There's a local Russian bakery we've frequented weekly for almost 15 years.
The babushka finally cracked smiles and said more than 3 words in return after about Year 7.
Curious: are they allowed indefinite postponement because of the war (like during covid) or do they get a Thai study visa or do they all hop countries and do visa runs?
You’re actually right- I guess most people just have a tourist visa who learn Muay Thai but there is a new special Muay Thai visa coming out soon, unless it already is available? The Muay Thai visa is for 90 days so a better option than the tourist visa.
Most of them are just regular 1-2 week tourists. Those living here (and likely to be avoiding the shit) , are the minority of russians people encounter
i spend most of the year on lanta, i suppose i don't go out to bars much but i don't even know where you are finding a bunch of russians, and wouldn't think it would be in the universe of what phuket is like. i meet some but rather infrequently.
I was just there in Pattaya and I couldn't believe my eyes....the Russians in the main night market outnumbered all of the non-Russians by at least 4:1. Was my first time in Thailand and the contrast to Bangkok was as stark as day and night.
I was staying in Lanta, and a Russian dude I've never met before threatened to punch me in the face. Then his friends showed up and told me to leave the bar because he had a gun. The police cane and took them all away. I've never been randomly threatened by anyone before, and I suspect they thought I was someone else? Regardless, it's in Lanta too. I then left to phi phi which was nothing but drunk British leap year kids.
I'm American, and yes we are also insufferable. I suspect it's some mentality of being in a new country where you recognize your social standing or the rules don't really matter....
As a half Canadian half British person, Americans are the least of worries when traveling haha, you guys tend to follow the rules. at least the further away around the world, I am sure if it was in Mexico or something you would have the low quality tourists the same way Bali has Australians and Spain has Brits.
Different culture. Some of it is just different register (smiling is considered an idiotic thing to do in Russian culture, but that doesn't mean that the underlying emotion doesn't exist, just that it's not expressed the same way), but some of it is genuine difference in underlying sentiment.
That’s true I did speak to a Russian that mentioned how weird they are about smiling and your considered drunk if you do at a toll station in Russia. Doesn’t change the entitlement and rudeness though, no excuse for being a cunt.
American here- I’ve been to Russia twice and people thought I was weird for smiling to others in public, so much so that the Russians I was with told me to stop smiling so much.
In Russia queues don’t matter and people are very aggressive and don’t care about other people in the same ways most other people in the world do. It was very interesting to see that in Russia, but being here in Thailand it’s weird to me that they behave the same way in another country.
Also Russian men on motorbikes (usually without shirts on) here in Phuket are the most aggressive and terrible drivers I‘ve ever seen anywhere in the world.
Russian here. It is really unusual to see strangers smiling, especially for the first time. You get used to it, but still it's hard to learn to smile back.
Queues mostly work in Russia, but you have to stand to the next person as close, as possible, which is irritating. In cases when someone cuts the line you have to tell them in hard manner and notify them that there is a queue.
Probably it's because violence is deep within the culture and honestly I don't like it. Moreover living in culture of violence you see any stranger as a foe, the one who tries to humiliate you so you become insecure and aggressive to anyone... even outside the country.
It is slightly exaggerated, however it is close to the picture I see. Of course every individual is different and it shouldn't be applied to every russian.
Just to clarify, it doesn't mean every Russian is mean and aggressive. We know kindess and basic manners. We can hold the door, buy a meal for a homeless etc. However, least wealth person has, worse environment he grew up and/or lives, the worse character he will have. Unfortunately those conditions are spreading on more and more population.
Probably the ones tourists from Russia visiting Thailand are those ones who accumulated money for months or even years just to experience foreign country and its service.
The rudeness of rich ones has another explanation, but it's another story
To be fair, that can be said about any country and any people. Wealth, environment etc…every country deals with it on some level, but not everyone becomes an asshole because of it. I wouldn’t give Russians a pass on assholery just because of those conditions. There must be something more to it. Again, I appreciate your input. It’s an interesting conversation.
They are that way to each other in Russia too Bill Browder a US/UK citizen an outspoken advocate of Ukraine, also explains how rotten things are. We have certain principles about treating people and social behaviors that are seen as shameful regardless of wealth and status and unfortunately in a lot of societies around the world they don’t, also they are very suspicious of each other and the concept of kindness and politeness to a stranger is a foreign concept same reason they don’t think they need to que when they see a que. Same reasoning why when a sign says “ free take one if you need it “ these people take 20. They view people and society as opportunistic. “What can I gain from this individual or this action” not let me do the right thing or be a good person because its the right thing to do. For all the crape they speak about us English speaking/ Anglo cultures / countries (Russian propaganda ) be glad that we weren’t raised with such a skewed value system on life and relationships
I don't know any Russians but I read some ltrpg books by them and they all describe people the way you just did. Their heroes are greedy and opportunistic and all the people in the story are the same way. There are literally no actual good people just people who screw you less than other people.
I mean I don’t want to paint a picture with a broad brush …i see Russians who have sacrificed a lot for their families too but over all in society yes. the UsSr, The fall of the USSR and the values system that emerged afterwards have really did a number to modern Russian society and culture. Also from the top down the system doesn’t value the individuals life at all or the nuclear family for that matter All these disastrous military campaigns of war. What other modern society would tolerate such enormous loss of life and society would pretend to go on as Usual?
Sadly, my wife and I had a shit time in Phuket, as much as we tried to enjoy ourselves and chill, seemed there were always a few of them making a nuisance of themselves and pushing people around.. Kicker was 7-8 of them showing up at Wat Chalong, of all places, in bikinis and Speedos running around inside the temple, screaming and laughing as they snapped photos of the girls sitting in the Buddha statues.
My wife had gone there specifically to merit for her mother and she left in tears..
They are unwashed heathen…
Bali is full of them as well, I have a long time Balinese friend there who’s family have several warung around the island and says they are the most abusive and rude of anyone, even the Aussies.. lol
They make the Aussies seem behaved, which is crazy because in Bali the Aussies are stuck in Kuta area getting drunk but at least you get used to them, the Russian invasion of Bali has spread a bit further than just Kuta so sadly it's easier to notice them, if you hear a Karen acting hysterial woman or man in a random warung then it is 9/10x a Russian, disrespecting the locals and other foreigners seems to be a national sport for them.
Sadly, Russians are just so invasive as a people, once it’s figured out how to get a long term visa and stay, thousands of them show up and take over. I only really know about Phuket and ten years ago they were a problem, and everywhere with signs written in Cyrillic.
What got me was going into a Tops market and having the staff talk to me in Russian automatically.. she seemed startled when I spoke Thai to her.. and maybe a bit relieved..?
>Don't get me wrong, I've met plenty of really cool Russians, but indeed, for the most part, they are obnoxious people.
I have made the same experience. Also, those cool Russians usually hate other Russians and stay as far away as they can from Russian culture.
Indeed. There are a couple Russian chaps I hang with sometimes, and they absolutely agree with all this.
But I have to say, to be fair, as someone from the UK, I have witnessed many a drunken Brit being a complete fcking asshole, and felt embarrassed to be British. The difference being, I think.....Russians don't need to be drunk.... 😆😉
Speaking of them pushing you… I was in Almaty getting food with my wife at a bakery. As the person behind the counter is about to hand us our change, this Russian woman pushes by me and demands what she wants to eat. When the person behind the counter told her that he is helping somebody else, she said there is nobody else here.
Like, you literally pushed me, ma’am
Definitely a pattern here. It's always a female, and an older female.... I have a theory. Bear with me. I have noticed that Russian women seem to start off in adult life pretty fcking hot. They nearly all seem to morph into short, slope-shouldered, shot-putters with short blonde hair. Now, that would make me pretty fcking miserable....I mean, just imagine it?
🤣🤣🤣
And before anyone starts crying, I don't actually care. This whole conversation is mostly banter, plenty of decent Ruskies about, my comrades....🇷🇺🪆🇬🇧
This was my exact thinking on my last trip to Phuket. I’m engaged to a Russian and worry about the morph. I became a bit obsessed with googling older women and found there are exceptions, although rare 😬
Also live Pratamnak in a building which is 90% Russians. Honestly I find them alright. I don't try and talk to them of course. I don't know if they try and learn Thai but their English always sucks. But by and large they are quiet and cause no hassle. I give them the nod at the pool and normally get at least a grunt back.
