Trusting Thai People

**stroller** · 15-04-2007, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

We also do plenty of temple/buddha ritual which I think helps keep everyone honest.
Without Buddha they probably would have killed each other long ago.

Yeah, Buddhism is tailor-made to support and protect prostitution rackets from any wrong doings.

Well done, Mr. Earl, you should get a medal for upholding Thai values.

**dirtydog** · 15-04-2007, 10:26 PM

We used to get the Monks in to bless newly opened gogo bars, always sort of felt a bit weird that one, plus the naked girls getting up on the stage waiing the Buddha table thingy.

**Rigger** · 15-04-2007, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by stroller

There no sheep in Thailand

They must of been hairy dogs I have seen near Khon kean or is that just what you would call them

**lom** · 15-04-2007, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Earl

Because so much money is on the line these ladies demand and get respect and trust.

One can not demand respect or trust, one can only gain it if deserved.

**barbaro** · 15-04-2007, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Can these people be trusted? just looking through 2 threads in the news where police are committing crimes against farangs.

The issue of trust is something that is prevalent throughout East Asia.

Families are very strong....because people don't trust each other.

This inhibits economic development, and many other things.

East Asians don't trust each other.

Therefore, in general, I don't trust them.

No harm; no foul.

**Boon Mee** · 16-04-2007, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

It is considered good business to take advantage of someone that does not watch their own back. You should know this by now and act accordingly.

For sure...anyone who's been 'in country' for a bit should have internalized Frankie's point...

**Spin** · 16-04-2007, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Helicopter

I try not to trust anyone, I dont care where they come from.

Trust is a foolish emotion that folks from an older generation pinned a little importance on.

I never really subscribed to the trust thing, people are just too selfish.

I have to agree with you here Heli, through bitter experience. Especially in business, or where there's money invoved.

I dont have any bitter experiences so far, I just work on the rule of "protect the innocent" and "neither a borrower or lender be".

I'm not pointing the finger at Thai's exclusively either, I have been fed much more bullshit by other farangs in Thailand than Thai's themselves.

**El Gibbon** · 16-04-2007, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Helicopter

I'm not pointing the finger at Thai's exclusively either, I have been fed much more bullshit by other farangs in Thailand than Thai's themselves.

How true. Upon arriving in Thailand on a permanent basis I was warned by a farang woman, who had worked here for several years, "be very careful, the farang here will rip you off much worse than the Thais".

Proved out to be very very true.

E. G.

**The_Dude** · 16-04-2007, 09:05 AM

How about asking the question do you trust people? It's not fair to ask of one's nationality, it is ones personal character that makes or breaks him. It sounds like you've been stung hard. To bad! But don't label all Thais as trustworthy or not! Have a nice day.

The Dude.

**Butterfly** · 16-04-2007, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by El Gibbon

How true. Upon arriving in Thailand on a permanent basis I was warned by a farang woman, who had worked here for several years, "be very careful, the farang here will rip you off much worse than the Thais".

Proved out to be very very true.

Actually I went through this and they are much worse than Thais. Might as well be ripped off by locals, more exotic.

**sabang** · 16-04-2007, 10:53 AM

Actually my 'bitter experiences' do not come from Thailand either, but Australia and HK.
I guess you could say I learnt my lessons before I got here.

**Likewise** · 16-04-2007, 05:27 PM

I trust me, myself and I.

**beware of the dog** · 16-04-2007, 07:34 PM

Trust and honesty are not standard concepts in Thailand. Here, it's down to "do whatever you want and can get away with". People selling you things will openly lie to you, then if you catch them out they use weasel words to wriggle out of it and save face. Its pretty disgusting and primitive.

What I find strange is that so many people who don't trust Thais actually choose to live in Thailand.
So, do you trust the taxi driver to be sober and qualified?
Do you trust the water filter repair guy to bother to service the machine properly?
Do you trust the construction company boss to have used strong enough concrete in the supermarket you are in or to have cut corners and pocketed the savings?
Do you trust the somtam maker to have washed her hands at all that week?

This list could go on forever, and all of these people, many of whom with only a few years of 3rd world quality education and a preference for a lifestyle of doing as little as possible, could put you in hospital or worse, every day.

watterinja · 16-04-2007, 07:56 PM

I would say that in Thailand, one expects to get shafted by folks at each & every turn. When they respond in an honest way, one is pleasantly surprised.

However, in the west, one expects to get an honest deal at each & every turn. When they respond in an dis-honest way, one is un-pleasantly surprised.

Disappointment is the difference between expectation & actuality. I have experienced more disappointment in the west.

**Fabian** · 16-04-2007, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by watterinja

However, in the west, one expects to get an honest deal at each & every turn. When they respond in an dis-honest way, one is un-pleasantly surprised.

You haven't done much business in the west I suppose? Why bother for lawyers to make a contract if people are so trustworthy?

watterinja · 16-04-2007, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Fabian

Originally Posted by watterinja

However, in the west, one expects to get an honest deal at each & every turn. When they respond in an dis-honest way, one is un-pleasantly surprised.

You haven't done much business in the west I suppose? Why bother for lawyers to make a contract if people are so trustworthy?

