A school in Pathum Thani was recently exposed for having the controversial policy of gauging the loudness of students singing the national anthem. They were so serious about it that they divided the students into three categories, based on how loud they are: green, yellow and red. If a student is given green, then they pass. Yellow means they have to sing it twice. Red means they have to sing it thrice. WTF, you ask? This idea is supposed to measure how much students love Thailand. The louder they sing, the more patriotic they are. Simple logic. Of course, the school scrapped this unnecessary practice after receiving overwhelmingly negative feedback from the public. Simple logic, too.
This got me thinking about other uniquely Thai logic (hey, this is a Friday free-copy, after all).
- Some Thais still think it's pretentious for Thais to try to speak English like a native because Thais should stick to the Thai language only. On the other hand, farangs (and I'm using the word in a neutral way here) who can speak Thai with an authentic accent, correct intonations and dialects are universally praised. Also, would you call a Thai math master pretentious since the Father of Mathematics isn't Thai? When someone tries to speak a second language like a native, it shows the dedication in learning the language. It's a skill much the same as splitting the dinner bill sans a calculator or phone, these days.
- Eight TV channels have agreed to censor single-plastic in their soap operas and shows in a bid to help combat the fight against plastic waste, and remind people to use cloth bags instead. It's just so unnecessary. If censoring something actually works, how come Thailand still ranks high on the world's top drinkers list?
- Thai parents who encourage their children to become doctors but seek help from a quack who concocts cure-all herbal medicines.
- Claw or crane machines are considered illegal. Under Thai law, it's a (cuddly) form of gambling, regardless of how cute Rilakkuma dolls are. Meanwhile, in Japan, there are shops dedicated to such games (and they are magical and colourful places, in my personal experience). Are you suggesting Thai kids are somehow more susceptible to gambling? Don't you have a bigger fish to fry, sir?
- Retailers who stop giving customers free plastic bags but try to sell their own cloth bags. Wait, I thought the whole point of it all is to create a lesser environmental impact? Why don't they just encourage people to shop with their own bags (which I'm sure they must already have some lying around in their own houses)?
- Those who love their dogs so much that let them ride pillion on motorcycles with them. However, without any protection gear whatsoever.