DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - What are foreigners perceptions of Thailand?

**Fdhwzctl** · 09-20-2006, 08:00 AM

This is something that seems to be a commonly held notion, that Thais in general have 'mai pen rai' and will avoid all conflicts and whatnot. This isn't necessarily true. I was in a taxi once and it gave a mild ding to a car in the next lane in the middle of a busy Bangkok street. They both got out and the other driver was all attitude and was angry, and the taxi driver started yelling too. Thankfully a cop came by but I was afraid they were going to go at it.

I think Thais like anyone else in the world won't necessarily avoid conflict.

Your example is a good one and quite predictable. Road rage is high here for serious "incidents". But in a normal situation an argument, over a faulty bit of equipment for example, would develop differently and gradually in the west but explode quickly without warning here when loss of face became unbearable. It is the experience of living here and not just visiting that has developed my understanding. And this is not Thai bashing or pontificating on right or wrong, only observations. I have no problem living here.

A minor road accident will usually result in mae bhen rai being shown ( although if a farang is involved other considerations come into play )

09-20-2006, 08:00 AM	#43
Fdhwzctl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 468 Senior Member	This is something that seems to be a commonly held notion, that Thais in general have 'mai pen rai' and will avoid all conflicts and whatnot. This isn't necessarily true. I was in a taxi once and it gave a mild ding to a car in the next lane in the middle of a busy Bangkok street. They both got out and the other driver was all attitude and was angry, and the taxi driver started yelling too. Thankfully a cop came by but I was afraid they were going to go at it. I think Thais like anyone else in the world won't necessarily avoid conflict. Your example is a good one and quite predictable. Road rage is high here for serious "incidents". But in a normal situation an argument, over a faulty bit of equipment for example, would develop differently and gradually in the west but explode quickly without warning here when loss of face became unbearable. It is the experience of living here and not just visiting that has developed my understanding. And this is not Thai bashing or pontificating on right or wrong, only observations. I have no problem living here. A minor road accident will usually result in mae bhen rai being shown ( although if a farang is involved other considerations come into play )
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