What is Thainess?

[Saan]

I hear the word Thainess on the tongues of senior politicians many times since the coup.

Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat has even called for Thainess at the soon to be opened Bangkok International Motor Show.

But what does Thainess really mean.

Is there an official definition of Thainess that all Thais can apply to their daily life?

Will Thainess spring Thailand into the forefront of the world's nations or is it a step back into the past?

Can anyone help me with an answer or even hazard a guess as to the meaning of Thainess?

[mamborobert]

It is an old term being rehashed by the current regime to encourage Thai singularity. No Red, Yellow, South, North.....everyone is Bangkok:)

Except foreigners of course.

It is a way to basically enforce uniformity and cease challenges to a desired norm.

This was a nice write up:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaification

Edited March 19, 2016 by mamborobert

[Inyourendo]

Thainess is when you kill somebody in a drunk driving accident, or road rage ...... you get off because you promised to become a monk for 6 months .....it's deep and only thais will ever understand it's deepness .....farang ...no unnerstan

[1FinickyOne]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

[Berkshire]

I doubt very much that these politicians the OP speaks of was speaking in English. Perhaps the Thai version of the word.

So what's Thainess from the farang perspective? It's exactly the same as being proud to be an American. Or being an Australian. Or being English. Or being French. Get it, OP?

[steven100]

Thainess is thinking how to extract money from a farang .........

[naboo]

Appearing to be something you are not.

Smiling on the outside but furious on the inside.

A 1 million Baht truck on the drive, but rice and fish sauce on the dinner table.

A lady in the street but a freak in the bed.

[thai3]

Thainess is 23 coups and 20 constitutions in 84 years, groundhog day,

[Berkshire]

Appearing to be something you are not.

Smiling on the outside but furious on the inside.

A 1 million Baht truck on the drive, but rice and fish sauce on the dinner table.

A lady in the street but a freak in the bed.

....as defined by a disenfranchised farang.

[Berkshire]

I doubt very much that these politicians the OP speaks of was speaking in English. Perhaps the Thai version of the word.

So what's Thainess from the farang perspective? It's exactly the same as being proud to be an American. Or being an Australian. Or being English. Or being French. Get it, OP?

So what's your nationality? Not proud? Ashamed? Well that's certainly your right.

[Saan]

I doubt very much that these politicians the OP speaks of was speaking in English. Perhaps the Thai version of the word.

So what's Thainess from the farang perspective? It's exactly the same as being proud to be an American. Or being an Australian. Or being English. Or being French. Get it, OP?

No, I don't really 'get it'. I suppose you are talking about jingoism. But jingoism doesn't play a major part in Australian life. It may be more so in the other countries you mentioned.

[NickJ]

I find the term the Singaporeans use when they feel like they are about to have a person try and pull the wool over there eyes.......Dont Thai me........pretty funny.

Edited March 19, 2016 by NickJ

[TheSiemReaper]

It's a funny thing but nationality is important to many people's sense of identity. Americans, in the main, would be naked without their "American-ness". I was once discussing, with an American, gun control (in a friendly and measured way - given that we are friends on other sides of the debate) and suddenly found myself embroiled with a drunken nutcase (another American who had been ear-wigging on the conversation) screaming that; "You better not criticize America. It's not ****ing happening. You owe us your freedom." I've had a few such discussions over the years; it turns out that America does not provide its citizens with super powers and that they hit the pavement after being punched just like everyone else does.

The UK is different. You are encouraged to be proud of being British or Irish or Scottish or Welsh or Cornish anything but English. If you are English you are encouraged to be ashamed of the fact. Our press even denies that we have "an English culture" something so ridiculous that it would defy belief elsewhere in the world.

Me? I think anyone who is proud of their nationality has serious issues. You don't choose it. You didn't work for it. You may be very lucky in that draw and you may not but taking pride in something outside of your control? It's for the foolish. By and large a sense of national identity is leveraged by weak politicians who can't give you anything else to be proud of. There may be "Thainess" but like "Englishness" it's probably not easy to define in a single 10 word caption and if it were? It probably wouldn't be worth much. Cultural identity is a complex thing and makes everyone a little bit more interesting than they would be if we were all the same. It shouldn't be exploited for xenophobia and it shouldn't be used as a mask for politicians to escape their failures either.

