chuckwoww Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 That's right. Traditionally it's a sign of respect. Or it was. If farang like to do it as a fun way to say 'thank-you' or 'hello' then over time Thais will come to see it that way too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygye Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Do you wai shrines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Other questions, you are walking along with your wife, GF, hooker du Jour, and she wais someone, do you wai also? She has acknowledged that they are higher status than her, but what about you? are you higher than all present? this gets confusing. Now, in this situation, is it better to wai and have it be inappropriate for a person of your status, or better to risk being wrong rather than offending a person of higher status? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_numbers Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 OH, try a round of wais directed to the nearest plantlife. Â Is it ok to wai inanimate objects that are not shrines? Â On Sukhumvit maybe wander around Chuwit Gardens doing it aimlessly Then you can come back with some field research for the punters. Â Cheers, Â theNumbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 Do you wai shrines? Â Me? Nope. I'm not a Buddhist. I don't cross myself passing churches either. That said I've been in temples with Thais and I've done it out of respect for them more than anything. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Do temples count as shrines? As for field reseacrch, I have done so in that lovely new park, nothing to report other than no decent hookers worth pulling, bad day maybe? Â Â BTW, noone has explained the picture of the King waing the old lady (some say it was his grandmother, others say it was just a woman in a village)...if he can wai someone "lower," why can't we commoners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Comes back to the respect thing OH. You can respect someone of lower social status than yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 That is more less my point about waing wait staff and having it be "wrong." If the highest man in the land can "wai down" why can't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 If you respect the person for some personal reason then it's up to you to show your respect. Waing some hotel porter just because he pushed the elevator button for you or a street vendor who passes you a bowl of noodles makes no sense to you or them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted September 23, 2006 Report Share Posted September 23, 2006 Agreed on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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