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Travel The MEGA Travel Thread!

I know.

China is only second to Thailand on my shitlist (Israel being third). Those who know me enough know why I have said shitlist and why it is actually more humourous than it is malicious.

Anyway... my argument is that the very basic structures on which Thai society is built are based on deceit, shallowness, and parroting, all to cover up what seems to be a very primitive structure that simply does not work in modern times. Everything in Thailand that is not "ooga booga cannibal stone age" matter is imported and copied.

M.B. mentioned the mantra "TIT"

Let me remind you of yet another Thailand mantra: "Same Same, but different".

It seems that Thais borrow crap from other cultures to cover up their own lack of innovation. Think of it this way: you have a semi-confucian saving-face mentality superimposed on shibuya-inspired fashionistas who woo white colonial-style men, in an allyway behind a Khmer temple built over Cylon-imported buddhist ideas superimposed on primitive ancestor worship.

Yes, this is a generalization.

Sadly, Thailand is one society that has actually based its very own structure on generalization, and IMO and IME, Thailand's choice of generalizations was horrifically wrong.

Don't even get me (or Carl) started on the comedy that is Thai Politics...

Why is this fact so difficult for westerners to accept?

p.s. I think a big problem in this discussion is the misunderstanding of what I mean by "society". I am talking as a social-constructionist sociologist. When I say "society", I am not talking about race. I am talking about structures that were constructed by a collective identity.
 
rangrz said:
I'm racist towards Japan because their racist towards me...I find it humorous in its own way.
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man thats totally and incredibly weak. I've been thinking lately how weak and feeble the human race is. Your quote - what a great example of the kind of weakness I see in humans.
 
sunyata said:
man thats totally and incredibly weak. I've been thinking lately how weak and feeble the human race is. Your quote - what a great example of the kind of weakness I see in humans.
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It's a natural reaction. Have you ever spent a considerable time in a foreign country vastly different from your own?

If you live amongst a people and make an honest effort, but in return get mostly narrow-minded rejection based on absolute ignorance, I dare you to overcome those same feelings.
 
jamshyd... haha don't get me started on Israel... never been there, no desire to go, their politics and the Isrealis I meet in Asia when I travel are enough for me to wish them off the bloody map. hah, there goes my racist... mind you, I am anti-Zionist.

Anyway... sometimes I think of the Thais as big kids, emotionally and mentally... not in a bad way, but it sure looks like that from a Western point of view. But I think we can learn a lot from that...

If they indeed "borrow crap from other cultures to cover up their own lack of innovation" then they do what most globalised/globalising/metropolitan societies do, it is inevitable. Sure there may be much generalisation in their society specifically, but you do not seem to realise that what you are doing is basically deny any Thai citizen any kind of individuality. How wrong you are, my friend.

Sometimes I can't help thinking that much of your depression stems from your intolerance and inflexibility of mind and that you attracted whatever miseries were bestowed upon you in Thailand. I am not unlike you with my tendency to be miserable, and with my self-righteous indignation towards people who seem to be doing me wrong - especially abroad! I remember well my interior monologue of spite and hatred in Japan and in China... but I try to remain aware it's me me me thinking that and they may not be quite as bad as i seem to be thinking.

In any case... you're spot-on about Thai politics... but to be quite honest the Jokers we have here in Europe aren't much better. And don't get me started on the US... Canada is perhasp the only government in the Western world I have any respect for... the reason being mainly one website, for I know little about your government. The website is one I have made ample use of to get my sociology students access to quality info when it comes to the media... www.media-awareness.ca .... after visiting that site I realised that yourgovernment seems to want its citizens awake, aware and capable of critical independent thought. That is very rare in this world.
 
Multiple-entry Non Immigrant visa ... does anyone know how difficult it is to obtain of these valid for a year? Do you have to open a company in Thailand?
 
not to say that no work is done, but in an EFL class in Southeast Asia there just isn't the pressure that you get at Western secondary schools.
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So not true at all for Koreans. My Korean students study very very hard (and their overzealous moms) are very exacting and strict when it comes to the quality of education their kids are getting. It can be a bit tedious and nervewracking but if you really truly love to teach (I know I do) it is very rewarding and keeps me on my toes too. I <3 my Korean students.
I have many students who have studied in other countries (America, Canada, Australia) and they unanimously agree that they had the most relaxing time while studying in those places as compared to their country.
Just MY experience of course (reiterating!)


