What bad manners annoy you the most in Lao public ?

samakomlao · Guru

What bad manners annoy you the most in Lao public ?

paris_vientiane · Guru

hum... TV always on, that noone really listen, but no one want to switch of.
Tv is there and just make noise...even if there is nothing interesting to watch

Drivers who consider that the biggest is their car, the less they have to respect the rules

I don't see anything more.... lao people and society are generaly not annoying...

Xieng Peuk · Member

Hmm, what annoy me the most in Lao public got to be people talking during my lectures or presentations.

Date: Oct 20, 2007

TOM KEE KAR TER=SPITTING in the streets, market....I saw these sort of things, in LAO. hmm

Date: Oct 20, 2007

This is not just in Laos, all Asian people in general. White people find it very rude when Asian people don't say EXCUSE ME when trying to pass other people in the crowded area, for instance in the aisle of super market, they just push their way through without saying a word, American people find that very rude in Oriental people.

I am an oriental person myself, I would like to spread the word so that we can be more polite in this aspect.

Date: Oct 20, 2007

Asian people love to pick their noses in public, American people think that's gross, don't do it okay. http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/transportation/2007/07/16/dont-pick-your-nose-and-drive-others-are-watching-you/

Date: Oct 21, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Asian people love to pick their noses in public, American people think that's gross, don't do it okay. http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/transportation/2007/07/16/dont-pick-your-nose-and-drive-others-are-watching-you/

What does it mean in Lao "....to pick their noses in public, American people think that's gross ?" confused

Date: Oct 21, 2007

It means sticking your finger in your nose to clean out the boggie, do it in the bathroom or somewhere no one can see you. Don't do it in public in America, people will look at you like you have no manners.

click this link to see what it looks like

http://www.santacruzlive.com/blogs/transportation/2007/07/16/dont-pick-your-nose-and-drive-others-are-watching-you/

Saffron · Senior Member

If I was in line waiting to buy stuff at grocery store I would not pick my nose but if I was in my car picking my nose and you happened to pass by me in your car and saw me......then it is your fault to look.

Yes, Asian (especially Chinese are F*n rude as hell).
1) They WILL bump in to you without say excuse me or say excuse me so we can get out of their way.
2) Another thing with Chinese...if you buy stuff from them they WILL NOT give the change back to you by putting it in your hand. They will just lay in on the counter with out saying anything like "Thank You", or "Come back again".

What annoy me the most about Lao people:

1) Old Lao people annoyed me. Just be cause they think they are old everything coming out of their mouth is the only way to do thing.

2) They don't include younger people in their decision. Here in America, when they have event like a festival at a temple. They made a poster all in Lao writing. Majority of the people goes to the event cant even read Lao because they where 3-5 years old when they came to America.

3) If they have an idea they will do it themself knowing it can't be done without other assistance because they think some will get the credit for it.

4) Lastly........they do everything half-ass done. What I mean by that is...they think....quantity and not quality.

Examples A) Laos party/concert/event they would cut corner just to thing done like setting up stages. B) When they build Lao Temple....they don't take time to do it. They would paint, carved or dig in a hurry.

Date: Oct 21, 2007

Throw the gabage on the street, please keep the street cleaned if you want good rating from tourists.

Singapore is known for a very clean city, why can't we teach our citizens to do the same, throw your junk in a trash can, you polute the earth by throwing plastic bags in the pond or river. Clean environment is what all we want in this world. You set a good example for your children and grand children, please act now and they'll follow in years to come.

Saffron · Senior Member

Singapore have law that punish people who litter and some will go to jail.

SJCALSBM3 · Senior Member

lao people aren't annoying as much as the public services and the toilet in many SEA countries. I love lao people they are more politness than the people giving them credit for. I love lao society they should have free expression as most of us here do in third country.

Date: Oct 21, 2007

Saffron wrote:

2) They don't include younger people in their decision. Here in America, when they have event like a festival at a temple. They made a poster all in Lao writing. Majority of the people goes to the event cant even read Lao because they where 3-5 years old when they came to America.

Maybe you should learn Lao. Why should the older generation change everything to English just for you? Why should THEY, so old, learn to write things in English when you're still young and have the ability to learn?

I'm 17 man, I learned to read and write Lao two years ago. It isn't perfect, but I suggest you give it a try.

Date: Oct 22, 2007

1. spitting
helps spread diseases like flu, tuberculosis & SARS...maybe this is a factor why Laos has a relatively high rate of tuberculosis.

2. littering
everywhere is 'decorated' with trash, including riverbanks.

3. burning of plastic waste
not really 'manners', but burning plastic creates toxic fumes that can damage the brain...& i often see young kids, adults carrying babies & pregnant ladies squatting around such fires =|

Date: Oct 22, 2007

Saffron wrote:

2) Another thing with Chinese...if you buy stuff from them they WILL NOT give the change back to you by putting it in your hand. They will just lay in on the counter with out saying anything like "Thank You", or "Come back again".

