[BalaGire]

I do

To be honest we are foreigners in their country but still i think its disrespectful to call us this. I would never dream of calling anyone in England a foreigner when they are on holiday or living here. Being called European or Western would be better and far more efficient.

I have been called a foreigner in England and in other countries where I am not a native of, and I don't find it offensive. I consider it just a neutral word. That's also how I would describe myself if it's not important or necessary to disclose where I come from.

[77Dinaartickire]

In the U.S., racism has been institutionalized. How often do we hear things like "...the first African American president..." or "...the first Latina Supreme Court Justice..."? It is as if someone's race becomes a "special" credential that makes their election or appointment more significant. I like being farang. Thais attach an almost mystical quality to farang. Also, being white in Thailand is considered a positive, whereas in America it has become a negative.

I remember a few years back US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the UK and gave a speech in the Blackburn constituency of Jack Straw MP. She kept refering to the 'coloured' locals as African Americans when they were neither African nor American - they were British Asians...

David

[JacomoR]

I identify myself as a farong and use the word myself. I think that Americans are too hung up about these words. They pretend they are "color blind" and don't notice a persons apparent ethnicity. Of course they notice. In the U.S. you are never supposed to mention race. If you are going to point someone out in a crowd, you are supposed to avoid saying "they are Black" or "they are White" or "they are Asian." You are supposed to say, "They have a striped shirt" or something. It strikes me as very silly, especially after having experienced a different attitude in Thailand. My children are half-black and half white and identify that way. If this makes people uncomfortable, oh well! I don't care. I never agreed to these American "rules." I'm not ashamed of being a farong in Thailand and I'm not ashamed of being white in the United States and I'm not ashamed of my kids being half black and half white, for as long as all these labels still mean something. For right now, they DO still mean something. (Maybe one day we will all be so multiracial it won't matter.) I was always treated nicely by the people calling me "farong" so what is the problem?

In the U.S., racism has been institutionalized. How often do we hear things like "...the first African American president..." or "...the first Latina Supreme Court Justice..."? It is as if someone's race becomes a "special" credential that makes their election or appointment more significant. I like being farang. Thais attach an almost mystical quality to farang. Also, being white in Thailand is considered a positive, whereas in America it has become a negative.

[DoterrFor]

If they don't know my name. calling me Farang does not bother me..

[trorseIrripsy]

Nope, does not bother me. I don't see it as a word that has inherent disrespectful connotations, although I am sure more than one Thai person has used it laden with pejorative tones.

[77Dinaartickire]

Oh, I have a question? Do Thais claim Tiger Woods, who identifies as "Cablasian"? He is Thai, white, and black, I believe.

And a bit Chinese and Native American. He is half Asian (one-quarter Chinese and one-quarter Thai), one-quarter African American, one-eighth Native American, and one-eighth Dutch...

David

[L8fGLM4d]

I may get butchered for this, but Tiger Woods looks black so for many people I guess he will be "black".
just as a luk kreung in Thailand, if he / she looks quite white, they will be considered and treated more like farang (personalities) than the kids with identical background who looks completely Thai.
(just imagine growing up Thai, looking white, and being treated as a tourist wherever you go in your city!!)

[pertikuss]

we are what we are!

cant really see why anyone would like to be called foreigner but hey each to their own. I have met many people who regard farang as discourteous and offensive.

ian71 - i have many immigrant patients as i am doing voluntary work for a healthcare company and they say they hate being called a foreigner even tho they know they are, they hate being continuously reminded of this. dont see how its any different.

but as we know thailand will never change and i better get used to be called farang, cant be all bad tho being farang in their country has some benefits who agree's with that

smile tomorrow could be the best day of your life

[L8fGLM4d]

whenever this discussion comes up, I always repeat that if HM the King of Thailand used the word "farang" to refer to foreigners in his birthday speech a couple of years ago, then it must be an acceptable word, because I cannot imagine him using inappropriate words in a formal speech, or in any context.

[RussellPG]

I do

To be honest we are foreigners in their country but still i think its disrespectful to call us this. i would never dream of calling anyone in England a foreigner when they are on holiday or living here. Being called European or Western would be better and far more efficient.

If you want to hate a word at least take the trouble to learn what it means.
Farang means westener not foreigner. So Europeans are farang but non-Thai Asians though foreigners are not farang.