I guess you are right Richard that it's same same all over the world.
You earn respect.
Where do we fit in?
Earning respect means it has to be worked for one doesnt earn respect without working for it. Where you get it that i feel that its a daily fight for survival and i am struggling for it, is just beyond me i have never ever even got close to describing it as such
Working for it is stopping and thinking about what you say or do in many instances
As for it being pleasant I think the reason for that that is obvious
Quote Richard "Civility and dare I say it once more? integration and appreciation of where they ( the locals) are coming from is paramount IMO
Which is exactely what we have both been saying and i will add they appreciate it in return which makes life pleasant
Tin Shacks was most certainly a long way into my time on this forum by the way and was quite a time after another thread of mine titled "low cost housing for Thais"
Unfortunately i am consistent in what i say and do
Dtaai Maai Read the post prior to the post i am refering to and then the post where i quote the previous poster
then look at the reference and dare i say it the difference
Working for it is stopping and thinking about what you say or do in many instances
As for it being pleasant I think the reason for that that is obvious
Quote Richard "Civility and dare I say it once more? integration and appreciation of where they ( the locals) are coming from is paramount IMO
Which is exactely what we have both been saying and i will add they appreciate it in return which makes life pleasant
Tin Shacks was most certainly a long way into my time on this forum by the way and was quite a time after another thread of mine titled "low cost housing for Thais"
Unfortunately i am consistent in what i say and do
Dtaai Maai Read the post prior to the post i am refering to and then the post where i quote the previous poster
then look at the reference and dare i say it the difference
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
Going back to the original OP where do we fit in I agreed with Buksi the upper echelons rich white Chinese, politicians do see us as a threat and although Buksis wording may be a bit over the top its pretty close.
Thailand is IMO unique America and Europe have immigration issues as well but that is poor people moving to a rich country to better their lives and it is the poor ethnic population that is upset about it because they are loosing jobs and earning power to the immigrants.
The poor ethnics however do have a vote each and a sort of democracy which means their voice will be heard over the cries from big business who just want cheap labour eventually.
Thailand however is in virtually total reverse it is rich money laden immigrants coming here and it’s the people in power that don’t like it (they want and make the money even though they feel immigrants are a threat) and they don’t listen to the poor ethnic population anyway unless it suits them. I also detect over my years that even the poor are starting to have doubts about the benefits for them long term of large numbers of immigrants here. What I am saying is there are unique dynamics at play here in Thailand and immigrants should understand that.
The immigrants that don’t realize don’t care or are just not thinking make the place where we fit in a moving feast and mostly IMO in the wrong direction.
All govts use immigration as a way of taking the populations eye of off the real issues i.e. rising costs oil and stuff like that because immigrants are an easy quick fix target
Thailand is IMO unique America and Europe have immigration issues as well but that is poor people moving to a rich country to better their lives and it is the poor ethnic population that is upset about it because they are loosing jobs and earning power to the immigrants.
The poor ethnics however do have a vote each and a sort of democracy which means their voice will be heard over the cries from big business who just want cheap labour eventually.
Thailand however is in virtually total reverse it is rich money laden immigrants coming here and it’s the people in power that don’t like it (they want and make the money even though they feel immigrants are a threat) and they don’t listen to the poor ethnic population anyway unless it suits them. I also detect over my years that even the poor are starting to have doubts about the benefits for them long term of large numbers of immigrants here. What I am saying is there are unique dynamics at play here in Thailand and immigrants should understand that.
The immigrants that don’t realize don’t care or are just not thinking make the place where we fit in a moving feast and mostly IMO in the wrong direction.
All govts use immigration as a way of taking the populations eye of off the real issues i.e. rising costs oil and stuff like that because immigrants are an easy quick fix target
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
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margaretcarnes
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Where do we fit in?
S'okay Dawn - I know you're not griping duck! I think theres a subtle difference between 'respect' and 'appreciation'. I'm working for a charity and help a lot of folks to sort out their state benefits. Its nice when people appreciate the help (and maybe donate a box of Thorntons, although some cash in the box would be more helpful!) But none of us expect accolades and undying devotion for what - to me - is just using a skill to help those who are less able.
