A rant about expat ability to give directions

[Homer]

Even if the Market is not on the map it is too big to miss so if you see the market then you need to turn around and Boat is immediately on your left!!!! The map is only a rough guide to start with! It would seem some people need to be spoon fed!

To quote Dennis Miller, I don't want to go off on a rant here ... (which is how he introduces his rants)

A few days ago I overheard a tourist couple asking a Brit expat for directions. Expat said it's just north of the night market. One tourist said they've found two night markets, could you be a little more specific. The Brit, with attitude, said "THE night market", then just stood there. Tourists realized they were dealing with a jackhole, thanked him and walked away. Last week I overheard an expat seeking a specific type of store. Another expat knew of one, asked him where he was coming from. First guy wanted the location, second guy couldn't tell him where it was, only how to get there. I've also heard the opposite of that, all from people I know have been here for years.

Expats in this town are the worst direction givers I've ever known, whether it's in person, online or on the phone. Y'all suck. I don't know if it's because most have the spatial reasoning ability of a drunk teenage girl who's been spun around on an swivel chair. I don't know if it's because y'all unintentionally leave out all the info you take for granted because if you know it then everone must - even the people who arrived yesterday. Is having and not sharing the accumulated knowledge a status thing, something to hold over those lower in the heirachy? I can't imagine a life so empty that such behaviour would have meaning. Or is it a cultural thing where directions are intended only to get someone in the general vicinity of their destination? No, I'm pretty sure it's because y'all suck in that you think you're doing a bang up job giving directions but in actuallity the only accurate directions most HH expats could give most of the time would be to the nearest large body of salt water.

[Takiap]

Well Homer you did go off on a rant, and I can only say it was at best, an empty and somewhat ridiculous rant at best. To begin with, how do you even know if the people in question were indeed expats. They could reall have been tourists themselves. Also, tarring all expats with the same brush........maybe that's why some expats tar all tourists with the same brush.

Hopefully your post was fueled by alcohol. If not, then you need to take a step back and reassess the situation.


You damn tourist

[Homer]

To quote Dennis Miller, I don't want to go off on a rant here ... (which is how he introduces his rants)

But go off on a rant is exactly what you did do!

It only seems so because of the way you misread it. Try this emphasis:

To quote Dennis Miller, I don't want to go off on a rant here ... (which is how he introduces his rants)

It's pretty bl...dy obvious to me reading all the posts exactly where Boat is - it doesn't need an Einstein mind to find it!

The rant was about the spectacularly bad collective ability of HH expats to give directions. This thread was just a starting point because the best rants build from a minor example.

[Homer]

Well Homer you did go off on a rant, and I can only say it was at best, an empty and somewhat ridiculous rant at best. To begin with, how do you even know if the people in question were indeed expats. They could reall have been tourists themselves. Also, tarring all expats with the same brush........maybe that's why some expats tar all tourists with the same brush.

I'm on a first name basis with all the expats described except for one. He's either been on holiday for years, hanging out at the same place I do, or he's an expat.

As for tarring with the same brush, at what age do most children understand this word?
Definition of GENERALIZE
transitive verb
1
: to give a general form to
2
a : to derive or induce (a general conception or principle) from particulars
b : to draw a general conclusion from
3
: to give general applicability to <generalize a law>; also : to make indefinite

[easyas]

To quote Dennis Miller, I don't want to go off on a rant here ... (which is how he introduces his rants)

But go off on a rant is exactly what you did do!

It only seems so because of the way you misread it. Try this emphasis:

To quote Dennis Miller, I don't want to go off on a rant here ... (which is how he introduces his rants)

It's pretty bl...dy obvious to me reading all the posts exactly where Boat is - it doesn't need an Einstein mind to find it!

The rant was about the spectacularly bad collective ability of HH expats to give directions. This thread was just a starting point because the best rants build from a minor example.

This is a load of bulldust! Go back to your poetry (if Greek) or to the Simpsons (if Confederate - y'all)

[Arcadian]

Well Homer, your rant lacked direction, went in circles and didn`t really finish up anywhere useful.

[STEVE G]

I can't see the problem; everything in Thailand for about a 1,000 km between Bangkok and the Malaysian border is either on Phetkasem road or just off it after the 7/11!

[STEVE G]

Expats in this town are the worst direction givers I've ever known, whether it's in person, online or on the phone. Y'all suck.

Six decimal places of Lat/Long not good enough for you?
http://huahinforum.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 7&start=30

[Bristolian]

I can't see the problem; everything in Thailand for about a 1,000 km between Bangkok and the Malaysian border is either on Phetkasem road or just off it after the 7/11!

And just before or after the PTT filling station

[Khundon1975]

Well Homer my advice to you, if you asked me for directions to anywhere in Hua Hin would be, "I wouldn't start from here".

[MrPlum]

Ask a Thai to read a map. Now you have a credible grumble.

In your favour, I believe most yanks are suckled on North, South, East and West, while Brits know only that you go past 'The Three Ferrets', left at the 'Chuckling Pig' and you're within spitting distance of the 'The Old Ship'.

Simple really.

[Khundon1975]

Mr Plum I agree with that.

Even worse, is using a sat nav.

The wife went on a pre Xmas shopping trip into Somerset with several of her Thai friends and got stopped by a flooded road, so she turned around and came home.

When I pointed out that the sat nav had an "alternative route system" on it, she jumped back in the car and set off again.

60 miles of petrol wasted, because she did not think to engage her brain and use her mobile to phone me!

At least she eventually got her shoes and handbags!!!!!

[Homer]

In your favour, I believe most yanks are suckled on North, South, East and West, while Brits know only that you go past 'The Three Ferrets', left at the 'Chuckling Pig' and you're within spitting distance of the 'The Old Ship'.

Simple really.

By jove, I think you've got it!

Is there another town in Thailand with an significant farang population and:
- The post office is on a road useful when giving directions but it's not called Soi Post Office?
- There are two widely held opinions about which road is the 'beach road', while a third road is signed 'beach road'?
- The farangs haven't given a name to a road that intersects the main road at a prominent landmark - and few know the Thai name of that road?
- People say turn at the Soi where [business name] is located, without mentioning said business is is 2km up the road or shut down 2 years ago?

But hey, adventure is one of my motivations for becomming an expat. Here a trip to a new restaurant can be an adventure, even with GPS, google maps, etc. I always carry extra water.