Thread: "Farang" An Insult Or A Term Of Affection?

Something happened at home yesterday and I am not sure how to handle it.

My 5 year old daughter come home from school yesterday accompanied by her 5 year old Thai girlfriend. My wife had prepared a snack for them and they were talking in Thai and within hearing distance.
The subject they were discussing eventually got around to the topic "if your dads a farang are you a farang". My daughter was horrified. She said I am Thai not a farang and appeared upset that her friend would ask her such a question.
I thought it best not to become involved in their conversation at that point and decided to wait until my friend had gone home.

Afterwards I sat down with her and explained that as daddy was Australian and Mummy was Thai that she was a "Luk Khrung" or half Thai/ half Australian.
Without going into the birds and the bees subject she seemed happy with the explanation and went off to play.

I sat down and I was totally gob smacked. Didn't know what to think. Are these 2 terms derogatory and offensive labels or is it just a Thai way of pigeon holing us. Are they taking the piss and we don't know it or am I just being over sensitive?

I asked my 11 year daughter, (whom I have just recently recovered from my former ex-bar girl girlfriend and after a long battle), about what she thought I was and more importantly what she thought she was. She said I was a farang and she was a Thai, not a Luk Khrun.

I asked her whether she thought the term farang was a good term or a bad term and she said she didn't know but the other Thai girls at school always referred to the foreign kids as farang and it was considered funny amongst her Thai friends.

I would appreciate your advise about how you may handle this situation and or thoughts, either positive or negative regarding the term farang.

Thanks in advance.

I don't have any problem with the term Farang and it is a lot easier to say than white caucasian

I'm a falang, and it really doesn't bother me.

oh lord, here we go again

Originally Posted by Thetyim

I don't have any problem with the term Farang and it is a lot easier to say than white caucasian

Is that what farang means. White Caucasion. Asked a few Thais and they can't answer me clearly about what the term means other than for you white folk.

I have been told that the term was derived when the French entered Thailand on their way and eventually to Vietnam and whilst pointing at their chest saying French, French.

What do they call coloured people or Arabs or foreigners of non white appearance? Black farangs.

I suppose Farang sounds better than Kag which is the lovely label that they use for the Indians.

The issue is 'luk krun', not 'farang', I suggest. If your daughter is taunted, it will be more likely that it's about her ethnicity, not yours.

Any of us, at any time in our lives, may be taunted and bullied because of something about us that we cannot change. It hurts deeply only if we lack self-belief, self-esteem. I respectfully suggest to you that the answer to the problem lies there. Show your daughter who she is as a unique individual. Teach her to be believe in herself and be proud. Then she will be able to handle any ignorant comments and name calling that she might encounter at any time in her life.

The problem that you anticipate is not about you or your daughter. It's about ignorance and envy. Neither of you have anything to be ashamed of or to reproach yourselves for, of course, and you owe no explanation or justification to anyone.

She will also meet people who accept her for who she is so don't teach her to expect prejudice everywhere she goes.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by DrB0b

oh lord, here we go again

Can't please all the people all the time Dr.

But I gotta know and I am confident the answer may be found here

Originally Posted by Morden

The issue is 'luk krun', not 'farang', I suggest. If your daughter is taunted, it will be more likely that it's about her ethnicity, not yours.

Any of us, at any time in our lives, may be taunted and bullied because of something about us that we cannot change. It hurts deeply only if we lack self-belief, self-esteem. I respectfully suggest to you that the answer to the problem lies there. Show your daughter who she is as a unique individual. Teach her to be believe in herself and be proud. Then she will be able to handle any ignorant comments and name calling that she might encounter at any time in her life.

The problem that you anticipate is not about you or your daughter. It's about ignorance and envy. Neither of you have anything to be ashamed of or to reproach yourselves for, of course, and you owe no explanation or justification to anyone.


She will also meet people who accept her for who she is so don't teach her to expect prejudice everywhere she goes.

Good luck!

Great advise. I hope others read your words and who are in the same situation.

Honestly I have never had a reason to think about the "farang" word issue and after 20 years of living here. Another poster mentioned something on another thread about what Thai schools are teaching the local children and with regard to foreign acceptance and how they should treat us. What happened yesterday made me think about his post.

A big green although I am still not 100% satisfied with your farang advise.

Originally Posted by sabang

I'm a falang, and it really doesn't bother me.

