Comments on: Hi-So Lo-So by Werewolf http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/ drink and blog Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:05:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: werewolf http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-113033 werewolf Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:42:18 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-113033 Chaiyen said: <em>"It seems as though most white people who leave their own countries immediately take leave off their sense or maybe it is something they never have in the first place and to see them barking out loud is simply laughable. read your history book again and remember that it was only a few decades ago that African Americans couldn't even sit on the same bus with white people and people get routinely lynched in some States for just being black and being in the wrong place at the wrong time."</em> Chaiyen, I guarantee that no one in the US has forgotten their cultural history, or is unaware of the current state of things. However, as we used to say in high school, what has that got to do with the price of eggs in Egypt? Your comment has nothing at all to do with the blog, which is a short discussion of the term "hi-so" and its meaning as a concept and impact in Thai society. Oppression of blacks in America has zero relevancy to the discussion of the concept of hi-so (a uniquely Thai term) in Thailand. If it did have any relevancy, then it might have been to illustrate the point that in America, anyone, from any background and any circumstance, can aspire to greatness. With talent and some luck, they can achieve their aspirations, though it's a tougher fight when you're coming up from the bottom. This is a mindset that is not prevalent among most of Thai society's less advantaged. Just because people see things differently from you doesn't make them ignorant. Often, the contrary is true. It takes some intelligence to disagree thoughtfully, and it requires wisdom to change one's mind. Insults are the quickest refuge of the ignorant. Chaiyen said: “It seems as though most white people who leave their own countries immediately take leave off their sense or maybe it is something they never have in the first place and to see them barking out loud is simply laughable. read your history book again and remember that it was only a few decades ago that African Americans couldn’t even sit on the same bus with white people and people get routinely lynched in some States for just being black and being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Chaiyen, I guarantee that no one in the US has forgotten their cultural history, or is unaware of the current state of things.

However, as we used to say in high school, what has that got to do with the price of eggs in Egypt? Your comment has nothing at all to do with the blog, which is a short discussion of the term “hi-so” and its meaning as a concept and impact in Thai society.

Oppression of blacks in America has zero relevancy to the discussion of the concept of hi-so (a uniquely Thai term) in Thailand.

If it did have any relevancy, then it might have been to illustrate the point that in America, anyone, from any background and any circumstance, can aspire to greatness. With talent and some luck, they can achieve their aspirations, though it’s a tougher fight when you’re coming up from the bottom. This is a mindset that is not prevalent among most of Thai society’s less advantaged.

Just because people see things differently from you doesn’t make them ignorant. Often, the contrary is true. It takes some intelligence to disagree thoughtfully, and it requires wisdom to change one’s mind. Insults are the quickest refuge of the ignorant.

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]]> By: Nok Opayop http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-112959 Nok Opayop Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:32:07 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-112959 Perhaps all the Isaan farm girls can become hi-so by visiting Sylvester McMonkey-McBean's Star-on Machine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories Perhaps all the Isaan farm girls can become hi-so by visiting Sylvester McMonkey-McBean’s Star-on Machine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories

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]]> By: doctorbond http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57637 doctorbond Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:38:02 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57637 I'm not sure it is terribly classy to call someone a jerk. I prefer to think of a more modern definition of class - that a person behaves in a particular way that makes you admire them - whether they are 'classy' because they are astute or 'classy' because they are caring or 'classy' for some other reason. I know it is a western construct and has little relevance to this discussion, but using that definition makes the 'classy' classless I’m not sure it is terribly classy to call someone a jerk.
I prefer to think of a more modern definition of class – that a person behaves in a particular way that makes you admire them – whether they are ‘classy’ because they are astute or ‘classy’ because they are caring or ‘classy’ for some other reason.
I know it is a western construct and has little relevance to this discussion, but using that definition makes the ‘classy’ classless

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]]> By: Conspiracy Theorist http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57581 Conspiracy Theorist Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:21:35 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57581 thongsuk, that sounds like Dicer to me. Talking of "taboo subjects written out of, marginalized, relegated to myth status" this ...> "Baan Sao Nak 19 Dec 2006 by CharlieH Baan Sao Nak , a Lanna-style wooden house. Called the "House of Many Pillars", this traditional Northern Thai teakwood mansion is filled with Thai and Burmese antiques and handicrafts. But those who come here on their western package ... Secret Thailand - http://thailandsdirtysecret.blogspot.com/index.html A Thai Secret 18 Dec 2006 by CharlieH Very recently I was let in on a little secret about Thailand; a dirty secret it does not want the outside world to know about. Should it ever become common knowledge on a global scene a national loss of face would have to be endured for ... Thailand's dirty secret - http://thailandsdirtysecret.blogspot.com/index.htmlBaan" ... thongsuk, that sounds like Dicer to me. Talking of “taboo subjects written out of, marginalized, relegated to myth status” this …>

