For all those members tempted to go native - a timely reminder from a Thai

Stop making a fool of yourself - http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featur...ngs-go-native/ - and just remember our milieu in Thailand is that of the prostitute

It's absolutely simple. If you're a foreigner. Don't wai.

Absolutely. My introduction to Thai culture (and gay travel in Thailand) was Michael Notcutt's helpful little book; not to wai but instead to smile was one of his most basic rules. This was in 1995. And he's still right.

Very uncomfortable seeing an old farang wai-ing a gogo boy.

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Originally Posted by arsenal

It's absolutely simple. If you're a foreigner. Don't wai.

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In particular don't wai another foreigner

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Originally Posted by arsenal

It's absolutely simple. If you're a foreigner. Don't wai.

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Not so sure about that. I think it depends on whether you know the person or not. My BF would chastise me very strongly for not returning a wai... Especially to someone that I know.

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Originally Posted by frequent

In particular don't wai another foreigner

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Agree on this point!

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Originally Posted by frequent

In particular don't wai another foreigner

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Not even a moderator?

It looks absolutely ludicrous, in particular, when a foreigner enters a go-go bar and wais to the boys on stage.

I always tell new arrivals to think of a wai as equivalent to "good evening [or whatever], sir", i.e. you ought only to wai to someone you regard as a social superior. Of course, if you're an egalitarian who regards nobody at all as your superior, you presumably would never wai at all.

A quick bow of the head in acknowledgement (but not subservience) does well on virtually every occasion, I think.

Great article that can be applied to whichever country one visits. I try to learn some phrases and some historical facts but never try to imitate the manners of my hosts. It comes off as artificial. They know it, you know it.