Want to hear my favorite Canadian joke? Here it is: Two Canadians, let’s call them Bob and Doug, are snowed in and bored. Bob says, “I’m bored, eh. Want to play a game?” “Doug says, “Sure, why not – how about 20 questions? I’ll go first.” So Doug thinks of something that Bob couldn’t possibly guess – moose cock. Bob says, “Okay, animal, vegetable or mineral…is it animal?” Ummm, yes it is.” “Is it bigger than a bread box?” “No, smaller than a bread box.” “Is it something you can eat?” “Hahaha, well, yes, I guess you could eat it if you had no other choice.” “Is it moose cock?” (Pause for laughter) Okay, maybe it’s not a great joke, but I like it for its pure stupidity, and it goes to show something interesting: us Canadians love making fun of ourselves. I was thinking about this over the past few days when a story a friend wrote blew up online, showing that Thais most definitely do not like people – even Thais – poking fun at Thailand.
The story in question – How to Be a Bangkok Local: Ten Tips on Faking It – has caused a huge uproar on the internets, shooting past 6,000 shares on Facebook in only two days, re-tweets coming fast and furious, a huge amount of discussion on Thai message boards, and a lively comment thread full of ignorance, abuse and reason in equal measures. Well, almost equal measures. Essentially the article is a lighthearted jab at some Bangkok stereotypes – office workers shielding themselves from 30 seconds of sun with their purses, standing in front of a BTS/elevator door and rushing in when it opens, ignoring problems instead of facing them head on to find solutions…that kind of thing. But from the reaction online you’d think it was an all-out assault on Thai culture. Some comments from the story, all (sic):
The author knows too much about Bangkok. This is a (hilarious) inside joke. Probably not fit for a tourist journal though.
I don’t understand why people have to take this seriously and get offended…..I mean I’m a Bangkokian my whole life and I find this pretty hilarious, 5555. Just chill out man.
The writer has really crab English. I wonder how he/she is employed as a journalist?!?
Hated this article… it isn’t funny at all… it is disgusting!!! you shoul apologize from the world’s friendly beautiful and amazing people of thailand.. shame on you.. the editor’s note isnt enough and means nothing to me!!!
Well, some of the things are true but Im sure that nt everyone in Bangkok are like that. I guess the author doesnt know the city well enough.
Of course the author – whose name has been taken off the article, so I won’t repeat it here – is a good friend of mine, a Thai who was born and raised here and is certainly as Thai as any of the commenters, but maybe that was lost on some.
Now, humor isn’t an easily defined thing – one man’s Monty Python will be another man’s Bio-Dome – and many Thais reading the story are obviously not native English speakers, so I can see where some of the subtler undertones of sarcasm, exaggeration and tongue-in-cheek-iness might be lost. But it does speak to the bigger issue, which is that Thais – some, not all – often have a very short fuse for being mocked, even light-heartedly.
I tried to explain this to a Thai friend during a chat session; their English is excellent, but they were also having a hard time understanding the shades of gray in the story:
Friend: What do farang think?
Greg: Generally people are saying that Thais don’t understand satire to well and should lighten up. It’s like no one is EVER allowed to poke fun at Thailand, not even Thais. Some Thais DO stand in the way of the elevator; they DO spend big money to look trendy, etc
Friend: Yes, but Thais are not so open.
Greg: So the problem isn’t that it’s true…the problem is that someone wrote about it?
Friend: Well, the majority of people don’t do those things.
Greg: You’re right, but that’s also why it’s funny, it’s an over-generalization. Like me joking that Canadian’s are all lumberjacks, or that all Russians drink vodka or all Americans are violent, or all Australians are criminals. Of course they aren’t true for everybody, but they form the basis for many jokes and funny stories. Because Canada DOES have lots of lumberjacks; Russians DO drink a lot of vodka; America IS violent; Australia WAS founded as a penal colony. You’d have to be mental to think these rules applied to everyone, but but the fact that’s it’s exaggerated makes it funny. It’s a funny form of satire, but when people are leaving comments like the author isn’t a real Thai and things like that, that’s just ignorant and small-minded.