“Baan Sao Nak
19 Dec 2006 by CharlieH
Baan Sao Nak , a Lanna-style wooden house. Called the “House of Many Pillars”,
this traditional Northern Thai teakwood mansion is filled with Thai and Burmese
antiques and handicrafts. But those who come here on their western package …
Secret Thailand – http://thailandsdirtysecret.blogspot.com/index.html

A Thai Secret
18 Dec 2006 by CharlieH
Very recently I was let in on a little secret about Thailand; a dirty secret
it does not want the outside world to know about. Should it ever become common
knowledge on a global scene a national loss of face would have to be endured for …
Thailand’s dirty secret – http://thailandsdirtysecret.blogspot.com/index.htmlBaan”

…

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]]> By: thongsuk http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57548 thongsuk Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:22:00 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57548 former history = taboo subjects Subject written out of, marginalized, relegated to myth status, smeared by practitioners of neuro-linguistic conditioning and the manipulation of their contemporary semiotics. Ja like that, I just made it up :-) (stuff like, oh, I dunno, USA's 1963 coup, the Nixon Coup of '73, and the 50 years of murderous US state terrorism . . shit like that :-) only using the THAI story boards. Former history. former history = taboo subjects
Subject written out of, marginalized, relegated to myth status, smeared by practitioners of neuro-linguistic conditioning and the manipulation of their contemporary semiotics. Ja like that, I just made it up :-)

(stuff like, oh, I dunno, USA’s 1963 coup, the Nixon Coup of ’73, and the 50 years of murderous US state terrorism . . shit like that :-) only using the THAI story boards.
Former history.

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]]> By: werewolf http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57530 werewolf Fri, 11 Jan 2008 06:02:34 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-57530 @@ Thongsuk: "...out of ignorance of our former history." TS, sorry it took me so long to pick up on something so glaring, but what exactly is 'former history'? :D :D @@ Thongsuk: “…out of ignorance of our former history.”

TS, sorry it took me so long to pick up on something so glaring, but what exactly is ‘former history’? :D :D

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]]> By: Pants Elk http://www.bigmangobar.com/blog/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-56167 Pants Elk Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:45:50 +0000 http://www.bigmangobar.com/reader-submissions/2007/11/02/hi-so-lo-so-by-werewolf/#comment-56167 I've had both the Emporium shopping/cinema experiences you recount, Werewolf, ending up at MBK and JJ, more often than not with a sister or two in tow. It's always interesting to see if they really want to milk your wallet or not - I can remember more instances of insisting I buy something for them than being asked to buy - this may be just expertise, but it's charming expertise. I'm happy to play my part, and it uses up the money I saved when they refused a restaurant meal, preferring their "nuden" from a tin table in the street. The farang can mix in Hi-So and Lo-So with a flexibility denied to the class-bound Thai, but only if he's presentable; a face full of studs, visible tatts, and Pattaya beach clothes aren't exactly the passport to Hi-So acceptance. I know a true Thai princess (I suspect there are a lot of these ...) and her CEO husband, but I'm always looking forward to escaping the dinner party to the Nana carpark at two am. I’ve had both the Emporium shopping/cinema experiences you recount, Werewolf, ending up at MBK and JJ, more often than not with a sister or two in tow. It’s always interesting to see if they really want to milk your wallet or not – I can remember more instances of insisting I buy something for them than being asked to buy – this may be just expertise, but it’s charming expertise. I’m happy to play my part, and it uses up the money I saved when they refused a restaurant meal, preferring their “nuden” from a tin table in the street.

The farang can mix in Hi-So and Lo-So with a flexibility denied to the class-bound Thai, but only if he’s presentable; a face full of studs, visible tatts, and Pattaya beach clothes aren’t exactly the passport to Hi-So acceptance. I know a true Thai princess (I suspect there are a lot of these …) and her CEO husband, but I’m always looking forward to escaping the dinner party to the Nana carpark at two am.

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