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Property
Articles
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| Below are
articles relating to the property market in Thailand and
Bangkok for the 'Your Money' section of the Bangkok Post.
He is a co-director of Condo Bangkok. |
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| Many developing countries still have a lot to learn about political correctness |
Many developing countries still have a lot to learn about political correctness
I run an estate agency in Bangkok. There are many apartment buildings in Bangkok that have a strict no-middle east policy. They flatly will not accept bookings from people originating from the Middle East.
This is just one example of how Thailand still has no idea of the true concept of political correctness. Of course, ask a Thai person and they will swear blind that they are not a racist society. As is happens, today I went to a local attraction, the Crocodile Farm in Samut Prakarn district about 30 minutes drive from Bangkok. What was I confronted with when I arrived? This:
Entrance Fee: Thai 60 Baht
Foreigners 300 Baht
I experienced the same blatant form of racism in India, when admission fees to local attractions, nature reserves, museums etc. are much less for locals and much more for the ‘Aliens visitors’. What frustrates me the most, is that I have been living in Thailand for 8 years. I speak Thai, have valid work permits, pay my fair share of taxes, and yet still I am being treated differently due to the colour of my skin.
I originated from the UK, which most residences would argue has taken political correctness too far. However, having lived here for so long I find myself becoming more and more politically incorrect. This month I put an advert in the local recruitment website, looking for new staff. The requirements I specified in the advert were:
Thai National only
Female
Aged 25 to 35
In this one foul stroke, I was racist, sexist and ageist. I did feel a bit uncomfortable about it but the truth is this is the norm in Thailand. Pick up any newspaper, look at the classified recruitment section and you will see the same blatant political incorrectness.
I am a ‘Farang’. This is Thai language which basically means Caucasian. In most parts of the world, Caucasians have been the root of racist friction (going back in history). But now, as developed countries have slowly developed, we have learned that life is too precious to let slight genetic differences to bother us so much. A country developing is not just about buildings and infrastructure, it’s about social development as well. Asia is rapidly catching up on the West in terms of development (I mean buildings and infrastructure), and Asians like to think that they are the new Bees Knees, but they truly don’t fathom the distance they still have to travel in terms of social and ethical development.
www.property-bangkok.net
www.condobangkok.net
www.apartmentbangkok.net
www.property-bangkok.com
www.bangkokcondo.org
www.bangkokapartment.org
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