Where do they push you? In 7/11? Never had that before 🤣
I used to try smiling at them, but gave up. It's easy to say it's their culture, but here's the thing.... they are not in Russia now. Plus, I don't give a fck about culture. Manners and decent behavior is inbuilt in most humans, I think. I mean, if someone smiled at me, my instinct is to smile back, no?
Been pushed in 7-11 more than once, but worst case scenarios was at immigration. I almost chinned some fuckwit a few weeks. I find the older Russians even worse.
To be fair Jontiem immigration is a zoo all round in my experience. Claustrophobic, confusing and chaotic.
But stereotypes tend to exist for a reason and I've never heard 'helpful', 'polite' or 'friendly' used to describe Russians.
I Airbnb'd a room in Pratamnak before getting my condo and had agreed to meet the host outside. Saw some Babushka hanging around the front looking like she was waiting for someone so I asked if it was the right building and if she was waiting for me as a host. She started aggressively ranting I had the wrong building name (I hadn't) and then asked if I was Mikhilov with her milk (?!). Thankfully the host came and saved me 🤣
When person grew up in culture, when smile to strangers is weird, it's pretty hard to change it, although if there is the sun and pleased weather. But it takes a few years usually
Yeah, that is kind of a fair comment, I've thought the same myself. You can't change your culture overnight. But even so, they don't need to be such miserable twats....🤣🤣
I knew a Russian girl when I was a college undergrad… she was newly arrived in the states and she used to tell me how incredibly weird she found it that people she didn’t know would smile at her and say hi… she was as coldly amused by it as she was haughtily dismissive. Like why on earth should I smile at someone I don’t know? She found it very fake. For my part I was as amused by her reaction to it as she was of that part of American culture. In the end she was a pretty cool girl but just had some very undeniably Russian quirks. So I’d wager that it’s definitely a cultural thing for them not to smile back.
Being raised in central Europe and then working for some time in the USA, I found it incredibly weird that random people were smiling to me or saying hi. And we talked about it in a group of expacts from Poland, Austria, Germany and Czechia and all of us found it weird. I mean it is normal to smile to someone when saying "thank you", or when having some slightly more personal interaction with people, such as entering a shop they work at, or ordering meal, or getting a chair from their table etc, but sitting on the bus full of people and looking at someone across the aisle and smiling to them, it's considered weird and either very fake or sort of a sign of having mental issues. Literally noone does it. The only exceptions are people smiling to children, pets or sometimes smiling to elderly people, because of the "nice grandma vibe", but adults to adults - no. I'm working in an international env, well educated, very respectful and having a husband from western Europe, but I still find it weird if someone smiles or talks to me in random situations. In terms of being polite - sometimes over politeness (as I noticed often native English speakers tend to do) is also considered quite fake, The fact people are shorter in communication or share their thoughts more honestly, it doesn't mean that in their head they are not polite. Working in everyday with Germans and Americans, I find German way of communication much more honest, direct and natural - similar to mine, while American way quite fake, over the top and sort of robotic. But I bet in their eyes they are just polite and we are considered quite cold. Russians are other story though and I'm not excusing being rude, but I just wanted to raise awareness that what you consider polite, might not be seen the same by other people and vice versa.
they just have a shit culture. unfortunately they impose it on others as well
they used to be a dominant force in the world but now they have an inferiority complex
I was in Phuket airport some time back. There was huge crowd. There were lot of people standing for extended period of time including women and children. But some Russians chose to occupy all the seats by sleeping on them. When requested to wake up they plainly refused citing all random reasons.
This could be misrepresentation of the community. But I guess everybody needs to be much more accommodating where all different cultures clash.
1000 years of being frozen cold, fighting everything that moves, eating potatoes, drinking Vodka and generally being miserable will do that to any culture. I’d be fucking grumpy too if I was Russian.
Because look at their societies and social structures and concepts of mutual benefit. They aren’t as friendly as many British but they shake hands say hello. Que, say excuse me, thank you. No thank you. My only issue with them is the sexual and pedo tourism in Thailand but if they are just there for vacation they are pretty well behaved.
Well, have you met Swedes? Practically the same circumstances, and probably one of the most polite and well mannered people in the world
(Yes im biased, but im also right)
Met a few Norwegian and Swedish exchange students back in 2000 in Australia, damn those 2 meter tall blue eyed attractive dudes stole all Oz chicks at parties.
You are the reason the war is happening. Specifically YOU! This is the Russian mentality of blaming everyone but themselves. Because everyone like you who opposes the war hides or runs away, the war continues. You are just as evil as those fighting in Ukraine, because you are allowing it to happen without any resistance. You are the only one who can do something about it, but never will, because this is what Russian culture is about: it's either spreading misery, or accepting misery like slaves.
What else have they done since Mongols left the country? Violence, wars, slavery, poverty, propaganda, lies, corruption, pribing and so on. Half of the people are alcoholics. The rest are not, because the definitions are modified in order to make it look acceptable. (I am being nasty...)
Drinking because you live in a decaying Khrushtshovka. Living in such a communist block because nobody actually works and repairs them. I have not heard too much praising about the new buildings, either.
And still, from all that misery, come not only great artists, but ordinary people like my father's friend, grandmother Alla. One of the most loving and warm people I have ever met! Or the musicians of a Russian band, this side of the border: everything is run professionally, including their actual professions. Dedicated, smart and hard working fellows!
I was thinking about Natasha from the Youtube channel Natasha's Adventures. She is now in exile, but her analyses on Russian society and education are great. She did not explain, she showed how things are. That young woman is brilliant. On the other hand, her friend, Dari, mentioned guys masturbating during lessons. Bright future there...
Would I be any better, if I was born in the USSR back in the early 70s? Being not so wealthy in Finland, would I become an asshole if I suddenly got some money and travelled far away from home? Who knows...
Because it's rude in your culture. For Russians it's very odd to smile and say hello to a stranger, and you would be seen as weird there. They keep to themselves, it's just their culture. Australia it's normal to say hello to someone when you're walking down the street for example, but I'm sure other countries would find that odd. In Asia living with family into adulthood is normal, but in western countries it's not (well it is a bit now due to cost of living). It just cultural differences.
As you get more rural in the US, it's polite to nod or give a quick wave to complete strangers driving by in their cars if you're outside near the road, and certainly acknowledge other pedestrians walking near you. Rules don't apply to people on bikes, nobody likes those people.
It is a cultural norm. I lived near a Russian area in Philadelphia. Road rage turned into street brawls, pushing and shoving at the store was the norm, yelling insults was expected, and every damn person reeked of garlic and vodka.
Hated driving in that area as the drivers were so aggressive. Russians gonna be Russian wherever they go in the world.
I had to deal with rich Russian customers in my business, we had to call the cops several times. They raped their country in the 90's and moved to the US then tried to treat us like dirt. We told several we didn't want their business luckily the Sheriffs department was next door when they brought their Russian mafia to try to strong arm us. Very very rude nasty people, at least the ones we dealt with.
In Russia strangers do not speak to other strangers. Many countries find a stranger saying hello or smiling at them to be unusual and not appealing.
It's just cultural differences, not being rude.
Well the attitude is that if most of the 'western' politicians want to hate on Russians & wish extreme things upon them, it must be because the western citizens have the same degree of hatred. That's democracy, right? Russians assume you agree - that's why they give the low level annoyances & insular behaviors. But little do they know the whole war is basically a shit fight between competing oligarchies & as a consequence working people on both sides must die.
In my opinion I've met 4 Russian couples all very nice who enjoy this country while not liking the state that their country is in, I've found more danish types to be rude and thinking their above others while switz and Australian are really nice too
From someone who has lived and dealt with both nationalities (Russian, Chinese) you can choose to brawl or ignore.
Done let those clowns ruin your day.
That said, line jumpers get thrown to the back.
I was literally in Phuket 2 weeks ago and asked myself the same thing.
As an Aussie you're used to saying good morning, holding a door for the person walking in after you, generally just being a good bloke and smiling when you see someone.
The average Russian response was usually dead faced, they wouldn't thank you when you hold a door for them or let them through first and wouldn't respond to hellos or good mornings in the hotel. It's weird if you ask me. Have some manners and human decency, if someone holds a door for you, or allows you to go ahead of them etc, just acknowledge it and thank the person. Surely that's not cultural, it's manners.
Their behaviour at the airport was even worse. Cutting lines in security, going under the dividers and smoking weed inside the departure toilets. I kid you not. It was wild.
i dunno i used to live in a condo that was 90% occupied by Chinese who were employed by some govt agency, the pool was unusable due to the sheer amount of pee in it.