[Berkshire]

I doubt very much that these politicians the OP speaks of was speaking in English. Perhaps the Thai version of the word.

So what's Thainess from the farang perspective? It's exactly the same as being proud to be an American. Or being an Australian. Or being English. Or being French. Get it, OP?

No, I don't really 'get it'. I suppose you are talking about jingoism. But jingoism doesn't play a major part in Australian life. It may be more so in the other countries you mentioned.

I see. Well I've been following the US Presidential elections for months and I can assure you that "proud to be an American" is a major theme. Politicians do that. I even bet Australian politicians do that. Why do you think Thai politicians would be any different?

But I suspect you're mostly looking for the negative, Thai-bashing nonsense from the usual suspects. Pretty obvious from your thread title and OP. Sorry I can't help you in that regard.

[muzmurray]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

[Berkshire]

It's a funny thing but nationality is important to many people's sense of identity. Americans, in the main, would be naked without their "American-ness". I was once discussing, with an American, gun control (in a friendly and measured way - given that we are friends on other sides of the debate) and suddenly found myself embroiled with a drunken nutcase (another American who had been ear-wigging on the conversation) screaming that; "You better not criticize America. It's not ****ing happening. You owe us your freedom." I've had a few such discussions over the years; it turns out that America does not provide its citizens with super powers and that they hit the pavement after being punched just like everyone else does.

The UK is different. You are encouraged to be proud of being British or Irish or Scottish or Welsh or Cornish anything but English. If you are English you are encouraged to be ashamed of the fact. Our press even denies that we have "an English culture" something so ridiculous that it would defy belief elsewhere in the world.

Me? I think anyone who is proud of their nationality has serious issues. You don't choose it. You didn't work for it. You may be very lucky in that draw and you may not but taking pride in something outside of your control? It's for the foolish. By and large a sense of national identity is leveraged by weak politicians who can't give you anything else to be proud of. There may be "Thainess" but like "Englishness" it's probably not easy to define in a single 10 word caption and if it were? It probably wouldn't be worth much. Cultural identity is a complex thing and makes everyone a little bit more interesting than they would be if we were all the same. It shouldn't be exploited for xenophobia and it shouldn't be used as a mask for politicians to escape their failures either.

You make a lot of good points. The OP brings up the politicians and their Thainess, acting surprised that politicians would say such things. I don't think I can ever recall a Thai person boasting of his/her Thainess in normal conversation.

You're right that cultural identity is a complex thing. I can explain what it means to be an American, but another American could come up with something completely different. And we'd both be right. No difference with the Thais...which is what makes the OP's question a bit strange. Well, he's not really looking for an answer, but just another reason to bash on the Thais.

[Berkshire]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

"Nong" does mean younger sister, or brother, and Thais use it all the time. Even for complete strangers who are younger...and "Pi" for older. The same terms are used for actual relatives as well. Kind of cool, I think.

[Puwa]

A more relevant question for this forum might be "What is Northern Thainess?" In fact, locals in Chiang Mai wouldn't refer to themselves as Thai at all, but Khon Muang.

[1FinickyOne]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

"Nong" does mean younger sister, or brother, and Thais use it all the time. Even for complete strangers who are younger...and "Pi" for older. The same terms are used for actual relatives as well. Kind of cool, I think.

Thank you Berkshire - I think this question is revealing much more about the posters than about the question of what is "Thainess" - which I assume is to be answered from a Thai perspective of what the word means.. and yet, people use it to bash... how sad.

[Saan]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

"Nong" does mean younger sister, or brother, and Thais use it all the time. Even for complete strangers who are younger...and "Pi" for older. The same terms are used for actual relatives as well. Kind of cool, I think.

Thank you Berkshire - I think this question is revealing much more about the posters than about the question of what is "Thainess" - which I assume is to be answered from a Thai perspective of what the word means.. and yet, people use it to bash... how sad.

Bashing Thais was not my intention but of course there is a certain element in Thai Visa who believe that to have an opinion about Thailand that doesn't agree with theirs is Thai bashing.

The question wasn't about Thais per se but their political leaders who are promoting Thainess for a politcal end. I could go on but I am sure anything more I said would be deemed as Thai bashing.

