[tevyrefficy]

Dakalim, as far as I have been able to tell, intelligence and higher education have nothing to do with each other, most people with degrees are just people educated way beyond their intelligence, who had the money[generally from a parent] to go to school and could not make it on their own in the real world anyway..

[JacomoR]

Even though my father is a millionaire, I have never seen a dime of his money since I stopped living under his roof. I worked my way through school; full-time while earning my bachelor's. Some of us just seek knowledge and a better understanding of our universe. I will never fault a person for the path their life has taken. I worked in manufacturing and construction for decades before finally earning my first degree. I always respected my friends and coworkers, regardless of their level of education. Just remember, opinions are like a**holes; everybody has one. Unfortunately, sometimes the biggest a**holes have the strongest opinions.

[pataagusata]

Last year i wrote up a thread opener here and later did a blog on 'Dos and Donts of dating a Farang guy' includes all a lot of the streotypes of the Farang male. Have look at:

http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?...&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Actually, im currently translating it into Thai so its looking a little messy at the moment.

I have never heard a Thai person say a black person is 'ugly' as that word translates to 'Khee Lay'. Perhaps i have heard them say 'mai lor' (not handsome) but that is their own preference. I have known a lot of Thais who dont find Farangs that handsome too! and vice-versa.

As for Farangs drinking - that is true, but there is no sterotype that we are drunkards, that is different! They think we drink a lot of beer cause we come from a cold climate and it is normal. Fortunately for Farang Guys, we get away with drinking a lot but as for the Thai Guy there is no such forgiveness!

Taking drugs? - Yes, Thais think us farang smoke a lot of herbs (may be not far from the truth for a lot of people) but again what they say isn't that awful...... (they see this from movies) As for a Thai guy taking drugs - again Thais see this as worse!

Sleeping around - again, for the Male it isnt that bad! Thai people think it is only normal for the Male to 'sow his oats'. They know all the Thai guys do too! In this regard it if the Female Female who is cast in a negative light - not the Farang Male!

Religion is unknown to us? - I dont know where that one comes from! never heard that one before!

But......then again The Farang has a lot of positive stereotypes which arent always true to life:

We are - Faithful, diligent, responsible etc.....


Let's face folks........doesn't the Farang also have his stereotypes about the Thai Person?

[JacomoR]

Not at all Betti, you hit the nail squarely on the head.

[ViaplyVuple]

Yes, some people's impression of Asia can be a little strange. I lived in Hong Kong in the late 80s and early 90s but came across people back here who thought that Asia was just rice paddies. I remember when Kubrick's Vietnam film, Full Metal Jacket came out in the late 80s and several critics panned it because it was mostly shot in London back lots and didn't have the marines crawling through jungle and rice fields. Now, of course, I wasn't in Vietnam for Tet 1968, but I watched that movie again recently and the scenes of urban Da Nang and Hue look quite plausible to me. (I'm talking about the buildings and the people hanging out on the streets, I'm not making any judgements about the story.)

And don't get me started on how China has changed over the past ten years. I keep telling anyone who will listen that students coming here from urban areas in Asia will find New Zealand a bit slow and quaint...

[chuecaloversvvp]

gosh. we all know people with five degrees and a PhD who are dumb and stupid and insensitive, and people who can barely read and write but have sharp brains. we all know not all people with five degrees and a PhD are conceited a**holes who are buried in their books and know nothing about real life, and we all know not all people who can barely read and write have lots of common sense and a deep understanding about everyday life.

or am I getting LIFE wrong?

[pMJWFoAWD]

When you consider the media beit television, music videos or Hollywood would you say any different? As you mention when they see the tourists how would you assume them to be?

I don't think it is rascist to say that because Will Smith has dark skin he is not handsome. I know black women who say he is not handsome! Everything is based on personal taste. Ask yourself if you would be offended if someone said you were not very pretty because you are too pale.

In Thailand a big reason people assume there is racism is merely a lack of the language needed to express thoughts in a non-offensive way. Or maybe we farang just need to not take offense so easily? For a long time ugly was the only negative word my wife knew, and everything was ugly. If food tasted bad it too was ugly. Sometimes it is simply poor communication is my only point.

[Mearticbaibre]

FaranginPhetch, I have to agree with Miken, what we see and hear often has an effect on our opinions of things. I agree with you as well that intelligent people can discern the difference between entertainment and reality but to be honest with you I feel a large percentage of people cannot. Music, movies, tv with its bombardment of commercials and ridiculous shows all seep into most peoples minds as reality. Most people are sheep who either cannot or are afraid to make their own opinions. They follow along with the majority and base their beliefs upon what is blatantly in front of them. Most people do not have the patience to formulate their own opinions they just take whats given to them and move along. Some people are just uninformed and have no other facts to compare so they once again just go along with the last thing they heard. As an example, I work with what would be considered intelligent people. They all have Bachelors or higher degrees yet when it comes to diverse issues they are rather ignorant. I just came back from Thailand a few weeks ago and I mentioned to one peer that Im thinking about possibly moving there and starting a business. He chuckles and says are you willing to have to be in the jungle with an AK setting up user accounts at your internet cafe? I just stared at him and asked WTF are you talking about?! He was kinda kidding but completely serious at the same time. After much deliberation I finally got out of him that he assumed Thailand was like what he saw in the Killing Fields or Nam movies. Southeast Asia is just a rough third world area. So I spent another bit of time schooling him on what its like and how Pol Pot has nothing to do with Thailand... I go through scenarios like this all the time. Intelligence without open mindedness or possibly simple common sense = intelligent ignorance.
But back to the OP I think Thais are quite friendly albeit sometimes they may seem "prejudiced" simply because many are rather sheltered. Depending on where they live and what access they have to world news as well as interaction with outsiders dictates some of their views. Of course there are always exceptions and you might meet someone who actually is prejudiced but you should be able to figure that out rather quickly. Im half African American and Thai and I have never had any blatant bigotry thrown my way in Thailand. Ive been to touristy areas and the country without ever feeling uncomfortable. I think it depends on your attitude and how you carry yourself. I have had to have discussions with family and friends on some topics of race especially how prominent it factors into American life. A lot of their opinions did stem from media and entertainment since that is the only access they had to farang life until I started visiting and sharing my views. Heck, Ive had to teach so many friends and coworkers here in the States about diversity that its truly sad. Sorry for the ramble I tend to write like I think and it all just comes out at once... ^_^

[tevyrefficy]

I would have to agree with Tamyann on her observations of farangs in Thailand.
Seems that 8 out of 10 do the exact things she is talking about and Thai do think that all of us are drunks or ay least drinkers and are shocked and unbelieving when I tell them I never drink.

Especially in the citys that I have visited where there are large numbers of farang tourists, but none of my business if they want to spend money on a vacation that they have few memories of..

[pMJWFoAWD]

I can agree too, I was simply pointing that the reason for the assumption is valid. I can't complain about what other's do , I can only hope that more Thai's get to meet normal non-vacationing farang such as yourself, Steve, SiamJai & Richard.

The problem is the majority of the farang they see (in numbers I mean) are the drunken tourists.