/end derail thread
 
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Humanity is hopless, yes, and that is why we should love one-another... because we are all a victim of our collective pain-causing stupidity.
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That's exactly what I've been thinking recently, it's like banging my head against a wall, for example, my supposed "liberal, intellectual, brainy" brother's-in-law (as well as many ppl at Bluelight) are soooo naive about conspiracies (they have knee-jerk reactions whenever I bring up 9/11, the Kennedy assassinations or Holocaust).

haha don't get me started on Israel... never been there, no desire to go, their politics and the Isrealis I meet in Asia when I travel are enough for me to wish them off the bloody map. hah, there goes my racist... mind you, I am anti-Zionist.
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That's interesting . . . I am anti-Zionist but not any more anti-Jew than I am anti-Islam, anti-"Christianity" or anti-superstition. U hafta figure most Israelis have served in the military. Wonder how many have actually killed someone. If U've ever met someone who killed someone, U'll notice it in their demeanour . . . one of the reasons so many veterans have PTSD or a weird personality.

My experience with Thailand is similar with Mexico . . . they are both just as poor. Thailand is cleaner (at least where I've been) and the children in both countries seem much happier than children in the $tates.
 
mariacallas said:
I have many students who have studied in other countries (America, Canada, Australia) and they unanimously agree that they had the most relaxing time while studying in those places as compared to their country.
Just MY experience of course (reiterating!)
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they probably spent time at private language schools or they were exchange students, an experience that is generally known to be culturally stimulating yet academically a walk in the park. their experience cannot be compared to that of regular secondary school students, i don't think.
 
sunyata said:
man thats totally and incredibly weak. I've been thinking lately how weak and feeble the human race is. Your quote - what a great example of the kind of weakness I see in humans.
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its only based on being treated as subhuman the times I have been to Japan.

If I go again, and am treated with respect, I will return it...the same way I treat any tourist/visitor/ect to my country with the same dignity and respect I gave a native Canadian.

so you can go do lewd things to yourself....
 
In Japan I was treated as a subhuman by some, surely.

However, i was also often treated like a demi-god... I was in my mid-20s and I was Brad Pitt, I was Ewan McGregor, I was David Beckham. Of course 95% of those who put me on such a podium were 18-year-old girls who fancied me to bits. Plus, looking up to someone like that due to their obvious ethnic differences is no less an act of racism than looking down on them. Mind you, it did boost my ego and I did find my mojo in Japan. Prior to living in Japan I was rather shy and introverted especially around girls. Since Japan the girls find me attractive even back home, which they didn't do so much before. So it did do me good ... thank you, Japan.
 
nickels said:
It's a natural reaction. Have you ever spent a considerable time in a foreign country vastly different from your own?

If you live amongst a people and make an honest effort, but in return get mostly narrow-minded rejection based on absolute ignorance, I dare you to overcome those same feelings.
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ok fair enough. well I lived in atlanta for two years amongst the native african american people.

I bought their 'dro' and listened to their 'beats'
 
This thred is getting old... Ill just end on my part by saying Thailand is exactually what you want to make it. You should come and check it out. Try and leave your baggage behind you when you come and just enjoy yourself.

...........................................................................................................................................

Also

Regarding people who box whole societies...well they are just morrons.just like these clowns, for example.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nazi_Anti-Semitic_Propaganda_by_David_Shankbone.jpg

http://www.adl.org/terrorism_america/saying_121101.asp

http://www.ejpress.org/article/13918

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-04-09-anti-semitism-canada_N.htm

http://www.yayacanada.com/fraser.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbdlJVnskus

.....

http://www.video4viet.com/watchvide...=Police+Knock+Guy+Out+On+Khaosan+Road+Bangkok

http://www.video4viet.com/watchvide...&title=Women+Fight+At+Kao+San+Road+-+Thailand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7P-lm5KJg
 
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mr Bungle said:
This thred is getting old... Ill just end on my part by saying Thailand is exactually what you want to make it. You should come and check it out. Try and leave your baggage behind you when you come and just enjoy yourself.
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qftmft
 
Ximot said:
they probably spent time at private language schools or they were exchange students, an experience that is generally known to be culturally stimulating yet academically a walk in the park. their experience cannot be compared to that of regular secondary school students, i don't think.
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Think so? ;) In my opinion , school life in Korea (especially for middle school and highschool students ) is 100% times more stressful than in anywhere else in the world (with the exception of maybe Japan) but thats just MY observation.
 
^ Taiwan is pretty rough too. (Japanese educational model, like Korea.)
It's really not possible to get pushed through this system without your personality becoming somewhat Type A.
 
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