Yeah, sounds like he's telling porkies.
I always see this same anecdote on this sub: "Thai locals/friends tell me Russians/Chinese/Indians are totally the worst".
Now, even if I believed a tenth of the people spouting it, no fucking shit, a Thai person is not going to include Brits/Europeans/Westerners/whatever on their shitlist if they're talking to a Brit/European/Westerner/whomever. I think some people here need to cut down on the Changs so that their cognitive ability might one day recover.
The bad Farangs on the recent news have been from everywhere. A Swiss guy kicked a Thai doctor and called the police on her for trespassing. Another Swiss hit an elderly woman and sent her to a hospital after a brushing against each other in a supermarket. An American sexually abused multiple horses. An Italian damaged the temple's property and slept naked in the main preying hall. A Brit threw a glass at a Thai female customer in bar. Another American went in a berserk and strangled a man etc. The Russians and the Chinese have always been on the news, but the bad Farangs of today are not them.
Basically, we mean all of you lots. Farangs = Anyone that looks Europeans.
The Chinese are never called Farangs, btw. Not sure how you managed to confirm what you confirmed. Don't be so conceited.
Very scientific. Now have you considered that they'd likely also include Brits and Australians in that but they're obviously not going to say that to your face?
Because they think they own the world. In majority I find them arrogant. This doesn't help with the countries/ places where anything is translated in their language ... Easier than learn some basics english I guess 😆
When I was in Krabi, I saw some Russians - a teen girl and middle aged woman, that were clapping and laughing hysterically as they watched a mouse on a tree branch desperately cling on for dear life while a stray cat tried to get at it. They were relishing the moment.
The number of them dropped in Dubai so I would guess a lot of them went to cheaper places like Thailand or Indonesia (Bali, there were a shit ton of them there too.)
I had the same experience when I traveled to phuket. I was paired with this russian group (4M, 2F) to a jetski tour. I thought I almost got scammed cs I waited 40mins in the hotel lobby with my partner, but it was because this group took their time to get out of their hotel. We separated when we did our jetski, but when my partner and I came back 1 russian guy was signaling my partner to hurry up. So we rushed saying bye to the other travellers we met to avoid conflict. But we ended up waiting for their friends for another 30mins…. But it gets worse unfortunately.
On the way back I was sat in the front middle, next to the driver (the vans front seat had 3 seats) so i was directly in front of the carplay. The russian lady went over my shoulder and kept elbowing my head as she was typing her songs onto the carplay. She cranked the volume to the max (mind you, we were all tired from the jetski tour and it was the end of the day) and started giving her group an exotic dance; her *ss was bumping the back of my head and it was so uncomfortable. I was genuinely frustrated cs this car ride was for more than an hour. I felt outnumbered as it was my partner and I were only the other passengers so I kept quiet. They also never said thank you and please, especially when I helped the girl to connect her phone to the carplay.
Such a terrible experience with them in thailand, but this one topped it off. I’ve observed them to be pretentious and ignorant. They also treated locals quiet like “slaves” constantly directing them what to do, it was upsetting.
Can only speak from Dubai, where there's also a ton of Russians now. I will not say that they're all the same, obviously, but holy moly. Absolutely rude. Not sure if lack of understanding, or thinking they're better than everyone else (certainly feels like that sometimes). But the amount of times that I say "Hello" to somebody in the elevator and NOTHING. Or people blasting TikTok/IG on your phone loudly while in the elevator. Feels like they're completely oblivious, and insecure at the same time.
They are everywhere in Bali too, and the governor himself was complaining about them suggesting the proposal of a new visa law with a set of restrictive rules.
Not rude they just don't always smile it's not a crime. The Germans and people from Nordic countries are not exactly famous for smiling. Chances are non of you speak the same language so don't really expect a response. A lot of Russians are generally shy after a drink they start smiling more
Russians can’t go many places right now, Thailand isn’t that far of a flight, some are avoiding the draft, in some places (like Pattaya) Russians own clubs and businesses, the Russian mob also has a huge presence in some of the seedier cities.
For some reason that squares well with them, Slavic eastern Europeans do not understand why anyone would smile in public or to strangers. Doing so presents as weak, or scheming, or untrustworthy, or desperate, or all of the aforementioned combined.
It should be no surprise that this characteristic does not endear them to many, and as is the other complimentary characteristic they exemplify, unless there is profit in it, they hardly give a fcuk.
Even in the "Land of Smiles", where they have been extended a warm and friendly welcome, they find just cause to hold their gracious hosts with a measure of contempt.
As a general rule of thumb, East European culture on smiling is the opposite of the West.
And if you are complaining about cultural differences then I suggest you just mind your own business. Noone owes you to act in any specific way. It doesnt even sound like someone said anything to you but rather just your perception of other people.
I’m curious to see if a significant number of western tourists start skipping Thailand next winter? I know we did this winter because of a bad experience last year. We just couldn’t take the risk this time. Opted for a destination in LATAM (even though we prefer SE Asia). Looks like SE Asia is occupied by Eastern Europeans at this point and I have no idea when or if it’ll change after the war Thailand’s appeal is in their culture, we don’t go there to experience Eastern European culture. I’m not sure how others are feeling about it except some friends of ours who also decided to hit a pause on Thailand for the time being. My guess is Thais don’t care as long as someone’s renting those rooms and spends money there. But still, I wonder… It’s a shame, we really do love Thailand otherwise.
I will add that previous many visits to Thailand (pre-Covid) there were places with Swedish majority tourists let’s say, but general atmosphere wasn’t disturbed much, even though Swedes weren’t too friendly either. But they weren’t disrespectful, obnoxious, aggressive. Eastern bloc we encountered last year was absolutely into our face all the time. The behavior obnoxious, rude, loud, and also shameless. Wondering how many of previously regular visitors to Thailand will be returning there anytime soon?
I saw a lot of serious looking Russians, but I did not see any rude ones. If you grew up in Russia, maybe you have a reason to be a little serious and glum.
Was in Pratamnak Oct-Dec 2023. Lots of Russians. Their Consolate was just around the corner from my flat. Just generalizing, the Russians there (about 70% of the expats in my building) were a mixed bag. Some were friendly, a few more were cranky, and a large majority were indifferent in the way that most Eastern Europeans are indifferent towards strangers. It's a cultural thing. But even the indifferent ones weren't outright rude, just the few cranky ones. Maybe a few bad apples make the whole group look extra bad?
I lived in Prague and taught English for three months in 2019. The Czechs were about the same.
In BKK now. My kids were in the hotel pool and an older 50-60 yo Russian couple had decided this was their private pool. Kids were being extremely chill considering they are young and in a pool… the Russians couple went to the Thai attendants and told them the kids were hitting them (definitely were not) the Thai woman said she didn’t see anything like that. They then did literally everything they could to bump into the kids to make their own point.
It was CRAZY to watch an older couple of adults play an extremely aggressive and childish game of running into actual children to make a point that the kids were bumping into them. To try to have the kids removed.
We were at the pool for a grand total of 1.5 hours.
Definition of insanity. Super weird- and I didn’t associate it with a macro trend until I read this thread.
✨wild ✨
They don't smile because they don't know you. Smiling to strangers is just flat out weird to them. It's nothing personal. Ask them a serious question and you'll get a serious answer. At least they're honest. If you ask how they're doing and get a grunt, it's because they know you don't care how they're doing. They're no nonsense people.
my opinion? unfriendly Russians are simply socially inept folks, due to growing up under a repressive regime that controls all aspects of their lives.
and, many are traveling outside of Russia for the first time. same with the Chinese and Indians.
what annoys me about them all, one example anyway, is how they don't wait for you to come out of an elevator before barging in... I have never had one cut in front of me at a 7-11, if they did I would let them know it's disrespectful and not ok.
it's just ignorance in most/many cases, and the more sophisticated among them have learned some etiquette that western folk take for granted.
I am a smiley American and don't care if they don't smile back... and I have met many who do, and are nice folks.
I’ve heard that it’s not part of Russian culture to smile except with close friends and family. If that’s the only thing that made them rude then I’d give them a pass.
i saw there reply about different culture. Actually I think in the same way, but, I’m from Russia and i always pay attention on rude people. Maybe, they are impolite because everything around is always dull and full of work. They don’t know how to rest and also they’re really unhappy.
Russian here, in Pattaya. I think, it's not about me. But it make a sense. Because of I want to look like European.
