Culture, Education or what???

[ChuckNorris]

A bit bored at home today so I decided to have a trawl of social media. Beginning to wish I hadn't.

Why do so many expats think it is acceptable to call Thai people "stupid", "idiots", "twats", "paddy rats", "pathetic"?

Sure, we sometimes see Thai people behaving differently. We notice the difference in health and safety everyday. Some people's houses are not quite as we would like and not lets get into discussions about roads (both how they are driven on and how long the last after being resurfaced).

However, I don't think it really warrants the words, as listed above.

There is certainly a lack of education when it comes to some matters. Many Thais are self taught or taught by the generation before them, who were also self taught. I've asked builders and tradesmen before as to why they don't wear safety clothes or use safety equipment. Most of the time it is down to availability or cost. Not understanding of necessity. Those who were working for bigger construction companies or government, my wife has a couple of uncles and cousins working in commercial and civil construction, told me it was purely down to availability. Most likely linked with corruption.

I wonder if these expats would be happy to be called a "wimp" or a "pussy" (one for our American friends) just because they couldn't hack an hour in the rice fields, let alone a whole day for days on end. Are expats stupid because they can't build a pig sty from wood laying about in the garden? Are expats "f**king useless because they can't strip a motorbike engine down and rebuild just by looking at some pictures or from memory having had no formal education? How many expats bang on and on when the electric goes off for a couple of hours? At the same time the Thai guys just get on with things. Candles anyone?

Sorry for the rant but I just feel there are so many expats that just won't accept the fact that things are different in Thailand. Instead of seeing something a bit different and slagging it off, why not just try to work out why it is happening. Maybe even try to understand the bigger picture. And, tongue in cheek, teach the guys how to drive. 

[Gerry]

Rant accepted and understood.

It's not just on the internet though. There are a couple of expat hangouts that I now avoid because of certain individuals that just can't help themselves when it comes to the Thai way.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

I too accept and understand your rant

After 35 years here in Thailand, and  working with Thais, expats, and those in official positions in the UK, the terms mentioned, can, I believe can relate equally to expats and Thais and others, though far from all.. So long as you -as you suggest - exclude Thai driving, with so many Thai drivers well deserving of the terms mentioned.

[CO-CO]

My comments would generally echo Nick's and where driving is concerned all the above words apply.

Not all Thai drivers are bad (and not all Farang drivers are good) but too many are. We know the reasons for that and the lack of education, training, testing, enforcement are more apparent in the Boonies than major towns and cities.

I have also seen Nick (me too) losing his patience with Thais out of frustration. They are not generically stupid but certainly those not from hiso families/the less well educated often struggle in a service situation. The difference in culture is also a factor and it is often the Farang's lack of understanding/patience that helps to shape the above comments.

[ChuckNorris]

Three excellent replies.

Thank you, gentlemen.

[davureborn]

Publishing data like this gets you accused of racism, but here it is: https://www.worlddata.info/iq-by-country.php
Thailand at rank 53 out of 111 countries surveyed, other surveys show slightly different results, but I can live with that.
There's more to it than IQ scores, some fairly intelligent nations are much more difficult to get on with on a Saturday night.
I recently stopped watching "Bad driving in Thailand" on Facebook as it gets depressingly repetitive.

[BillH52]

Not all Thai drivers are bad . . . lack of education, training, testing, enforcement . . . 

Think CO-CO hit the nail on the head here.  In line with that, am convinced real improvement can only happen with future generations (hopefully) via something like a "Drivers Education" program in the public school system, much like many of us probably went thru in our younger years.
 