[dcnx]

It's propaganda created for unification.

[northernjohn]

A more relevant question for this forum might be "What is Northern Thainess?" In fact, locals in Chiang Mai wouldn't refer to themselves as Thai at all, but Khon Muang.

Living in Chiang Mai and being married to a Thai who has most of her family here I would have to say B S. They refer to themselves as Thais and maybe some do as Khon Muang just as some in the states refer to them selves as southerners or northerners. But still Americans. Even all the original different native tribes refer to them selves as Americans. They may identify which tribe but they still claim to be Americans.

[dcnx]

Thainess is 23 coups and 20 constitutions in 84 years, groundhog day,

*stands and claps*

[northernjohn]

I have never heard a Thai call the waitress "younger sister", "nong" yes, but that does not mean younger sister ?

"Nong" does mean younger sister, or brother, and Thais use it all the time. Even for complete strangers who are younger...and "Pi" for older. The same terms are used for actual relatives as well. Kind of cool, I think.

Thank you Berkshire - I think this question is revealing much more about the posters than about the question of what is "Thainess" - which I assume is to be answered from a Thai perspective of what the word means.. and yet, people use it to bash... how sad.

Bashing Thais was not my intention but of course there is a certain element in Thai Visa who believe that to have an opinion about Thailand that doesn't agree with theirs is Thai bashing.

The question wasn't about Thais per se but their political leaders who are promoting Thainess for a politcal end. I could go on but I am sure anything more I said would be deemed as Thai bashing.

You say they are promoting it for a political end. The very idea that they are trying to bring Thailand together has nothing to do with it in your opinion. The P M said shortly after he came into power that it would take 20 years to bring unity to Thailand. That to me would be Thainess. How ever I believe (in my opinion) that Thainess is doing it the way they have always done it until the West came in and is trying and succeeding in introducing Western materialism in as a substitute for family values.

[cmsally]

Who holds the franchises/ partnerships/off shoot companies of all these "Western materialistic companies" ?

If anyone is responsible for the materialism it would be the urban mostly Chinese descent, elite.

What exactly is there to bring together?

The only unity the govt is interested in, is the preservation of a compliant unified consumer group. Without the means to compete internationally (although Chinese investment would be an exception for some companies and that is looking shaky) this is what they hope will keep the cogs turning.

[Tywais]

As this is not specifically Chiang Mai related I'm moving it to General.

[lostinisaan]

Thainess is when you Wai almost everything that seems to be holly. You can ask your local monk for the next lottery numbers and only pay a few thousand baht to him.

Things that you haven't learnt in your science lessons are always done by ghosts and you don't need a driver's license to drive a truck. Just run away if something happens, remember you've got the bigger one.

Another good example of Thainess is to tell all foreigners how handsome they are. They'll believe you and marry you, even with your seven kids.

But if you Google Thainee you'll soon find out that not all is at it seems to be. No idea if Thainee has got enough Thainess?

Please see yourself: Time for a new word.: Farangness. Farangness belongs to the same category as Loch Ness. Ask Nessy, please.

Edited March 19, 2016 by lostinisaan

[manfredtillmann]

I doubt very much that these politicians the OP speaks of was speaking in English. Perhaps the Thai version of the word.

So what's Thainess from the farang perspective? It's exactly the same as being proud to be an American. Or being an Australian. Or being English. Or being French. Get it, OP?

No, I don't really 'get it'. I suppose you are talking about jingoism. But jingoism doesn't play a major part in Australian life. It may be more so in the other countries you mentioned.

had to google this before i liked it. but... are you 100% sure about oz not falling into the same gap?

[Rancid]

The elite in all countries use various techniques to make the serf class feel that they are all unified by a common thread. It makes them feel better as the boot stamps on their face or are herded into debt slavery

These can vary from nationalism to some sort of superiority or "specialises", sporting prowess, chosen people, common enemy (terrorists etc), going to a common Nirvana and on it goes.

Reality is that the 1% actually don't really embrace the rest of us at all. More the Orwellian concept that all animals are created equal, just some more so than others.

[Naam]

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

nothing of that is "unique" to Thailand. these references are quite acceptable and very common all over Asia from Pakistan to China.