Have you ever been up country or in a remote area of Thailand, walking down the Soi and parents have grabbed their kids pointing farang, farang. Honestly has never thought about it before until yesterday.

Better than what they call us in China Kwai Low (white devil) and as I have been informed.

I meant that 'farang' would be less of a problem to your daughter than the term applied to her, rather than no problem at all. Perhaps I'm wrong but I felt that, by focusing on 'farang' you were tending to put on yourself some blame for what you fear might be going on.

I don't know what teachers are telling students about this but remember also the influence of parents. Some will envy your daughter's favoured situation and will pass their feelings onto their own children. But don't get this out of proportion. You have your own attitudes and prejudices, if only because you are human, so
accept that others will too. Focus your daughter's attention on the positive. Deal with name calling only when it happens. There is no virtue in purity of race and you'd be hard pressed to find it anyway.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by DrB0b

oh lord, here we go again

Can't please all the people all the time Dr.

But I gotta know and I am confident the answer may be found here

It can. In several dozen threads stretching back several years. Near the top of the your screen, "search" button, get to know it, it's everybody's friend. (BTW, farang is originally Hmong for "look, a fat smelly sex-starved round-eye, spike his beer and take his money" ).

Dr.
Love your wit.

One of the main reasons I log on T.D.

My post was mainly created and to ask other more experienced foreign parents their advise regarding how they handled their own situationS and with regard to their luk krung children.

Times here may have changed and when compared to a few years ago.

Personally and with regard to foreign acceptance I believe they have.

F.M.I Are you fluent in thai?

^^^ HONG KONG

but the name for female is kwai por which I am sure means white bitch!! I heard the term 'ham sap por' while working there and asked a friend from HK what it meant and he said it meant horny bitch!

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by DrB0b

oh lord, here we go again

Can't please all the people all the time Dr.

But I gotta know and I am confident the answer may be found here

It can. In several dozen threads stretching back several years. Near the top of the your screen, "search" button, get to know it, it's everybody's friend. (BTW, farang is originally Hmong for "look, a fat smelly sex-starved round-eye, spike his beer and take his money" ).

Dr.
Love your wit.

One of the main reasons I log on T.D.

My post was mainly created and to ask other more experienced foreign parents their advise regarding how they handled their own situationS and with regard to their luk krung children.

Times here may have changed and when compared to a few years ago.

Personally and with regard to foreign acceptance I believe they have.

F.M.I Are you fluent in thai?

Nope, not fluent, not even close, most of my Thai is colloquial northern, archaic (from an interest in Thai history and cultural development), or related to magic, religion, and superstition (also particular interests of mine). I too have a half Thai kid and have been known to pop my top when he's referred to as a farang He's only two so I don't have to explain anything to him yet, I'll probably say something along the lines of there being ignorant sods everywhere and he has the advantage of two cultures, I'll also make sure he goes to a school with a good mix of children. On the other hand I might tell him to say that the reason he's bigger and whiter than the others is that his dad's Chinese-Thai and will have their dads whacked by his influential cronies

Hang on

What would they term Tiger Woods?

Mothers Loas (grew up in Thailand), fathers black American and Tiger was offered a Thai citizenship with all the trimmings (which he very graciously refused).

Known a few Thai/ Black american girls who have worked in bars here and the local girls generally blank them. Whats that all about Dr.?

Been working here for 20 years and received diddly squat not even an offer. Not complaing Dr. only took up the wrong vocation.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by DrB0b

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by DrB0b

oh lord, here we go again

Can't please all the people all the time Dr.

But I gotta know and I am confident the answer may be found here

It can. In several dozen threads stretching back several years. Near the top of the your screen, "search" button, get to know it, it's everybody's friend. (BTW, farang is originally Hmong for "look, a fat smelly sex-starved round-eye, spike his beer and take his money" ).

Dr.
Love your wit.

One of the main reasons I log on T.D.

My post was mainly created and to ask other more experienced foreign parents their advise regarding how they handled their own situationS and with regard to their luk krung children.

Times here may have changed and when compared to a few years ago.

Personally and with regard to foreign acceptance I believe they have.

F.M.I Are you fluent in thai?

