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Opinion Piece: Is It Time for a Thai Reading Revolution?

I plonked my bottom on a seat and opened my book.

The Girl in the Picture, the story of Kim Phuc, the child (now a woman) who became famous after a journalist captured a picture of her just after she had been horrifically burnt by a napalm bomb during the Vietnam war.

I always read on the train, yet feel a little odd doing so in Bangkok, as most people tend to look at me as if to say; “Why are you reading a book? Serious mak mak (very serious)”.

Being from London, where reading is commonplace on trains, buses and in the back of cars, I am naturally inclined to read while the stops pass by.

Conscious of the picture of the naked girl running terrified on the front of my book, I peered over at the suited lady opposite, desperately tapping away on her iPhone playing Angry Birds, Farmville, or whatever.

I then looked to my right, and shock horror, I saw another woman – of about 35 years old – reading!

….Oh, just a comic book…

According to UNESCO statistics, Thais read eight lines a year, while Vietnamese and Singaporeans read five books per year and Northern Europeans read 24 books per year.

It got me thinking that I rarely see people reading in Thailand, at least not real books anyway.

I have seen people reading in cafes, particularly in the more independent types and those located in B&S stores, and there are occasional readers on the train, but it's nearly always a Japanese-style comic book.

There are a fair few book shops in Bangkok though, and in recent times I have seen an increasing amount of foreign authored books translated to Thai on the shelves; perhaps social media and the subsequent interaction with foreign media sources is opening up interest in books from other countries?

But in general, countrywide, there is a serious lack of reading going on.

Obviously those exposed to an international education syllabus and foreign travel will have more experience of reading, and indeed a better command of English, so they are more likely to engage in reading.

But education isn't a clear differentiator here. In fact, the motorbike taxi driver perched regularly at the end of my street, flicking through his newspaper each morning, does more reading than the average Thai I'm sure. Another example is an office I frequent, with 30 or so Thai staff, of which I've never seen one with a book in hand.

Maybe this is pure oversight on my behalf and I just don't know enough Thais who read, or maybe reading on the train isn't “the done thing”, but as the PISA graph below suggests, it runs deeper than that…

PISA reading levels Thailand

It Wasn't Always Like This

Thailand Historian David K. Wyatt notes a rich bibliophilic tradition in Thailand, and that in some parts of the country in the 1890’s the male literacy rates were “considerably in excess of the literacy rates in Europe or America at the time.”

Historically, Thailand enjoyed a rich tradition of literacy. There were Buddhist temples that included libraries and boys were taught to read and write in monasteries.

I put this history to a good Thai friend of mine and she noted that she, like others in her school, were never encouraged to read anything other than Thai history and books on Theravada Buddhism.

Of course, because kids are exposed to these subjects in many facets of their daily lives, they weren't very interested. So it makes sense that most kids would be put off of reading from a young age – if indeed the selection of material is so limited.

My friend also commented that University didn't require much reading either, at least nothing other than the essential textbooks; quite unlike the extensive reading lists you get at universities back home, which are purposely designed to broaden the mind and encourage critical thinking.

I guess “establishment guided” reading discourages the independent reading in a big way; in the same way forcing a child to eat greens often results in a teenage rebellion against vegetables.

Clearly something has changed since the days of rich bibliophilic tradition, as can be seen from the PISA reading chart above, which shows Thailand's reading averages down there with Mexico, Cambodia and Indonesia.

It would seem that people are not encouraged to read about the world outside of Thailand. They are not given access to “good reading”. And as such they lose interest and do not go on to read their teens or adulthood.

One example that reinforces this theory is the Chiang Mai school incident some years back, where teachers could see nothing offensive about their children dressing up as Nazis for a school fun day. Let's face it; if the teachers don't know their world history, how can we expect the children to?

We have all encountered systemic ignorance in Thailand, and I believe much of this could be resolved with a reading revolution.

thailand-a-short-history

Definitely one for your book list. David K. Wyatt's a short history of Thailand. Click the image to view it on Amazon.

Is Reading “Too Serious”?

Debate of politics, war, corruption, oppression, poverty, psychology, etc., isn't something the majority of Thais like to engage in.

Culturally, debate on these issues is seen as “mai sanuk” (not fun) and a little too serious. I remember getting some funny looks when debating religion with a friend in a cafe. They thought we were arguing!

