Let's keep in mind that many of us are not used to domestic help. My Mom and Dad and brothers and sisters did ALL household work from cooking, cleaning to caring for the lawn and garden.
I'm sure most foreigners treat Thai help differently than Thais. Thais are often taken aback at how I treat hired help when giving them food, drink and generally carrying on as if they were EQUALS???
"Goddamn it Lord, bless oh ye this bacon..."
George Liquor American
Actually that is a very good point PH. I recall the same sort of thing when our cleaning lady (who live with us 24/7) would come up to my room for some music after the evening chores. Parents thought it was "weird" and they told me that "she was just the help!"
Is le He.
Originally Posted by you_me_no_savy_talk_talk
...majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd...
Thais have huge inferiority complexes and looking down on whoever they can is one of a couple of ways to help alleviate it. The other way has already been discussed. (Doing things for appearance)
One of those examples of where we'll NEVER speak the same language. I'm reminded of recent occasions when (the management of the moo ban having just been taken over by residents) I've mentioned to various nice, ostensibly liberal and progressive, english-speaking neighbours, the idea of having a pool party for all the security guards and maids - just one day, y'know - bit of food etc - as a thank you.
'Tumbleweed moment' I think the phrase is. it's not that any have disagreed of course (being Thai an' all) just that they don't...say...anything.
^ Same response when I asked about their feeling towards a "famous unmentionable" guy's son once. If they can't say anything nice .. they keep their mouths shut.
Absolutely spot on!
Right from when I was a small boy, I can remember plumbers, carpenters and builders coming to the house and the first thing Mom or Dad would do is offer them a cup of tea and a biscuit. Then there would be a lengthy chat about the weather, the current state of the plumbing business and Arsenal's changes in next week's FA Cup Final. Eventually a little bit of work got done. And that's the kind of culture that many of us grew up in and treating handymen and service people well (or almost like a good friend) is just second nature to us.
When handymen come to our house, they are lucky if they get a half-glass of tepid tapwater, and that's only if my mother-in-law takes pity on them on such a hot day. If it's left to my wife, they'll get fuck all. I'm the one fussing around like a tart wanting to give them glasses of Sprite or Fanta orange with the tinkle tinkle of fresh ice-cubes. But my wife will shoo me away and say "no need, no need"
On the rare occasion I have given an ice-cold glass of Pepsi to a Thai tradesman, you can never be sure what their reaction is. Surprise? Shock? Gratitude? Embarrassment? I've never worked it out. But it's clear that most if not all Thais treat them like shit.
It's natural for me to treat just about everyone as equals. It doesn't always work in your favour. Many people in this world will confuse kindness with weakness.
I've heard some Thais say that actually .. but I've witnessed the opposite a lot too. Maybe it's just the insecure ones who act like cunts.
Whenever you green me, I think you're a pussy.
I think you should start leaving money around, see if she steals. Then beat her ass.
This is it... The apocalypse.
Yeah, it's like charity. Pity.
---Update---
Go ahead, try it out. You'll like a better human being.
I feel human when I red. I'm going to red everybody all the time. I now it diminishes the hard work I do redding Cyrille and FRT, but I gotta do what needs to be done. EVERYONE GETS REDDED ALL THE TIME.
I'll turn the other cheek by greening you every time mine arrives. Then you'll feel bad.
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Bookmarks