Thai attitude to foreigners: An all time low?

[bamukloy]

On Friday, September 02, 2016 at 9:48 PM, Naam said:

 

and one gets always a very polite thank you gesture stopping the car letting a pedestrian cross the street or a car enter a main street from a soi.

 

How do you know? Did your driver tell you?

 

[guzzi850m2]

I didn't read the whole tread.

Thai attitude changed? well against the Chinese for sure, those of them coming on group tour are generally ill behaved, first time (for many) outside China. Don't spend much money as all is already paid for; hotel/meals/tours so not much money to be made from them for most working here in Sin city. Talked to a Cambodian hat seller on beach road once and he was not impressed by the Chinese bus tourists and called them; cheap Charlies.

Some tourist/expats are not looked well upon by the Thais, drunk most of the time, rude, wife beater t-shit partly covering a big beer belly, unshaven.

Dressing just a bit nice when not on the beach and be polite and soft spoken goes a long way with the Thais and speaking a few Thai words helps too.

 

The whole world generally have to work harder/faster to make ends meet so people are getting more stressed out/frustrated.

[i claudius]

I have not read the whole post either , but after 23 years of working visiting and living here i find that if you are nicely dressed ,your wife isnt covered in tats and wearing a skirt that just about covers her bum (i have no problem with that ) and is well spoken and you are polite ,people treat you well , but then that seems to work all around the world .

[Gary A]

People get beat up every day in Pattaya. I find it strange that in twenty years, I have never been beaten up. Why do suppose that is?

[Rimmer]

Multiple troll and off topic posts about people getting beaten up have been removed.

They are hijacking the topic and and coming from one member only, be advised if that member does not stop trolling he will be going away on his holls.

[NanLaew]

15 hours ago, berybert said:

... I have stood in many 7-11's and watched the soi dogs...

 

Living the dream eh?

Edited September 4, 2016 by NanLaew

[billd766]

2 hours ago, Gary A said:

People get beat up every day in Pattaya. I find it strange that in twenty years, I have never been beaten up. Why do suppose that is?

 

Perhaps because you look like Godzilla having a bad day?

 

Sorry about that but I am trying to be a little humorous on a Sunday.

 

It may not have worked.

[Gary A]

You don't want to make a Thai lose face. It's not that difficult to avoid confrontation.

[petermik]

3 hours ago, Gary A said:

People get beat up every day in Pattaya. I find it strange that in twenty years, I have never been beaten up. Why do suppose that is?

 

Maybe you never go out

[Naam]

7 hours ago, bamukloy said:

 

How do you know? Did your driver tell you?

 

i am not always using our driver but even when i use him i neither sleep nor do i read a newspaper and i'm well aware what's going on.

[Naam]

On 9/3/2016 at 0:08 PM, thai3 said:

 

But they still despise you

does it hurt if a hooker despises you?

[MissAndry]

1 minute ago, Naam said:

does it hurt if a hooker despises you?

 

Only if you're married to her.

Edited September 4, 2016 by MissAndry

[Naam]

On 9/3/2016 at 10:34 AM, Winniedapu said:

Thais are taught to be very xenophobic. Too much evidence for it to be otherwise.

you should take da pills da good doctor prescribed more regularly

[onemorechang]

Quote

Some tourist/expats are not looked well upon by the Thais, drunk most of the time, rude, wife beater t-shit partly covering a big beer belly, unshaven.

 

I do shave every day,   i have you know 

[Global Guy]

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2016 at 1:18 PM, JHolmesJr said:

 

It takes an especially needy person to worry about what someone who you are never going to interact with again thinks of you.

 

Just remember one thing….money is all that holds any weight with these folks…..

 

If they sense they can get some from you they will be nice, if not they ignore you.

 

It is a charade I am very comfortable with.

Yes of course it is the foreigners fault (sarcasm).

 

What people are discussing here is NOT if you mistreat someone, they do it back. We are discussing if you are polite and friendly to staff or other locals and THEY are impolite, unhelpful, unmotivated, rude, and lazy in return.

 

Staff at a store are paid to help customers, regardless of the customer's DNA, passport, or level of friendliness. It's obvious many Thai apologists don't know much about retail. Staff aren't supposed to size up a customer and help him based on his smile and if lacking one, become rude to him. That's not how retail is supposed to work anywhere.

 

So, that is the topic. In discussing human behavior there are always exceptions, but we are discussing trends, not the exceptions.

[thai3]

1 hour ago, Naam said:

does it hurt if a hooker despises you?

 

No but it's a laugh when people think they are liked just because they are paying somebody for sex, believe me most Thai prostitutes do despise and dislike the customer, falang or not. 

[Peterw42]

Just now, thai3 said:

 

No but it's a laugh when people think they are liked just because they are paying somebody for sex, believe me most Thai prostitutes do despise and dislike the customer, falang or not. 

 

But I am a very hansum man, and I look very young, 

[thai3]

Yeah that's what they tell you  Many times in a bar etc I have seen girls all over a guy, only to see them slagging him off as soon as he goes for a piss, and then the 'smiles' come back when he returns, it's all an act, but a lot of the punters never seem to catch on.

[Gary A]

5 hours ago, petermik said:

 

Maybe you never go out

 

At my age, I don't get out as much as I used to. I don't like to reveal any secrets but I still do get out and about. I make an effort to be friendly.

[Gary A]

20 minutes ago, thai3 said:

Yeah that's what they tell you  Many times in a bar etc I have seen girls all over a guy, only to see them slagging him off as soon as he goes for a piss, and then the 'smiles' come back when he returns, it's all an act, but a lot of the punters never seem to catch on.