[Red 1]

Nearly 30yrs ago and prior to the Sky Train opening up in Bkk in 98/99 the Royal Thai Police invited a group of Police Traffic Officers from a Police Driving School in the UK to visit Bkk. Their brief was to conduct an assessment and give advice/solutions on reducing the crippling traffic congestion and to try and reduce one of the worlds highest road fatality rates per 100k. At the end of the two week deployment Traf Pol presented a report to RTP. It basically said this, there is nothing they could do or suggest that would fix any of the problems on the Thai road network, they stated every driver of a motor vehicle i.e cars/busses/lorry's/motor bike riders etc, cyclists and pedestrian in the whole of the country would have to be re-educated and a high proportion of them would then have to strictly adhere to a whole set of new laws, this obviously included the RTP retraining all of their officers. It was an impossible task and there is no solution one of them remarked privately. The RTP thanked them and off they went, to my knowledge nothing was ever acted upon and I suspect the report was binned. In that 30yrs I don't think a lot has improved really so don't expect anything to change soon.

[davureborn]

In Switzerland (population one tenth of Thailand) traffic fatalities were reduced from over 1000 a year to 227 last year. So it can be done given the will, increased police surveillance was mostly financed with fines. These days, Swiss drivers would rather die than give up what they perceive to be their right of way or privilege, and I must admit that when I go back I am afraid to drive!
Compare the two extremes and ask yourself which you prefer.

[ChuckNorris]

I've just completed another general sweep of Thai social media.

Sausages, bacon and single or whipping cream, not so sweet mayo and baked beans, or the lack of them, seem to be tha latest cause of serious mental health issues.

Do the same people who use the internet to whinge not also use it to investigate where such things may be available or how to make them/adjust them to their liking?

[CO-CO]

I've just completed another general sweep of Thai social media.

Sausages, bacon and single or whipping cream, not so sweet mayo and baked beans, or the lack of them, seem to be tha latest cause of serious mental health issues.

Do the same people who use the internet to whinge not also use it to investigate where such things may be available or how to make them/adjust them to their liking?

You certainly need a weekly debate about sausages or life isn't worth living 


99 Baht breakfasts in Pattaya is a subject worth researching!

[Prakhonchai Nick]

99 Baht breakfasts in Pattaya is a subject worth researching!

With ever rising prices I would imagine they are long gone!

[CO-CO]

99 Baht breakfasts in Pattaya is a subject worth researching!

With ever rising prices I would imagine they are long gone!

Apparently not.

Cheap Charlie's in Pattaya does a small brekkie for 89 Baht.

[ChuckNorris]

Good morning.

Things don't improve much.

Today I've seen complaints about everything UK, even from expats long term in Thailand. Seems strange, especially as what they read in the media is not quite the same as what is happening on the streets.

Thai driving appeared again, maybe no surprise about that. Dodgy cod and haddock fillets in Makro. Bacon again and lack of availability of Christmas dinner.

Calls of "don't do it, she's there to rip you off" when someone asking advice about land, car or house purchase.

No wonder I've waited nearly 6 months to have a Thai based social media trawl. 

[ChuckNorris]

Good Morning/Afternoon

Another update.

More Thai bashing. Same words being used.

Obviously, with Songkran upon us the Thai driving situation is the main topic. One that most of us likely agree with.

Other things I've seen are culture issues. I've seen posts calling Thai ceremonies "stupid". Isaan in laws "stupid". Only this morning I've seen people calling Songkran traditions "nonsense".

When I scroll back in time on the same forums I see expats wishing everyone "Merry Christmas", "Happy New Year". What's the difference? In fact, some expats seem to shield their families from the Thai traditions of Songkran, Bhuddist lent, ordinations and family ceremonies but actively promote western festivals. Something I don't understand.

There are often threads about ceremonies. Especially in the villages. I've been to some enjoyable ones. Admittedly the music gets on one's nerves after a while, loud and too much bass, but so what. It's their party. Let them get on with it.

My wife once told her friends that here in UK she'd been to a 40th birthday party, a 50th and a 70th. She'd been to a christening, engagement party, a 25th wedding anniversary, 50th and 60th. All ceremonies that, to my knowledge, Thais don't do. They were quite amazed at our traditions but also seemed to be happy that we did. Shame some expats can't be happy for the Thais having parties we don't have in the west.

The hungry do seem to have found their bacon and sausages though.