Get TF Out of Thailand
First of all, this is not a post against immigrants and refugees. Their contribution to Thai economy and society cannot be understated. I'm talking about expats, digital nomads, and weirdos with their laptop at the beach. The type that doesn't contribute anything to the country they're staying in.
I see it every day on r/Thailand. Expats complaining about rising cost of living. Expats complaining about locals trying to scam them. Expats complaining. Their argument is that they pay taxes therefore they should be entitled to the same rights enjoyed by Thai citizens. Well, yesterday evening I had a dinner at a Korean restaurant and paid 7% in VAT. Everyone has to pay some amount of taxes. You aren't special.
Many expats stay in their own bubble. They don't interact with the country at large. They live in expat villages and go to expat clubs and send their kids to expat schools. They're only in Thailand physically that way, because Thailand outside of expat bubble is a whole different reality. Most Thai families live on smaller monthly budget than a single nomad does.
Expats come to Thailand expecting it to answer their questions. Why do bread and potato taste like dirt? Why do clubs close so early? Why are Thai people worshiping Hindu gods if they are Buddhists? Why are Ploys trying to dig my gold?
I ask you, why don't you find the answer yourself?
Expats don't even try. They wanted Thailand to bend to their will. And when they don't get what they want ā because why would they ā they blame it on Thailand being a strange and chaotic place with impenetrable culture. Thai culture isn't complicated. Just treat other people with respect and you'll be respected back. The bare minimum. So many expats see locals as mystical, inhuman creatures and they wonder why locals don't want to be their friends.
Every time I see an expat complain about how Thailand isn't as cheap as it used to be, or how Thai women only care about money, I want to tell them that nobody is forcing them to stay here. Most of the time the locals won't miss them if they're gone. But beyond that, every time I see an expat trying to philosophize Thailand and its culture, every time someone bring up kreng jai as a catch-all reason as to why Thailand is so weird, I want to reach into the screen and rip that expat's head off. Thailand is no stranger than any other country. We don't have more gold diggers or transsexual rights. You've just never tried to make sense of it. To say any otherwise is just orientalist nonsense.
Try, or get TF out of my country.