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Jafa
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Abrak,
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is that the class system is based on a complex combination of things like money, education, culture/ethnicity, urban/rural folk, language abilities, international exposure, etc....
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Jafa,
This (above) would seem to best describe the Thai class system.....while this....
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and *not* on an entrenched social caste system like in India, Thailand, and possibly Cambodia.
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...doesnt seem too close to reality.
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You've seemed to turn this thing around on its head. What you wrote makes sense, but it still doesn't mean that the class system is any less entrenched or 'set' in Thailand compared to non-feudal societies. (okay i'm not going to mention India or Cambodia anymore, out of my specific area of knowledge)
There have posts in this thread which talked about a certain 'weightage' or algorithm system of classification, from the King all the way down, as well as personal examples of the complexities of bringing eg. a BG/TGF out of her 'class' to certain social gatherings.
Sure, people can be socially mobile, but it will take more time, effort and wealth, and the ability or means to maintain that mobility.
BKK Banger,
you have just highlighted my point: that there *is* a specific, more or less well-defined class system, or social divisions. More visible in the towns and rurals areas? So it is. But i'm sure we can see it in BKK as well.
As for materialism/material wealth, I agree with Abrak that it's part of the complex class system, but wealth, as I've observed, can and do get more entrenched in some societies than others, making the overall class system more entrenched.
Now that you've also mentioned Buddhism, it makes more sense. I may be totally off the mark, but doesn't this at least imply that certain religions/philosophies help to entrench class systems, even if they're not the root cause of it?
We're finally getting somewhere with this I think.
My main point in this discussion is that Thai society's class system is based on feudalism and the patronage that comes with it.
As for the whole thing about models, actors and singers, I honestly don't know enough about their kind of 'hi-so' so I shall 
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:36 am on July 29, 2004
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caronte
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"My main point in this discussion is that Thai society's class system is based on feudalism and the patronage that comes with it. "
I second that Jafa....at the end, we are still talking about a Country where there used to be slaves and nobles until yesterday! A couple of generations of "free and equal" men don't make much difference from the original aristocratic system.....
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 1:09 am on July 29, 2004
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Crash999
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Quote: from LocalYokul on 9:33 am on July 29, 2004
Some drive a Benz or BMW and can barely afford their house & car payments, but they look good to their peers...
Once they wreck the car & stop maintaining their house, what's left ??
Yeah you can't say that Thais (or for that matter many Asians) aren't materialistic!
A gal in my office bought a used BMW. The payments are probably 30-40% of her salary (40k/mo) but the issue is if something breaks she's done for, as BMWs are expensive to service here and it's long out of warranty.
From Boiler Room, "Those f_cking Guineas, half of them do coke. They all drink. No stability, zero capital. They make all this money and they're always living three steps ahead. Do you know there are guys in this firm that make close to a million a year and couldn't get a loan for a Honda because their credit is so bad. Everyone's just waiting for the fifteenth of the month. It's like they may drive a Porsche but they don't have ten bucks to put in the gas tank" Heheh... classic!
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:09 am on July 29, 2004
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BKK Banger
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Quote: from Jafa on 12:36 pm on July 29, 2004
It still doesn't mean that the class system is any less entrenched or 'set' in Thailand compared to non-feudal societies.
There have posts in this thread which talked about a certain 'weightage' or algorithm system of classification, from the King all the way down, as well as personal examples of the complexities of bringing eg. a BG/TGF out of her 'class' to certain social gatherings.........
BKK Banger,
you have just highlighted my point: that there *is* a specific, more or less well-defined class system, or social divisions. More visible in the towns and rurals areas? So it is. But i'm sure we can see it in BKK as well.......
Now that you've also mentioned Buddhism, it makes more sense. I may be totally off the mark, but doesn't this at least imply that certain religions/philosophies help to entrench class systems, even if they're not the root cause of it?
My main point in this discussion is that Thai society's class system is based on feudalism and the patronage that comes with it.
Jafa and Caronte,
You are both homing in on the complexity and history of what is now called the nation of Thailand.
If you took a feudalaistic society with slavery and introduced Buddhism for the mass religion which taught patience and being happy with your lot what would you end up with? A stable and rulable kingdom where the aristocrats could do pretty much as they liked and everyone else knew their place.
Isn't this what Thailand is?
I have met many rich people from rich established Thai families and they seem mostly quite nice but eccentric people. They do not give a sh_t about the social constraints that my maid or my workers slave under.
As to Crash's young lady with the BMW. Well isn't this all part of "face" that Taksin promotes as a necessary part of the new Thailand? True Buddhists will tell you that it is pathetic and shows a flaw in her personality. Toxin will show her that it is important to show and boast about how successful and mighty you or your country is. Bling bling.
Personally I think a thai PM to reflect Buddhist beliefs should be humble and show thrift and generosity to others. Chuan Leepai did and he ranks as one of the all time good PMs, ineffectual maybe but an honest person (as far as a Thai politician can be).
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 2:22 am on July 29, 2004
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Jafa
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Banger,
Yup. This is Thailand. Exactly what this thread is all about.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:33 am on July 29, 2004
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madfrog
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"Personally I think a thai PM to reflect Buddhist beliefs should be humble and show thrift and generosity to others":
Toxin is NOT Buddhist but Christian, and really proud of it apparently  . Maybe that explain his obsession about this "social order campaign"?
Madfrog
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:45 am on July 29, 2004
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BKK Banger
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Madfrog,
Now I am totally gobsmacked. Are you sure, have you got a reference to this????????
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:57 am on July 29, 2004
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madfrog
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Toxin has been educated by a Christian school and is Christian for sure, one of the actual top police officers was at school with him and talked about this recently on the newspaper. I m sure many expats can confirm what I say.
Madfrog
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:33 am on July 29, 2004
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Brocher
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Quote: from madfrog on 10:33 pm on July 29, 2004
Toxin has been educated by a Christian school and is Christian for sure, one of the actual top police officers was at school with him and talked about this recently on the newspaper. I m sure many expats can confirm what I say.
Madfrog
For what it's worth Toxin's bio says that he's Buddhist: http://www.thaiembdc.org/bio/pms/thaksin.html
Cheers
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 6:06 am on July 29, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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No. 23 ! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:38 am on July 29, 2004
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