Thailand Portalen (version 2004)

Oprettet af sabai sabai d. 09/12-2007 16:03

Sakset fra Stickman´ugebrev.. idag .

Thais take revenge seriously. The act of revenge can be far more severe than the original act. Revenge local style is not always just about fixing the bitterness so to speak, but of responding with such force and such resolve that that the original perpetrator will not dare ever do anything to that person or their family / acquaintance / gang / group again.

If you have ever seen a fight between Thais you know that they do not stop when the victim is down. That's when things heat up and they really go to town, when they take the opportunity to not just hurt, but even maim their opponent. One with permanent injuries and long-lasting physical damage as well as the psychological damage of a beating is much less likely to cause them harm in the future.

If you cause a Thai enough grief, cause them to lose face so terribly badly, or do something to them so unspeakable that their lives are turned upside down, you run a very real risk of being the target of extreme retaliation. There is not one family in this country, not one, which does not have the means or the resolve to see that your life is ended. Even the sweetest, most loveable and seemingly wholesome families know where to go and who to see if they suffer at another's hands.

All Thais understand the system perfectly well. Why do so many big guys have bodyguards? Believe me, bodyguards are not for show in Thailand.

As if proof was needed, take the example of three former bar bosses who at different times ran the Hollywood Strip bars in Nana Plaza. Each ended up in a pool of their own blood not long after relieving a member of staff of their duties. Yes, just for firing someone (and it may well have been justified), revenge was sought. Bloody revenge. But don't let this infer that revenge is only made by those involved the seedier side. Oh no. ANY Thai has the potential to plot an act of revenge.

Revenge local style is extreme, and farangs are the easiest of targets. Most Westerners in Thailand are close to clueless as to what is going on around them and wouldn't perceive any danger until it was way too late. And most Westerners simply do not have the local contacts to help them or protect them, nor the knowledge to know how to go about resolving the situation in an accepted manner.

Westerners have to be careful about retaliating themselves as Thais think nothing of going to extreme lengths in cases of revenge - and that could very well result in someone going home in a wooden box. In other words, don't allow yourself to get into the situation in the first place!

So why was the Thai lady all apologetic after I had yelled at her? Simple really and you should have figured it out already - she feared revenge! Thais know that if they do something that upsets someone enough then revenge against them - or members of their family - is a very real issue. In the case of the girl I yelled at, by apologising profusely there and then she resolved the situation and there was no possibility of a later price to be paid.

I really do my best to avoid not getting on the wrong side of the locals. I am not talking about small disagreements here, and I a, not talking about failing to complain when something clearly isn't right, but rather leaving someone with a bad taste in their mouth. If you have wronged someone OR if you have done something which seriously upset a Thai (whether you think their reaction was relevant or not), it is worth apologizing. To do so will most likely end the situation. Show contrition and a willingness to take on board that you were wrong and that should see an end to it.

Of course there are times when you may be perceived to have done something wrong, when in fact you hadn't. In such cases it my or may not be possible to explain the situation. Just remember that the lower classes – and that is still much of the Thai population – may simply be unable to see it from your point of view. Thais are monocultural and your logic might be completely lost on them. It might even be seen as antagonistic. Apologising is the best way to quickly resolve a situation and I don't think we are necessarily talking about giving up our pride or dignity here, but simple commonsense.

The average Thai is petrified of pissing off another Thai. That's why the average decent Thai is so fast to apologise when called on something. It is also, I believe, a small part of the myriad of complexities as to why Thais smile so often, and also why they do not often get involved in others' business, even when they could be of assistance, as in the case of a car accident or someone being picked on in a public place. They just don't want to do anything that could be perceived the wrong way.

Thais have many wonderful qualities, but if I was asked to describe the local character, vengeful would be near the top of the list. I am careful of not pissing the locals off.

Oprettet af sabai sabai d. 10/12-2007 12:39

Lidt mere fra Hua-Hin forum.

Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was recently awoken at 4 am by my girlfriend whispering in my ear that there was an intruder in the house and thrusting a baseball bat into my hands .I crept out through the bathroom and charged at the intruder, naked, swinging the bat at his legs .The sight of me naked probably scared him more than the bat .The slippery mutant dodged me and jumped, in one movement,out of the window that he had forced open and over the wall.He then sprinted like Linford accross the pineapple plantation behind the house .I had no hope of catching him and so patrolled the house looking for others .

To their credit the local police were quick on the scene and surmised ,as had I,by the colour of the mud on the shoes left behind that the culprit was from a building site close by .They arrived to find me roaring in frenzied indignation at the ,mostly innocent,builders and searching the site for the offenders .By this time everyone on site had grassed the offenders right up .

.They later arrested 3 of the four men involved .It seems they could not find the one that was in the house .I can only ,cynically, assume that the site boss paid them off and sent the guy back home for a while .

Again to their credit the area is now very well patrolled and there have been no further incidents .We have a set of books which the police fill in when they visit .Cost 1000 bt per month between around 20 houses,normally 500 per home .I have tried this on several occasions over the years here and it has not worked .Now it does .The local Poo Yai helped us with this as he is embarrassed that this could happen in his territory .It causes loss of face for him .A card that those suffering similar incidents could perhaps play ?

police told me The that the offenders were Burmese and that Thai people did not steal (not to lose face of course) .They told my girlfriend that ours was an isolated and unusual incident (one in 12 years here I tend to agree) and that the main burglary problem they have is with teenage gangs right now not transient builders .
Back to top