Every society has its stereotypes, but one that values class structure and hierarchy arguably has more than others. In Thailand, there are plenty of labels to go around — you’ll probably fit in to one or more.
From dirty old pervs and nagging old bags to make-up crazed airheads and screaming ladyboys with closely cropped hair in school uniforms, just about anyone can be dismissed as fitting into one box or another without even getting to know them first. And those who do try to get to know people, well, they’re just scumbag farang who sit and drink beer with motorsai drivers in order to get to know the real Thailand.
So, don’t feel bad about feeling that itch to gossip about someone that you saw in the street and gave a nickname to that you and your friends will laugh about for a week. Millions of others are doing the same thing.
Just make sure you’re stereotyping everyone in the right way. That’s where Brunch comes in.
Here is a guide to some of the biggest and most popular stereotypes in Thailand today.
Grien
Who are they?
This term is not exactly new but it is definitely popular. The word grien signifies the very closely cropped haircut of Thai high school students, and the stereotype symbolises childish, selfish and careless behaviour.
Grien are mostly boys and are normally aggressive, agitated, annoying and self-centred, and tend to base decisions on emotions. They first sprang to prominence online, where they found a space to express themselves.
Sometimes the term grien is used for people who pretend they are knowledgeable about a particular subject, but in fact have no idea what they are talking about.
Special powers
Insanely aggressive with other grien and others they don’t know.
Always complaining and angry.
Being extremely annoying is their speciality. They will do anything to get attention.
Have a vivid imagination that they are cool, but in fact are not.
How to spot them
In the early years, grien could be easily spotted with their short haircuts, but nowadays it is easier to spot them from their behaviour. They are young, loud, nonsensical and dress in a way that stands out from the crowd — as though they read 10 different magazines from second-hand markets. IQ and EQ tests can also separate grien from other people, because they have none.
Where to find them
Mostly online, but can often be seen partying in front of convenient stores.
You may remember them as ...
In the late 1960s, these people were called dek hard.
Ting
Who are they?
Ting are screaming girls (and young ladyboys) who spend their lives stalking their idols high and low across the countryside and on social media. Ting can be crazy fans of just about anyone, but most commonly follow Korean pop stars and local teen idols.
The word "ting" literally means ear lobe, and is derived from the previously mandated limit to the length of highschool-girl’s hair. Ting love the person they follow, obsessively so. They can be very protective when there is bad news about their idol, and are usually hyper-defensive to the point where they will say: “Rain didn’t shirk his military duty,” or “Bieber didn’t throw any eggs”.
Ting with attractive young men as their idol hate the idea of him having a girlfriend, but strangely won’t be quite as mad if they end up with another man they adore.
Ting in action
When teen idol Justin Bieber was in Bangkok for a concert last year, many ting went to greet him at the airport. Not many got to see him, but thousands did scream at the poles, rubbish bins and floor Bieber walked by and/or over.
A day before the concert, Bieber had no intention of greeting the ting who were standing outside his hotel on Sathon Road. Despite the pouring rain, they stood there all day singing his songs. No one saw his shadow that day, but they remained there screaming like there was no tomorrow.
After the pop star left, one Thai ting claimed to have bought a Bieber pubic hair from eBay with a DNA test result “proving” it really was his. She wanted to sell it for more than 100,000 baht via her Instagram account. The sad thing was, someone bought it.
Special powers
They can grow money on trees, it would seem. Even though most ting are students, they can always manage to have enough cash for very expensive concert tickets and rare memorabilia.
Ability to move faster than the speed of sound. They always seem to manage to get close to their idol.
High-pitch screams that can break glass.
Shamelessness — they can scream at a billboard of their loved one to show off their super ting powers without shame or embarrassment.
How to spot them
Ting are hard to identify when they are not around their idol. They blend in with the rest of us until their hero (or a picture) appears, then they break their cover and start to scream.
At concerts or shows, ting usually arrive in groups with LED signs bearing their idol’s name.
Their eyes are open and they ears can hear clearly, but they never see or hear anything negative about their hero.
Where to find them
Airports, concert venues, shopping centres or anywhere the ting’s idol is.
You may remember them as ...
In late 1980s, people who were crazy for singers or movie stars were called “fan club”. It later became “FC” before evolving into ting.
Manus Pa
Who are they?
This one you’ve probably heard of — it’s been rampant in social media and newspaper columns lately. Manus Pa is like a classification of a species, such as Homo sapiens, in this case women of a certain age who act in ways that are unacceptable for most people. Think Homo Aunties or Homo Rude Old Women.
