Will Thai luck ever run out?

COMMENTARY

Published: 13 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Thailand's culture is a passive and superstitious one that relies on faith, fate and sheer luck, with the ingrained belief that things will always turn out just fine. After all, karma dictates our destiny, and we bribe her quite well. So mai pen rai.

This, of course, is a generalisation. There are many exceptions, but not enough of them, and so the generalisation rings loud and true.

Every other day, there could be news of tourists killed, raped and scammed. Every day there could be dual pricing, xenophobia, corrupt police, inept officials, outdated visa rules or the like _ none of these things matter. Tourists will keep coming, foreign residents will keep growing in number and businesses will keep pouring in money. Things are just fine.

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banned
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Discussion 13 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.3713
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Spiceman seems to be suggesting the other side of the same coin is relief from superstition. I don't see how one superstitious belief system replaced by another can benefit everyone. Sure, you can believe what you like, your choice, but also accept it will be torn apart by critical thought. South Korea is successful for a whole bag full of reasons, other equally religious nations are not.........unless God plays risk.
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Eggmeng
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Discussion 12 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.3312
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This notion that Thais are a happy-go-lucky carefree lot may have once been true. Now it is simply another myth perpetuated.

I just returned to Thailand after two months in Boston, having lived a year in Bangkok. Folks in the latter city looked no happier to me by comparison.

When the only thing underpinning your "happiness" is material wealth; when art, knowledge, and intimacy have no value as spiritual solace, and the temples are just a place to pray for your fortunes to turn, you are lost.

Thailand's secret to happiness once lay in closeness to nature and the comforts of village and family life. It's all gone.
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thag
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Discussion 11 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.2911
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Your best piece for a long time VV, although succinct is not in your vocabulary. Apposite, amusing and so true: it underlines the Thai-ness of your culture, which, whilst not everyone’s cup of tea, has its own unique beauty.
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dao
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Discussion 10 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.2210
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You can improve your karma through genuine acts which help people .The governemnt has so much untapped potential here .
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bkposter
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Discussion 9 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.229
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Quote: "The upper and middle class may moan and groan about corruption"
True statement, and yet they seem to be willing participants. go figure? So far we know that the politicians are corrupt, the police are corrupt,the military are corrupt, the courts are corrupt, the monks are corrupt, the educators are corrupt, and the bureaucrats are corrupt, and the government enterprises are corrupt.....one must wonder who it is that corrupts all these people?
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pjt
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Discussion 8 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.198
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We might also ponder the saying that 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity'
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geoffo
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Discussion 7 : 13 Jan 2013 at 09.057
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D1, not all in Thailand is bad but neither is it all good. Morally , the country is lost IMO. The influence of people who made massive amounts of money through corruption is dominant at this particular time. Thailand is neither particularly safe or happy at the moment. I remain hopeful that good "Thai values" will rise again.
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pjt
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Discussion 6 : 13 Jan 2013 at 08.266
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Khun Voranai - but sometimes luck needs a bit of help, which is where some of the more worldly measures on planning and prevention you mention come in. Take the number of road death and injuries as an example where luck has already run out - despite the temple visits etc. Since I came to Thailand it is shocking how many, often young people, I know who have died in road accidents compared to in the UK. Well known improvements to driver testing and training would lessen the need to rely on luck for survival
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spiceman
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Discussion 5 : 13 Jan 2013 at 07.425
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Thai's luck will never run out as there is always hope not matter how little there is. The problem is what is the true hope and dream for individual Thais regardless of social classes. Only once that true hope is found by enough Thais, then, collectively, they can lead the way in pursuit of that true hope and dream. Example? South Korea! Yes, faith but faith in what, the truth or lies? Thailand is at a dead end, because it believes in lies full of destruction and death. So, until Thai people know the Way, the Truth, and the Life, who is the Light of the World, Thailand will continue to be in darkness of ignorance PERIOD.
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amazed
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Discussion 4 : 13 Jan 2013 at 07.244
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"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." I really hope someone knows where to find the sails... just in case.
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Will Thai luck ever run out? | Bangkok Post: opinion