Gleng Jai

**Smeg** · 24-02-2008, 11:34 PM

For Thais to be considerate takes a special effort, and the phrase "gleng jai" is often used to show that special behaviour is being adopted.

I have noticed a great difference between Thai and UK society in that in the UK it is normal to be considerate to everyone unless they don't deserve it, i.e. "the common good" whereas in Thailand it is normal to be inconsiderate unless you have have a reason to be considerate i.e normally something to lose. I think this explains why Thailand is so corrupt i.e. everyone is out for themself, and you get for example, terrible driving manners, touts who don't give a fuck about disturbing your sleep on the beach to try to make a few baht, noisy polluting vehicles, taxi drivers who'll choose a longer route which gets you there as quickly but costs more on the meter, or construction going on all night keeping whole neighbourhoods awake but with the police paid off.

**DrB0b** · 24-02-2008, 11:46 PM

I have noticed a great difference between Thai and UK society in that in the UK it is normal to be inconsiderate to everyone whereas in Thailand it is normal to be considerate unless you have have a reason to be inconsiderate. I think this explains why the UK is so unberable i.e. everyone is out for themself, and you get for example, terrible driving manners, touts who don't give a fuck about disturbing your walk on the streets to try to make a few quid, noisy polluting vehicles, taxi drivers who'll choose a longer route which gets you there as quickly but costs more on the meter, or construction going on all night keeping whole neighbourhoods awake but with the police filling in paperwork while the country goes down the shitter.

**NecrophiliasPederast** · 24-02-2008, 11:48 PM

^^I don't think this is an accurate description of kreng jai

Kreng jai is more a sense of guilt when someone else has performed an act of kindness that you have not reciprocated.

Eg if someone buys you numerous Heinekens in a row and you haven't got a lot of money to buy a round, but are aware that you perhaps ought to.

Its that awareness and the sense of unease which it brings that is 'Kreng Jai'.

**dirtydog** · 25-02-2008, 12:07 AM

^hmmm, why do you keep bloody choosing user names that stretch the tables?

**ivegotareallylongusername** · 25-02-2008, 08:20 AM

^ It's terrible when people do that isn't it.

**NecrophiliasPederast** · 25-02-2008, 10:20 AM

^ there's meant to be the word 'the' between my names.

But it couldn't fit. So now it doesn't make sense.

**DrAndy** · 25-02-2008, 10:28 AM

if you put in the "the", it still wouldn't make sense

**Texpat** · 25-02-2008, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Smeg

I have noticed a great difference between Thai and UK society in that in the UK it is normal to be considerate to everyone unless they don't deserve it ...

Is it possible that UK is a superior country and its inhabitants are a superior breed of people?

**DrAndy** · 25-02-2008, 10:38 AM

That is always a possibility Tex, however remote

Ill-treating animals is nasty and cruel, but often carried out by thoughtless people

Things like dog-fighting etc are not thoughtless, however, merely nasty. There was a case in the Uk last month, where several people were successfully prosecuted for being at a dogfight. That is good and a pity that Thailand does not bother about such things.

**DJ Pat** · 25-02-2008, 01:51 PM

Smeg up to his old tricks again, ie. The usual threads where it's plain to see that he's just had a bad day in Bangkok or something similar.

Change the record mate.

**stroller** · 25-02-2008, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by DrAndy

That is good and a pity that Thailand does not bother about such things.

What "things"?
Dogfights, you mean?

**English Noodles** · 25-02-2008, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Smeg

For Thais to be considerate takes a special effort, and the phrase "gleng jai" is often used to show that special behaviour is being adopted.

I have noticed a great difference between Thai and UK society in that in the UK it is normal to be considerate to everyone unless they don't deserve it, i.e. "the common good" whereas in Thailand it is normal to be inconsiderate unless you have have a reason to be considerate i.e normally something to lose. I think this explains why Thailand is so corrupt i.e. everyone is out for themself, and you get for example, terrible driving manners, touts who don't give a fuck about disturbing your sleep on the beach to try to make a few baht, noisy polluting vehicles, taxi drivers who'll choose a longer route which gets you there as quickly but costs more on the meter, or construction going on all night keeping whole neighbourhoods awake but with the police paid off.

Sorry but 'greng jai' is more a feeling of not wanting to impose on others.

**Smeg** · 25-02-2008, 05:09 PM

^ Yes, not wanting to inconvenience them in some way i.e. being considerate. Your point?

**chinthee** · 25-02-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Smeg

^ Yes, not wanting to inconvenience them in some way i.e. being considerate. Your point?

I think maybe EN was wanting to contrast that with Nam Jai, which is more of a volunteering outpouring of goodwill not attached to any feelings of convenience or not?

I'm not the Thai language expert. Just my two satang.

**DJ Pat** · 25-02-2008, 05:55 PM

Kleng Jai, Nam jai, I was called "jai damm" once when I stripped a girls blouse off ten minutes after she sat down on my sofa.

**DrAndy** · 25-02-2008, 06:27 PM

Did she have nice tits?

**DJ Pat** · 25-02-2008, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Did she have nice tits?

She had quite a decent sized pair of them - for a Thai girl - in fact.

I phoned her up out of the blue a year ago. She was in hospital just having had a baby boy.

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