National bickering on BE Forum

[Muhendis]

Nice post Smooth2 however........

"We are no longer British or American or Australian or Dutch or Sth African or Norwegian or all the other nationalities I've not mentioned. Even the Thai's know this !!  FARANG !!  One word describes 300 Nationalities."

Can someone answer. Is a chinese expat regarded as a Farang?

[nookiebear]

Nice post Smooth2 however........

"We are no longer British or American or Australian or Dutch or Sth African or Norwegian or all the other nationalities I've not mentioned. Even the Thai's know this !!  FARANG !!  One word describes 300 Nationalities."

Can someone answer. Is a chinese expat regarded as a Farang?

NO

[Mikeh]

While I agree that banter bewteen nationalities will always happen.  What annoys  me more is that when you post a sensible request for advice or help there is always someone who sidetracks the post with silly comments.   Im all for having a joke but in the right place at the right time     Maybe admin should start a new forum post called "NATUONAL BICKER POST"

[gotlost]

Nice post Smooth2 however........

"We are no longer British or American or Australian or Dutch or Sth African or Norwegian or all the other nationalities I've not mentioned. Even the Thai's know this !!  FARANG !!  One word describes 300 Nationalities."

Can someone answer. Is a chinese expat regarded as a Farang?

Farang is a white boy only.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farang

[Voodoo]

Whilst I acknowledge it's inevitable that expats from different countries will ALWAYS have differences of opinion, it bothers me a lot that SO many topics get completely derailed into slanging matches.

I think many bickering members have missed the point of why we are all in Thailand.

The meaning of "expats" is a person who voluntarily resides in a foreign country with a different culture to their upbringing.

For WHATEVER reason, we have ALL chosen to desert the sinking ship (aka...our home country), and all jump into the same lifeboat and row to The Land of Milk and Honey to live.

This puts us all together in Thailand. In my eyes, this means that some part of our heart has said "bugger the old country ... too hard ... too expensive ... too many problems ... too many ugly women ... I think I'll give Thailand a go"

This should mean that we try to assimilate into the Thai lifestyle and culture, and become good Thai citizens. We have made the big decision to abandon our home country, so we really should also leave our Nationalistic differences behind.

(This is what we expect immigrants into our "home" countries to do)

We are no longer British or American or Australian or Dutch or Sth African or Norwegian or all the other nationalities I've not mentioned. Even the Thai's know this !!  FARANG !!  One word describes 300 Nationalities.

Pity our hearts can't do the same thing and all get along together.

When Thai's ask me "where you come from ...?"  I say "Buriram" 

I suspect many members would instantly say their "home" country.

Yes ... healthy debate on the Forum is good ... but regrettably much of it is spiteful Nationalistic mudslinging. Gives me the shits.

Well put.. and well said..

[Speros]

Nice post Smooth2 however........

"We are no longer British or American or Australian or Dutch or Sth African or Norwegian or all the other nationalities I've not mentioned. Even the Thai's know this !!  FARANG !!  One word describes 300 Nationalities."

Can someone answer. Is a chinese expat regarded as a Farang?

NO

According to my missus a chinaman is a " jein" and an African is a "Nigor", only white people are farang.

[Voodoo]

Interesting.  Been with my wife, Pon, for over 40 years and never had it explained that way.. A farang is a foreigner, a non thai according to her and her family..  If you weren't born and raised in the LOS then you are a farang.. They do have thai names for the different nationalities but, generally, you're either thai or farang.

[Speros]

Maybe terms and phrases change over time, only forwarding what the Thai wife told me

[CO-CO]

Interesting.  Been with my wife, Pon, for over 40 years and never had it explained that way.. A farang is a foreigner, a non thai according to her and her family..  If you weren't born and raised in the LOS then you are a farang.. They do have thai names for the different nationalities but, generally, you're either thai or farang.

Thais will not call other Asians "Farang". Chinese, Japanese, Koreans - Thais have specific names for.

White westerner was the general 'rule' suggested to me. -

[Voodoo]

Maybe terms and phrases change over time, only forwarding what the Thai wife told me

I think you got it Speros.. Things do change with time.. This is probably one of them

[dundeemk6]

white caucasian = farang
black skinned people = negor
chinese = jieen
japanese = ipoen
arabs = keg

[Starman]

When the Portugese first came to Thailand around 400 years ago they brought guava trees with them. The locals promtly called them "dton farang", meaning the tree from the white man. So the fruit was named after the people and not the other way round.

It is thought that the word "farang" comes from the Persian word "farangi" which refers to the Gemanic tribe the Franks that ruled Europe through the middle ages. It is widely regarded that the word does indeed refer to "white" people.

This could also be underlined by other food stuffs that carry the word "farang". Such as potato( man farang). "Man" is the Thai word for tuber. Corriander (pakchi farang) and even chewing gum (mak farang). "Mak" means betel in Thai.

Seeing as it was generally European crusaders that travelled to these parts, introducing new things, it would seem that the word refers to white people. Also look at words used by neighbouring countries. The similarities are there to see.

Words for Asian foreigners, as some people have pointed out, are usually referred to by their country.

[Voodoo]

Then I guess the ole girl and I are corrected.. Thanks for the info

[Muhendis]

Wow! What a knowledgeable load of Farang. Thanks for all your answers......
Now for the next brain teaser.
Are you Farang if you originate from Turkey (half east and half west).
Pass the Raki and spare the water. I think it's your round............

[Speros]

Nice Winston Churchill quote. But quote correctly... But to answer you question no you would be a keg