.

Edited March 2, 2016 by Squeegee

[GAZZPA]

Absolutely. Too easy to become slightly if not acutely off balanced! Wish contributers on here would take note of that. Open your minds to other opinions than your own home grown prejudices.

Thats one way of looking at it, or i could say to you open your eyes and ears and pay attention to the terrible things happening around you. Corruption, violence, theft, xenophobia, racism, dual pricing, scams, intimidation, unfair business ownership, complicated and inconvenient visa processes,, did I mention corruption?