I think one contributing factor to the lack of debate is that perhaps Thais have had enough. They have been through so much political turmoil through the years that most want their daily experience to be as far away from the rhetoric as possible. This, combined with not wanting to be in “serious” state of mind for too long.

Moreover, books do have a reputation of seriousness, particularly for kids in school, and especially if the books adults are showing them are all about domestic history and Buddhism.

In my opinion, a reading revolution is easily started by simply exposing people to books that are fun and a joy to read.

I don't think people DON'T want to read, as much as they aren't accustomed to reading, haven't been encouraged to read, and simply don't know how enjoyable reading can be.

thai-reading

Why Am I Bothered About Thais Reading Anyway?

Well, because I regret the years I didn't read, or should I say couldn't read very well.

In my teenage years, my concentration didn't allow me more than a few minutes of reading. My mind would wander as words passed unregistered through the back of my head.

It was strange. I was unable to retain information. I would read a sentence or two and immediately forget what I had read.

Perhaps I was trying to read the wrong books, or perhaps I had too much on my mind, like trying to survive the daily aggression at my local comprehensive school, where I was having a tough enough time trying to fit in.

Over the years books have become a good friend, helping me learn about the world, its people and history.

Books have helped me to learn to express myself better too, and taught me to write to a decent enough standard that people actually read my blog posts.

Books on tragedy, suffering and war have helped me realise how bloody grateful I should be for my lot in life, and how others have experienced hardship that I have directly or indirectly benefited from.

Books have an extraordinary capability to open the mind and enhance life in many ways. Books open windows to the world by providing context to modern life through history.

This is why it is frustrating to see people who have the access and opportunity to read wasting their time on mindless games and phone apps.

I appreciate that reading isn't for everyone. Some people only ever read what they have to; just enough to pass an exam or learn something for a job role.

Others like light reading: a tabloid paper, a car magazine, celebrity gossip, whatever. I'm not having a go at people who don't read biographies, novels or worldly literature.

But at the same time there is a book for everyone. Most people would enjoy and benefit from reading if they tried.

So I wonder what would happen if young Thais were encouraged to read more. I wonder how society would change if there were more libraries and more emphasis on seeking knowledge, particularly outside of nation and religion. Not because those things aren't important but because there's so much benefit to be had from reading.

Knowledge is power, is it not? Knowledge creates a breeding ground for change. The kids are the future; they will shape the world. So encourage them to do so.

If you give people the tools to freely educate themselves they will become more knowledgable, more capable, more inspired, more productive (maybe), and in turn will create a better future for themselves and their country.

the girl in the picture book

The book I was reading on the train (mentioned at the start of the post) Click the image to see it on Amazon.

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  1. I liked the article, but I think I would go back one step and ask another question…

    Reading comes really after speaking, I think most would agree on that… so lets go back one step and ask this:

    Why is it that after 60 years of Western influence and exposure so very few Thais actually speak anything like passable English? Much less reading…

    Compare the average citizen of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, even Cambodia to Thailand and you can see that the level of English reading and speaking, generally speaking, for the average Thai person is not there.

    One reader commented how their children at the International School read a lot but I have to imagine that not a lot of the average Thai children go to an International School. That is like saying at Oxford there is a lot of rowing teams ergo all of England has rowing in their blood – simply not true. The average person does not attend these places.

    I am going to go one step farther here and say that Thailand is actually 20 years ahead of the west in knowing how to control and placate a society. “You think too much”, “mai pen rai”, mindless TV, manga books on silly subjects, the fascination with lucky numbers, the prevalence of un-questionable religion and the overall soulless accumulation of consumerism has kept the country from blossoming. Of course with blossoming may come a brand new society and that would change things for the powers to be – and that would not be “cool ” for them at all.

    By not really teaching anything near good English for the masses it has insulated the masses from new ideas and real cultural exchange for decades. Sure, your waiter will know you need a beer and that the food was too spicy, but try talking about the French Revolution or Plato… you will just get blank looks. Damnably some of the best English speakers are bar-girls (and who would listen to them as Thais??)

    Don’t think I am getting all superior for the West either here. The advent of footballer lifestyles, the mass consumerism etc… will soon lead our countries into the same abject vacuous state that we can see here. Give it a bit of time and the West will be just as closed as Thailand…

    I have met Thais with perfect English, good book collections and a very real sense of the world and what is going on and every single one of them has been a leader of industry, commerce or in the high echelons of society that basically control society.

