The Thai Society
Thailand is a hierarchical society in which thanks to the believe in the Karma the social status of the people is untouched. A person who has a high social position has acquired this in its previous lives. The important one has to look after his subordinates (for example workers or employees) and his less moneyed relatives. In return he receives respect, obedience, thankfulness and loyalty. The social position and the age is decisive for the behaviour of the Thais among one another. Generally the oldest or socially highest ranking person receives the most respect. Many details in behaving among one another depends on the social status and /or the age of the people attending. This is reflected in the family, the circle of friends and in the working life. It also explains the believe in authority, favouritism and the partly undemocratic structures in the Thai society. Thus every Thai makes an effort to knot an big harmonic net of relations. For example the important are not over bothered as by this a relation could be destroyed which one day could become important.
Also plays the extremely big need for harmony and avoiding of conflict a mayor role. "Djai-yen” – keep cool – (literally "heart-cool”) is one of the highest "precepts” in Thailand. Things that are unchangeable are accepted as such to get excited does not change anything - what you cannot change is accepted! "Mai pen rai”- doesn’t matter – will every Thailand holidaymaker hear many times. Also the famous smile of the Thais is a tested mean to avoid conflicts. "Don’t do anything to me and I will also do nothing to you. A smile very often brings more than a bored excuse. Who has no answer to questions or does not want to criticise keeps silent and smiles. Even in the Thai parliament this behaviour as been observed. As we Farangs (western foreigner) stand outside the social Thai net of relations, the relations mainly are mostly short and often have a material background, we cannot expect great loyalty. In fact is the hat taken off to us, alone because of our affluence which goes along with a good karma but in case of doubt understandably the more loyalty is brought against their fellow countrymen.