Westerners In Thailand: What Went Wrong?

[Horatio Hornblower]

“You see, there are some people who had no life at home, before they came to Thailand, for whatever reason. Maybe they were unpopular, or never got ahead in life, were career criminals, or whatever. Despite problems at home, their lives in the Land of Smiles are the complete opposite. In Thailand, the locals smile at them and treat them nicely. In return, these questionable farangs will defend the Thais to the hilt, even if it involves something very clearly questionable or downright wrong. This drives me crazy and is one of the reasons I seldom read the local internet discussion forums these days.

“There are some Westerners who find Thailand to be their personal paradise and are prepared to overlook anything, even things that border on a minor atrocity – and they will vociferously criticise anyone who questions their idea of paradise. This is one of the huge unspoken shortcomings of life in this part of the world – the calibre of the Westerners here.”
Harsh? Maybe.

True?

Absolutely.

Of course, it would be unfair to tar all Westerners with the same brush, but it’s undeniable that there is a certain subsection of the Bangkok expat population where quality of character is seriously lacking.

With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the shady expat characters you can expect to meet during your time in Bangkok.

Note: For case studies, please refer to the Comments sections in my previous posts.

The Angry and Divorced Forty-Something Seeking a ‘Proper Woman’

This city is full of once-burnt divorced men who were either so shattered by their previous marriages — or so disenchanted by the era of leftist feminism — that they felt compelled to move thousands of miles east to find a ‘proper woman’.

And by proper woman, I mean one straight out of the 1940s.

“Just let me be a man, while you do my washing, take control of the kitchen and don’t ask too many questions.”

Not much to ask.

These men tend to shack up with the financially destitute, or the professionally prostitute — whatever improves their chances of exerting total dominance over them in the long run.

With these couples, it seems true love simply equals “You’ll never leave me while I send your parents and buffalos 20% of my retirement fund.”

Such is the plight of the average bar girl, they are often correct.

The Westerner Who Simply Cannot Stomach Criticism of Thailand

I call this guy the White Knight.

He is infatuated with Thailand.

If something bad happens, it’s your fault.

“Oh, a motorcycle hacked you down in broad daylight and decapitated your pet spaniel? That’s just the way the pavement works over here, buddy. You need to appreciate cultural differences. It’s people like you that ruin this country for the rest of us.”

White Knight has learned the Thai language so impeccably well that you can read the disdain on his face when he’s forced to speak in crude plain English to his fellow farang.

He is the Moses of the Walen School.

There’s nothing he would love more than a job at Immigration castrating the non-fluent masses as they pass in to his adopted shire.

His stated motives for total cultural immersion are, quite sympathetically, to “integrate fully with the people of Thailand“.

But more often than not, he just wants to get laid.

Which is why if he updates his Facebook, it has to be in Thai script.

Firstly, to secure those 450 likes and comments from college students (half of which he has already shagged in his own mind), and secondly, to send out a message to his expat friends that he’s a prime candidate for the Best At Living In Thailand, 2015 award.

A title handed out almost exclusively to helmets.

The Rude P****s

This may be the Land of Smiles, but it can also be the Land of Intolerable Dinosaurs.

There’s a certain type of Westerner who reaches the gate at Suvarnabhumi, puts on his wife-beater, and slips in to an immediate mid-life crisis.

Thailand has a reputation as something of a boys’ playground; the untamed Vegas of the east. Except it’s much cheaper and, generally, much friendlier.

You’d think this would earn some goodwill from expats and tourists but sadly, it often encourages the opposite.

Good ol’ Western Privilege kicks in.

There are some who think that a ฿20 tip buys five star service — or the right to admonish performance at will.

Signs of Western Privilege:

Instinctively talks down to native Thais
Gets increasingly agitated at the first sound of broken English
Solicits sex from any woman who happens to be within 1 mile of Nana BTS
Gawps at students – and occasionally photographs them – on the BTS as if he’s entered a third world candy store
The Retired Keyboard Warrior Brigade

I don’t know what Thailand was like 20 years ago — unlike some of Bangkok’s expats, who clearly wish they could catch a BTS train right back there.

Some use those nostalgic memories to forge a manifesto of what Thailand should be like today.

Regardless of small facts like, you know, globalisation.

Thailand has moved on; but many of its expats are stuck in a Land of Smiles that no longer exists.

These troopers find it inconceivable that condos have replaced their fondly remembered brothels, that millions more people visit Thailand every year, and especially — that anybody under the age of 30 would dare to follow in their footsteps and build a life over here.

The rising cost of living in Thailand, accentuated by decades of Westerners living beyond their means, is seen as something to take out on the younger generation of expats.

There is no finer example of this contempt than the ThaiVisa forum; a place where tribal snobbery knows no bounds.

Where those who have married into Thai families, or landed a retirement visa, will lampoon and mock the Tourist Visa Peasants simply trying to find a solution that works for them within the bounds of complex immigration law.

So, what’s the solution?

Ideas on a postcard, please.