    Do you think a factory owner making millions of Euros from thousands of people who are happy with a couple of hundred Baht a day and some rice is going to want any of them to start thinking about retirement funds, social equality or The Rights of Man? No, no no, just better to let them watch the TV, bet on lotteries and mai-pen-rai about almost every issue in life that actually matters. Much less think they should start a kids book club – imagine the damage that could do in 20 years!

    But I have also talked to some Thais who will not be placated. The Internet has opened the doors to Google-Translate and online forums, they are starting to read quite a bit, Google Earth has let them see other places close up and in street view. Do you not think they are starting to mull things over a bit?

    I have been to the big book stores in BKK and Pattaya and the Thai book selection is very interesting. Lots of how-to on computers, astrology, romance etc… and very little heavy-thinking books, social commentary etc. My favorite was the huge selection of “How to Get Rich – Like Me!” type books that abound.

    So far the Thai society has picked up the detritus of Western society (Pop stars, consumerism, trash TV etc..) but they have not picked up any of the good stuff like Voltaire, scientific theory, logical dissertation etc… These things have been very neatly left out. Speaking English (the real lingua franca of the world) has made sure that they will stay asleep for a while longer… and the less they read the better for those in charge… and the less they can talk the better also….

    You are correct about books and real reading but you have to remember that in the West we have a long history of questioning things, we can be very subversive and we can be very upsetting for those in power. But there has always been a fight against the status quo and those in charge and the “radicals” who will change society. Thais society is much more based on co-operation and inclusion, so don’t expect to see too many books out quite yet.

    But the Internet is changing things for the average person here and there is a deep awakening going on, if you look deep enough. I have talked to quite a few average, run of the mill Thais who are starting to ask questions. Real questions…

    Hopefully in 20 years you will see a lot of real books and real thoughts. I for one would love to see how the Thai people integrate all this new knowledge into their culture and how amazing that is going to be for them. I think the future is bright, just let them start talking first, then come the books ! 🙂

    Sorry for the rant, but first speaking, then reading is my take 🙂

    Reply

    • Agree with most of what you say there, especially:
      ” No, no no, just better to let them watch the TV, bet on lotteries and mai-pen-rai about almost every issue in life that actually matters. Much less think they should start a kids book club – imagine the damage that could do in 20 years!”

      It’s striking how Thai TV contains so little of substance too. And it doesn’t seem to have any EastEnders/Coronation Street/Brookside(is that still on?) kind of soaps. It’s only about the rich. The poor are subservient grovelling maids, etc.

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    • Excellent commentary. Agree with you completely. I don’t believe rural Thais rarely ever experience the joy of learning and discovery by reading something. They are indoctrinated at Thai public schools; the ajarn is usually the only one speaking in a Thai classroom, etc etc. However, there may be something also related to the Thai language itself, but I have no doubt that it is mostly correlated to ‘Thai culture’. It’s best to just leave it at that, isn’t it? To spell it out any further is very unpleasant. I disagree completely with a comment I had read elsewhere that ‘life is to be experienced and reading is a waste of life’, something like that. Reading is not only necessary, it is a joy. And without a real education, which certainly means the student is a reader, it is much more difficult, unless you are lucky or inherit money, to make a decent living, and I’m not just thinking about m.o.n.e.y.

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      • Hi Steven, one would hope that with the expansion of the web – access to free reading on everything you can imagine – kids will discover the joy of research and reading. But perhaps I’m too optimistic, as most online reading seems limited to Facebook and Twitter 🙁 I’m sure it will help open more eyes to ‘truth’ though.

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  2. I am amused when opinions or discourse are sought but when someone disagrees others get testy and defensive. There are always different ways of looking at any proposition. When someone takes the time to open other avenues of thought on a topic…well we seem to disagree about how to embrace such an effort.

    My arguments always relate to adults of a certain level of development and not to children who I have no interest in. Too often I see people disconnected from the world around them. iPods, iPhones, or noses buried in books or magazines, inebriates of various forms, anything it seems to avoid being with their own thoughts and aware of their environment. That I find sad because I think they are missing out on something.

    A dedicated time, free of distractions, to study, learn, invent or even ponder the meaning of existence seems more beneficial to me. The circuitry or plasticity of the brain is more effectively modified by purposeful thought and action, as opposed to the mindless filling of time.

