Comments on: F-Farang

By: priss

priss — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:54:01 +0000

I never thoght that farang be racist word but it’s long time to doubt about this word. And I never thought about this point but after read in Bangkok Post – I think that this word is not racist because it may be a borrowed word or new word that was build.

But it’s a very good point to have an argument in this way.

By: Rich

Rich — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:02:07 +0000

Pollyanna

By: gary fouse

gary fouse — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:18:52 +0000

I never considered the word farang to be an insult when I lived in Bangkok 1975-1978. Of course, it depends how it is used. Quite a coincidence that chart mentioned the word, kee nok or khee nok (birdshit). I remember hearing a Thai kid say once “farang khee nok.” Apparently, the term was used with some regularity, which I didn’t know.

I forgive them anyway. I love the Thais.

By: Chart

Chart — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:36:41 +0000

I can appreciate the spin, but behind the smile sleeps the truth: farang means kee nok … ask any school kid.

By: Scientifically Proven: The Good Farang

Scientifically Proven: The Good Farang — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:19:58 +0000

[...] a fast worker. The results of Thammasat University’s Khun Nat’s survey are in if Farang is an F-Word. If you haven’t read her outlining paper do so here. You’re a Westerner and hate to be [...]

By: BangkokDan

BangkokDan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:18:13 +0000

Please go on Oneditorial!

I could go on to clarify when it is deemed appropriate to use it and when it is not.

BangkokDan

By: Oneditorial

Oneditorial — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:19:42 +0000

Thank you for letting me know. I truly appreciate it. From now on I will tell my friends that if they want to see “some farangs” being obsessively paranoid, or feeling persecuted they should use the word more often when they chance upon foreigners.

By: eman

eman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:36:10 +0000

The only quandary about this thread is that many Thais don’t know they are being racist, that it is “normal.” Another quandary might be the obsequious stance that foreigners choose to adopt when they decide to not take offence.

By: Oneditorial

Oneditorial — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:58:09 +0000

The word should be used sparingly. I could go on to clarify when it is deemed appropriate to use it and when it is not. But then again, it always amuses me to see “some farangs” become touchy regarding this issue for no particular reason. Well, sometimes it is best to leave people in a quandary.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:21:35 +0000

There’s no doubt it is often used in a negative way but, if you plan on staying a while, you need to deal with it or it will drive you insane.

This is particularly true if, like me, you live outside of Bangkok where we foreigners are a novelty for the locals, many of whom are less “culturally rounded.”

An African guy who teaches in Saraburi once told me of two Thai teachers referring to him as “falang dum” during a discussion in front of students.

Now that is far worse.

What an example that sets the next generation.