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cyborg
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Guys, I have been thinking a lot lately about the way of life in Thailand vs life in the US. I am seeing good and bad in each version. I am wondering if one is generally considered better than the other or if possibly something in between might be the true ultimate.
Of course there are generalizations involved here that do not always ring true but I think there is something to be learned.
Examples:
Thailand.....The family unit tends to be very strong. Parents are to be taken care of by the children when they grow up. Extended family members tend to live together or generally in close proximity.
A tendency to be more laid back and not to worry. Mai Pen Rai attitude. More of a focus on enjoying life without too much emphasis placed on goals and achievements.
More spiritual?
US.....Family unit may not be as strong. Much more common for siblings and such to scatter around the country due to work requirements etc. Not very common for extended family members to live in same household. Each child is expected to grow up, become self reliant and move out asap. Parents are expected to be financially self secure for retirement or they must rely on welfare from the state. Much less emphasis on children being particularly obligated to provide a living for elderly parents.
Hectic pace of life. Very goal oriented and with an emphasis on achievement and material acquisition.
Less spiritual?
I have had conversations with my TGF and when I tell her that I have a 3 bedroom house but live alone she wonders why my sisters do not live with me. I tell her that my sisters are married with children and have there own homes. She asks, So what?
I have neighbors that sleep literally 25 feet away from me. We have IMHO quite a close relationship. I only see them or hangout with them about 2 hours every two weeks or so. I think this would seem so totally anti social to a Thai.
I sometimes think that Thais have too much of a laid back attitude and essentially are not as driven as they should be. I think a lot of us in the US are not as family focused or as warm and social as we should be.
I think that both cultures could learn a lot from each other and that a healthier balance between the two cultures may be the best option overall. If people agree with this idea then I think this could well be considered a good argument for cross cultural marriage. The whole could be something greater than merely the sum of the two.
Again I emphasize that I am generalizing without taking into account urban vs rural lifestyles in each country but I do basically believe these things to be roughly accurate.
Whatcha think?
Cyborg
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:52 am on June 22, 2004
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Abrak
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Well last night I was lying on my bed at 3am, a beer in hand, England leading Croatia 3-1, and a beautiful TG giving me a BJ.... and I thought.....life doesnt get much better than this...
Now where were we... lifestyles east v. west. IMHO no contest...
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 4:18 am on June 22, 2004
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caronte
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Sounds like Cyborg is in a middle age crisis...as per the movie "The Last Samurai".....Cyborg, too many minds!
Mind of family, mind of BGs, mind of US, mind of LOS....no mind, come and join us in this neverending neverland!
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:47 am on June 22, 2004
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Whisper
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Cyborg says: "I think that both cultures could learn a lot from each other and that a healthier balance between the two cultures may be the best option overall."
I think that keeping the two cultures as seperate as possible is much more desirable otherwise each will lose its originality. Do we really want Thailand to become yet another Oriental version of the US just as Japan and Korea are becoming? Can't we leave Thailand alone and appreciate it for what it is? Do we really need to lift it to the status of a 1st world country?
In my opinion there has been too much Americanisation of Asian countries already and unfortunately it is well advanced in Thailand already. Let's not interfere any further and leave it the way it is.
We should be introducing many Thai priciples to Western life instead, such as respecting elders, avoiding confrontation, showing patience and tolerance, etc. I believe that the Buddhist religion in Thailand is responsible for the peacefulness in this country so perhaps we should try introducing that to the West? I wonder how that would go down?
An interesting topic, Cyborg. Thanks.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 4:49 am on June 22, 2004
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caronte
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Problem of mixing different cultures is that you get the worse of both of'em!
Instead of having 2 half sh_tty places, you make a whole sh_tty place...
The great Russian writer Turgenev said " Without nationalism there is nothing", ie it's right to keep cultures separated and indipendent....better have 2 small great nations than a big f_cked up one.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 4:56 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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I don't think the "peacefulness" of Thailand is related to the Buddhist religion. Japan is also Buddhist and they have a history of aggression toward others, even those of the same or similar religion.
It was convenient (and maybe even wise) for Thailand to become allies with Japan during WWII, but someone had the fight the Japanese and Germans. Is Switzerland peaceful because of their culture? (which is pretty much the same in terms of religion as other European nations).
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:02 am on June 22, 2004
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Whisper
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Japan may well be Buddhist (or perhaps more Shintoist, I'm not sure) but not to the same extent as the Thais, Mr Alan.
When I was in Japan I did not see the same devotion by the Japanese to prayers and customs as they do in Thailand.
I can't speak on behalf of Switzerland. Perhaps their neutrality is due to other reasons besides "peaceful" ones. Maybe because they make great cuckoo clocks?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:18 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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I think the neutrality of both Switzerland and Thailand, has something to do with geography and historical convenience. It doesn’t have anything to do with religion IMO.
Devotion to “customs” is not the same as devotion to spiritual beliefs. Every Japanese home or apartment has a small shrine area for worship, even though their homes are very tiny.
Here is something I got from the web:
“There are approximately 328,000,000 Buddhists worldwide. Buddhism is mainly practiced in Asia, in countries such as Vietnam, Japan, Sri Lanka, Kampuchea, S. Korea, Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and China. Buddhism started in India, but is really only practiced now on its margins, in areas such as Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.”
There would be a lot more Buddhists in China, North Korea, etc, except for the fact that Communist nations don’t look very favorably on religious activities.
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:32 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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Being right next to Germany probably influenced the decision of Switzerland to become neutral.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 5:38 am on June 22, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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Quote: from caronte on 4:56 pm on June 22, 2004
Problem of mixing different cultures is that you get the worse of both of'em!
Instead of having 2 half sh_tty places, you make a whole sh_tty place...
The great Russian writer Turgenev said " Without nationalism there is nothing", ie it's right to keep cultures separated and indipendent....better have 2 small great nations than a big f_cked up one.
Try telling that to the EU council of ministers? Try saying that to the G8 meetings. Try telling that to American multi-nationals.
Outside a single currency no nationality monster EU will get swamped with American Corporate culture. McDonalds yuck-burgers and Coca-Cola (the dentists dream).
I'm lovin' it?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:04 am on June 22, 2004
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