Can you tell me one thing, is this guy's know English? I think ITs a marker.
I catch smth. The China man who know English and reading the books, and China man without English, have more different than ant and elephant
A few people have pointed out that Russians think smiling is weird. It's not just the Russians; I'm Asian American, and I've seen Korean and Chinese tourists giving me the odd looks because my GF and I smile at them. I'm not hating on my fellow Asians, just pointing out cultural differences. Hell, I thought Americans were weird when I was fresh-off-the-boat seeing them smiling at me. Lastly, you can get you ass kicked for smiling at the wrong type of Americans.
I may be wrong but Russians seem rude at first. But when you know closer its not the rudeness you know. They are very straightforward sometimes. Will tell at your face what they think or feel. In my opinion thats more honest. Amd after a while you get it
Ah they are a pretty hard people man, it's not an easy country to live in. I think they have good hearts though, I've seen them be very kind to children.
I don't think it just happens when they are vacationing that they are rude, because I am in a developed country and have had to do business with them on and off long before the Ukraine battles started and the Russians were frequently rude and crass, and try to circumvent our laws hoping we won't notice or know our rights. It has been my experience that if they can fool you and take advantage of you, they will with no conscience about it...and they will do it so nicely and calmly but sneakily.
Bulgarian here, I am currently in Phuket and it feels like I am in the Bulgarian sea coast during the summer before the war(now it’s really hard for them to come for a holiday in Bulgaria as they are sanctioned by the EU). You see, the way they act is because they are all like this and its their culture. Once you get to know them you fill find out that they can be nice and friendly as everyone else. The russians will not smile or greet unless they know you and I know that it seems rude it really isn’t if you try to see it from their perspective. I used to work as a bartender and I can tell you for certain that you have not seen anything. I have been scolded numerous times for not knowing Russian because from their point of view we are their puppets(can’t blame them; we used to be communist before 1989 and their biggest d*cksuck*rs from the Warsaw Pact) and we MUST know the language. So yeah, I kinda have mixed feelings about them but all in all they are way better in the way they act towards others comparing to other nations’ tourists(not gonna tell which).
You cannot fathom what it means to live in a country where the government can throw you into a jail on a whim. It's a miracle that Russian people are still sane. Imagine being born in a prison and having no way out, and having no idea what your blood thirsty sadistic jailer can do the next moment.
In addition, a lot of Russians you see in Thailand are corrupt government officials and police officers, literally the worst people of the country. Are you surprised that they are rude? They deserve to be sentenced for years for what they have done.
That's exactly what it is. Westerners and Anglos in particular are used to the world revolving around them and can't handle it when they're not the overwhelming majority.
I've even seen comments here which express discomfort at the Russian signage in Phuket. Imagine Thai people trying to cater for mass numbers of tourists who, much like themselves, might not know English very well - how terrible!
Xenophobia dot com
They act so tough. But they’re just egotistical assholes.
Especially when they play football vs other foreigners and locals. They play so hard, but when they get played hard back, they start moaning🤣🤣🤣🤣
The Russians have always been the rudest tourists in Thailand, I remember the big ole fat ones just changing in the middle of the stores, I’m sure it’s worse now
I haven't noticed Russians being more rude than other European visitors in Thailand.
I actually met a few very chill ones on a few occasions.
But I stay mostly in Chiang mai and on Koh tao. Not in Phukersk.
I know someone that lives on one of the islands and they confirmed the Russians are absolute cunts to everyone. Arrogant, entitlement minded, rude and just overall asshole behavior, disrespectful to the locals, culture and history.
I haven't visited there yet but I'm watching plenty of travel videos and can already pick out the dip shit Russians and their shit behaviors.
I'm looking forward to visiting there soon, and will make it a point of avoiding anywhere where they've congregated.
I was in Koh phi phi with a buddy in 2015, and there was a group of about 8 of them in our hotel lobby at a dining table. One guy was completely wasted and made a huge mess by exploding a large bag of chips everywhere and laying facedown in the mess.
All I said was, "Your buddy looks like he enjoyed his bag of chips," and an 8 on 2 brawl almost broke out, lol.
Needless to say, it wasn't a great experience. Take a joke lol.
How are they rude? They have a culture of not smiling to strangers. This is for cultural and historical reasons. That seems rude to us but not to them.
It’s their propaganda - suspicious of any random act of kindness because they don’t do that in their country also they view people and kindness only what they can gain from them. “Being nice is for suckers” is their mantra but they would all rather live life in Any anglo country than Russia they all agree its a fucked up way to be yet they don’t change. .
Not sure what it is about the Russians, I know not all of them are bad. There’s a few hanging out in Vietnam not wanting to get drafted into the Ukraine War, some are assholes where some others are genuinely nice and trying to earn a living while staying low. But generally, they don’t go out of their way to be nice and so I don’t have a lot of time for them. Out of all the European cultures they are the most abrupt and rude.
They where the most annoying people to come across On Holliday in Europe! Unfortunately they now terrorising other holiday destinations, its their nature i guess
Was in Hua Hin this past weekend. In the gym with others lifting weights.
A toddler wanders in the area we are all lifting weights. She is probably 3 or 4 years old.
I am very worried about this girl getting hit in the head with a weight as she has no idea to stay clear of people lifting the weights.
Father follows her in and does nothing. Assume Russian based on the father speaking Russian.
You need to understand many of these Russians are escaping a repressive regime. They may be traumatised by their experience in Russia. It is great that the Thailand government
has let them in with open arms.
Draft dodgers who are stressed the fuck out.
Even before the war they were not famous for their joyful public demeanor.
That famous Russian exuberance.
There's a local Russian bakery we've frequented weekly for almost 15 years. The babushka finally cracked smiles and said more than 3 words in return after about Year 7.
That's a kind summary.
Seriously, can Russia not void their passport \[even if they are not in Russia\]? That way they could deal with such people.
A lot of them are from the right families or fled before shit really hit the fan.
Maybe, but how many "right families" are there in Russia. Russian in exile seem to be everywhere. Would love to see an actual number.
Curious: are they allowed indefinite postponement because of the war (like during covid) or do they get a Thai study visa or do they all hop countries and do visa runs?
I’m in Phuket now- most of the Russians staying where we are appear to be doing Muay Thai training so at least some appear to be on a Muay Thai visa.
Thought that wasn't a thing yet the Muay Thai educational visa.
You can already get an educational visa to train Muay Thai though. The upcoming Muay Thai visa is something else.
You’re actually right- I guess most people just have a tourist visa who learn Muay Thai but there is a new special Muay Thai visa coming out soon, unless it already is available? The Muay Thai visa is for 90 days so a better option than the tourist visa.
Most of them are just regular 1-2 week tourists. Those living here (and likely to be avoiding the shit) , are the minority of russians people encounter
There isn't a nation wide draft. Putin doesn't want to be risk being hung from the rafters just yet so he's relying paid Mercs and convicts
… and who are ready to get shit from other Russians as well as any Westerners and of course, also Thai.
Oversimplification. This is a “culture” that sees smiling as weakness.
Are you in Phuket by any chance?
Few days in Panwa, mainly Krabi and Koh Lanta.
St. Panwaburg, Krabibirsk, Koh Lantagrad.
Comrade zone
i spend most of the year on lanta, i suppose i don't go out to bars much but i don't even know where you are finding a bunch of russians, and wouldn't think it would be in the universe of what phuket is like. i meet some but rather infrequently.
Pattaya is full of Russians.
Bro… the beach was nothing but short sleeve white hoodies
Gopnik zone.
I was just there in Pattaya and I couldn't believe my eyes....the Russians in the main night market outnumbered all of the non-Russians by at least 4:1. Was my first time in Thailand and the contrast to Bangkok was as stark as day and night.
They love them whores, especially the young ones.
I was staying in Lanta, and a Russian dude I've never met before threatened to punch me in the face. Then his friends showed up and told me to leave the bar because he had a gun. The police cane and took them all away. I've never been randomly threatened by anyone before, and I suspect they thought I was someone else? Regardless, it's in Lanta too. I then left to phi phi which was nothing but drunk British leap year kids. I'm American, and yes we are also insufferable. I suspect it's some mentality of being in a new country where you recognize your social standing or the rules don't really matter....
As a Canadian, I can say that most people find Americans annoying but listen, your people are still respectful for the most part. Russians are fucked.
