Thais: Rude or ignorant

[Guest kjun12]

First I thought Thai people (not all but many) were stupid because they will just stand in the center an isle at a store or in the middle of a sidewalk while others have to squeeze around them. Then, for a while, I thought that I was wrong. But after living here for 4 years and observing the situation I am convinced that I am correct and they do this. What do you think? If you think that my observation is correct, why do you suppose they do this?

[Guest HeyGay]

First I thought Thai people (not all but many) were stupid because they will just stand in the center an isle at a store or in the middle of a sidewalk while others have to squeeze around them. Then, for a while, I thought that I was wrong. But after living here for 4 years and observing the situation I am convinced that I am correct and they do this. What do you think? If you think that my observation is correct, why do you suppose they do this?

 

 

Unfortunately they cannot afford a Swiss Finishing School like you.

 

You don

[Guest]

The problem is not limited to Thais.

 

In Britain, I notice people will stand in a doorway or at the top or bottom of an escalator, without any consideration for other people.

 

Generally I find Thais and some other Asians to be more polite & considerate than the AVERAGE westerner.

[Guest RichLB]

It seems to me the explanation is that worn out cliche, "It's cultural." For example, we Westerners are accustomed to forming a queue when approaching a cashier. Other cultures (including rural Thais) have an entirely different custom - they crowd and jockey for their goods to be taken first. In fact, for those people it is US that are seen as rude since while obediently standing in a line, we are blocking access to the cashier.

 

I've noticed other cultural differences to which I've had to make some adjustment. Have you noticed Germans tend to sit as far from a dining table as possible and proceed to shout at each other while eating? It's cultural, not rudeness. While in China and Spain, i was confounded by amply beamed dowagers walking abreast on narrow sidewalks and creating a parade of people wanting to pass them by. No one would think of gently pressing them aside, folks just trudge along behind them. Koreans are taught it is rude to establish eye contact with relative strangers; Westerners often interpret this as rude and unfriendly. We Westerners (espcially those with northern European heritage) establish a comfortable speaking distance of 2 to 2 1/2 feet; those from Latin cultures use 1 1/2 to 2 feet. This results in us misinterpreting them as pushy and aggressive while they often see us as standoffish and unfriendly. The list could go on.

 

So, before leaping to the conclusion that Thais are either rude or ignorant, make sure your cultural bias isn't shaping your judgment.

[Guest Thor69]

First I thought Thai people (not all but many) were stupid because they will just stand in the center an isle at a store or in the middle of a sidewalk while others have to squeeze around them. Then, for a while, I thought that I was wrong. But after living here for 4 years and observing the situation I am convinced that I am correct and they do this. What do you think? If you think that my observation is correct, why do you suppose they do this?

 

 

I believe it is cultural and if you were born in Thailand you might do the same things. I can imagine that most Thais are

shocked by your lack of manners when you eat with a fork. The Thais consider eating your food with a fork to be vulgar.

[Guest fountainhall]

I also think it is cultural. Have you noticed that in many situations, most Thais seek to avoid confrontation when possible in general discussion? Also, like many Asian cultures, many aspects of Thai culture are not as direct as those in the west. As with the Japanese, it's important to pay attention to and listen for the underlying content all the time!

[pong]

frankly, having just arroived back in BKK late yesterday eve, this is about the one thing I would not think of as being so tipical Thai. In fact I find the Thai (in this respect) FAR more taking care of others and taking care not to embarass or disturb as most westerners. Reminds me of the Brit/english league idea of standing right and passing left on escalators (in fact this is also very Russian-even though they are not polite at all), hwich people in my homeocuntry think of as being preached at and ''then stant up an hour earlier if you are in such a hurry''-for people tryiung to just catch that connecting train and being blocked.

[Guest kjun12]

Thanks to the responses I've received to my post, I see that it is probably a cultural thing and not a true rudeness on the part of Thais. The only statement made that I do not accept is the one by RichLB in which he says: [i]it is US that are seen as rude since while obediently standing in a line, we are blocking access to the cashier[/i]. I cannot believe that anyone in his right mind thinks like this.

[Bob]

Maybe it's more of a Pattaya thing as I don't see it very often up here in Chiangmai. Whether in the 7/11, Centran, bookstore, grocery store, or elsewhere, what I see is people in a queue rather patiently waiting and not jostling for the counter. I don't think anybody's jumped ahead of me once in the last 5 months that I can remember. A couple of hours ago I was standing in line at one of the local 7/11's and the elderly Thai lady ahead of me (seeing I had my arms somewhat full) even motioned me to go ahead of her (I didn't but thanked her just the same).

 

As to blocking sidewalks on occasion, I don't see it that often but I do think part of that is that the Thai sidewalks are sometimes rather narrow and are habitually used to plop anything down (including a restaurants' signs or tables, motorcycles, etc.); it's rather customary to walk around and in the street while that's fairly rare in the west. I do notice Thais in my way on occasion but a lot of that is due to the fact I walk faster then most of them.

