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Welshman · 15th March 2007, 17:36

I think that one of the problems that the OP (and many others have) is in understanding that, outside so called ‘western’ societies, racism exists and, to them, is perfectly natural and acceptable.

In the UK and US ‘racism’ (along with other ‘minorities’ issues) has become a growth industry and uttering opinions along racist grounds is seen as taboo or can even get you running foul of the law.

So coming from the UK or the US it probably is a shock to come up against open racism.

I know that when I visited Russia the racism there was unbelievable and, with so many races in their society, plenty of people to look down on or treat with suspicion.

I remember that the woman I was staying with on one occasion saying that another westerner she had met previously had said that she was racist, and couldn’t understand what he was on about. Even when I’d explained it to her she just shrugged and said ‘so what’ the (fill in the gap here) are drunks/smell/murder you in your beds/steal/….etc.

But, rather than condemning, try to understand the probable cause. Certainly, as far as Russia is concerned, it’s wrapped up in their history and even many of the Russian classics will have racist comments and undertones.

As far as Thais are concerned, I don’t believe they’re any worse than any other non-western society.

The only advice I can give is live with it. If you can’t, then don’t stay – you’re not going to get them to throw out centuries of traditional thinking.

15th March 2007, 17:36	#55 (permalink)
Welshman Welshman is long in the tooth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Garden Homes Village, Minitmai Road Posts: 3,323 vCash: 500 Rep Power: 388	Re: Are Thai taught to be raciest people. I think that one of the problems that the OP (and many others have) is in understanding that, outside so called ‘western’ societies, racism exists and, to them, is perfectly natural and acceptable. In the UK and US ‘racism’ (along with other ‘minorities’ issues) has become a growth industry and uttering opinions along racist grounds is seen as taboo or can even get you running foul of the law. So coming from the UK or the US it probably is a shock to come up against open racism. I know that when I visited Russia the racism there was unbelievable and, with so many races in their society, plenty of people to look down on or treat with suspicion. I remember that the woman I was staying with on one occasion saying that another westerner she had met previously had said that she was racist, and couldn’t understand what he was on about. Even when I’d explained it to her she just shrugged and said ‘so what’ the (fill in the gap here) are drunks/smell/murder you in your beds/steal/….etc. But, rather than condemning, try to understand the probable cause. Certainly, as far as Russia is concerned, it’s wrapped up in their history and even many of the Russian classics will have racist comments and undertones. As far as Thais are concerned, I don’t believe they’re any worse than any other non-western society. The only advice I can give is live with it. If you can’t, then don’t stay – you’re not going to get them to throw out centuries of traditional thinking.