[AndyPharmc]

being married to a thai for many years and living in the U.S. most of the time i really get sick and tired of thais calling me a farang in my own country.....i.m not the farang i was born here.....any
thai born in thailand and living here is a farang
thais need to remember when their in the u.s. try treating everyone the same that goes foe charging everyone the same price......its always one price for thais and one price for americans or should i say farangs....
wake up or take your business back to thailand....

[Knillagrarp]

Wow, settle down Beavis. Thai people don't mean anything by the word farang, other than you are a white non-Thai. Is that a bad thing? Just because you are married to a Thai, that doesn't automatically afford you access to the in-group. In fact, only genes can do that. If you really want to get in touch, just remember...mai pen rai.

[doctorzlo]

You "Thaistyle" (can he be called that?) if you did as Vision mentioned you would not be charged a different price from the Thai's. Get in touch. You have been married for several years and most you have learned is the term farang? Stick around this website, read, post, ask questions, study the language and culture. Before you know it you will be speaking and reading Thai just fine, you will still be the farang but you will now be the man who looks farang but is Thai in their eyes.

At that point you will not only get the Thai price, but you will get a lower price than the Thai's.

[Caursedus]

Being call a Farang does not bother me at all, but having to pay extra for being one does.

[Wachearex]

I do actually agree with thaistyle quite a bit, I absolutely understand it means nothing bad or anything but its just something that is irritating I guess...the main reason is how it takes away any feeling of individuality because a farang is somebody from...europe....australia...america...south africa....I don't go around saying stop calling me a farang as like I said i know nobody is trying to offend but I feel that there is a lot of difference in white cultures that is just bundled into one name. Like Thai's are very proud of what they are and are called Thai's by farang.....I am proud to be called British....this is a bit petty I guess and not a big deal but its just how I feel as well on this topic hehe

[doctorzlo]

I think it would be considered very offensive by the Thai people is I were to walk around Khon Kaen calling everybody Kon Dum. It is a generalization that, like any other generalization, is not appreciated. The only way it could ever change is if Thai people were to consider the other side of the issue or as they say 'walk a mile in the shoes of another'.

As the case with any other thing offensive there is nothing you can do about it, so just ride it out like GeneralSoulfly has.

[Drysnyaty]

words in themselves are not loaded.... I don't think that in itself "visually impaired" is any better or more considerate than "blind", that "black" is necessarily rude and calls for a punch in the face.... it's the way these words are said that counts. the intention, the feelings behind the words, the look in the eyes of the person talking to you. I would like to be called a "farang" by a nice person making comparisons about people or inquiring how we do things, rather than an "alien" or "caucasian" by someone who is not interested and considers me a nusiance. personally, I have never ever heard Thais use the word "farang" with a negative implication or disrespect. maybe because I have always done my best to respect them and their culture, too. "farang" is just a word like "flower" or "rice": it desribes the real world as seen by Thais. open up and listen behind the words, that's my advice to you.

[Drysnyaty]

ok, I've been thinking about this. I have no idea about the minds and identity of people who have successfully made the big jump to the "Land of Dreams". nevertheless, people are to blame if they hurt you, not words.... that was my point, I guess.

[doctorzlo]

Well said.

[Podosinovik]

Quote[/b] (thaistyle @ Sep. 29 2005,14:08)]being married to a thai for many years and living in the U.S. most of the time i really get sick and tired of thais calling me a farang in my own country.....i.m not the farang i was born here.....any
thai born in thailand and living here is a farang
thais need to remember when their in the u.s. try treating everyone the same that goes foe charging everyone the same price......its always one price for thais and one price for americans or should i say farangs....
wake up or take your business back to thailand....

Friend. the word Farang does not mean foreigner. It is actually derived from Farang-set (for France). Farang is more a Thai word for caucasian. The thai term for foreigner is "dtang-chart".

[Soassesaisp]

I don't know how many hundreds of times during my decade or so in Thailand that have i come across Farangs up-in-arms in disgust at being labeled a Farang.

The problem here is the Farang pysche. In the language of the Farang most derogatory slang words to call someone is usually two syllabled (i'll let your brain work on that one). So, with the cultural and social conditioning of the Farang, on hearing the word Farang, he instantly gets negative feelings.

One other issue that the Farang fails to get is the notion of Thai language. In the Farang Language, basic pronouns such as i/you/he/she are in everyday common use when referring to the first/second or third person etc...

As for Thai however, the Farang fails to understand the differences.

If i talk about or to an elderly lady, i'll refer to her as 'Khun Yai' as in grandmother.
If i talk to or about a Rickshaw Driver, i'll call him 'Samlor'
If i talk to or about a teacher, i'll call him Khru or Ajarn etc....

In Thailand, everyone gets labeled and that includes Farangs. As for those of Indian/Muslim origins they are called 'Kaek', Blacks are called 'Negro' etc....

Kaek and Negro are not derogatory in modern age Thai language, though their origins may be, same goes for Farang.

There are still derogatory sounding words in Thai for foreigners but not for the whiteman but instead fellow Asians.
'Ai Yoon' as in Japanese is derogatory by nature. 'Kaew' as in Vietnamese is derogatory in nature and 'Jek' as in Chinese is derogatory in nature.

The word Farang is not derogatory but the label 'Hua Daeng' is. Hua Daeng is the only derogatory phrase i know of in Thai language to call a caucasian (Red Head) but it is almost 'defunct' in everyday usage.

[doctorzlo]

I disagree Steve.

Short answer huh?

[doctorzlo]

Ok longer answer.... I agree with the reasoning above and the last few statements about it not being a negative term.

I am not disgusted by being labeled a farang alone. There are other factors. I am angered by the generalization that goes with it.