Nope, not fluent, not even close, most of my Thai is colloquial northern, archaic (from an interest in Thai history and cultural development), or related to magic, religion, and superstition (also particular interests of mine). I too have a half Thai kid and have been known to pop my top when he's referred to as a farang He's only two so I don't have to explain anything to him yet, I'll probably say something along the lines of there being ignorant sods everywhere and he has the advantage of two cultures, I'll also make sure he goes to a school with a good mix of children. On the other hand I might tell him to say that the reason he's bigger and whiter than the others is that his dad's Chinese-Thai and will have their dads whacked by his influential cronies

You will have to buy him a Rolex and a big fcukoff jade ring for his third birthday then.

One smells overtime on the horizon for the doctor and less time spreading you wit on the T.D.

Originally Posted by Red dragon

^^^ HONG KONG

but the name for female is kwai por which I am sure means white bitch!! I heard the term 'ham sap por' while working there and asked a friend from HK what it meant and he said it meant horny bitch!

If your ever there again and find the need to use a wothwhile explanative and when your pissed off with someone say Kwai Low (fcuk you mother). Worked perfectly for me. The Hongky turned green and fcuked off.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

when your pissed off with someone say Kwai Low (fcuk you mother). Worked perfectly for me. The Hongky turned green and fcuked off.

Alternatively, he might have called you 'farang' in return for your insult. As you sow, so shall you reap. Can't have it both ways.

Originally Posted by Morden

I meant that 'farang' would be less of a problem to your daughter than the term applied to her, rather than no problem at all. Perhaps I'm wrong but I felt that, by focusing on 'farang' you were tending to put on yourself some blame for what you fear might be going on.

I don't know what teachers are telling students about this but remember also the influence of parents. Some will envy your daughter's favoured situation and will pass their feelings onto their own children. But don't get this out of proportion. You have your own attitudes and prejudices, if only because you are human, so
accept that others will too. Focus your daughter's attention on the positive. Deal with name calling only when it happens. There is no virtue in purity of race and you'd be hard pressed to find it anyway.

The farang issue, I am sure is not a problem for most of us here. BUT. We are far more subservient and with regard to the way we treat non anglo saxon people in our countries. The laws are set in place to protect these people and if labels are pasted on a particular race or non white coloured group all hell breaks loose. Civil suites, court cases and they win with a huge wedge of usually tax payers money as settlement.

We bend over backwards to watch our Ps and Qs and so as to not to be seen to even remotedly insult anyone race or ethnic background.

I wish the Thais could take a small leaf out of our books for once.

Originally Posted by Morden

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

when your pissed off with someone say Kwai Low (fcuk you mother). Worked perfectly for me. The Hongky turned green and fcuked off.

Alternatively, he might have called you 'farang' in return for your insult. As you sow, so shall you reap. Can't have it both ways.

Granted Im wrong.
Or does "fcuk you mother" reek of racial predudice connotations.
Sorry take it back.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

The farang issue, I am sure is not a problem for most of us here. BUT. We are far more subservient and with regard to the way we treat non anglo saxon people in our countries. The laws are set in place to protect these people and if labels are pasted on a particular race or non white coloured group all hell breaks loose. Civil suites, court cases and they win with a huge wedge of usually tax payers money as settlement.

We bend over backwards to watch our Ps and Qs and so as to not to be seen to even remotedly insult anyone race or ethnic background.

I wish the Thais could take a small leaf out of our books for once.

Racial discrimination is not illegal in Thailand.

Ai jek, ai dam, ai kaek, ai farang, ai ai ai!

Originally Posted by Morden

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

The farang issue, I am sure is not a problem for most of us here. BUT. We are far more subservient and with regard to the way we treat non anglo saxon people in our countries. The laws are set in place to protect these people and if labels are pasted on a particular race or non white coloured group all hell breaks loose. Civil suites, court cases and they win with a huge wedge of usually tax payers money as settlement.

We bend over backwards to watch our Ps and Qs and so as to not to be seen to even remotedly insult anyone race or ethnic background.

I wish the Thais could take a small leaf out of our books for once.

Racial discrimination is not illegal in Thailand.

Though it is illegal in our countries. Go figure it.

Sure????? They have such a menagerie of grey laws here I couldn't say whether you are right or wrong. They seem to pull out laws when and if they need too.

Just in a case I keep a bag packed and in the event I get the big read and a blacklist from the powers at be.
Not only express my views from the safety and behind this computer.
Been know to make a few Thai arses pucker and during open public forums.

Speak my peace always and regadless to who is in earshot.

By the way attaboy,

Got your message and thanks for the pics. Great stuff.

As I think we are neighbours I would be happy to buy you a beer or two one day.

Pick a time and place.

Thanks again.