Last week, I read the news that the Bangkok police have begun using "Hello Kitty" armbands as a punishment. Specifically, officers who break rules of various sorts will be required to wear the armbands as a form of humiliation. You can read the article here.
I wasn't entirely sure what to make of this news. It surprised me a bit, as Thai culture generally is not in favor of humiliation or shame. "Losing face" by having your wrongs pointed out to you -- public or not -- is avoided. I don't remember ever having seen one Thai person trying to embarrass another, beyond your typical schoolchildren teasing about who "liked" who.
Then again, life in Thailand can be a little bizarre... in many situations.
1 comment:
Hi Kate, I saw this recent news on the BBC, too: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6949349.stm
I found another article
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=anLKIkG7Z85w&refer=asia
saying that the charter is passing 60-40. What do you think of the charter?
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