peanutz
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I will have to agree that these westerners think they are superior and thus have no regard fo your custom and culture. In fact I will agree with you that anyone will rather not have these people visit. They feel as though their few foreign dollars can prop up the Thai economy. Heck, even the world.
I do find it strange that these people have access to the internet and the customs and culture all over the world can be found easily, especially in the travel guide websites. So, a well-meaning traveller will look up and find information before visiting. So if a person expect to behave like in his own country, then I am sure no country will welcome a visitorlike that. Ignorance can only be pleaded for so long. Especially these local customs are found on visitor guides anytime you enter the country. So refusing to heed is just pure boorish behaviour.
The world can do with less of these type of people. |
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Robert M
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It is most likely nothing more than ignorance on their part, and or habit they do it at home and no one thinks anything about it. I do believe that they may have been more Europen where they culture very much because of all the different live styles. In most cases these people do not mean to be disrespectful. I would suggest that next time this happen say to them “ I do not think you are aware but use of the foot in our country is not a good jester or action, I think you want to understand my country better as some people will not be nice to you so please remember and use your hand to point at something or someone” Thank you now how can I help you. |
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Henry H
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It's just a difference of culture. In America isn't not considered rude. I have been to Thailand and I had a great time. I thought the people were nice and there were alot of different things to do.
Just try letting them know that using their feet is considered rude in your county. Maybe information signs should be posted in the airports and shipping stations so people know.
I double they are trying to be rude to you on purpose. |
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Lucky girl
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Good question. The only time I have ever done that is when my hands were occupied. Western tourists have no idea what you think is rude so unless you point it out or accept that every culture is different than this will never change. |
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Mr 51
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Cultural differences. They are probably not aware that this is considered rude, and in their own culture, it is not rude at all, simply convenient.
I don't know why someone would use their foot to point at something on a table, but if it is on a blanket on the ground, that would at least be reasonable. |
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dukalink6000
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The item is down low and the foot is already there, so it is acting like an arm to draw your attention to it (and yes, it is rude, I would agree) |
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ryladie99
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Thank you for asking a question and let's educate Public about Thailand and you really make my day.I think the tourists do not realize the Thai culture and You might have to ask your question often in Yahoo Answer then we can broadcasting our Thai culture more then we do not see the ugly foots around again. |
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Vegas
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It is very likely that most tourists are ignorant of this custom and probably do not do this intentionally to offend. They may also have a very relaxed approach to shopping as it is done in the West. A lot of us also play football and are used to picking things up or pointing with our feet. Ever drop something and try to "catch" it with your foot? I do this all the time... |
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fox_maple
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I have no idea what you are talking about. Westerners point with their fingers like everyone else. |
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eastglam
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In the West and in many other countries of Asia it is not impolite to point out things with the feet or even to nudge someone with them. The term 'Playing footsie' means to flirt with someone using ones feet, so there are big cultural differences here.
I agree that tourists should be more prepared when entering an entirely different culture but for only two weeks or so it is impossible to forget your own cultural norms. So what I suggest is tolerance and understanding on both sides and a gentle reminder that in Thailand this behavior is considered disrespectful. |
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spanky
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First, it is well publicized not to point with your foot, but sometimes people do not know this - - It is hard to imagine someone pointing with their foot at something on a table... and please realize that there are also things here in Thailand that a Westerner must endure which in their culture [ and even in your culture is rude ] - For example - - Every where a Westerner goes they are called Farang - If you walk in a market you will hear everywhere around you and behind your back farang farang farang farang.. And how would you feel if you know that you are being charged a price that is not the real price, but higher, and only because of the color of your skin.. I am farang. I live here and love it here and speak the language and it is not unusual that Thai people say things that are rude in any culture.. And if you think that Thai people are always polite, just put one behind the wheel of a car and see where their manners go... right? |
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Lowa
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I've heard that in Thailand the foot symbolizes those things. I don't know why people use their feet to point, maybe because in the US and other western cultures it is a little rude to point with your finger, but I would still motion with my head or my hand at something I was showing. I think the biggest factor, though, is a lack of education about the Thailand culture. Tourists probably go there and naively expect that their customs are the same or are at least acceptable to other cultures. |
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JO K
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I am a so called 'westerner' (even though I come from Australia, I guess you can call me a Southerner) - anyways back to my point. I know some tourist will point with there feet, so the seller doesn't know what they are actually interested in buying. I guess it is really a lame haggling trick.
Well i will be over to Bangkok on the 7 Jan and i promise you I won't point my feet, I will use my finger instead. |
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Jim G
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Mostly it is due to the lack of education in Thai culture but also due to the laziness of the person to bend and point with their hand. You are indeed correct it is rude and uncivilized. |
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yeopki_tokee
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It's funny how everyone assumes that all the rude tourists are American. Personally, I'm from Canada, I have lived in Asia for 10 years and I have have made mistakes of etiquite from lack of knowledge (not to mention spelling mistakes) And that all people who are not from Asia are 'westerners'. (Like the person from Australia. Or Europe... I never really considered Europeans as westerners...) But yes mistakes happen. And I do try to research a country before I go, but i can't learn everything. I try to learn a couple of phrases, but how can we tell what is the most important thing? I'm heavier than the average person in the country I live in, and I'm CONSTANTLY, having "big size, big size" or "no size" or "diet" yelled at me, regardless of what I am shopping for. And I have had to learn how to ignore that. But I do also realize that people let me get away with making more mistakes here that they wouldn't let the nationals, because I am caucasian. So it does go both ways. As much as tourists might make mistakes and possibly offend people, the nationals might take the time to realize that some of the things that they say may offend the tourists that some of them so desperately need for their economy. |
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x_ill
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You're harping about being rude and lack of education? LOL. Many westerners are unaware that this is considered rude in Thailand, just as pointing with a finger is rude in Malaysia, and pointing with other parts of your body are rude in other parts of the world. Instead of complaining here, why not act like a Thai and try to educate them. Instead of being insulted and thinking they are trying to be rude, kindly tell them that it isn't not a proper thing to do and is frowned upon. |
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sirtitus
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If whatever you want to point at is close to the ground, most farang will use their foot. It's easier to point with your foot than to bend down and point with a finger (laziness is a part of our culture too).
