DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**BluewayAllere** · 09-21-2012, 08:33 AM

I don't think I ever heard someone suggesting you don't say thankyou to service staff.

Slightly off topic, but I have noticed that generally Thai people don't say "please" and "thank you" even though they have words for them. This isn't because they are not polite. They have other ways to show respect like saying "krap/kaa". This causes problems when they start speaking English because they don't sound so polite. In our culture, we have to say "please" and "thank you". Thai people don't understand why I say "thank you" in Thai when the cashier gives me my change. They argue that I have just given them money and it should be the other way around. But, I tell them that I am thanking them for their service.

This is not every Thai as I see some say "thank you". But then maybe not as often as me. I even say "thank you" to the bus driver when I get off the bus.

09-21-2012, 08:33 AM	#6
BluewayAllere Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 497 Senior Member	I don't think I ever heard someone suggesting you don't say thankyou to service staff. Slightly off topic, but I have noticed that generally Thai people don't say "please" and "thank you" even though they have words for them. This isn't because they are not polite. They have other ways to show respect like saying "krap/kaa". This causes problems when they start speaking English because they don't sound so polite. In our culture, we have to say "please" and "thank you". Thai people don't understand why I say "thank you" in Thai when the cashier gives me my change. They argue that I have just given them money and it should be the other way around. But, I tell them that I am thanking them for their service. This is not every Thai as I see some say "thank you". But then maybe not as often as me. I even say "thank you" to the bus driver when I get off the bus.
	Quote