Of course, Thais generally have a wonderful sense of humor – Thai variety televisions shows notwithstanding – but I’d be a moron if I claimed to have some magic insight into it. The first time someone made a fat joke about me right in front of my face was a bit of a shock, but that’s Thai humor, and it took me a while to figure out a tiny part of it. I imagine that just like the story that got everyone riled up, Thai humor has its subtle undertones and shades of gray too…but I wonder if a similar story in a Canadian paper about Canadians would get a similar reaction? Maybe only if moose cock was involved.
I think the article will be a LOT more well received if it was written in Thai.
Thais get angry when an outsider points out their flaws, even if it's well known. Case in point, Lady Gaga and her fake Rolex tweet. Since the article was written in GOOD ENGLISH, it can't possibly be written by a Thai and therefore OH MY GOD a farang is pointing out our dark underbelly. We can't possibly have THAT! Cue the army of flaming trolls charging up the interweb.
And before you fling anything at me, คนไทยเหมือนกันเจ้า ล้อเล่นกันเอง ขำกันเอง สนุกๆกันบ้าง อย่าเครียดเลยจ้ะ
"Friend: Yes, but Thais are not so open."
Well, like you said, the author was Thai so your friend is wrong. Apparently Thai's are that open. Case Closed.
Thanks Oakmonster, it is indeed best to be jai yen and to take it all in stride. It's much less easier on the blood pressure. 🙂
Being an Asian, Its not only Thai's but Asians in general can't laugh at themselves. I'm from India and when someone make remarks like ..ohh the place smells like curry…Indians get angry…or if someone points out that Indians smells like curry…That would be a national news…if some farang says..get a deo dude to an Indian…all hell will break loose…
We could just laugh at it and say..yeah, I'm in the process of manufacturing curry suppressant deo now etc…
The other usual response i have seen from Asians is…If you don't like it here…you are free to go…
In this regard..Farangs are way way cooler …Asians can't handle a farang making a joke on us..we are not yet intellectually mature to digest this yet…
Its my personal suggestion to all farangs…if you like your friends in Asia and not like to piss them off..never ever point the obvious to them or make sarcastic or funny remarks on the country…you may loose the friendship .. hahaha and you may be left to wonder…what..what did i just say?
Nice take on that article Greg. I appreciate the Thai's patriotism but the 'head in the sand' approach to problems and conflict has never served their best interests. On a somewhat related note, I have a colleague who just moved here from Vietnam and he was impressed at how orderly the Thai's queued up for the elevator.
nice. i like how you missed citing comments like this one: "After 10+ years in Bangkok, I'll give your author a humble laugh – do some homework on-site, instead of broadcasting hollow clichés ;-)"
Just stumbled on your blog and you have a new devoted follower Greg!
I have been living in Bangkok for almost a year now and saw this article on CNNgo, and totally loved it! I thought it was so funny and very true, whether Thai people like it or not, kudos to your friend for putting it out there! I did not know that many Thai people were upset about it though, not surprising though. I do feel, in my experience, that Thai people do have a 'different' sense of humor than I am used to 🙂
I thought the article was so good and inspiring I actually wrote my own idea of how to really live like a local in Bangkok. I did feel like the article was mostly based on how "hi-so" Thai people live in Bangkok and wanted to share how I see it in my small area just outside the city. http://www.onedayillflyaway.com/2012/07/how-to-really-live-like-local-in-bangkok.html
Anyways, great post, looking forward to reading more and following your blog.
Cheers!
Elizabeth
Maybe the problem people are having is that some of the items on the list are SO far-fetched and exaggerated and others are closer to the truth. Like the naming thing. That one isn't offensive, is it? But it's on the same list as some of the more absurd behavior only done by a minority of the more assholey types.