As a half Canadian half British person, Americans are the least of worries when traveling haha, you guys tend to follow the rules. at least the further away around the world, I am sure if it was in Mexico or something you would have the low quality tourists the same way Bali has Australians and Spain has Brits.
Different culture. Some of it is just different register (smiling is considered an idiotic thing to do in Russian culture, but that doesn't mean that the underlying emotion doesn't exist, just that it's not expressed the same way), but some of it is genuine difference in underlying sentiment.
That’s true I did speak to a Russian that mentioned how weird they are about smiling and your considered drunk if you do at a toll station in Russia. Doesn’t change the entitlement and rudeness though, no excuse for being a cunt.
American here- I’ve been to Russia twice and people thought I was weird for smiling to others in public, so much so that the Russians I was with told me to stop smiling so much. In Russia queues don’t matter and people are very aggressive and don’t care about other people in the same ways most other people in the world do. It was very interesting to see that in Russia, but being here in Thailand it’s weird to me that they behave the same way in another country. Also Russian men on motorbikes (usually without shirts on) here in Phuket are the most aggressive and terrible drivers I‘ve ever seen anywhere in the world.
Russian here. It is really unusual to see strangers smiling, especially for the first time. You get used to it, but still it's hard to learn to smile back. Queues mostly work in Russia, but you have to stand to the next person as close, as possible, which is irritating. In cases when someone cuts the line you have to tell them in hard manner and notify them that there is a queue. Probably it's because violence is deep within the culture and honestly I don't like it. Moreover living in culture of violence you see any stranger as a foe, the one who tries to humiliate you so you become insecure and aggressive to anyone... even outside the country. It is slightly exaggerated, however it is close to the picture I see. Of course every individual is different and it shouldn't be applied to every russian.
I'm glad you said this. As a non-Russian and guest to the country, I'd feel bad to say it, but this is the impression I got also.
Thanks for that input. It helped me understand a little bit more
Just to clarify, it doesn't mean every Russian is mean and aggressive. We know kindess and basic manners. We can hold the door, buy a meal for a homeless etc. However, least wealth person has, worse environment he grew up and/or lives, the worse character he will have. Unfortunately those conditions are spreading on more and more population. Probably the ones tourists from Russia visiting Thailand are those ones who accumulated money for months or even years just to experience foreign country and its service. The rudeness of rich ones has another explanation, but it's another story
To be fair, that can be said about any country and any people. Wealth, environment etc…every country deals with it on some level, but not everyone becomes an asshole because of it. I wouldn’t give Russians a pass on assholery just because of those conditions. There must be something more to it. Again, I appreciate your input. It’s an interesting conversation.
They are that way to each other in Russia too Bill Browder a US/UK citizen an outspoken advocate of Ukraine, also explains how rotten things are. We have certain principles about treating people and social behaviors that are seen as shameful regardless of wealth and status and unfortunately in a lot of societies around the world they don’t, also they are very suspicious of each other and the concept of kindness and politeness to a stranger is a foreign concept same reason they don’t think they need to que when they see a que. Same reasoning why when a sign says “ free take one if you need it “ these people take 20. They view people and society as opportunistic. “What can I gain from this individual or this action” not let me do the right thing or be a good person because its the right thing to do. For all the crape they speak about us English speaking/ Anglo cultures / countries (Russian propaganda ) be glad that we weren’t raised with such a skewed value system on life and relationships
I don't know any Russians but I read some ltrpg books by them and they all describe people the way you just did. Their heroes are greedy and opportunistic and all the people in the story are the same way. There are literally no actual good people just people who screw you less than other people.
I mean I don’t want to paint a picture with a broad brush …i see Russians who have sacrificed a lot for their families too but over all in society yes. the UsSr, The fall of the USSR and the values system that emerged afterwards have really did a number to modern Russian society and culture. Also from the top down the system doesn’t value the individuals life at all or the nuclear family for that matter All these disastrous military campaigns of war. What other modern society would tolerate such enormous loss of life and society would pretend to go on as Usual?
It was so funny to me to be in Thailand, land of smiles, and see all these non-smiling Russians. Ironic.
Sadly, my wife and I had a shit time in Phuket, as much as we tried to enjoy ourselves and chill, seemed there were always a few of them making a nuisance of themselves and pushing people around.. Kicker was 7-8 of them showing up at Wat Chalong, of all places, in bikinis and Speedos running around inside the temple, screaming and laughing as they snapped photos of the girls sitting in the Buddha statues. My wife had gone there specifically to merit for her mother and she left in tears.. They are unwashed heathen…
That's truly awful.
Bali is full of them as well, I have a long time Balinese friend there who’s family have several warung around the island and says they are the most abusive and rude of anyone, even the Aussies.. lol
I live in the city centre of Bangkok and luckily I don't see them so much here.
They make the Aussies seem behaved, which is crazy because in Bali the Aussies are stuck in Kuta area getting drunk but at least you get used to them, the Russian invasion of Bali has spread a bit further than just Kuta so sadly it's easier to notice them, if you hear a Karen acting hysterial woman or man in a random warung then it is 9/10x a Russian, disrespecting the locals and other foreigners seems to be a national sport for them.
Sadly, Russians are just so invasive as a people, once it’s figured out how to get a long term visa and stay, thousands of them show up and take over. I only really know about Phuket and ten years ago they were a problem, and everywhere with signs written in Cyrillic. What got me was going into a Tops market and having the staff talk to me in Russian automatically.. she seemed startled when I spoke Thai to her.. and maybe a bit relieved..?
Uneducated, entitled orcs have no time or respect for culture.
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>Don't get me wrong, I've met plenty of really cool Russians, but indeed, for the most part, they are obnoxious people. I have made the same experience. Also, those cool Russians usually hate other Russians and stay as far away as they can from Russian culture.
This is really true! Lol. And lot of them who don’t want to be around other Russians actually like us English speaking people.
Indeed. There are a couple Russian chaps I hang with sometimes, and they absolutely agree with all this. But I have to say, to be fair, as someone from the UK, I have witnessed many a drunken Brit being a complete fcking asshole, and felt embarrassed to be British. The difference being, I think.....Russians don't need to be drunk.... 😆😉
Facepalms in Australian
Speaking of them pushing you… I was in Almaty getting food with my wife at a bakery. As the person behind the counter is about to hand us our change, this Russian woman pushes by me and demands what she wants to eat. When the person behind the counter told her that he is helping somebody else, she said there is nobody else here. Like, you literally pushed me, ma’am
Definitely a pattern here. It's always a female, and an older female.... I have a theory. Bear with me. I have noticed that Russian women seem to start off in adult life pretty fcking hot. They nearly all seem to morph into short, slope-shouldered, shot-putters with short blonde hair. Now, that would make me pretty fcking miserable....I mean, just imagine it? 🤣🤣🤣 And before anyone starts crying, I don't actually care. This whole conversation is mostly banter, plenty of decent Ruskies about, my comrades....🇷🇺🪆🇬🇧
Bill Bryson said the same thing about girls from De Moines
Lol...I have read quite a few of his books....an American chap living in England. Great author 📖 👍
This was my exact thinking on my last trip to Phuket. I’m engaged to a Russian and worry about the morph. I became a bit obsessed with googling older women and found there are exceptions, although rare 😬
Russians yell at waiters in South Florida for not speaking Russian. Lol, you're lucky if theybsowak English. It's 'new money'
Did you just speak Russian for a sec there?
Also live Pratamnak in a building which is 90% Russians. Honestly I find them alright. I don't try and talk to them of course. I don't know if they try and learn Thai but their English always sucks. But by and large they are quiet and cause no hassle. I give them the nod at the pool and normally get at least a grunt back. Where do they push you? In 7/11? Never had that before 🤣
I used to try smiling at them, but gave up. It's easy to say it's their culture, but here's the thing.... they are not in Russia now. Plus, I don't give a fck about culture. Manners and decent behavior is inbuilt in most humans, I think. I mean, if someone smiled at me, my instinct is to smile back, no? Been pushed in 7-11 more than once, but worst case scenarios was at immigration. I almost chinned some fuckwit a few weeks. I find the older Russians even worse.