 

So, I don't see much of what you all are talking about up here.

[Guest HeyGay]

Maybe it's more of a Pattaya thing as I don't see it very often up here in Chiangmai.

As to blocking sidewalks on occasion, I don't see it that often but I do think part of that is that the Thai sidewalks are sometimes rather narrow and are habitually used to plop anything down (including a restaurants' signs or tables, motorcycles, etc.); it's rather customary to walk around and in the street while that's fairly rare in the west. I do notice Thais in my way on occasion but a lot of that is due to the fact I walk faster then most of them.

 

So, I don't see much of what you all are talking about up here.

 

Yes you do find the Thai/Chinese have much more breeding than the many Thais, but what gets me is, I wish they would learn to wait to be spoken to and not butt In and to learn to queue.

 

As far as Americans are concerned you do find a few selfish ones who block the path Yes, Your Right, may be is because they come from ice and snow on the paths in the States, where they have to be careful how they walk or may be they are just a lot more selfish and inconsiderate, I

[Guest fountainhall]

I wish they would learn to wait to be spoken to and not butt In

I notice this happens a lot. I often find myself in the middle of answering a question when someone butts in and completely changes the subject!

[Guest ronnie4you]

If you have tried to enter a New York subway car, you have noticed that people love to stand in the doorway and not move when others are entering or leaving. Rudeness is universal.

[MrBill]

First I thought Thai people (not all but many) were stupid because they will just stand in the center an isle at a store or in the middle of a sidewalk while others have to squeeze around them... What do you think? If you think that my observation is correct, why do you suppose they do this?

 

Personally, I'm not surer which is worse - standing in the center isle and forcing people to squeeze by, or referring to those people as "stupid." Unaware? Perhaps. Inconsiderate? Can't say for sure, but certainly seems to be from my cultural frame of reference. But stupid? To me that IS inconsiderate and way off base. Don't think that mindset would get me a lot of Thai friends.

I recall the first time I came to Thailand I had to transfer at Japan's Narita Airport. I was standing in front of an elevator waiting to go up one level when the door opened and I was overrun by an elevator car full of Asians pushuing and shoving to get by. It pissed me off, but I later realized that they had different cultural standards about personal space, etc. Didn't make them any more stupid than me for thinking THEY were in the wrong! I find the same thing happens here in the States. Some people are just clueless about their surroundings. But I wouldn't consider them stupid or ignorant.

[KhorTose]

Some people are just clueless about their surroundings. But I wouldn't consider them stupid or ignorant.

 

Nor would I, but on the other hand, I have been thinking about this topic for a long time as I have noticed that Thais are inconsiderate of others not only when they block passageways, but when they drive. There is definitely an element of rudeness in their disdain for the other, By other, I do not mean farangs but other Thais as well. However, I hate to stereotype and I had no ready answer, until now. This is what I believe is behind the rudeness I see Thais display towards others.

 

According to a recent Thai survey:

According to the Poll director, Noppadol Kannikar, the survey was conducted among 3,971 persons in 28 provinces nationwide to determine their perspective whether they could accept corruption in the government.

 

Results showed that Thais who can accept government corruption still remains high at 64 percent, but the most worrying groups are children and young adults who will be the future of the country which counts for up to 50 percent. Meanwhile adults in nearly all age groups, more than 60 percent accept government corruption.

 

Mr. Noppadol added that people with higher education tends to disapprove of the government's corruption. Results showed that 64 percent of people without a bachelor's degree accept government's corruption, 62 percent with bachelor's degree agrees with the idea, where as 50 percent of people who earn more than a bachelor's degree education accept government corruption.

 

The Poll director said what is more worrying is that this wrong idea has crept into the heads of people, including students.

http://thainews.prd....id=255402060002

 

I believe this apparent acceptance of corruption is what is behind the rudeness I see Thais display towards each other, both in and out of cars, It generates an every man for himself mode of thinking. Why be honest when it gets you nowhere. Take care of your own, and screw everyone else, as that is what everyone is doing. While I know that Thai Buddhism teaches differently, I believe that the reality of Thai life takes precedent over the teachings that seem so widely ignored.

 

 

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[Bob]

Hmmmm.....Khun KT, I agree with you about the driving skills but I'm not quite on board that this relates to their view (as normal or abnormal let alone right or wrong) on corruption. Doesn't seem logically related to me.

 

I used to think that the driving skills would improve if/when they instituted some form of reasonable drivers' education classes for those about to obtain a driving license. But, to be honest, some of the worst driving I see here (Chiangmai) seems to be by the older drivers and you'd think they'd gain some expertise by experience that they never received through any formal training.

 

In the last 5 months, the only falang I've driven with up here has been Kuhn KT himself. It's rather fun to drive with him (he's a rather safe driver, folks) as it seems we get to almost simultaneously yell out "hey, look at what that moron is doing!" multiple times per trip.