    Trying to dictate to another culture what they should do and how they should do it, also seems problematic to me. The idea that we need to forcefully promote, not just reading but the right kind of approved reading, to a culture other than our own seems misplaced. Giving our loved ones the opportunity to grow in a manner or direction of their own choosing is very different in my opinion.

    Bringing up the notion of an educational conspiracy or superimposing some western template on a foreign culture than one admittedly does not understand is again I think a bit of a stretch.

    Reply

    • “A dedicated time, free of distractions, to study, learn, invent or even ponder the meaning of existence seems more beneficial to me. The circuitry or plasticity of the brain is more effectively modified by purposeful thought and action, as opposed to the mindless filling of time.”

      To a certain extent, that’s true. But even Einstein and Newton needed some kind of basis for their invention. I don’t think they sat around all the time before that eating som tam and doing nothing.

      The act of reading inspires one to invent one’s own world or own thoughts, it rises one above the animal basics of eating, shelter, etc. (What’s that pyramid called?) I really doubt that those Thais who aren’t reading are instead filling their heads with original thoughts 😉

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  3. Wow talk about stir up a hornets nest 🙂

    I’m 100% with you, I don’t see that there is anything wrong with reading if and when you feel like doing so, especially if it is commuting, it is hard enough to relax, unwind from the world that surrounds your every move and get some time to yourself in most modern cities. I carry my Amazon Kindle with me everywhere and am more than happy to “switch off” from the world around me to read if and when I feel like doing so.

    As for VF’s comment “All this talk of reading is merely an attempt to elevate ones self above others. Look at me, I read so I am better than you. If you like to read, fine, but it is perhaps naive to think it makes you superior.”

    Is there anything wrong with wishing to elevate you life above your class or status, what other means of gaining knowledge and understanding is there that has the same depth and brevity as a well written novel or article?

    One of the first things I introduced my wife to was the joy of reading and the insight into knowledge and the thoughts that only reading the words of others can bring, its if the knowledged gained that brings about the feeling of fulfillment.

    It is the biggoted single minded beliefs that are brought about by not knowing or understanding the thoughts and beliefs of others that causes much of the ill feeling in todays society.

    Reply

    • Lol, occasionally my posts do tickle a few people 🙂 And then in turn tickle me back!
      I agree Lloyd, I can’t see anything wrong with expanding the mind and exercising the imagination. I am going to look at getting the new Kindle so i don’t have to lug books back from the UK each time I visit. Do you find the screen as readable as a book?

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      • I have the Kindle 3 WiFi only. When I first purchased it I was skeptical as I enjoyed the feel of a book, after a few days however my opinion of it in favour over a “real” book soon changed.

        It is certainly as “readable” as a paperback book, less so than some glossy had-cover books but the benefit is in the weight and ease of use.

        A great investment!

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  4. Some interesting insights here on book/reading culture. I personally feel that we shouldn’t dwell too much on the division of various book genres but instead retract our attention to reading as being an assertive form of stimuli, regardless of the book’s contained topic or agenda. I have a number of graphic novels in my library that are as politically driven, technical, philosophical and philological as books I have on astrophysics, spirituality and ancient history. I think what the author of this post is trying to distinguish or bring into discussion is the difference in culture between the West and the Orient, without the nuances that one might feel are apt for such a sharp generalization.

    As someone who has traveled to both Hong Kong and Thailand I can say that my observations offered themselves to me with specific clarity. The Orient as a cultural setting is far more studious in its recreation than compared to those living in the West. The majority of young people I saw in Hong Kong were either reading some kind of graphic novel or playing one of the arithmetic based games on their Wii that dominate the Asian market. In the West we do read but dare I say it, the majority of us read the wrong thing (a tabloid newspaper, glossy magazine or anything from the Twilight series all full under the arbitrary rubric of Wrong). I can see how a Westerner can draw quick assumptions, palming off a consol or a manga book as being a mindless means of killing time, a flippant comic with layman’s language layered with uncomplicated story lines, yet with a careful study of the intellectual demand some of these ‘games’ and ‘comics’ require you’ll find its the contrary that proudly stands.

