Book review – Scot Barmé: Woman, Man, Bangkok, Love, Sex and Popular Culture in Thailand
There are books that completely renew my view on aspects of countries, communities and events. The book by Scot Barmé mentioned above, already published in 2002, is such a work. I read it like a thriller in one breath, in a day and a half night.
What are your thoughts on Thailand, how have they changed and why? An evaluation and my experiences
Last week 15 people answered these questions. Let me give a summary of that, a short analysis and finally my own experiences in this. I cannot do justice to all the comments and will only mention the most common ones. There is a wide range of views and that seems fine to me.
What are your thoughts on Thailand? How have they changed? And why?
In 1999 I moved to Thailand and lived there until 2017. Over time my opinions and feelings about Thailand have partly remained the same and partly changed, sometimes even changed a lot. I am certainly not alone in this, so I think it is interesting and instructive to hear from each other how others have fared.
Reader submission: Indifference versus enthusiasm: do they never learn, there in Thailand?
Thailand has a complicated society. Complicated due to large visible contradictions. Compare the consumptive character of Bangkok with the subdued poverty of other regions. But other interpretations of common norms and values also seem to be valid in Thailand. For example, Thailand says it has its own form of democracy, has a different interpretation of the concept of the rule of law, and there is a big difference in how people in Thailand interact with each other.
Should we tell the Thais what needs to change in their country?
In Europe we call this period of the year “the dark days before Christmas”, the days are getting shorter and there is less sun. While many people look forward to the upcoming holiday season of Christmas and New Year, that dark period can also make some depressed.
Statement of the week: You have a moral obligation to discuss important social and political developments with your partner
If you live in the Netherlands or Thailand with your Thai partner, it is only natural that you and your partner become part of society. This means not only learning the language and culture, but also being aware of social and political developments.
The denial of reality in Thailand
In Thailand, prostitution is illegal, yet the sex industry is famous – or notorious – depending on how you look at it. There are an estimated 300.000 sex workers, according to an estimate by the Empower Foundation, a leading advocate for their rights.
Tino thinks Thailand is fast becoming a militarized society, if not already. What do you think? Do you agree or not with the statement? And if so, what do you think will be the short- and long-term consequences? Join the discussion about the statement: 'Thailand is fast becoming a militarized society!'
Thailand: Large income differences between rich and poor
After Russia and India, Thailand is the third country in the world with the largest income gap between rich and poor, according to an Oxfam report.
Many Thai people over 60 are still working
More than 37 percent of the over-60s in Thailand work to provide for themselves. Of the 37 percent mentioned, 23 percent have an average monthly income of 23.752 baht. The others work as day laborers, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll).
Question of the week: Why do Thai people tolerate the multitude of mutual deadly violence?
Thailandblog reader Soi wonders how it is that despite belief in karma and resignation, the Thai accept the many deadly violence in their country?
Thailand in the next 50 years
In this opinion article, Kavi Chongkittavorn describes the Achilles heel of Thai society: being Thai is not able to think ahead or make long-term plans. Thailand should take an example from Singapore, where people are thinking about the future.
'The Thai is a nice person but with a backbone of a mussel'
Thailand faces an important challenge, but with a backbone of a mussel, this challenge is ignored, Ronald van Veen writes in his column in which he is critical of Thai society.
Statement of the week: 'The 'Land of Smiles' does not exist and never has existed.'
Do you enjoy Thailand? I give it to you wholeheartedly. I also enjoy Thailand but for years now with an increasingly heavy and sad heart. My original image of 'The Land of Smiles' has been shattered for years.