My vote goes to mass deportation…

http://whatsonsukhumvit.com/westerne...at-went-wrong/

[nigelandjan]

“There are some Westerners who find Thailand to be their personal paradise and are prepared to overlook anything, even things that border on a minor atrocity – and they will vociferously criticise anyone who questions their idea of paradise. This is one of the huge unspoken shortcomings of life in this part of the world – the calibre of the Westerners here.”
Harsh? Maybe.

I know this is a Thai forum and so this is supposed to be about what goes on here ,, however ,, IMHO this kind of behaviour is common in most places where ex pats decide to settle .

The most of em have uprooted everything and landed in paradise ,, ( well on the surface ) underneath really how happy are they ?

I know of such a guy ( he don't post on here ) but I have weekly contact with him , always going on about how he lives like a King on about £180 a month in Thailand ,, TBH mabe in his eyes he does , but it always seems to me he is trying to convince himself + others about his situation .
I have my doubts .

Hopefully soon I shall retire to Spain where no doubt at first we shall be met by all the loud pissheads telling us how wonderful it all is , mabe it will be at first until reality sets in , but then hopefully it will be somewhere with a climate where I can walk about in not too many clothes all year , buy cheap fresh food from the local markets and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the mountains + valleys and coastal regions + all their wonderful architecture .

Its a case of being happy with what WE have , because its pointless trying to convince others

[Chittychangchang]

Some amusing stories on that site, first time i've viewed it.

In other news....

FROM BOTTLING BAR GIRLS TO BUM GUN ADVICE

Soi Cowboy bar girls bottle their own boss

Naked model posing with traditional Thai accessories prepares to turn herself in



Not trying to derail your thread HH.

IMHO the article has been written to wind up TV using Bangkok expats, why didn't the author slag off Teflers while he was at it for a full house.

[Headworx]

I know of such a guy ( he don't post on here ) but I have weekly contact with him , always going on about how he lives like a King on about £180 a month in Thailand ,, TBH mabe in his eyes he does , but it always seems to me he is trying to convince himself + others about his situation .
I have my doubts .

Never mind doubts Nige, pencil it in as unadulterated bullshit!. 180 quid is what, 10,000 Baht or similar. I suppose you *might* be able to survive, just, if you turned native and hoped like fuck no unexpected expenses ever came up (medical, need to travel home, want to eat a decent steak, etc). But live like a King?. There's a few zeros missing from his budget to get into that league...

[stroller]

It's easy to jump at a figure thrown up, without knowing what it entails.

Maybe it's his spending money after rent, insurance et al.
And where does it say he doesn't have any emergency funds at his disposal?

[Horatio Hornblower]

Depends how he lived in his home country.

Think the Post sums up some groups of farang correctly,as we see from day to day here and in Asia.

There was a great wind up post a few years ago in circulation, had many farangs up in arms about it

It was supposed to be a Thai woman slagging off all the farang, was a cracker of a wind up,and went on for sometime unfortunately the author must of ran out of stuff to post.

[Neo]

IMHO the article has been written to wind up TV using Bangkok expats, why didn't the author slag off Teflers while he was at it for a full house.

Because it was written by Smeg..?

[kingwilly]

Because it was written by Smeg..?

Does sound like it. Not particularly original.

[Headworx]

Maybe it's his spending money after rent, insurance et al.

So OK, even if that was the case this guy is supposedly living like a King on roughly 300 baht a day. Still missing a few zeros.

[thaimeme]

It all comes down to the quality of players on the theatre stage, which seems to be of a very low percentile.....

[VocalNeal]

The Westerner Who Simply Cannot Stomach Criticism of Thailand

It is not so much that I can't stomach the criticism, it is that those who criticism are doing it because it is easy and like taking the low hanging fruit.

Yes the road casualties are higher then the west but it is their country not ours. Disregard for the rules of the road is just as bad in Indonesia and probably worse in Russia. But we never here about thta or there is no IndoVisda or RussiaVisa forums.

Yes buses/trucks crash here but they also do in other countries. Et al.

Maybe it is because we only read about he stuff here and not elsewhere... but...

[Dillinger]

They'd still moan wherever they lived, even in their home countries. Best to stay away from those negative miserable fucks before they rub off.

[thaimeme]

They'd still moan wherever they lived, even in their home countries. Best to stay away from those negative miserable fucks before they rub off.

The more connected of those do - and long ago knew this.

[terry57]

They'd still moan wherever they lived, even in their home countries.

Best to stay away from those negative miserable fucks before they rub off.

When I lived in Australia I never give negative mother fuckers the time of Day.

Over here I would not piss on them.

It's Ok to have a little bitch every now and then but to be around a sad arse there is just no way on this earth I would give them the time of day.

The few on here that drone on about fuk all should be deleted permanently.

[stroller]

Careful what you wish for, hoser.

[baldrick]

I spent 36 years as the fluffer for lassie

thus I know sh1t

[thaimeme]

Careful what you wish for, hoser.

Indeed, as he doesn't recognize his own droning on about fuck all.