    I agree that Thai’s are not encouraged to engage in political discourse, this I experienced first hand yet we must accept that the culture finds its foundation set in existentialism, one that engenders an accepted form of living and life, so to question the state of ‘things’ is quite frankly deemed as uncouth. In the West we have far more profound and oppressive social, racial and economic systems in place, ones that automatically spawn social unrest due to the pernicious legacy of empire, so obviously the style of learning and topic will vary, not to mention the need to learn will also become far more astute. In short, most Thais I met have a public adoration for their country, a proud nationalism that the West with its disingenuous past and multifaceted components of oppression can honestly never truly propagate.

    To say that reading is not needed in life is not only myopic but somewhat tragic. To learn about human culture and the investment made by others to the experience we all come to call our reality, can only really be found in the panoply of books past minds have left behind for us to utilize. I agree that one should cultivate a balance of study and mediation inorder to fully appreciate what it means to be alive, but to negate books is to dishonour those who shared the earth before us. I would also like to mention that due to this perversion, or ownership by the White establishment of intellectualism in the West, what we find is that people have become somewhat alienated from one another, from the wonderful cultures of our brothers and sisters, to the traditions and human contributions that in truth were responsible for the birthing of Europe in the first place. If we really are to try and resolve some of the social ills present in human society my personal belief is that we can only do this through reading, learning, engaging and appreciating a collective human experience, one that reaches out through scholarship, poetry and spirituality but more quintessentially one that defines what it means to fully be part of the human life.

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  5. @VF

    Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn – Benjamin Franklin.

    The Thais describe people like you as “the frog under the coconut” – an ignorant person who mistakenly believes himself to be all-knowing due to his narrow outlook.

    And your arrogance is breathtaking.

    Your poor brother must have the patience of a saint.

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  6. I find you naive and you find me condescending. I don’t see any “cheap shots” or “insults” there, just valid opinions. You seem to have a very narrow range of what you consider acceptable responses to your musings. I am simply offering an alternative view. 😉

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    • “I think you are being a little naive here…because…” rather than “naiveté is one of your fortes” I would consider a more respectful response. I just got the impression your agenda was me rather than the broader issues of the post, which I feel have deep implications for Thailand and warrant an intelligent discussion. Cheers.

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      • I’d made the same observation as you, ThailandLife, for a while now. It’s very striking how no one reads in public here apart from, as you say, the motorcycle taxi drivers!

        I’m not sure it’s a ruling classes plot though. Just a vicious circle where kids aren’t read to by their parents, there aren’t books around the house because the parents never got interested and so books are only associated with school. Also it’s a cultural attitude to not want to know too much about things. It’s a pity. Stories can teach morality as well as the other knowledge you think about. Think of how much of an English character is fashioned by reading or knowing the stories of King Arthur, etc. Aesop’s fables too. (Mind you, I saw my Thai nephew in law had a book of those. Hope for him yet!)

        If there’s a plot to keep the masses down, it’s in the TV programmes.

        Finally, I’ve got to say that I don’t read that many books these days. I used to, as a kid. But now all my reading’s on the Internet.

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  7. Nose buried in a book, iPad or iPhone, it is all the same to me. How about an original thought or insight, instead of rehashing someone else’s thoughts and writings?

    Of course we are not talking about the masses here as there is little that can be done to improve their lot in life. Most people merely exist, procreate and perish and reading will not mollify the mediocrity of their existence.

    I can’t count the number of times in my life when I regaled my brother with my life experiences, travels and insights, only to have him say yeah this guy wrote about the same thing and that I should read what he wrote. Sorry, been there, done that and formed my own opinions and insights. “Weren’t you listing to what I said, brother?” That was the difference between us. I did it and he read about it.

    All this talk of reading is merely an attempt to elevate ones self above others. Look at me, I read so I am better than you. If you like to read, fine, but it is perhaps naive to think it makes you superior. But then again naiveté is one of your fortes.

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    • Why do you feel the need to insult me? I could tear your condescending weekly posts to bits, but instead remain open to see the best intentions in your musings. “All this talk of reading is merely an attempt to elevate ones self above others. Look at me, I read so I am better than you”. What absolute rubbish….You would prefer children to be deliberately steered away from knowledge and creativity? Your colonial, imperialistic attitude is truly shining through. I guess you prefer Thais this way…say no more about yourself. Shame you couldn’t address the broader issues here instead of jumping on a chance to take cheap shots at the person “you think I am”…

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  8. I find those who read in public a sad and depressing group. What ever happened to observation, imagination and perhaps even interaction. With so much life going on around you, why would you bury your nose in a book? Even in a beautiful natural setting some will ignore the wonder that surrounds them and lock their eyes on the pages of a book.

