There have been books written about this Asian concept of face. And to rewrite what these tomes have proselytized about would be a waste of time, mainly because a lot of these books really don't hit the nail on the veritable head.
This will keep it simple. And profound.
In Thailand, and also in China et al, the concept of publicly treating people with respect is important. Confrontation is an absolute no no. I've seen people get into car accidents, get out of their cars, and talk to each other, smiling all the time. Nothing happens, things get solved, Once you raise your voice or present yourself in a confrontational way, shit happens.
You can murder someone here in Phuket, go to the police, apologize and confess, and they'll let you out on bail until your court date.
Publicly harass a police officer, and you're going to the slammer for days if not weeks.
There was a recent episode with one genius who decided to not control his ego all that well, and interact with a customs official in a fashion similar to how he might interact with some low grade moron in the western world. I decided to not present this until the news finally presented all of the facts. We've been watching this for weeks, but only until yesterday did all of the commentary adequately present itself. We see this all the time; people getting arrested for stealing bar mats, but, you don't see the "face" issues until they're discussed later.
Read this. It really tells the story of "face" well. But you have to ignore the story,and read into what the story is really telling you.
The concept of "face" is made very clear in this little episode...
This will keep it simple. And profound.
In Thailand, and also in China et al, the concept of publicly treating people with respect is important. Confrontation is an absolute no no. I've seen people get into car accidents, get out of their cars, and talk to each other, smiling all the time. Nothing happens, things get solved, Once you raise your voice or present yourself in a confrontational way, shit happens.
You can murder someone here in Phuket, go to the police, apologize and confess, and they'll let you out on bail until your court date.
Publicly harass a police officer, and you're going to the slammer for days if not weeks.
There was a recent episode with one genius who decided to not control his ego all that well, and interact with a customs official in a fashion similar to how he might interact with some low grade moron in the western world. I decided to not present this until the news finally presented all of the facts. We've been watching this for weeks, but only until yesterday did all of the commentary adequately present itself. We see this all the time; people getting arrested for stealing bar mats, but, you don't see the "face" issues until they're discussed later.
Read this. It really tells the story of "face" well. But you have to ignore the story,and read into what the story is really telling you.
PHUKET: After spending a his final night in Phuket under the observation of Phuket City Immigration officers, British national Simon Burrowes finally left Phuket at 5.50pm yesterday aboard a Silk Air flight destined for Singapore, where he was scheduled to catch a connecting flight to the UK.
Asked why Mr Burrowes had to spend his final night on the island under the supervision of immigration officers despite completion of his court case and payment of a 500-baht fine for verbally abusing an Airport Immigration officer in January – when he originally planned to go home – an immigration officer told the Gazette that as Mr Burrowes had no money to pay for accommodation, they had to make sure there were no more problems.
Before coming to Thailand, Mr Burrowes was living in rented accommodation in Wembley, North-West London. He planned to return to his job and home after three months in Phuket.
Due to his extended stay in Thailand, he now faces bleak prospects back home, where he no longer has a job or housing.
Mr Burrowes said that he had “learned a lot” from his experience in the Land of Smiles, but had no plans to ever return here.
Mr Burrowes’s troubles in Phuket began in January, when he was held up at Airport Immigration by officers who suspected his passport may not have been genuine.
The suspicion was initially aroused because Mr Burrowes appeared to be shirtless in the photo on the passport, which was in fact legitimately issued.
As officers tried to verify the passport, Mr Burrowes realized his non-refundable flight would take to the skies without him.
He then became angry and abusive toward the female immigration officer holding his passport.
After pointing a finger at the officer’s face and shouting, “Give me back my [expletive deleted] passport you [expletive deleted] bitch,” Mr Burrowes snatched the passport back from the officer and walked away from the counter.
That move turned an already bad situation into a complete nightmare.
He was arrested and spent three weeks in Phuket Provincial Prison before being bailed and ordered to appear in court on verbal abuse charges. Mr Burrowes initially planned to fight the charges, but pleaded guilty on the day. He was fined 500 baht and released.
Penniless, Mr Burrowes was finally bought an air ticket home by an anonymous Thai benefactor, but when he tried to catch the flight on Friday afternoon he was again foiled by inadequate paperwork – he didn’t understand that he needed to get a police report and then have his visa renewed at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket City, some 50 kilometers away, before he could be allowed to leave.
Once again, he had to miss a non-refundable flight.
It was apparently “third time lucky” for Mr Burrowes yesterday evening, however. He was last seen by the Gazette successfully passing through Immigration for his flight to Singapore – again paid for by a friend.
Phuket Gazette
Asked why Mr Burrowes had to spend his final night on the island under the supervision of immigration officers despite completion of his court case and payment of a 500-baht fine for verbally abusing an Airport Immigration officer in January – when he originally planned to go home – an immigration officer told the Gazette that as Mr Burrowes had no money to pay for accommodation, they had to make sure there were no more problems.
Before coming to Thailand, Mr Burrowes was living in rented accommodation in Wembley, North-West London. He planned to return to his job and home after three months in Phuket.
Due to his extended stay in Thailand, he now faces bleak prospects back home, where he no longer has a job or housing.
Mr Burrowes said that he had “learned a lot” from his experience in the Land of Smiles, but had no plans to ever return here.
Mr Burrowes’s troubles in Phuket began in January, when he was held up at Airport Immigration by officers who suspected his passport may not have been genuine.
The suspicion was initially aroused because Mr Burrowes appeared to be shirtless in the photo on the passport, which was in fact legitimately issued.
As officers tried to verify the passport, Mr Burrowes realized his non-refundable flight would take to the skies without him.
He then became angry and abusive toward the female immigration officer holding his passport.
After pointing a finger at the officer’s face and shouting, “Give me back my [expletive deleted] passport you [expletive deleted] bitch,” Mr Burrowes snatched the passport back from the officer and walked away from the counter.
That move turned an already bad situation into a complete nightmare.
He was arrested and spent three weeks in Phuket Provincial Prison before being bailed and ordered to appear in court on verbal abuse charges. Mr Burrowes initially planned to fight the charges, but pleaded guilty on the day. He was fined 500 baht and released.
Penniless, Mr Burrowes was finally bought an air ticket home by an anonymous Thai benefactor, but when he tried to catch the flight on Friday afternoon he was again foiled by inadequate paperwork – he didn’t understand that he needed to get a police report and then have his visa renewed at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket City, some 50 kilometers away, before he could be allowed to leave.
Once again, he had to miss a non-refundable flight.
It was apparently “third time lucky” for Mr Burrowes yesterday evening, however. He was last seen by the Gazette successfully passing through Immigration for his flight to Singapore – again paid for by a friend.
Phuket Gazette
Comment