Actually, quite the opposite.

The best, enforcible agreements are those that occupy the least number of pages. A useful secrecy agreement, for instance, should not be longer than 1.5 A4 pages. Any longer & the lawyers make a living out of twisting the verbage into knots. In 1.5 pages, the intent is clear.

**kingwilly** · 16-04-2007, 11:32 PM

it takes 1.5 pages to say "shut da fuck up, no exceptions" ?

watterinja · 16-04-2007, 11:39 PM

^ Nope, it takes 1.5 pages to discuss the intent & exceptions - for both parties.

**friscofrankie** · 16-04-2007, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by beware of the dog

What I find strange is that so many people who don't trust Thais actually choose to live in Thailand. So, do you trust the taxi driver to be sober and qualified? Do you trust the water filter repair guy to bother to service the machine properly? Do you trust the construction company boss to have used strong enough concrete in the supermarket you are in or to have cut corners and pocketed the savings? Do you trust the somtam maker to have washed her hands at all that week?

I find this attitude pollyanna-ish. Is it so much different in the west? If you truly believe it is you are being naive. Even though there are stricter laws and regulations protecting consumers of all types of services, you still need to watch your own back.
Did that mexican just spit in your soup? did that burger flipper wash his hands after wiping his ass? Willthe patio joe's concrete built still be in one piece in two years? Why did I get a shock everytime I turn on the hot tub heater? Why did my wheel fall off after getting new tires?

Oh, well, call the BBB or the county fraud enforcement team or some other "protective agency."

The only true difference here is not that you are responsible for your own. It is that the indigenous people here don't believe otherwise.

You can trust no one to give any more than you make them. I find it funny that people only notice the avarice of others once they leave the warmth of home & hearth. They complain only when they no longer have some "authority" to rely on and must rely on their own wit.

There is more honesty in the Asian attitude. Although never spoken, the rule "Caveat Emptor" is taken as the golden rule, and you are expected to know it. You are on your own, deal with it. An other rule, "Don't cop to nothin."

So let's see, if you aren't careful you'll get ripped off
if you catch the mother-fucker; he ain't going to admit to any wrong doing.
Why the fuck are people surprised at these "revelations?"

**Fabian** · 17-04-2007, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by watterinja

Originally Posted by Fabian

Originally Posted by watterinja

However, in the west, one expects to get an honest deal at each & every turn. When they respond in an dis-honest way, one is un-pleasantly surprised.

You haven't done much business in the west I suppose? Why bother for lawyers to make a contract if people are so trustworthy?

Actually, quite the opposite.

So you know better than to trust people in the west for business. May be that once long time ago a business can be done with a handshake, but I would not dare that these days.

**dirtydog** · 17-04-2007, 01:21 AM

I remember when I bought my house the UK, the thought of not using a lawyer never entered my mind, yet here idiots do that everyday.

**Fabian** · 17-04-2007, 01:59 AM

Well, DD, that's why they are idiots.

**RDN** · 17-04-2007, 04:35 AM

A very mixed up post IMHO.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

I find this attitude pollyanna-ish. Is it so much different in the west? If you truly believe it is you are being naive. Even though there are stricter laws and regulations protecting consumers of all types of services, you still need to watch your own back.

But not so much because, as you so rightly say, there are stricter laws and regulations... consumer protection laws, laws about "misrepresentation", "product not fit for purpose", etc.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Did that mexican just spit in your soup? did that burger flipper wash his hands after wiping his ass? Willthe patio joe's concrete built still be in one piece in two years? Why did I get a shock everytime I turn on the hot tub heater? Why did my wheel fall off after getting new tires?

You sue them, threaten to sue them or maybe even go to their customer relation department and get some satisfaction.

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Oh, well, call the BBB or the county fraud enforcement team or some other "protective agency."

?

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

The only true difference here is not that you are responsible for your own. It is that the indigenous people here don't believe otherwise.

You can trust no one to give any more than you make them. I find it funny that people only notice the avarice of others once they leave the warmth of home & hearth. They complain only when they no longer have some "authority" to rely on and must rely on their own wit.

There is more honesty in the Asian attitude.

The attitude of: "I'm going to screw you for everything I can unless you stop me".

Yeah, right! F*cking honest that is!

Originally Posted by friscofrankie

Although never spoken, the rule "Caveat Emptor" is taken as the golden rule, and you are expected to know it. You are on your own, deal with it. An other rule, "Don't cop to nothin."

So let's see, if you aren't careful you'll get ripped off
if you catch the mother-fucker; he ain't going to admit to any wrong doing.
Why the fuck are people surprised at these "revelations?"

And this all means the Asian way is not so different from the West? I think you've just made the opposite argument.

**qwerty** · 17-04-2007, 07:34 PM

Back when I was in business I noticed that a lot of people got really bad advice from their lawyers. While most lawyers can tell you what the law says, very few lawyers can give you good real world advice.

Give me a street smart, grizzled old lawyer who can give you advice in a bar rather than in his office any day! There's often a difference between what the law says and what really happens. A street smart lawyer will be able to tell you about that difference!

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