Road Rage and Losing Face in Thailand.

Here in Thailand, much like across the world, road rage is becoming more prevalent in society. In Australia there are many road rage incidents reported everyday as people seem to be in such a rush and are very impatient to get anywhere.

In Phuket, another German has been killed; he was apparently cut off by teenagers on their motorbike. He lets them know they are idiots by giving them the middle finger and they then stab and beat him to death. This has happened to a German in Chang Mai before and also in Bangkok to other foreign nationals.

Here in Thailand people are often killed when they get involved in a road rage incident. The stupid thing is that what usually brings about their death is trivial.

Here in Thailand people are killed for beeping their horn at another driver, making eye contact in the wrong way, or worse giving a rude gesture. This happens in Australia all the time and most people just ignore the gesture, give a nod or wave of the hand in apology for doing the wrong thing. Others launch into some great Aussie lingo.

Here in Thailand, mostly dickless males who don’t really have much of an outlook on life take anything directed at them as the ultimate insult. Here in Thailand there is this thing that I still say is absolute bullshit, ‘losing face’.

An example is in the situation of a confrontation on a Thai road. A person who is riding or driving like and absolute fucking idiot, having no regard for anyone around them cuts you off. So you jump on your horn and give them a mouthful or even the middle finger.

Now if you do this and there are people around who have seen it, then you have really embarrassed the idiot (what you wanted to achieve) but he has also lost more of his tiny dick by being shamed in public for his idiocy. This is losing face.

This makes you in Thai eyes, the bad person. Thai culture you are meant to look the other way and do the whole ‘Mai Pen Rai’ or ‘never mind’ irritating thing. Many times this can be done for the people who do not mean to cut you off, pull out in front of you and so forth.

I can do that. The people who accidentally do something wrong, I don’t worry at all. I have had plenty of nods as if to say, ‘sorry’ and even apologise when stopped at a traffic light. The people I cannot do this for are the showboating, no respect for anyone, I am the most important person in the world dicks.

There have been moments where I have beeped my horn for a good 5 seconds at some ignorant fool, to only be given the look of death. I don’t want to have a confrontation, ever. But I cannot let people do dangerous and deadly things without letting them know that this isn’t okay and that they should pull their heads in and try and drive normally and responsibly.

Little teeny bopper gangs ride about in large groups, they make rude comments to others and sometimes a boyfriend will say something back and they bash the bash the shit out of him and at times rape the girl. This isn’t something that happens once in a blue moon but more often than you care to think.

I am always very thoughtful when I have Miss Noot with me. I would never get in a confrontation with her there. I have had to bite my tongue many times. And I am extremely careful when we have Nong Ja in our car. They are two lives I never want to have in the firing line of a possible problem from a road incident.

I wish I could do this when by myself, but there is some inbuilt switch that makes me lose all the control I show when with Miss Noot and Nong Ja. One day it could lead to me being taught a big lesson, but again I am a slow learner and old habits die hard.

I carry an extendable baton with me at all times. I have never had to pull it out thankfully. I can access it in a few seconds if need be. This wouldn’t be much use if I was having a disagreement with a person who had a gun, but if they had a knife or something else then it is a ripper.

I want to warn people to be careful in Thailand and driving. To be aware of the dangers of giving people what you might think is a little bit of friendly advice on road rules or road etiquette.

We are all different and some people are so laid back that nothing seems to worry them, and the other side of the coin is the people who get so worked up by the smallest problem. I am in the middle, somewhere.

I know that it is better to say nothing and just ignore whatever has happened, just go on my way. I know that this is the safest and easiest way, we all do but many of us cannot follow our better judgement.

So again, try and heed my advice and not do what I do ever in Thailand. Try and do the Thai ‘Mai pen rai’ thing and just give it the big shoulder shrug. As the saying goes, ‘Do as I say and not do as I do’.

If you live in Thailand, Do you ever get angry and let the other person know?

If abroad, how is road rage perceived there?

Brunty