 

That's the girl's job. No smiles and they get no drinks or tips.You'd have to be stupid to think they are attracted to an old farang. HOWEVER, I know some of the girls from many years back. I tell them I am happily married and  they know there is no chance I am going to barfine them. We are still friends whether you believe it or not. Most of the time I run into them on the street, they have very good memories. Some I don't even remember because we have gotten a lot older. Not much chance of me buying them a drink. Just because they sell their bodies, that doesn't mean they are not nice people.

[Peterw42]

On 9/4/2016 at 6:52 PM, Gary A said:

 

That's the girl's job. No smiles and they get no drinks or tips.You'd have to be stupid to think they are attracted to an old farang. HOWEVER, I know some of the girls from many years back. I tell them I am happily married and  they know there is no chance I am going to barfine them. We are still friends whether you believe it or not. Most of the time I run into them on the street, they have very good memories. Some I don't even remember because we have gotten a lot older. Not much chance of me buying them a drink. Just because they sell their bodies, that doesn't mean they are not nice people.

 

I agree, I have bargirl friends, And I was never a customer etc. I was actually sharing a house with a couple of BGs at one stage. Once they know you are not a punter, they can be great friends. Since you are not paying for compiments, they will even tell you you are getting fat, only a little bit hansum. 

[NanLaew]

29 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

... I was actually sharing a house with a couple of BGs at one stage. ...

Another living the dream...

[Peterw42]

25 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Another living the dream...

 

Dear Penthouse Forum, I never thought it would happen to me, but the other day.

 

It was just sharing a house.  

[tropo]

On 9/2/2016 at 0:46 PM, beachproperty said:

So you went to a few shops where they didn't say thank-you....And  one laundry shop where the women was busy and didn't kiss your ass.

For a tourist in touristy areas to make generalization about all the Thai's....Well that's just stupid

 

Have lived here for over 10 Years and NO I haven't seen Thai attitudes gradually eroding......But maybe that's because I don't live in a touristy area.

Having lived in a "touristy area" for over 10 years, I can assure you that what the OP has experienced is spot on... and even in the less touristy areas. Even in Bangkok. Courteous Thais are an anomaly these days. When you meet one they stand out.

 

I don't even think it's a gradual erosion. I think it's rapid.

 

It is possible that dealing with so many unfriendly nationalities of tourists over the last 5 or so years may have sped up the decline. I don't think all nationalities would care about Thais being unfriendly.

Edited September 6, 2016 by tropo

[tropo]

On 9/2/2016 at 0:46 PM, beachproperty said:

  

[tropo]

On 9/2/2016 at 3:00 PM, JHolmesJr said:

Funnily enough, I always get a genuine Wai and a KKK when I hand over my 1,000 bht the next morning.

You can tell the difference between a "genuine wai" and fake wai?

 

I doubt they're happy about your measly 1000 baht, which is low pay these days. They're just happy to get the hell out of there and get back to their family or boyfriend.

[JHolmesJr]

2 hours ago, tropo said:

You can tell the difference between a "genuine wai" and fake wai?

 

I doubt they're happy about your measly 1000 baht, which is low pay these days. They're just happy to get the hell out of there and get back to their family or boyfriend.

 

Plus 80b for motocy and a bowl of street noodles. 

[beachproperty]

3 hours ago, tropo said:

Having lived in a "touristy area" for over 10 years, I can assure you that what the OP has experienced is spot on... and even in the less touristy areas. Even in Bangkok. Courteous Thais are an anomaly these days. When you meet one they stand out.

 

I don't even think it's a gradual erosion. I think it's rapid.

 

It is possible that dealing with so many unfriendly nationalities of tourists over the last 5 or so years may have sped up the decline. I don't think all nationalities would care about Thais being unfriendly.

Well tropo....you must be one grumpy farang.

 

I've lived in Bangkok for a few years and the last 10 I've been down in Rayong. Wife and daughter run a Home stay business where most (99%) of the people that stay are Thai. I have YET to meet the "unfriendly" , "Dis-courteous" Thai. I obviously don't hang out in the same circles you do.

 

The "farangs" I've met, on the other hand, have generally been rude skin flints.......Go figure

 

 

[tropo]

59 minutes ago, beachproperty said:

Well tropo....you must be one grumpy farang.

 

I've lived in Bangkok for a few years and the last 10 I've been down in Rayong. Wife and daughter run a Home stay business where most (99%) of the people that stay are Thai. I have YET to meet the "unfriendly" , "Dis-courteous" Thai. I obviously don't hang out in the same circles you do.

 

The "farangs" I've met, on the other hand, have generally been rude skin flints.......Go figure

 

 

Why would making an observation that Thais are not the friendliest of people and are becoming unfriendlier suggest I'm a grumpy person. They don't affect me at all. I was as grumpy before I came to Thailand as I am now LOL. 

 

You totally missed the point of the OP's observation. It's not about the attitude of your friends, associates or family (people you hang out with). It's the attitude of the Thais in the street, shops, malls, markets, bars, restaurants etc. The men and women about town. People who you don't know.

 

Personally I quite like it. I don't like strangers being over friendly. I don't like being greeted when I enter stores and followed around by helpful shop assistants. I like being ignored. It suits me fine. It's an observation, not a complaint. One could say the place is getting better for me. 

 

If people weren't touting Thailand as the "Land of Smiles", there would be nothing to discuss. For example, people aren't too friendly in Hong Kong or Malaysia either, but no one expected them to be friendly.

 

BTW, my observations are mainly around Pattaya. I wouldn't have a clue about Rayong and never will. I'll take your word for it - everyone smiles there.

 

 

[DrTuner]

It started going downhill fast when the Russians invaded. They showed the Thais how to give the cold shoulder. Smartphone malady hasn't helped, either. Not to mention the Chinese now..