S'okay Dawn - yes theres a huge difference between being appreciated for some things, and undying love, devotion and respect! I think some folks still live in the days of the Raj - and even that was probably all based on money.
S'okay Dawn - yes theres a huge difference between being appreciated for some things, and undying love, devotion and respect! I think some folks still live in the days of the Raj - and even that was probably all based on money.
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
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margaretcarnes
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Well that last post went a bit pear shaped. 2 in 1. Still - you get the drift.
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Mags a super post I love the word appreciation not because I 100% agree but it did (thank you) make me think.
Appreciation does imply some action on ones own part warranting something in return or vice versa.
Respect means I suppose in a way admiration (undying love is a bit over the top to say the least)
Neither word suitably covers what I am talking about I don’t do things for appreciation alone or ever expect admiration and have never meant to claim universal respect. Dawn gave me that unsolicited accolade to beat Edwina Danish over the head
What I have come to is the word accepted Which I alluded to by saying its long long ago since I was viewed as a tourist by my community / circle of friends of course I understand to Thais I don’t know I am still a tourist
However saying that a lot of Thais who I don’t know personally other than through my close friends do seem to accept me because I work at not upsetting or doing things that may upset Thais and because I do have close Thai friends who do accept me
I have also suffered setbacks to this acceptance due to thoughtless couldn’t careless arrogant attitudes given out by farangs I have never seen or met.
Which is why I may come across as a bit of an evangelist on this particular subject I will also reiterate I am damned consistent in standing up for our hosts
I will however thanks to you mags use the words accepted and appreciated in future.
Appreciation does imply some action on ones own part warranting something in return or vice versa.
Respect means I suppose in a way admiration (undying love is a bit over the top to say the least)
Neither word suitably covers what I am talking about I don’t do things for appreciation alone or ever expect admiration and have never meant to claim universal respect. Dawn gave me that unsolicited accolade to beat Edwina Danish over the head
What I have come to is the word accepted Which I alluded to by saying its long long ago since I was viewed as a tourist by my community / circle of friends of course I understand to Thais I don’t know I am still a tourist
However saying that a lot of Thais who I don’t know personally other than through my close friends do seem to accept me because I work at not upsetting or doing things that may upset Thais and because I do have close Thai friends who do accept me
I have also suffered setbacks to this acceptance due to thoughtless couldn’t careless arrogant attitudes given out by farangs I have never seen or met.
Which is why I may come across as a bit of an evangelist on this particular subject I will also reiterate I am damned consistent in standing up for our hosts
I will however thanks to you mags use the words accepted and appreciated in future.
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
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margaretcarnes
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Where do we fit in?
No sweat Sarge - just subtle nuances of the English language I guess. BTW what happened to Edwina? Was it the beating?
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Mags thanks for your reply but I must give credit it did make me stop and think which is IMHO 90% of integration just stopping and thinking and that applies to me as well. 
Thankyou for reminding me.
The accolade from Dawn was written when I was not participating on this forum and I was to say the least pleased when I read it. It was the post previous on this thread where it was implied that Richard and I were not taking Thais as human beings for “goodness sake” which ired my peak. Both Richard and I have been tireless in talking of integration and taking Thai feelings law culture and thoughts into daily account and I may add totally Consistent with it.
As for Edwina Danish well what dawn wrote was bang on the button edwinadanish was patently in the wrong place with totally the wrong ideas and views of Thailand and Thai people and she was as extreme as she could get.
Thankyou for reminding me.
The accolade from Dawn was written when I was not participating on this forum and I was to say the least pleased when I read it. It was the post previous on this thread where it was implied that Richard and I were not taking Thais as human beings for “goodness sake” which ired my peak. Both Richard and I have been tireless in talking of integration and taking Thai feelings law culture and thoughts into daily account and I may add totally Consistent with it.
As for Edwina Danish well what dawn wrote was bang on the button edwinadanish was patently in the wrong place with totally the wrong ideas and views of Thailand and Thai people and she was as extreme as she could get.
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
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margaretcarnes
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