Thread: Holier than thou Thaiophiles - The irony.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

We all know Thais have different traits to us western bred foreigners. We view and process the world with our brain and they use their hearts (jai). We aim to be logical, efficient and adhere to common sense. They aim to keep harmony, avoid anything uncomfortable or confrontational, and just follow the senior person without thinking.

Errrr.....

Yawn.....

blimey Smeg, you do have a very precise definition, almost tailored to one person you personally know

if I were to look up "francophile" in the dictionary, for instance, the meaning, pertaining to France of course, would be very different

^ sure, although it is to admire france and french people. They probably don't like criticism of it.

Unlike Thailand, France is part the west and has mainly western people and culture in it, and isn't a place westerners generally use to seek refuge / self-importance / budget hedonism in

Have you considered it's the way you criticise?

Yes, I have considered that.

Are you aware of the importance of not criticising a person in Thai culture in order to keep harmony?

Are you even aware of Thai culture?

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Have you considered it's the way you criticise?

Yes, I have considered that.

Are you aware of the importance of not criticising a person in Thai culture in order to keep harmony?

Are you even aware of Thai culture?

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

...they need to try and look down on the realists...

You really don't do yourself many favours do you.

Well to be honest Chairman Mao, you come across with quite a patronising tone when you make your comments 'are you even aware of Thai culture'.

Now if I a western educated foreigner takes your comments as a patronising personal attack, then why does it surprise you when Thai people do also?

Are you aware of the importance of not criticising a person in Thai culture in order to keep harmony?

Yes, well aware of this. Also well aware of many Thai people that take and accept criticism very well, many even better than you.

Are you able to give criticism and maintain harmony? That is the trick.

It was a confusing OP, but good to see that "thaiophile" has taken root Maybe it'll be in the 2009 oxford dictionary

Originally Posted by Smeg

It was a confusing OP, but good to see that "thaiophile" has taken root Maybe it'll be in the 2009 oxford dictionary

Thaiophile
Thai·o·phile[Tie-o-file]
-noun one who forms their own opinions and/or arrives at a different conclusion to Smeg; generic label for persons whom deal with trivial matters in a constructive manner: He disagreed with Smeg therefore he was a Thaiophile.

Thaiophiles push any thought of going back to their native land to the back of their mind. Regardless of common sense, doing so is simply viewed as a backward step, hence all thoughts of the future are focused on Thailand. "Where shall I live within Thailand? Where are the best jobs within Thailand? " This places the Thaiophile onto a likely one-way emigration path. Whether or not this path will provide him with a better life than he would have had if he had never discovered Thailand will never be known, because Thailand has taken over the driving seat.

So if looking for somewhere to live in Thailand makes someone a "Thaiophile" you must be one yourself.

Originally Posted by Smeg

Thaiophiles push any thought of going back to their native land to the back of their mind. Regardless of common sense, doing so is simply viewed as a backward step, hence all thoughts of the future are focused on Thailand. "Where shall I live within Thailand? Where are the best jobs within Thailand? " This places the Thaiophile onto a likely one-way emigration path. Whether or not this path will provide him with a better life than he would have had if he had never discovered Thailand will never be known, because Thailand has taken over the driving seat.

For posterity

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

The real irony being that while conveniently avoiding the matter, they need to try and look down on the realists who simply point out the differences between the two peoples via insults.

Very true. They want free speach only for themselves.

Plenty of these holier than thou Thaiophiles here, even more of these twats on TV.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

The real irony being that while conveniently avoiding the matter, they need to try and look down on the realists who simply point out the differences between the two peoples via insults.

So being a realist you point out the differences between the two sets of people via insults?

What, people who cannot accept others talking about the different mentalities of Thais and foreigners brought about via different methods of learning and culture, on TV? Really?

Originally Posted by Lorenzo

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

The real irony being that while conveniently avoiding the matter, they need to try and look down on the realists who simply point out the differences between the two peoples via insults.

Very true. They want free speach only for themselves.

Plenty of these holier than thou Thaiophiles here, even more of these twats on TV.

That's funny. Because it seems you guys all make the same mistake, you start from the position that your opinions are somehow fact and that you're doing everyone else a favour by selflessly disseminatiing the 'truth'.

Of course that others may have their own opinions and have arrived at their own conclusions never seems to come into with you chaps; unless your version of the 'truth' is agreed with wholeheartedly then they're "Thaiophiles".

In a nutshell: whilst we all have our own trials and tribulations living in Thailand it appears that unless you constantly, pointlessly, and ineffectually arse on about it and insult Thais with bigoted generalisations on an anonymous internet forum then you have a 'problem'.

Originally Posted by melvbot

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

The real irony being that while conveniently avoiding the matter, they need to try and look down on the realists who simply point out the differences between the two peoples via insults.

So being a realist you point out the differences between the two sets of people via insults?

Nope. The average Thaiophile looks down on the people openly discussing the 'differences' between the two with insults. It is sad, as most of them seem to have a closed mind when it comes to such topics.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

The average Thaiophile looks down on the people openly discussing the 'differences' between the two with insults.

Well then there's your problem right there, the need to 'discuss' things with insults.

Of course you do realise that "Thaiophile" is intended as an insult according to the definition and usage you've given it right. Because that's rather hypocritical.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

..insult Thais with bigoted generalisations...

See, mention:

We all know Thais have different traits to us western bred foreigners. We view and process the world with our brain and they use their hearts (jai). We aim to be logical, efficient and adhere to common sense. They aim to keep harmony, avoid anything uncomfortable or confrontational, and just follow the senior person without thinking.

I feel that cultural and rote learning are the 2 main factors in our ‘different’ ways of acting and thinking.

Point out some basic differences, as generalisations of course, there's always exeptions to the rule, but generalisations become generalisations for a very good reason, and what do you get - called a bigot. For simply pointing out the different aims of both in given situations. Generally speaking we aim to logically and efficiently come to a solution using common sense (as we see it), Thais generally aim to keep harmony and avoid anything uncomfortable or confrontational.

Point that out and I get insulted!

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

..insult Thais with bigoted generalisations...

See, mention:

We all know Thais have different traits to us western bred foreigners. We view and process the world with our brain and they use their hearts (jai). We aim to be logical, efficient and adhere to common sense. They aim to keep harmony, avoid anything uncomfortable or confrontational, and just follow the senior person without thinking.

I feel that cultural and rote learning are the 2 main factors in our ‘different’ ways of acting and thinking.

Point out some basic differences, as generalisations of course, there's always exeptions to the rule, but generalisations become generalisations for a very good reason, and what do you get - called a bigot. For simply pointing out the different aims of both in given situations. Generally speaking we aim to logically and efficiently come to a solution using common sense (as we see it), Thais generally aim to keep harmony and avoid anything uncomfortable or confrontational.

Point that out and I get insulted!

But you're not only/merely 'pointing out some basic differences' are you. It may well suit your purposes to play the innocent victim/party but you're clearly not. You have used gross generalisations and made bigoted remarks, it's right there in your post history.

So if the cap fits it's a bit rich complaining that you find being called a bigot for making bigoted remarks insulting. You've got things a bit mixed up there, do you want a free-pass or something!?

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Of course you do realise that "Thaiophile" is intended as an insult according to the definition and usage you've given it right. Because that's rather hypocritical.

Ant...you're actually stooping to reason with this dickhead! Fooking red coming your way!

Originally Posted by CSFFan

Ant...you're actually stooping to reason with this dickhead! Fooking red coming your way!

Dangnamit, that'll learn me!