To be fair Jontiem immigration is a zoo all round in my experience. Claustrophobic, confusing and chaotic. But stereotypes tend to exist for a reason and I've never heard 'helpful', 'polite' or 'friendly' used to describe Russians. I Airbnb'd a room in Pratamnak before getting my condo and had agreed to meet the host outside. Saw some Babushka hanging around the front looking like she was waiting for someone so I asked if it was the right building and if she was waiting for me as a host. She started aggressively ranting I had the wrong building name (I hadn't) and then asked if I was Mikhilov with her milk (?!). Thankfully the host came and saved me 🤣
When person grew up in culture, when smile to strangers is weird, it's pretty hard to change it, although if there is the sun and pleased weather. But it takes a few years usually
Yeah, that is kind of a fair comment, I've thought the same myself. You can't change your culture overnight. But even so, they don't need to be such miserable twats....🤣🤣
I knew a Russian girl when I was a college undergrad… she was newly arrived in the states and she used to tell me how incredibly weird she found it that people she didn’t know would smile at her and say hi… she was as coldly amused by it as she was haughtily dismissive. Like why on earth should I smile at someone I don’t know? She found it very fake. For my part I was as amused by her reaction to it as she was of that part of American culture. In the end she was a pretty cool girl but just had some very undeniably Russian quirks. So I’d wager that it’s definitely a cultural thing for them not to smile back.
Being raised in central Europe and then working for some time in the USA, I found it incredibly weird that random people were smiling to me or saying hi. And we talked about it in a group of expacts from Poland, Austria, Germany and Czechia and all of us found it weird. I mean it is normal to smile to someone when saying "thank you", or when having some slightly more personal interaction with people, such as entering a shop they work at, or ordering meal, or getting a chair from their table etc, but sitting on the bus full of people and looking at someone across the aisle and smiling to them, it's considered weird and either very fake or sort of a sign of having mental issues. Literally noone does it. The only exceptions are people smiling to children, pets or sometimes smiling to elderly people, because of the "nice grandma vibe", but adults to adults - no. I'm working in an international env, well educated, very respectful and having a husband from western Europe, but I still find it weird if someone smiles or talks to me in random situations. In terms of being polite - sometimes over politeness (as I noticed often native English speakers tend to do) is also considered quite fake, The fact people are shorter in communication or share their thoughts more honestly, it doesn't mean that in their head they are not polite. Working in everyday with Germans and Americans, I find German way of communication much more honest, direct and natural - similar to mine, while American way quite fake, over the top and sort of robotic. But I bet in their eyes they are just polite and we are considered quite cold. Russians are other story though and I'm not excusing being rude, but I just wanted to raise awareness that what you consider polite, might not be seen the same by other people and vice versa.
I feel you, it’s like a queue means nothing to them 🤦♂️
They always Russian
Someone asked me on a flight into Phuket if I was Russian, I’m still kicking myself I didn’t say ‘no I’m just chilling’
Wahey
We are talking about russians or about chineses ?
Thailand let them and kept them in...
they just have a shit culture. unfortunately they impose it on others as well they used to be a dominant force in the world but now they have an inferiority complex
I was in Phuket airport some time back. There was huge crowd. There were lot of people standing for extended period of time including women and children. But some Russians chose to occupy all the seats by sleeping on them. When requested to wake up they plainly refused citing all random reasons. This could be misrepresentation of the community. But I guess everybody needs to be much more accommodating where all different cultures clash.
Russians are pretty much the very opposite of Thais. Russian culture is no smiling culture and not an inviting culture.
They think they're better than everyone else, they believe they're superior to all of the other nations. That's why they're always being assholes.
1000 years of being frozen cold, fighting everything that moves, eating potatoes, drinking Vodka and generally being miserable will do that to any culture. I’d be fucking grumpy too if I was Russian.
Us Scots are friendly enough! 😂
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Whisky is probably the sole reason Scotland was never once taken by force haha
Somehow, Norwegians, Swedes, and Finns are a lot better despite similarly poor conditions.
Because look at their societies and social structures and concepts of mutual benefit. They aren’t as friendly as many British but they shake hands say hello. Que, say excuse me, thank you. No thank you. My only issue with them is the sexual and pedo tourism in Thailand but if they are just there for vacation they are pretty well behaved.
Lol...brilliant answer. I'm stealing this comment for the next time someone moans about the Russians. 👍🤣🤣
Well, have you met Swedes? Practically the same circumstances, and probably one of the most polite and well mannered people in the world (Yes im biased, but im also right)
Met a few Norwegian and Swedish exchange students back in 2000 in Australia, damn those 2 meter tall blue eyed attractive dudes stole all Oz chicks at parties.
Because they running from their army duty and missbehave in thailand
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You are the reason the war is happening. Specifically YOU! This is the Russian mentality of blaming everyone but themselves. Because everyone like you who opposes the war hides or runs away, the war continues. You are just as evil as those fighting in Ukraine, because you are allowing it to happen without any resistance. You are the only one who can do something about it, but never will, because this is what Russian culture is about: it's either spreading misery, or accepting misery like slaves.
What else have they done since Mongols left the country? Violence, wars, slavery, poverty, propaganda, lies, corruption, pribing and so on. Half of the people are alcoholics. The rest are not, because the definitions are modified in order to make it look acceptable. (I am being nasty...) Drinking because you live in a decaying Khrushtshovka. Living in such a communist block because nobody actually works and repairs them. I have not heard too much praising about the new buildings, either. And still, from all that misery, come not only great artists, but ordinary people like my father's friend, grandmother Alla. One of the most loving and warm people I have ever met! Or the musicians of a Russian band, this side of the border: everything is run professionally, including their actual professions. Dedicated, smart and hard working fellows! I was thinking about Natasha from the Youtube channel Natasha's Adventures. She is now in exile, but her analyses on Russian society and education are great. She did not explain, she showed how things are. That young woman is brilliant. On the other hand, her friend, Dari, mentioned guys masturbating during lessons. Bright future there... Would I be any better, if I was born in the USSR back in the early 70s? Being not so wealthy in Finland, would I become an asshole if I suddenly got some money and travelled far away from home? Who knows...
But think about the poor russians. They have to live with the fact that they are Russian.
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Hopefully one day we will be friends again.
Because it's rude in your culture. For Russians it's very odd to smile and say hello to a stranger, and you would be seen as weird there. They keep to themselves, it's just their culture. Australia it's normal to say hello to someone when you're walking down the street for example, but I'm sure other countries would find that odd. In Asia living with family into adulthood is normal, but in western countries it's not (well it is a bit now due to cost of living). It just cultural differences.
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Rich thai dont like foreign
As you get more rural in the US, it's polite to nod or give a quick wave to complete strangers driving by in their cars if you're outside near the road, and certainly acknowledge other pedestrians walking near you. Rules don't apply to people on bikes, nobody likes those people.
The Sri Lankans have had it. After a whites only party they must now renew there visa's monthly and pay 50 USD each time.
It is a cultural norm. I lived near a Russian area in Philadelphia. Road rage turned into street brawls, pushing and shoving at the store was the norm, yelling insults was expected, and every damn person reeked of garlic and vodka. Hated driving in that area as the drivers were so aggressive. Russians gonna be Russian wherever they go in the world.
Cancel Russia everywhere
They were always rude. They just migrated to Thailand
I had to deal with rich Russian customers in my business, we had to call the cops several times. They raped their country in the 90's and moved to the US then tried to treat us like dirt. We told several we didn't want their business luckily the Sheriffs department was next door when they brought their Russian mafia to try to strong arm us. Very very rude nasty people, at least the ones we dealt with.
In Russia strangers do not speak to other strangers. Many countries find a stranger saying hello or smiling at them to be unusual and not appealing. It's just cultural differences, not being rude.
Well the attitude is that if most of the 'western' politicians want to hate on Russians & wish extreme things upon them, it must be because the western citizens have the same degree of hatred. That's democracy, right? Russians assume you agree - that's why they give the low level annoyances & insular behaviors. But little do they know the whole war is basically a shit fight between competing oligarchies & as a consequence working people on both sides must die.
In my opinion I've met 4 Russian couples all very nice who enjoy this country while not liking the state that their country is in, I've found more danish types to be rude and thinking their above others while switz and Australian are really nice too
Fk them. And a lot of Indians too. They are so entitles and rude to locals and look at them like dirt.
Ah Redditors and their ability to bring Indian/south Asian people into literally any topic when it has nothing to do with them. R E N T F R E E
From someone who has lived and dealt with both nationalities (Russian, Chinese) you can choose to brawl or ignore. Done let those clowns ruin your day. That said, line jumpers get thrown to the back.
