DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - How to wai and generally handle a situation like this?

**vansVoish** · 09-21-2012, 09:32 PM

For a farang who is it polite to wai to? As an example your looking at a map in the street and an elderly person offers their assistance with directions, then wais you. Do you wai back? The same scenario with a much younger person, do you wai back?

Outside of service staff, you should always wai back to an adult - it is good manners. If you don't it is like someone offering you a handshake and you refuse. However, in Thai society, for you not to "wai" back is also to show that you are far superior to them. For example, as if they are your servant.

When I first came to Thailand, the teachers didn't generally wai each other. However, one day, orders came down from above that everyone should wai each other in the morning and when they go home.

09-21-2012, 09:32 PM	#25
vansVoish Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 500 Senior Member	For a farang who is it polite to wai to? As an example your looking at a map in the street and an elderly person offers their assistance with directions, then wais you. Do you wai back? The same scenario with a much younger person, do you wai back? Outside of service staff, you should always wai back to an adult - it is good manners. If you don't it is like someone offering you a handshake and you refuse. However, in Thai society, for you not to "wai" back is also to show that you are far superior to them. For example, as if they are your servant. When I first came to Thailand, the teachers didn't generally wai each other. However, one day, orders came down from above that everyone should wai each other in the morning and when they go home.
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