    Reading is for the troubled among us. Read if you have trouble sleeping. Read if you have trouble in the toilet. Read if you have trouble interacting with others and with your surroundings. Read if you have trouble reading the stories on the faces of those around you. Read if life sucks.

    Life is to be lived and experienced, not read about, in my humble opinion.

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    • Oh give over VF…I am all for mindfulness, and certainly not suggesting block the world out behind a book all the time. Life is to be lived and experienced, indeed, yet the majority of the world now have heads buried in iPhones, Tablets and SMS messages, and subsequently are never really “present” to see the beauty of the “moment” anyway – this is better than reading a useful book and then sharing the knowledge with friends in great conversation?! Come on! Reading does wonders for driving creating, expanding the mind and inspiring life in children, and should be encouraged. How are children to learn of the world outside of their own country, or of important historical events that shaped mankind, or to empower themselves with greater verbal expression. I would have expected a reply with more weight from you…perhaps your thoughts on propaganda and the deliberate dumbing down of the lower classes through such material.

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  9. @SLY-G

    What have you been smoking up in Chiang Mai?

    TheThailandLife’s observations are accurate. In 10 years, I have NEVER seen a Thai person read a novel – only comics, magazines and newspapers. If small children are force-fed dusty historical and religious tomes, what else would you expect?

    I’m glad that your Thai wife ignored your pretentious inverted snobbery and sent your kids to a decent International School but you should understand that you are part of a very privileged minority and that your experience is not shared by the other 99%.

    May I suggest that you put down the religious books for a moment, let the bong smoke clear and rejoin the rest of us in the real world.

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    • Three Wheeler, I don’t smoke, I don’t use drugs, I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t eat meat and my wife isn’t Thai.
      So Who’s being pretentious now?
      One more thing, Japanese Style graphic novels are with us at least 700 years, way before Shakespeare ever came along.

      Why is it that many a westerners here, apart from the Kee-nok, try to make a better Thailand (for themselves) – is that a from of sexual sublimation? or just plain latent white-power imperialist world-views?

      Hey, with all the reading and writing, whose civilization is going belly up as we speak? Did you check de-facto illiteracy across the USA? UK? Do all the people you know back home carrie Rumi around them all the time? What about the oppression in all forms that is going on in the west for ages now? Since the medieval times and before? Why is Thai Buddhism books are bad but The Secret is a best seller all over the world?! Man…. Assimilate.

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      • If you want to persuade me that you’re not being pretentious, you will have to try a bit harder. Sexual sublimation? Is that when your jizz goes from solid phase to the gas phase without passing through an intermediate liquid phase? (I’m kidding!)

        In future, if you wish to portray yourself as a deep thinker, please resist the urge to mention “The Secret” – or any other mirth-inducing cod philosophy book promoted by The Oprah Winfrey Show.

        Your call for me to assimilate sounds rather hollow coming from a man who doesn’t even have a Thai wife.

        No drugs? Perhaps you are just high on life.

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        • Ummm…not interested in convincing you of anything, buddy. You took the energy to reply to my reply, I respectfully replied back, you obviously retorted to mud slinging and trolling, and – there, you got it. Victory for you sir.

          I love Thethailandlife blog. I think it’s the best blog around and I relate to it in many ways. I think this post today had a wrong accord. I am not writing the blog, just replying. Do you have something interesting to add to the discussion Sir? Please do. I think just being a troll is telling a lot about you. Maybe sit down quietly a little bit with yourself and reflect (and spare me the obvious smirky remark because your “non-deep thinker” radar just went off)

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  11. Are you really now?
    Look, your text is full of examples that point to a different direction than that stated by you. You may be in a reality distortion-field yourself. A self-perpetuated one. One overlooking a culture vastly different than yours in a region afluent with ancient cross references and cultural influences that go way before western civilization. And I don’t write this with a light keyboard, I do carry a lot of respect for your blog and avidly follow it.