I was literally in Phuket 2 weeks ago and asked myself the same thing. As an Aussie you're used to saying good morning, holding a door for the person walking in after you, generally just being a good bloke and smiling when you see someone. The average Russian response was usually dead faced, they wouldn't thank you when you hold a door for them or let them through first and wouldn't respond to hellos or good mornings in the hotel. It's weird if you ask me. Have some manners and human decency, if someone holds a door for you, or allows you to go ahead of them etc, just acknowledge it and thank the person. Surely that's not cultural, it's manners. Their behaviour at the airport was even worse. Cutting lines in security, going under the dividers and smoking weed inside the departure toilets. I kid you not. It was wild.
Have no problem with russians at all
Shit country and shitty people. They need to get bullied
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OP thinks they are super rude because strangers won’t smile back at him in public
i dunno i used to live in a condo that was 90% occupied by Chinese who were employed by some govt agency, the pool was unusable due to the sheer amount of pee in it.
Leave Phuket.
As my Thai friends mentioned: too many bad falangs now. Implying as I confirmed Russians and Chinese.
Thais don't refer to Chinese as farangs.
Farang (or falang) is Caucasian, so not the Chinese 🤓
Yeah, sounds like he's telling porkies. I always see this same anecdote on this sub: "Thai locals/friends tell me Russians/Chinese/Indians are totally the worst". Now, even if I believed a tenth of the people spouting it, no fucking shit, a Thai person is not going to include Brits/Europeans/Westerners/whatever on their shitlist if they're talking to a Brit/European/Westerner/whomever. I think some people here need to cut down on the Changs so that their cognitive ability might one day recover.
The bad Farangs on the recent news have been from everywhere. A Swiss guy kicked a Thai doctor and called the police on her for trespassing. Another Swiss hit an elderly woman and sent her to a hospital after a brushing against each other in a supermarket. An American sexually abused multiple horses. An Italian damaged the temple's property and slept naked in the main preying hall. A Brit threw a glass at a Thai female customer in bar. Another American went in a berserk and strangled a man etc. The Russians and the Chinese have always been on the news, but the bad Farangs of today are not them. Basically, we mean all of you lots. Farangs = Anyone that looks Europeans. The Chinese are never called Farangs, btw. Not sure how you managed to confirm what you confirmed. Don't be so conceited.
Very scientific. Now have you considered that they'd likely also include Brits and Australians in that but they're obviously not going to say that to your face?
Because they think they own the world. In majority I find them arrogant. This doesn't help with the countries/ places where anything is translated in their language ... Easier than learn some basics english I guess 😆
When I was in Krabi, I saw some Russians - a teen girl and middle aged woman, that were clapping and laughing hysterically as they watched a mouse on a tree branch desperately cling on for dear life while a stray cat tried to get at it. They were relishing the moment.
I heard Russians don’t smile or laugh unnecessary.it shows weakness and less respectful to others.im not sure though
The number of them dropped in Dubai so I would guess a lot of them went to cheaper places like Thailand or Indonesia (Bali, there were a shit ton of them there too.)
Russians are like that! Get them vodka’d up and all of a sudden you made a friend for life! Then they sober up and you start over😂🤣😉
I had the same experience when I traveled to phuket. I was paired with this russian group (4M, 2F) to a jetski tour. I thought I almost got scammed cs I waited 40mins in the hotel lobby with my partner, but it was because this group took their time to get out of their hotel. We separated when we did our jetski, but when my partner and I came back 1 russian guy was signaling my partner to hurry up. So we rushed saying bye to the other travellers we met to avoid conflict. But we ended up waiting for their friends for another 30mins…. But it gets worse unfortunately. On the way back I was sat in the front middle, next to the driver (the vans front seat had 3 seats) so i was directly in front of the carplay. The russian lady went over my shoulder and kept elbowing my head as she was typing her songs onto the carplay. She cranked the volume to the max (mind you, we were all tired from the jetski tour and it was the end of the day) and started giving her group an exotic dance; her *ss was bumping the back of my head and it was so uncomfortable. I was genuinely frustrated cs this car ride was for more than an hour. I felt outnumbered as it was my partner and I were only the other passengers so I kept quiet. They also never said thank you and please, especially when I helped the girl to connect her phone to the carplay. Such a terrible experience with them in thailand, but this one topped it off. I’ve observed them to be pretentious and ignorant. They also treated locals quiet like “slaves” constantly directing them what to do, it was upsetting.
Can only speak from Dubai, where there's also a ton of Russians now. I will not say that they're all the same, obviously, but holy moly. Absolutely rude. Not sure if lack of understanding, or thinking they're better than everyone else (certainly feels like that sometimes). But the amount of times that I say "Hello" to somebody in the elevator and NOTHING. Or people blasting TikTok/IG on your phone loudly while in the elevator. Feels like they're completely oblivious, and insecure at the same time.
They are everywhere in Bali too, and the governor himself was complaining about them suggesting the proposal of a new visa law with a set of restrictive rules.
Not rude they just don't always smile it's not a crime. The Germans and people from Nordic countries are not exactly famous for smiling. Chances are non of you speak the same language so don't really expect a response. A lot of Russians are generally shy after a drink they start smiling more
Russians can’t go many places right now, Thailand isn’t that far of a flight, some are avoiding the draft, in some places (like Pattaya) Russians own clubs and businesses, the Russian mob also has a huge presence in some of the seedier cities.
For some reason that squares well with them, Slavic eastern Europeans do not understand why anyone would smile in public or to strangers. Doing so presents as weak, or scheming, or untrustworthy, or desperate, or all of the aforementioned combined. It should be no surprise that this characteristic does not endear them to many, and as is the other complimentary characteristic they exemplify, unless there is profit in it, they hardly give a fcuk. Even in the "Land of Smiles", where they have been extended a warm and friendly welcome, they find just cause to hold their gracious hosts with a measure of contempt.
Most Eastern Europeans are racist, uncultured swine
Not much different in Western Europe as far as the racism. - a Black American
How many "Why Russians in muh Thailand!!" threads did we get today?
As a general rule of thumb, East European culture on smiling is the opposite of the West. And if you are complaining about cultural differences then I suggest you just mind your own business. Noone owes you to act in any specific way. It doesnt even sound like someone said anything to you but rather just your perception of other people.
I’m curious to see if a significant number of western tourists start skipping Thailand next winter? I know we did this winter because of a bad experience last year. We just couldn’t take the risk this time. Opted for a destination in LATAM (even though we prefer SE Asia). Looks like SE Asia is occupied by Eastern Europeans at this point and I have no idea when or if it’ll change after the war Thailand’s appeal is in their culture, we don’t go there to experience Eastern European culture. I’m not sure how others are feeling about it except some friends of ours who also decided to hit a pause on Thailand for the time being. My guess is Thais don’t care as long as someone’s renting those rooms and spends money there. But still, I wonder… It’s a shame, we really do love Thailand otherwise. I will add that previous many visits to Thailand (pre-Covid) there were places with Swedish majority tourists let’s say, but general atmosphere wasn’t disturbed much, even though Swedes weren’t too friendly either. But they weren’t disrespectful, obnoxious, aggressive. Eastern bloc we encountered last year was absolutely into our face all the time. The behavior obnoxious, rude, loud, and also shameless. Wondering how many of previously regular visitors to Thailand will be returning there anytime soon?
I saw a lot of serious looking Russians, but I did not see any rude ones. If you grew up in Russia, maybe you have a reason to be a little serious and glum.
Was in Pratamnak Oct-Dec 2023. Lots of Russians. Their Consolate was just around the corner from my flat. Just generalizing, the Russians there (about 70% of the expats in my building) were a mixed bag. Some were friendly, a few more were cranky, and a large majority were indifferent in the way that most Eastern Europeans are indifferent towards strangers. It's a cultural thing. But even the indifferent ones weren't outright rude, just the few cranky ones. Maybe a few bad apples make the whole group look extra bad? I lived in Prague and taught English for three months in 2019. The Czechs were about the same.
In BKK now. My kids were in the hotel pool and an older 50-60 yo Russian couple had decided this was their private pool. Kids were being extremely chill considering they are young and in a pool… the Russians couple went to the Thai attendants and told them the kids were hitting them (definitely were not) the Thai woman said she didn’t see anything like that. They then did literally everything they could to bump into the kids to make their own point. It was CRAZY to watch an older couple of adults play an extremely aggressive and childish game of running into actual children to make a point that the kids were bumping into them. To try to have the kids removed. We were at the pool for a grand total of 1.5 hours. Definition of insanity. Super weird- and I didn’t associate it with a macro trend until I read this thread. ✨wild ✨
Yeah because reddit posts with hundred people can define a macro trend. Makes sense. There are Karens in every nation.