Thai web forum Pantip.com is filled with examples of Manus Pa pushing into queues on the skytrain or 7-Eleven and pretending it is acceptable, or sitting in minivan and bus seats that make life easy for them but hard for others.
Manus Pa hover above all rules and social norms because they believe being old brings certain privileges and automatic respect.
But don’t think this is the exclusive domain of women. Men are not immune from this stereotype. There is also the term Manus Lung which applies to the older men who act just like pushy, entitled older women.
Manus Pa in action
In but one example, a Manus Pa ordered an ice-blended green tea at a cafe. She got her drink but immediately complained, asking for it to be blended again as there was some uncrushed ice.
The barista took her glass and began fixing a new drink. The woman asked what the barista was doing, and she respond that she was throwing away the old drink and making a new one. The Manus Pa told the barista that if she is going to throw old drink away, she would like to finish it while waiting for the new one.
Special powers
Getting a seat on all kinds of public transport at the speed of light. What Manus Pa wants, Manus Pa gets.
Immune to all kinds of criticism, whether harsh words, sour facial expressions or direct complaints. Manus Pa don’t really care what others think about them.
Always manage to get limited-sale items or free giveaways since they move fast and always stay ahead of the queue.
They are always right and never lose. Some have said on social media that Manus Pa never die.
Total lack of driving ability.
How to spot them
Usually older women who act inconsiderately and selfishly, although some younger women who behave that way can also be classified as Manus Pa.
Emotionless facial expression after doing something naughty such as pushing in is their outstanding feature.
No empathy toward society.
Get furious when being taken advantage of but stay silent when taking advantage of others.
Where to find them
Wherever there is a big crowd.
You may remember them as ...
In the 1980s, Manus Pa were called seua jae, jae ween or jae meng, although none inspired the same degree of hostility as the term Manus Pa that is used these days.
IM
Who are they?
Im is used for people who make the impossible possible, and is most popularly used among students who attend weekend school.
The term im comes from impossible, since those who fall into the stereotype seem to be able to solve very difficult maths questions and other superhuman brainy feats. There is a dispute between those who think im are only good at academic matters and those who think this group can solve anything. But their Kryptonite is their personal life — they have no idea how to deal with it.
There aren’t too many people who actually want to be friends with im, but they do usually attract those who want free lessons. Some say it is lonely at the top, but I would say it sucks to be im.
Im in action
At one tutor in Siam Square, students were take a special class for a very important O-Net exam that was coming. The teacher challenged the students with an intentionally wrong equation no one was expected to solve.
A room of 36 teenagers filled with silence and awkwardness. After five minutes, Albert walked in late from his Mathematics Olympic practise, walked straight to the whiteboard and told the teacher he wrote the question wrong. After Albert fixed it, he solved the equation within a minute. Then he left.
Everyone in the room was stunned, and one student asked loudly, “Why is he even here?”
Special powers
See the world clearly and differently.
Very high intelligence level.
Able to solve all kinds of academic related problems.
How to spot them
Im don’t have many friends and have very low social skills, so you can normally find them by themselves.
They are often wearing big glasses and carrying big bags filled with books.
Where to find them
Library, school or study room. Maybe hanging around with teacher.
You may remember them as ...
There were many equivalent terms in the early 1990s: dek na hong (front-row students), dek rian (bookwork) and dek nerd (nerdy child) among them.
THAI
What is this all about?
Thailand’s political conflict has been noticed around the world. Many people in other countries traced the origins of the conflict and noticed Thai politics is full of corruption and lies.
Last year, it became popular in Asean’s social media to use the word “Thai” in a sentence in place of the word “lie”. “Don’t Thai to me” came to mean don’t lie to me, don’t cheat me or don’t con me.
As well as social media, this became widely spread in the online gaming world. Many players, especially from the Philippines or Malaysia, avoided playing against those from Thailand because they usually try to cheat the system.
Thai in action
Mike, who first visited Thailand 11 years ago, had heard that MBK has lots of good and cheap electronic goods. Without knowing what he got himself into, Mike bought a famous Japanese game device as a surprise present for his son.
Walking around, he found a second-hand phone shop where the phone of his dreams was lying in the case. The seller told him straight away that the phone wasn’t real but a copy from China.
Mike loved the ways it looked, so he bought it. At home, he discovered the game device was the fake and the supposed faux phone was the real McCoy. Since then, Mike truly believes in the concept of Amazing Thailand.
Special powers
The ability to tell lies even about something good.
Complete denial of responsibility for things they have just done.
A smile that masks undying hatred.
How to spot them
They are often lurking behind a smile, and are probably trying to sell you something.
Where to find them
On the street, in malls, in parliament, in taxis, next to you. They are everywhere. n
