Psychology of the Thais

^ I reckon previously, the city slickers used to look down their noses and laugh at the great unwashed in the northeast. However, following recent events, their glances look a bit apprehensive and their laughter sounds nervous.

The status dimension in Thai family culture fascinates me.

In any family there are adult relatives of a lesser or higher status than others. For example, we have a Thai Army Colonel (married to one of the Dragon's elder sisters) in our tribe who seems to run things and deal with all the issues and problems that the Outlaws come up against. I've nothing against that, the chap is a good egg and very capable. He's even expected to sort financial issues sometimes at his expense.

However, there are others within the family that assume this mantle and abuse it to some degree, flexing their muscles while reminding others of the family pecking order. The Dragon has a debt ridden cousin who's a local lawyer but always reminds the Outlaws that he's a top dog (no respect for him from my side, though).

I've been with this gang a long time but made it clear that I am not in the family social strata. I'm happy to wai the seniors but I always make a point of asserting my independence from them.