Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

General chat about life in the Land Of Smiles. Discuss expat life, relationship issues and all things generally Thailand and Asia related.
golferstu
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Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by golferstu »

I mean, its only fair right. We do not ask for much. We bring money, rent and most of all, a gleefuul cheery holiday spirit. Still i've heard a lot of ugly stories about how some would spit at your feet or turn their noses away in disgust, just because you've had a beer or two.

Is there some kind of racism going on? What do you think.

Just a little worried is all. You know, what with all the sudden deaths and horror attacks on the tourist population. Can't be good is what i am thinking.

Does it matter? Well yeah of course it matters. At least it matters to me because I have mixed emotions about this.

On the one hand i do love to get my knockers off in the proper. On the other i also try to respect and follow Thai customs and etiquette to the very best of my abilities. Just does not seem like theres enough. From what i've heard, anyways. What remains to be seen is for me to get down there in person. Can't believe it has changed that much. But what with all the news stories, you never know.

Any takers?
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Stargeezer »

I fully believe that TAT likes tourists, the kind that come to Thailand for one week to one month.
That way they get your money, and don't have to worry about all that paperwork, such as visas.
The expat, and longer term visitors on the other hand are a bit of a pain. They have to pay
For those visas, and do border runs, at their own cost, as well as these people usually do not
stay at the nice expensive hotels or eat at the expensive restaurants. These people tend
to stay and sometimes marry Thai women, which upsets Thai men, especially some
Politicians. So do try be a nice tourist and go home after a month. Being an expat is very
difficult, it has no great benifets, and you will just get old and grey living in Thailand.
As far as Thai people who frown on your drinking, well go to Malaysia, it will be even worse.
If you insist on drinking, get a bit thicker skin, and shrug off the spittle, and go on with
your life. You will find that Thai life is still better than freezing your eggs off spending
Winter in your own cold miserable country.
In other words, Cheer Up Mate!
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oakdale160
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by oakdale160 »

You ask--Is there some kind of racism going on? Of course there is. It is part of Thainess. In all fairness this is not justa Thai thing but an Asian thing--they feel no shame at having and expressing racist/xenophibic attitides-- In Japan, Korea and China it is much the same.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by handdrummer »

racism is everywhere although it's really colorism. everyone looks down on someone who is different color. maybe it should be called otherism. anyone other than me I will look down on. it is most prevalent in societies that feel economically inferior to other societies and in order to feel equal they have to look down on someone. it was that way in korea in the 50's, australia in the '60's,southeast asia and asia proper in the 90's and 2000's. on the other hand you can ignore all the BS and just enjoy your vacation. wear a t-shirt with an ATM emblazed on the front and you'll be fine.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Deep Blue »

LOL, this is pretty good here - hold hands with a black girl and walk around Detroit sometime for a comparison.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by HHTel »

handdrummer wrote:racism is everywhere although it's really colorism. everyone looks down on someone who is different color.
But the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans hate each other and each one believing they are superior. The differences are very subtle and their skin colour is the same!
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Bamboo Grove
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Bamboo Grove »

HHTel wrote:
But the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans hate each other and each one believing they are superior. The differences are very subtle and their skin colour is the same!
For the same reasons why f.ex. the English, French and Germans dislike each other: the past wars.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Ginjaninja »

You don't need to read more than a few pages on this forum to see how much foreigners look down on Thais..

Personally I don't really agree with the O.P. I find Thais generally very accommodating and feel quite comfortable here, providing you have a little patience and work on the language barrier. Many a time I have seen falang lose their cool with the locals because they can't make themselves understood... no wonder they sometimes look-down..
I generally feel less comfortable in many other countries including Europe and sometimes even my home country (U.K.).
8)
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by hhinner »

^^ Agree.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by HHTel »

Ginjaninja wrote:You don't need to read more than a few pages on this forum to see how much foreigners look down on Thais..

Personally I don't really agree with the O.P. I find Thais generally very accommodating and feel quite comfortable here, providing you have a little patience and work on the language barrier. Many a time I have seen falang lose their cool with the locals because they can't make themselves understood... no wonder they sometimes look-down..
I generally feel less comfortable in many other countries including Europe and sometimes even my home country (U.K.).
8)
GN.
:agree:
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Midsman »

I agree too.

Some on here are so quick to have a dig at the Thais and are so negative in every way about LOS.

I cannot understand why they live here.
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by Big Boy »

:agree: also.

I feel that I've integrated fairly well with the local community. Yes, I may have a moan from time to time, but I'm getting old - I'd probably moan wherever I was in the world. IMHO Thais are generally a nice race, and I've been welcomed into Thai homes on a much greater frequency than I was ever welcomed at home.

It would be nice to see some actual examples from the OP.
Still i've heard a lot of ugly stories about how some would spit at your feet or turn their noses away in disgust, just because you've had a beer or two.
Is this the OP's personal experience, or bar talk from the ex-SAS member he was sat next to? :?
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joelle
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by joelle »

Maybe they are just fed up being looked down at by foreigners and by the way these people flaunt their money around and shout so loud for the slightest thing that displeases them !!
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by handdrummer »

HHTel wrote:
handdrummer wrote:racism is everywhere although it's really colorism. everyone looks down on someone who is different color.
But the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans hate each other and each one believing they are superior. The differences are very subtle and their skin colour is the same!
the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans have different, albeit subtle, color differences depending upon which part of the country they are from. however, they all look down on their countrymen who have darker skin they do. "if you're white you're alright, if you're brown you can hang around and if you're black get back."
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Re: Why do so many Thais look down on tourist / foreigners?

Post by StevePIraq »

I do not believe Thais look down on foreigners, it is just that this is a very inward, one may say introvert society, many Thais know nothing about the world outside of Thailand, how to accommodate us, how to talk with us. We including myself also have a problem in that we want Thais to do things our way not theirs and after all this is their country not ours.

I have never had a Thai be do anything disrespectful towards me.
Are there really that many ex SAS guys here, I know I have sat next to some who say they are but I would doubt they could even run 100m let alone be SAS?
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