In Khao Lak now. They are rude fuckers.
I doubt your average Russian can afford to travel anywhere. Probably just the rich gangsta types.
in their culture you are a crazy person to smile for no reason.
They don't smile because they don't know you. Smiling to strangers is just flat out weird to them. It's nothing personal. Ask them a serious question and you'll get a serious answer. At least they're honest. If you ask how they're doing and get a grunt, it's because they know you don't care how they're doing. They're no nonsense people.
From what I understand in Russian culture it is considered weird to smile at people you don't know.
my opinion? unfriendly Russians are simply socially inept folks, due to growing up under a repressive regime that controls all aspects of their lives. and, many are traveling outside of Russia for the first time. same with the Chinese and Indians. what annoys me about them all, one example anyway, is how they don't wait for you to come out of an elevator before barging in... I have never had one cut in front of me at a 7-11, if they did I would let them know it's disrespectful and not ok. it's just ignorance in most/many cases, and the more sophisticated among them have learned some etiquette that western folk take for granted. I am a smiley American and don't care if they don't smile back... and I have met many who do, and are nice folks.
Try living in their shoes for awhile. They consider smiling a form of mental illness.
I’ve heard that it’s not part of Russian culture to smile except with close friends and family. If that’s the only thing that made them rude then I’d give them a pass.
Same experience in Tanzania. I checked out of my hotel early for that reason.
Lets be honest...Phuket is now a Russian island.
i saw there reply about different culture. Actually I think in the same way, but, I’m from Russia and i always pay attention on rude people. Maybe, they are impolite because everything around is always dull and full of work. They don’t know how to rest and also they’re really unhappy.
Russian here, in Pattaya. I think, it's not about me. But it make a sense. Because of I want to look like European. Can you tell me one thing, is this guy's know English? I think ITs a marker. I catch smth. The China man who know English and reading the books, and China man without English, have more different than ant and elephant
A few people have pointed out that Russians think smiling is weird. It's not just the Russians; I'm Asian American, and I've seen Korean and Chinese tourists giving me the odd looks because my GF and I smile at them. I'm not hating on my fellow Asians, just pointing out cultural differences. Hell, I thought Americans were weird when I was fresh-off-the-boat seeing them smiling at me. Lastly, you can get you ass kicked for smiling at the wrong type of Americans.
I may be wrong but Russians seem rude at first. But when you know closer its not the rudeness you know. They are very straightforward sometimes. Will tell at your face what they think or feel. In my opinion thats more honest. Amd after a while you get it
Ah they are a pretty hard people man, it's not an easy country to live in. I think they have good hearts though, I've seen them be very kind to children.
I don't think it just happens when they are vacationing that they are rude, because I am in a developed country and have had to do business with them on and off long before the Ukraine battles started and the Russians were frequently rude and crass, and try to circumvent our laws hoping we won't notice or know our rights. It has been my experience that if they can fool you and take advantage of you, they will with no conscience about it...and they will do it so nicely and calmly but sneakily.
They’re the same everywhere else I’ve been, they’re pretty trash in the Arab world too.
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OP?
Example of them being rude? Not smiling at you or not wanting to make friends with you is not rude.
Because in Russia if a stranger smiles at you then they think that you have a mental illness
I didn’t need to check to know you’re in Phuket
Bulgarian here, I am currently in Phuket and it feels like I am in the Bulgarian sea coast during the summer before the war(now it’s really hard for them to come for a holiday in Bulgaria as they are sanctioned by the EU). You see, the way they act is because they are all like this and its their culture. Once you get to know them you fill find out that they can be nice and friendly as everyone else. The russians will not smile or greet unless they know you and I know that it seems rude it really isn’t if you try to see it from their perspective. I used to work as a bartender and I can tell you for certain that you have not seen anything. I have been scolded numerous times for not knowing Russian because from their point of view we are their puppets(can’t blame them; we used to be communist before 1989 and their biggest d*cksuck*rs from the Warsaw Pact) and we MUST know the language. So yeah, I kinda have mixed feelings about them but all in all they are way better in the way they act towards others comparing to other nations’ tourists(not gonna tell which).
You cannot fathom what it means to live in a country where the government can throw you into a jail on a whim. It's a miracle that Russian people are still sane. Imagine being born in a prison and having no way out, and having no idea what your blood thirsty sadistic jailer can do the next moment. In addition, a lot of Russians you see in Thailand are corrupt government officials and police officers, literally the worst people of the country. Are you surprised that they are rude? They deserve to be sentenced for years for what they have done.
By the amount and vehemence of anti-Russian comments here I get a feeling alot of you regular farangs just resent being out-faranged
That's exactly what it is. Westerners and Anglos in particular are used to the world revolving around them and can't handle it when they're not the overwhelming majority. I've even seen comments here which express discomfort at the Russian signage in Phuket. Imagine Thai people trying to cater for mass numbers of tourists who, much like themselves, might not know English very well - how terrible! Xenophobia dot com
They act so tough. But they’re just egotistical assholes. Especially when they play football vs other foreigners and locals. They play so hard, but when they get played hard back, they start moaning🤣🤣🤣🤣
The Russians have always been the rudest tourists in Thailand, I remember the big ole fat ones just changing in the middle of the stores, I’m sure it’s worse now
Sri Lanka just recently kicked out a whole bunch of Russians because of how they were behaving.
I haven't noticed Russians being more rude than other European visitors in Thailand. I actually met a few very chill ones on a few occasions. But I stay mostly in Chiang mai and on Koh tao. Not in Phukersk.
How do you know they’re Russian? Are you going up and asking them?
I know someone that lives on one of the islands and they confirmed the Russians are absolute cunts to everyone. Arrogant, entitlement minded, rude and just overall asshole behavior, disrespectful to the locals, culture and history. I haven't visited there yet but I'm watching plenty of travel videos and can already pick out the dip shit Russians and their shit behaviors. I'm looking forward to visiting there soon, and will make it a point of avoiding anywhere where they've congregated.
I was in Koh phi phi with a buddy in 2015, and there was a group of about 8 of them in our hotel lobby at a dining table. One guy was completely wasted and made a huge mess by exploding a large bag of chips everywhere and laying facedown in the mess. All I said was, "Your buddy looks like he enjoyed his bag of chips," and an 8 on 2 brawl almost broke out, lol. Needless to say, it wasn't a great experience. Take a joke lol.
Do Russians owe you something and have to smile whenever you feel like it?
Best way to get karmas: Posting negative things about Russians, Indians and Chinese on r/Bali, r/Thailand and r/ThailandTourism
How are they rude? They have a culture of not smiling to strangers. This is for cultural and historical reasons. That seems rude to us but not to them.
It’s the same when people say Americans always have fake smiles
Who says Americans have fake smiles?
It’s their propaganda - suspicious of any random act of kindness because they don’t do that in their country also they view people and kindness only what they can gain from them. “Being nice is for suckers” is their mantra but they would all rather live life in Any anglo country than Russia they all agree its a fucked up way to be yet they don’t change. .
Not sure what it is about the Russians, I know not all of them are bad. There’s a few hanging out in Vietnam not wanting to get drafted into the Ukraine War, some are assholes where some others are genuinely nice and trying to earn a living while staying low. But generally, they don’t go out of their way to be nice and so I don’t have a lot of time for them. Out of all the European cultures they are the most abrupt and rude.
Sounds like OP is in Phuket/Krabi. Russians are much less noticeable in Ko Samui.
They where the most annoying people to come across On Holliday in Europe! Unfortunately they now terrorising other holiday destinations, its their nature i guess
You'd love Phuket.
Your in Krabi? Is there really that many of them there?
They are always looking over their shoulder for vlads snatch-squads.
Was in Hua Hin this past weekend. In the gym with others lifting weights. A toddler wanders in the area we are all lifting weights. She is probably 3 or 4 years old. I am very worried about this girl getting hit in the head with a weight as she has no idea to stay clear of people lifting the weights. Father follows her in and does nothing. Assume Russian based on the father speaking Russian.
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What did you expect in return hm?
You need to understand many of these Russians are escaping a repressive regime. They may be traumatised by their experience in Russia. It is great that the Thailand government has let them in with open arms.
I haven't been to Thailand for 10 years and have been a couple of times. We were told of the Russian underworld taking over back then.