Thanks, I’ve just quickly read your previous post and I know what you are saying. Even that description, to me fits us Viets, but to different degree.
One thing I’m suspicious about your views regarding the Thai is that you keep on insisting that the Thai have some kind of a real superiority complex. They, in my view, actually have a inferiority complex just like most Viets and most Asians, but they deal with it in different ways.
If you know how to troll Thai people in real life, you can easily make them expose their inferiority complex. My interaction with Thai is deeper than just visiting or eating at their house, etc. Some Thai I know, we’ve been friends for years. And I love trolling them in real life (I dont troll on PDF though, I am here to learn and discuss). Lets just say, these Thai are just hiding their inferiority complex with a brave mask that resembles a superiority complex and nationalism. If the admins and mods can agree to give me a temporary immunity from getting banned (please lobby this for me if you agree), I can try to show you this by trolling the Thai members here. Of course, Im only talking in general terms since not every Thai are like what I said.
And here is my question to you...If you think the Thai really do possess a geniune superiority complex or Thai exceptionalism (as expressed by their nationalism, etc), then why does their country tolerate such relatively widespread prostitution that often results in embarrassing incidents for Thailand??
Would a nation with a geniune superiorty complex or some kind of real nationalism/racial exceptionalism (I’m thinking about Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy here) tolerate social issues such as widespread prostitution where a lot of clients are foreigners, especially when such issue is the butt of a joke for many foreign countries? I cant see Nazi Germany/Fascist Italy would tolerate this kind of situation.
OK I’ll be off for a few hours.
I really understand you when you say: "Oh Viet people are like that too". But the thing is, its actually to a very high degree of difference and fits into a different mold pattern. When you combine all those things, the end result is a very different national trait and characteristics.
Yes, they do have a very strong superiority complex, but they will not show it in a straight way, face to face, again, that would be against their cultural pattern. They always blame everything on foreigners as much as possible and they always make excuses to save face; yes, you are going to say: Viets too, but no, its way, way different.
Why they have a superiority complex and still they allow their reputation to be trashed? Ahhh another element of the Thai cultural pattern, the concept of "Mai pen rai" Never mind, let them do, its their business, I don't care, I don't get involved,live and let live. If you dig deep into the Thai social fabric, you'll see that prostitution is just one of many negative elements that have grown to incredible levels. Homicides, Thailand is number 1 together with USA. Human trafficking, that's big time there as recently got exposed (exposed in just minor ways, there is a lot more). Corruption, that's big time with Thai police and the military. They are involved with everything. Prostitution is illegal in Thailand actually, surprised? No problem, as long as the police get their cut, everything is a go. Prostitution directed to the Thai market is actually much bigger than prostitution dedicated to the foreign / tourist market, which is just an extension of the local market.
But still, how can that be possible if Thais are so proud and have such a superiority complex? Ahhh because 80-90% of the prostitutes come from Isan (North east, Lao people), they are not even considered real Thai people by the Bangkok elite, so who cares about them? They have to be good for something after all and they have to serve the local market also. That's how they see it. Oh my God, but how about the country reputation? Are we making money? (meaning the police and the elites are making money?) then who cares, its fine, money talks in Thailand, everything is for sale including the country's reputation if there is good money to be made.
Thailand is known for always going in whatever direction the wind blows, they have no problem with that, principles? who cares about that? What direction leads to more profits? Ok, lets go in that direction. That's another Thai cultural pattern.
You have a strong analytical mind, but the problem here is that you are trying to understand Thailand with Viet eyes and it doesn't work that way. Why would Thailand allowed its reputation to be trashed with prostitution? Vietnam would never allowed that. Actually, in Vietnam is illegal for a foreigner to be in a hotel room with a Viet woman unless they are legally married. Thailand would never do something like that. Many things that don't make sense to you lead you to the wrong conclusions about Thailand, but those things do make sense for Thailand.
See it as a contradiction if you like, but it actually fits into their cultural pattern. When in doubt, listen to the people that have a lot of experience in Thailand, you can easily research this online, go to thaivisa.com (main forum for westerners in Thailand), etc. You will find that people will tell you the same things that I tell you. A few people here already told you so.
