Thai people's awareness of others
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Thai people's awareness of others
I'll throw you a few examples. I encounter at least one of these examples on a daily basis. Some days I hit the Jackpot and get all of them in one sitting.
Scenario 1: I may or may not be in a rush but, when I'm on foot, I intend to reach my destination as quick as possible. I'm making good time when suddenly I find myself stuck behind a pavement crawler. 'Just go around him/her', I hear you say...
...not possible. Said pavement crawler has decided that he or she is going to walk right in the middle of the path with his/her 3 bags of som tam palaa on each arm blocking any route past. Completely oblivious to the fact that maybe... just maybe, there are people behind that don't walk at a snail's pace.
Scenario 2: It's the fortnightly factory workers' payday so the 7-11's and Tesco's are busier than usual. You stand in line patiently, if not a little frustrated at people paying all their bills at the busiest hour possible, only for some gentleman/lady to pop in through the door and shout over the queue that they want a packet of SMS red. Nevermind, you think... surely the lass behind the counter understands a queue system and will promptly tell said person to please wait in line while the old lady at the front pays for 12 different houses' water and electric bills in 12 different transactions but ALAS!!!...
... said reprobate gets bumped up to the front of the queue without a word said.
Scenario 3: You're having a nice day out at one of the many shopping malls Thailand treats us to. You've done you're shopping (lots of it with the girlfriend in tow), you've treated yourself to some fast food and now you're returning to your car overloaded with shopping bags. You can see the car park. All that separates you is some glass doors. A patron of the mall is a few seconds ahead of you when you reach the heavy glass doors. You follow the same path assuming that they will have a quick glance over their shoulder and keep the door open for you but... whack! Said person has just waltzed through the doors and couldn't give a flying monkeys if someone was behind them.
Scenario 4: You're driving down the road when suddenly...
Scenario 1: I may or may not be in a rush but, when I'm on foot, I intend to reach my destination as quick as possible. I'm making good time when suddenly I find myself stuck behind a pavement crawler. 'Just go around him/her', I hear you say...
...not possible. Said pavement crawler has decided that he or she is going to walk right in the middle of the path with his/her 3 bags of som tam palaa on each arm blocking any route past. Completely oblivious to the fact that maybe... just maybe, there are people behind that don't walk at a snail's pace.
Scenario 2: It's the fortnightly factory workers' payday so the 7-11's and Tesco's are busier than usual. You stand in line patiently, if not a little frustrated at people paying all their bills at the busiest hour possible, only for some gentleman/lady to pop in through the door and shout over the queue that they want a packet of SMS red. Nevermind, you think... surely the lass behind the counter understands a queue system and will promptly tell said person to please wait in line while the old lady at the front pays for 12 different houses' water and electric bills in 12 different transactions but ALAS!!!...
... said reprobate gets bumped up to the front of the queue without a word said.
Scenario 3: You're having a nice day out at one of the many shopping malls Thailand treats us to. You've done you're shopping (lots of it with the girlfriend in tow), you've treated yourself to some fast food and now you're returning to your car overloaded with shopping bags. You can see the car park. All that separates you is some glass doors. A patron of the mall is a few seconds ahead of you when you reach the heavy glass doors. You follow the same path assuming that they will have a quick glance over their shoulder and keep the door open for you but... whack! Said person has just waltzed through the doors and couldn't give a flying monkeys if someone was behind them.
Scenario 4: You're driving down the road when suddenly...
- pharvey
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Re: Why are so many Thai people oblivious to the fact that..
And you honestly believe these "Scenarios" are limited to Thailand/Thais? Seriously GLC - you need to travel a bit more.....
That said..... When in those situations, I certainly need to count to 10.
That said..... When in those situations, I certainly need to count to 10.
"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things" - Yma o Hyd.
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Re: Why are so many Thai people oblivious to the fact that..
Understood and I'm not a travelled person per se. I just can't remember the example scenarios happening so frequently in other places. People keep telling me to stop using the word Thailand when letting off steam and start using the word Asia.pharvey wrote:And you honestly believe these "Scenarios" are limited to Thailand/Thais? Seriously GLC - you need to travel a bit more.....
That said..... When in those situations, I certainly need to count to 10.
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Re: Why are so many Thai people oblivious to the fact that..
