What is Hi-So?
 

Just as 'Lo-So' stands for 'Low Society' (the famous band's name!) 'Hi-So' stands for 'High-Society'.

This thread is an off-shoot of a question posed by another member on another thread.

This isn't really an easy question to answer.

'Hi-So' are seen at lots of fancy 5 star hotel banquets and parties and get their faces plastered all over the newspapers (inc. the English ones) and magazines. But just what is the definition of a Hi-So'.

I think....'Hi-So' just doesn't mean 'rich', there is more to it than that. Like a family legacy i would say, sometimes a family closely related to the royal family. Many of the 'Hi-So' i see in the Bangkok Post very often have the titles 'MR' (Mom Ratchawong) 'ML' (Mom Luang) or/and Na Ayutthaya etc.... And/or they have very well-known surnames which descend directly from monarchy.
This linage is very Thai-Thai though with just little Chinese involvement.

So, a lot of the above royal descendant 'Hi-So' are rich too.

Then there are the children/grandchildren of hugely successful Thai-Chinese merchant families, who are super rich. I think though that these kind families only make the league of 'Hi-So' if the family becomes famous too - over a longish period of time.

To become a Chinese rich 'Hi-So' you really have to get out there and be a party-pooper/socialite ie....you gotta make a name for yourself!

Is Thaksin's family 'Hi-So'? May be a very new 'Hi-So' family (Thaksin's wife likes to have her hair-do like a 'Hi-So). I think a family like this have just recently popped into the 'Hi-So' status after Thaksin's huge earnings. His son especially enjoys going to every party under the sun.

That's just my idea of what 'Hi-So' is but i am sure there is more to it than that!

What do you think?

I was thinking of this just the other day!

I thought the biggest difference was that "rich" spend lots of money, but "hi-so" have an attitude towards money.

Being hi-so means anything below attending banquets and shopping at Gaysorn would be below your place in society. Most people say someone is hi-so when they wouldn't be caught doing something.

ie. eating in a noodle shop, riding a taxi, shopping in local market...

Go rent "High Society", Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holmes, and Satchmo. Would give you an idea about "High Society" and entertain you too! http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag...lies/smile.png

What do you think are the main differences between Thai Hi-So and Hi-So in your home country?

I got the impression that many Thai people try to be Hi-So by adapting to western or Japanese culture - but this is just my own biased opinion.

With his body guards, BMWs and multi-million assets, I'll have to classify Paul as "Hi-So". http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag.../laughlong.gif

Hi-So in Thailand is over-rated. I've heard Teenagers screaming "Hi-So" whenever a series 7 BMW drive pass.

One wears branded clothings, expensive jewelleries, drive imported cars, they're "Hi-So". http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag.../laughlong.gif