    School system. Our mind have the power to make hell of heaven and heaven of hell. While you see elitism I see a chance of immersing my kids in Thai society. My kids don’t need to burden their crazy father’s perspective of life, only some of it, ergo, they are here. In my kid’s school most of the staff are Thai’s, half the kids are Thai’s and they have Thai classes everyday. I would have liked nothing more then to send them to Thai government school, but then my wife would never let this happen because she is Buddhist by nature, not like me, so she does the right thing every time without thinking about it too much. You know, they say, that the person that is cruel to his own cannot really show compassion for others. I am not here to make a point on my kids backs. I am here to let them find how amazingly breathtaking Thailand is for themselves without forcibly feeding it to them, and you know what – it’s working.
    You must know that the Buddha did commit acts of violence and murder when he deemed that necessary.
    I told my son, if you want to make you father happy you will do one thing and not the other.
    You will never serve in any army like I did. And you will marry a Thai wife.
    So my younger child run up to me and said, “Yes, I will also want to marry a Thai Husband”

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    • I am in no distorted reality, rather a constant state of observation and learning, thus I put my posts out there – often with lots of questions contained within – for others to give me their take and experience. I have no identifying culture, certainly not an English one, whatever that might be. I am of this world, not of territorial boundaries or limiting ideology created by narcissistic politicians (oppressors) and the self-appointed aristocracy (criminals). I respect the Buddhist middle way, and I am intending no offence, just seeking your take on a conflicting path and how you deal with that. Thanks for the exchange, and for following my blog, I appreciate it. Anyway, the point I intended to get across was, I just wish people, not just Thais, read more, or at least were encouraged to read more by those who claim to have their best interests at heart.

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  12. Disappointing post. If I only scratch the surface, I would say, this is pure assumption, and worse, a pre-conceived dogma. Based on a lady on a train. If I learned anything about Thai’s it’s that you cannot slap dogmas.
    My kids go to international school in Chiang Mai, where the library is always bustling and the majority is Thais. My kid was once invited shyly by another girl, Thai, who asked him if he would join her to silently read in the library. So, here, a counter-dogma. Not all Thais are like that or the others. I have met skilled, knowlegble, wise Thais who like to read.
    And BTW, as a buddhist, I am perfectly content in reading Theravada books all day long – all you need to know is already there.

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    • Of course, this isn’t based solely based on one lady on a train – I feel you may not have read the article in full – this is based on 3 years of observation, having rarely seen anyone reading. So in your mind the thai establishment/education system do encourage diverse reading and an acceptable level of access to reading to the average thai child? Your children are lucky enough to go to international school, and as I stated, “There are clearly Thais that do read, though. I have seen a fair few book shops in Thailand with buried heads in pages. But I fear the majority of those inside reading anything other than Thai authored books, are those privileged to have been exposed to a broader international education or an abundance of foreign travel.”

      You hit the nail on the head, albeit unintentionally. The underlying motive of this article is to encourage a debate on how people are controlled through guided literature, and how propaganda discourages people from really learning and asking questions that may enhance their ability to influence and rebel.

      Sorry to disappoint.

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      • Alas, I did read, but I “Blink”ed it, and of course the ‘one lady on the MRT’ was there to make a point.

        My underlying tone was that this post was condescending in a post-imperialistic kind of way. Very subtle. But it’s there.

        My academic ventures were focused on the super-imperialist game in the east, particularly the Indian Raj. Your post vaguely rang a familiar bell.

        I am Vajra Buddhist, i.e northern buddhism (or Tibetan) and I came to live in Thailand because it’s a real buddhist country, like Italy is Catholic, i.e, it’s imbued in the tradition and colture, and I find it astonishing every day. Yes, for western eyes, it’s all “Let’s cast doubt”, “it’s distorted and false”, whatever. I come from a super-modern hated western state which I will not state because I am ashamed of my origin. I would’nt change a thing here, because I am a visitor, I don’t know anything, so I can feel grateful and respectful. Like a child in a temple.

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        • “post-imperialistic”? Not sure I understand; my post was entirely from the other end of the spectrum. I am not saying read Shakespeare because he was a great western writer, I am just speaking about reading in general…Rumi, Pablo Neruda, Khalil Gibran, whoever….For the record I am as far from an imperialist as one can be. In my opinion the imperialist attitude is of those who oppress their own/anyone else by restricting and discouraging reading. I hope you don’t mind me asking the following question: I respect you beliefs, but how is a devout Buddhist able to send their children to International school? Educational elitism goes against the very core of Buddhist teachings, and everything Lord Buddha left for us to learn about class systems and inequality.

          Reply

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