Scenario 5: It's a nice afternoon. You have no work or other responsibilities, so a bit of people watching with a cold one is in order. You've nearly finished the Bangkok Post's crossword and are enjoying the serenity. You have another gulp of your cold Chang only to be disturbed by a sound that could cut through metal. Eyes wide you search for the source of this noise, only to find...
... it's just Grandma Som Tam having a conversation with someone who is on the other side of the road.
... it's just Grandma Som Tam having a conversation with someone who is on the other side of the road.
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
I get those almost daily, but here in California
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
You need to try China, where the whole concept of a queue is not understood
I don't think Thai is any worse than any other place. Last year, I traveled on the London tube and the behaviour was barbaric compared to BTS & MRT
I don't think Thai is any worse than any other place. Last year, I traveled on the London tube and the behaviour was barbaric compared to BTS & MRT
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
Could`ve been talking about Tunisia. Just sigh and think of all the positives.
Re: Thai people's awareness of others
Exactly the same in Sunny Cyprus
Re: Thai people's awareness of others
Not to fergit Russia. In Cyprus - the Russians are the guilty ones.robcar wrote:Exactly the same in Sunny Cyprus
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- Terry
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
Oh how trueGLCQuantum wrote: ..................................
Scenario 3: You're having a nice day out at one of the many shopping malls Thailand treats us to. You've done you're shopping (lots of it with the girlfriend in tow), you've treated yourself to some fast food and now you're returning to your car overloaded with shopping bags. You can see the car park. All that separates you is some glass doors. A patron of the mall is a few seconds ahead of you when you reach the heavy glass doors. You follow the same path assuming that they will have a quick glance over their shoulder and keep the door open for you but... whack! Said person has just waltzed through the doors and couldn't give a flying monkeys if someone was behind them.....................
Equally, you hold a door open for the person following you, and he / she walks right through and passes you without a thank you, kiss my ar5e or ANYTHING..............
But my favourite is escalators when someone at the end of the ride (top or bottom) stops to hold a conversation with their buddy or their phone and you end up ploughing into them - Very common when traveling on skytrain in BKK
Eh - but what the hell - I've got a lovely drive home from BKK to HH today, with all those nice considerate drivers that I share the road with
- phartley58
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
All the above had me chuckling. I've grown accustomed to them and now just smile. How about these though.
1. Never turning up on time? I now call their bluff. If they don't turn up on time, I move on and forget about them or, if it's workmen coming to my house, I go out. They then complain to the developers that there was no one in and then the developer speaks to me. I then explain that an arrangement for a certain time means the time stated. It worked as they usually turn up early at my house now and then ring my bell at the time arranged.
2. Wanting money up front for a job that they haven't done yet. Errrmmm, no...!!! What's that all about?
1. Never turning up on time? I now call their bluff. If they don't turn up on time, I move on and forget about them or, if it's workmen coming to my house, I go out. They then complain to the developers that there was no one in and then the developer speaks to me. I then explain that an arrangement for a certain time means the time stated. It worked as they usually turn up early at my house now and then ring my bell at the time arranged.
2. Wanting money up front for a job that they haven't done yet. Errrmmm, no...!!! What's that all about?
If it aint broke, don't fix it...
Arte et Marte
Arte et Marte
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Re: Thai people's awareness of others
I used the 'late' thing to my advantage. I used to have to go to long committee meetings where nothing was decided. I would turn up for the 10am meeting at 9.55, wait till 10.01, then say to the secretary-- oh the meeting must be cancelled and leave.
Re: Thai people's awareness of others
Scenario 1 & 3 is the total individual lack of spacial or situational awareness and I'm sure I can hear the wind whistling through their ears when it happens.
Scenario 2 could well be explained away as the Dunning-Kruger effect.....quite a common affliction here actually.
Scenario 2 could well be explained away as the Dunning-Kruger effect.....quite a common affliction here actually.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Re: Why are so many Thai people oblivious to the fact that..
I've traveled a lot and I think the scenarios are not necessarily Thai but are much more common throughout Asia than in the western world.pharvey wrote:And you honestly believe these "Scenarios" are limited to Thailand/Thais? Seriously GLC - you need to travel a bit more.....
That said..... When in those situations, I certainly need to count to 10.
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: Thai people's awareness of others
When having a conversation in English with a Thai person, any other Thai will walk up and butt in on the conversation in Thai and totally ignore you or what you were saying.
Per Angusta In Augusta.
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