I suppose it's mildly considered rude but nothing too bad. It certainly isn't considered uncivilized or uneducated though.
I pointed with my foot a couple of times in Thailand (until someone explained to me that it was rude by Thai culture). I haven't done it again since.
Cultural differences and Thai customs are not known to many tourists in Thailand... but I guess it should be. People coming into a new country should read up on it but a lot of people are too lazy to do so. |
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mabel
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I hope that I can see both sides to this. Yes, many Americans and Europeans don't understand what most of the rest of the world (all Buddhist & Islamic countries - that is most of the world) think about feet. Its just not part of their culture. My own personal theory is that these western countries are cold, or in the case of America, after the Europeans took it over, was a derivative of a culture (Europe) that is cold and they generally wore socks/stockings/wrappings on their feet to keep them warm(going back to Roman times I think) that meant their feet didn't get as dirty as people from hot countries who didn't used to wear socks/stockings. Therefore they didn't used to get such dirty feet/have the risk of disease spreading through bacteria and stuff on dirty feet. Therefore the taboo didn't develop. Its just a theory.
I think most western tourists know the taboo about feet and everything connected with feet (including pointing). Just about everybody who has a TV must have seen people in Iraq hitting Saddam's statute with their shoes to show their disgust/hated of him. Surely, they must have understood what that was about? Anyway, even though they know the taboo I think sometimes they forget to apply it. For example when backpackers tie their shoes to their backpacks then, in a busy street or whatever, push up against people so that their shoes touch people on the arms/body. From a Thai point of view (and I think many other countries) its a very disgusting thing to touch someone with your shoe.
On the other hand, what was said about people saying "farang farang" / gossipping tourists is basically true. It is really the not so rich (and therefore low educated) that do this. They should not. Unfortunately, Thailand doesn't have the money for good education for everybody or enough money for many Thai people to travel to the west and see America or Europe for themselves and know that being from their doesn't make people strange or, particularly, different. Ideally, everybody should have access to education/other cultures to help improve understanding between people. Unfortunately, Thailand hasn't made it yet.
Remember, everybody working in the tourism industry represents Thailand to many westerners and may be one of the few Thai people they talk get to talk to. How you behave to them makes a difference. Tourism isn't (as many tourists seem to think) the most improtant industry of Thailand - agriculture is - huge world exports - however their experience of Thailand, and how tourism professionals deal with them (honestly, helpfully & politely), matters for Thailand's reputation. |
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tooon68
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I'm Thai and I used to experience similar thing by my own. What I did was politely explaining to him/her/them that the Thai mind the head and it's impolite to use your lower body parts especially foot to point or raise on the table where someone is sitting. What I got in return was their appreciation to educate them what's right and what's wrong when dealing with local people.
I think, all foreigners regardless of their races, nationalities have no intention to offend people on the street as they're visitors and may not thoroughly understand the cultures. What we can do as a host is politely letting them know what our cultures are. I'm rather certain that they'll thank you for what you try to help them have a happy holidays in our country. |
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ourxtrees
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Uh, I don't ever do this but maybe it's because I have no grade and need to remain on two feet or I'll fall over. |
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homeless
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I have not seen that but when things are laying on the ground I can understand but if they are in a stall on a table that is a good trick. I cant get my foot up that high |
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SJ
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they do? really? find out where they are mostly from.... maybe you can tell why.. |
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ewwwenglish4francecom
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tourist don't mind, and Thai will improve soon |
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c Ęś É‘ á´› z
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just cultural differences. you cant just judge them as being rude , uncivilized and poorly educated. i am a thai myself but i still use my feet when my hands are occupied. does not mean i'm rude, uncivilized or poorly educated, but its just that "my hands are occupied". i'm very westernized and i dont think like a thai, sorry.
p.s. i just read "spanky" 's answer. i totally agree with that. thai people are just as rude to foreigners sometimes (and its even meant to be rude in thai culture as well) but its just that foreigners here dont have much right to complain as you do. things like constant starring, constantly calling out names "farang farang" everywhere, constantly whispering and pointing "with their fingers" towards some foreigners. many tourists love thailand because they only see the outer part of thai culture and thinks its ok because its a culture. but as soon as they start living here for many years, the constant stares,pointing,whisperings becomes a pain in the ____.some of them start to realize that it isnt as beautiful inside the core as the outer core. i know it because many of my foreign friends who live here told me.since i'm a thai, thinking and living here like a foreigner, i see how rude people can get. especially i understand thai and i know what they are gossiping about is so rude. and i'm mostly ashamed when foreigners tells me how they hated being ripped off by taxi drivers or even buying little souveniors for a higher prices than the thais. |
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A Baller In Da House
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never heard of that, maybe they are mimicking the 3rd world customs they see there? |
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fosterb_2004
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I'm not a tourist, but westerner's find it offensive to butcher our English language. American's could really care less about impressing the thai culture. We are happy to get out of the office for a few weeks. |
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djwatto1000
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OI f.u.c.k off ********* i will do whatever I want in Thailand. Without me it would be a f.u.c.k.i.n.g 5th world country. |
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