You mention you asked the students why the farang comes to Thailand. They answer for a dark skinned wife. These are young children saying this. I am sure you had to have seen their opinion on the reason evolve as they get older! Well maybe not since they wouldn't say anything that could offend you, but I assure you that as they age, they come to learn what some massage parlors are for, they learn why so many young women have moved from their small villages to make money in the tourist areas. Eventually they have a fairly good idea why many farang come to Thailand.

Another post was talking about Generilzations that Thai's make about farang, (over a year ago I think) and one of them was the commmon view that farang simply are not a clean people. Meaning no showers, soap, anti-perspirant and wears dirty clothes regularly.

Thai's have generalizations of farang, that is why I don't care for the term being associated with me in the negative sense. It certainly is more commonly used in a positive sense though. More often than those to combined it is simply used as a pro-noun in place of the English terms He, She, Him, Her, You, They etc...completely opinion free as far as judging a person goes as you mentioned.

[Knillagrarp]

My Issan neighbors and friends call me "Farang Lao." We all have a great laugh at the notion. I never deceive myself into believing that I will ever be considered the same as my friends and neighbors. I am afforded special status, and I don't much mind it. It is kind of cool being the local anomaly.

[Soassesaisp]

Farangs are often stereotyped as being as being dirty and smelly etc... and then farangs are also stereotyped as being 'faithful lovers', 'educated', 'kind', 'generous' and very importantly 'responsible fathers'.

When you weigh things out 'Farangs' are seen in good light in the eyes of the Thai.

I forgot to mention it, but looking back to what was written on Thais in The States calling American-Whites 'Farang' sounds weird.

Thais in The US ought to understand that native-farangs there feel that the term Farang is derogatory and hence avoid using such a word in public.

Again, it sounds very much that the Thais over there in The US are often anti-native farang. Ive heard on a couple of occasions that mothers/fathers call their kids 'Farang child' if he/she is disobedient etc....now, that does sound derogatory!

Same goes with a lot of the frightfully rude and patronizing Farangs that appear on Thailand's shores.

In Thailand, if a kid Thai kiddie is labeled 'Dek Farang' by the locals the connotation has a positive meaning ie...he/she is cute, got big round eyes and mousey colour hair.

As yourself, a Farang in The States seeing Thais over there and in contrast, I, a Farang seeing Thais over here, some great discussion and comparisons are sure to be had.

[doctorzlo]

I think that is the majority of the issue. The Thai's over here use it in a very negative way, for example the kids being unruly, a Thai woman being 'larger' than what her friends think she should be, and even as far as a guy refusing to get totally wasted while his friends try to force him to drink another shot and have one more beer because he has to drive home.

Nearly everytime I have heard the word when speaking about someone not directly involved in a conversation it has always been in the negative light. I don't want you to think I am offended everytime I hear the word or when they call me by it. I view it as normal as any other worth when used to refer directly to a person who is there.

The movie Luk Tung FM for example is 1 of 3 movies I have that unfortunately have sub-titles obstructing my view. A farang jumps into the swimming with the Thai country boys, on his way in he screams. The Thai guys look up at very playful and scream "oyyy farang". Totally acceptable and in great humor, it was very funny in the moment. The sub-titles however translated the phrase 'Look out here comes whitey'.

That is how people become offended, when the word is used in a playful totally cheerful manner and it is described or translated as a derrogatory term.

Vision, it's good to see you take it in stride the way you do. If more would feel this way there would be even less friction.

[Knillagrarp]

When a group finds itself surrounded by people who are different, they tend to cling together even closer. The distinctions between the in-group and out-group are made more salient. It is a natural protective mechanism to try to assert the superiority of one's in-group when feeling threatened. My wife works at a local Thai restaurant, the manager is Issan, but is now a US citizen. All of the other employees are Thai, either Bangkok or Chiang Mai, most on student visas. My wife is the chef, and nobody seems to treat her badly for being Issan. I tend to stay on the outside of the circle. For me, the restaurant is a Thai place. I think it best to not try to crash the social system. When I am invited for a meal or a drink, I graciously accept and offer thanks. I also make sure never to overstay my welcome. I realize they are on guard when I am present, trying not to say things that might offend, etc.

[emexiagog]

I guess you could say that being called farang doesnt bother me in the slightest otherwise my nickname wouldnt be "Guava" and my signature wouldnt be what it is

[LomodiorCon]

LOL! Farang-i is the word used in India too.Its not positive or negative in itself. It all depends upon who is using it and how. Guess its the same in Thailand.???

[carreraboyracer]

Quote[/b] (visionchaser45 @ Sep. 30 2005,09:31)]My Issan neighbors and friends call me "Farang Lao." We all have a great laugh at the notion. I never deceive myself into believing that I will ever be considered the same as my friends and neighbors. I am afforded special status, and I don't much mind it. It is kind of cool being the local anomaly.

Hehe, I get called the same sometimes, usually when eating somtam and khao nieow! I don't mind being called farang in a general sense either, viewing it as a "special anomaly" seems good to me

That said, I would object to it though if it's used to refer to me specifically instead of my name or a pronoun by someone who knows your name already - for instance using it in the sense of "What did the farang say?" rather than "What did he say?" or "What did Mike say?". I think using it like it that shows a lack of respect bordering on contempt, and can't really be easily ignored. It's only happened to me once as far as can recall (I replied something like ÍÐäÃà¹Õè äÁèä´éª×èͽÃÑè§ËÃÍ¡ ÁÕª×èͧ͢µ¹àͧ ÏÅÏ), though I remembering forum posts somewhere where someone had a situation like this with his wife's entire family - not a good situation to be in