Japanese will not place the change in your hand either, for hygiene reasons. The money is placed on the counter, sometimes in a special tray (for department stores & restaurants).

Date: Oct 22, 2007

Some of these things are just culture differences like with the money and the excuse me.

Date: Oct 22, 2007

Anonymous wrote:

Throw the gabage on the street, please keep the street cleaned if you want good rating from tourists.

Singapore is known for a very clean city, why can't we teach our citizens to do the same, throw your junk in a trash can, you polute the earth by throwing plastic bags in the pond or river. Clean environment is what all we want in this world. You set a good example for your children and grand children, please act now and they'll follow in years to come.

Yes, I absolutely agree with you. Lots of things we can learn from Singapore or other countries. However, I think our leaders have to change our people mindset, which disturbs them from learning the good things from other countries.

I am really surprised by the fact that some of our people still think that we no need to learn from other countries, we need to invent by ourselves or keep doing by Lao style as the so called " Hed bab Lao Lao". Some even think that we have independent country we don't need to follow other countries suit; they forget that we cannot live isolate from the world. They forget that lots of things we still import from other countries. Even USA and EU are also depending from other countries.

I am even more surprised when I read the comments written by Lao foreigners that Lao should do according Lao style, no need to follow the Western doing. It really makes me think that they may suggest that Lao no need to believe or follow the Newton law. Lao should create our own formulae. As we all know the Japanese, Chinese, South Korean and Thailand experiences, initially they also imitated some Western products, after some times they could do by their own idea.
Some of Lao people still think if you speak foreign language you don't love Laos. Here in Singapore they speak English freely in their society, although they don’t mind speaking in Chinese, Malay and Indian. Actually, some of our people are really sensitive about this issue, which therefore makes Lao people know foreign language not well.

Talking about learning from Singapore how to cope with corruption, last time I read some comments which are in other topic. They said: "We cannot compare Laos and Singapore. Singaporeans can do because Singapore is developed country. Our people forget that Singapore started coping with corruption 40 years ago.And the most things that I really hate and don't want to hear is this sentence:" Here is in Lao, is not Singapore, is not EU or is not USA. We should do "Bab Lao Lao." They don't want to do or follow the world standard. That is why our education is still in low level.

I am really tired and bored of this kind of thinking. No doubt, these kinds of mindset really disturb our people to learn the new things. To some extent, I don't actually understand Lao people, when it comes to learning the new thing they seem to give up.

Regards,
TSP

Saffron · Senior Member

Anonymous wrote:

Saffron wrote:

2) They don't include younger people in their decision. Here in America, when they have event like a festival at a temple. They made a poster all in Lao writing. Majority of the people goes to the event cant even read Lao because they where 3-5 years old when they came to America.

Maybe you should learn Lao. Why should the older generation change everything to English just for you? Why should THEY, so old, learn to write things in English when you're still young and have the ability to learn?

I'm 17 man, I learned to read and write Lao two years ago. It isn't perfect, but I suggest you give it a try.

I can read and write Lao just fine. I am speaking for other who does not know how or have the opportunity to learn as you have. You know not many places offer phasa Laos lesson. I was fortunate that my father taught me when I was younger.

How many of your friends can read and write Lao? Probably not many.

Date: Oct 23, 2007

Saffron wrote:

I can read and write Lao just fine. I am speaking for other who does not know how or have the opportunity to learn as you have. You know not many places offer phasa Laos lesson. I was fortunate that my father taught me when I was younger.
How many of your friends can read and write Lao? Probably not many.

I understand. Looking back, my comment was pretty rude, I apologize. And none of my friends can't read Lao. My parents and their parents are the direct source of pasa Lao. But they're too bent on the kids learning English that Lao is becoming less and less used, its sorta backfired.

Date: Oct 23, 2007

If you live in USA, don't be afraid your kids won't learn any English by not letting them speak Lao at all. Don't you wish you knew more than one or a few languages. Bilingual children are very cute when they speak, speak Lao to your kids now before it's too late, English will come in no time when they go to school.

Vietnamese parents speak their language to their kids more than Lao parents do I observed at the restaurant and at the grocery store.

Date: Oct 23, 2007

Yeah, learn Lao, its important, otherwise the language will die and the only thing you will be able to speak is crass hip hop American-English.

Bad manners I don't like - blowing snot in public. I hate this, many Lao guys in particular (but also some Lao women) don't use tissue, they just cover one nostril with their pointer finger and blow hard, letting the snot fly out the other nostril. It is absolutely revolting. Happens alot in Laos. Anyone can do this if they want, but why not do it in private?

And this is really my only gripe, Lao people have far superior manners to Europeans and Chinese in particular. It proves you can be from ban nok and have a superior knowledge of how to socialise with others.