[nigelandjan]

Never mind doubts Nige, pencil it in as unadulterated bullshit!. 180 quid is what, 10,000 Baht or similar. I suppose you *might* be able to survive, just, if you turned native and hoped like fuck no unexpected expenses ever came up (medical, need to travel home, want to eat a decent steak, etc). But live like a King?. There's a few zeros missing from his budget to get into that league...

Yes I know what you mean mate , when I said I had my doubts it was tongue in cheek.

As I said I just let it wash right over my head , no one is ever gonna convince me I can go and live in all that heat and aggro / lawlessness and live it up like a King for peanuts.

Funnily enough on the other hand I have another mate who IS well minted up , has a beautiful villa with pool etc in the Canaries , been there over 15 years , will never come back to the UK . Never cackles on about how much better off he is than any of us still stuck in the UK ,, just always a nice warm welcome whenever we visit , mind he always asks if he can swop his Jan for my Jan

Truth is he is as happy as a pig in shite , nothing to prove to anyone else

[DJ Pat]

Coming soon to Pattaya

Inside the secret network of military vigilantes working to expose 'Walter Mitty' fantasists | Daily Mail Online

Inside the secret network who expose 'Walter Mitty' fantasists: Military experts out liars masquerading as SAS heroes, Falklands veterans and fake victims of post-traumatic stress

• Secret network of ex-military personnel expose Armed Forces fraudsters
• Member of Walter Mitty Hunters Group spoke to MailOnline anonymously
• Deceptions range from fantasist SAS hero to supposed Falklands veteran

[FlyFree]

No matter how long you live in X, you'll never get to know most expats. Birds of a feather tend to flock together, so those you know will tend to - at least broadly - have similar traits as you. Bored, the group will tend to slag off some other grouping.

About the only universal factor is sex, not necessarily whoring. For the rest, as in any population, there can be vast diversity.

So I can write virtually any piece and a subsection will agree wholeheartedly, another subsection will agree partially etc. etc. etc.

All very dumb, really.

[nigelandjan]

Oh dear ^ could be a few red faces , caused other than their daily intake .

Hope no one is " outed " on here :roll eyes:

We have a few nutters in Colchester going round with old military jackets on with obsolete medals stitched on em , one old boy even goes round in the old style cops outfit on including helmet .

" Evening all "

[nigelandjan]

No matter how long you live in X, you'll never get to know most expats. Birds of a feather tend to flock together, so those you know will tend to - at least broadly - have similar traits as you. Bored, the group will tend to slag off some other grouping.

Which I agree with , and also would like to add places like TD offer a safety release valve for the likes of ThegenT + his mate Tax ,, instead of blowing blood vessels they are blowing circuit boards + keypads

[panama hat]

Yes the road casualties are higher then the west but it is their country not ours.

I do believe that is exactly the opposite of condemning everything Thai-related . . . minimising everything because 'it's their country'.

Given that attitude there would never be any negative comments about anything in any country other than one's own

Disregard for the rules of the road is just as bad in Indonesia and probably worse in Russia. But we never here about thta or there is no IndoVisda or RussiaVisa forums.

Could this be because you don't frequent Russian or Indon expat forums . . . ?

Perhaps William could share with us his experience on Indon forums regarding driving styles . . . I can only comment on my six years in Singapore and the expat forums there - I can assure you that the locals' driving habist were indeed highlighted -and not in the positive.
Same goes for Malaysia.

Perhaps people comment because they live here, there or anywhere.
Because they are affected directly by the behaviour of others.
Because they have children with a local and feel they have the right to comment as it not only affects them but moreso their spouse and children.
Because highlighting idiotic mannerisms is exactly that - highlighting idiotic mannerisms a la cleaning ones toes at a dining table in a restaurant; overtaking motorcycles on the wrong side of the road . . . at night . . . in the rain . . . with no headlights . . . no helmets . . . four children, wife and MiL holding on for dear life . . . at speed

Could be.

[Henrie]

I saw a falang yesterday with his wife and three kids on a motorbike, no helmets for any of them. He was laughing and pointing at stuff as he rode by. I was speechless.

[thaimeme]

Never mind doubts Nige, pencil it in as unadulterated bullshit!. 180 quid is what, 10,000 Baht or similar. I suppose you *might* be able to survive, just, if you turned native and hoped like fuck no unexpected expenses ever came up (medical, need to travel home, want to eat a decent steak, etc). But live like a King?. There's a few zeros missing from his budget to get into that league...

Yes I know what you mean mate , when I said I had my doubts it was tongue in cheek.

As I said I just let it wash right over my head , no one is ever gonna convince me I can go and live in all that heat and aggro / lawlessness and live it up like a King for peanuts.

Funnily enough on the other hand I have another mate who IS well minted up , has a beautiful villa with pool etc in the Canaries , been there over 15 years , will never come back to the UK . Never cackles on about how much better off he is than any of us still stuck in the UK ,, just always a nice warm welcome whenever we visit , mind he always asks if he can swop his Jan for my Jan

Truth is he is as happy as a pig in shite , nothing to prove to anyone else

I know that you've probably mentioned a time or two here - I can't recall....what principled reasons are driving you to move the clan to Spain, Nige..??