the grisly side of mai pen rai; how inefficiency and the "nevermind" mentality kill in Thailand
Mai pen rai, loosely translated, means nevermind. It is used in situations where something is to be forgotten or postponed indefinitely, such as details of a work assignment that a Thai finds tedious.
Guide books often wax rhapsodically about this so-called unique element of Thai culture. In fact, the myth of mai pen rai has been building since the time of Anna Leonowens.
In reality, this mentality is common to the third world, like "manana" in Latin America, which is used to the same effect. There is nothing uniquely Thai about a slack and irresponsible 3rd world approach to every aspect of work and life. Wrapping this trait in the rhetoric of nation-state identity does everyone a disservice as Thais adopt these pasturized cultural norms of dubious authenticity and parrot them back to the West.
As the article below illustrates, mai pen rai applies in every situation, no matter how great or small. Some people say "the Thais understand when it to use and when not." No way. When something is this deeply ingrained, it does not come with an on/off switch. Anyone who has worked with Thais will know that there is no task too critical to be postponed, even if doing so will have direct negative consequences for both the company and themselves.
Below is a pretty good example of what happens on a daily basis in Bangkok when things don't get done due to mai pen rai in action. Mai pen rai also provides closure after the fact, as no one is held accountable for even the most outrageous negligence, unless of course the police see some money in it.
Noise, pollution, live wires crackling with electricity in the street-- these are all things "that just happen." Some deity must have willed it. Mai pen rai.
Guide books often wax rhapsodically about this so-called unique element of Thai culture. In fact, the myth of mai pen rai has been building since the time of Anna Leonowens.
In reality, this mentality is common to the third world, like "manana" in Latin America, which is used to the same effect. There is nothing uniquely Thai about a slack and irresponsible 3rd world approach to every aspect of work and life. Wrapping this trait in the rhetoric of nation-state identity does everyone a disservice as Thais adopt these pasturized cultural norms of dubious authenticity and parrot them back to the West.
As the article below illustrates, mai pen rai applies in every situation, no matter how great or small. Some people say "the Thais understand when it to use and when not." No way. When something is this deeply ingrained, it does not come with an on/off switch. Anyone who has worked with Thais will know that there is no task too critical to be postponed, even if doing so will have direct negative consequences for both the company and themselves.
Below is a pretty good example of what happens on a daily basis in Bangkok when things don't get done due to mai pen rai in action. Mai pen rai also provides closure after the fact, as no one is held accountable for even the most outrageous negligence, unless of course the police see some money in it.
Noise, pollution, live wires crackling with electricity in the street-- these are all things "that just happen." Some deity must have willed it. Mai pen rai.
Boy electrocuted
One boy was electrocuted and another seriously injured in a public park in Ratchathewi district on Friday night.
Seksan Khlongkarn died after he grabbed a cable attached to a power pole to keep from slipping as he was running home in a downpour.
Two dogs had been electrocuted on Thursday night in a nearby area of Unilever Park. Local residents had requested that the district office and the local electricity authority rectify the problem but no action was taken.
A third boy who witnessed the incident said Seksan was knocked to the ground by the shock.
Ahiwat Silarat was electrocuted when he touched Seksan's body, but was able to shake his hands free, Kulphark Treepho said.
posted by realthailand at
12:56 AM
