There are Cultural Reasons why Thais Gossip

Some background before the Cultural aspects are explained.

Latdaa does not like gossiping. In some ways she is not typically Thai. She is more independent than most of the Thai friends she associates with.

Her parents divorced when she was four years old and she was brought up by her aunt, herself a divorced lady with her own daughter to look after.

Latdaa’s strong character may be a result of having to fend for herself much of the time. Her aunt supported her as much as she could but Latdaa did not have as much help as others when studying in school and university. She found her first job by her own efforts and is doing well there. After just three years, she has been promoted to supervisor.

She asked the Japanese director of her company if she could visit the head office in Tokyo. That in itself was a pretty unusual request from a Thai. They will drop hints but won’t ask directly.

He readily agreed and she spent four days on a tour of the Tokyo offices and factory. It was a very full programme by all accounts. There was a great deal for her to learn and understand about the way the company operated. The Japanese, it seemed, did not mind her plain-speaking approach.

On the final day, Latdaa was allowed to spend her time sightseeing and engaging in the usual tourist activities. She choose to spend her free time with a colleague she had been introduced to in the office. They spent the day together and saw a lot of the city. The two ladies did some window shopping as the prices were too high for Latdaa to contemplate any purchasing. They both enjoyed their day.

Back in Thailand, her day of seeing the sights was the subject of much gossip and jealousy. Probably much was fabricated to make a good story. It annoyed Latdaa a little but, as she said to me, it’s typically Thai to engage in tittle-tattle.

The Cultural Aspect.

Thai culture seeks to avoid conflict at all costs. Thais will literally routinely walk away to avoid a dispute or argument. There are times when they cannot control their anger or emotions. It is then that violence can occur. But they are taught from an early age that it is better to avoid conflict.

Thailand does not allow free speech. Even the national newspapers and blogs self-censor to avoid more direct action by the government. Mild criticism of the monarchy is outlawed by the draconian Lèse Majesté laws. Gossiping is the chosen method of venting one’s anger. It’s their way of overcoming the government propaganda which they outwardly have to accept.

Thais are told that in their own culture they must not question or answer back. My wife works in a government department and will carry out orders or instructions from her boss without comment or question. She is not allowed to venture an opinion or to point out that what she is being asked to do will not work.

The result is that she will gossip about the situation to all her work colleagues as soon as the boss is out of the room. It gets her annoyance and frustration off her chest. Occasionally, her comments will get back to her boss who might then reconsider later.

But she will never admit making a mistake. That would be losing Face and that is never acceptable.

Another cultural aspect is that Thais will always avoid criticising their own country and do not accept foreigners making adverse comments about Thais or Thailand. Most people are patriotic about their own native land. The Thais turn that into xenophobia.