A Western tourist recently posted a video on social media, mocking a Thai taxi driver for eating rice from a plastic bag with a plastic spoon, saying it was 'like a dog.' The video sparked a huge outcry, with Thai netizens condemning the tourist en masse, and international users also speaking out against the tourist’s insulting and discriminatory behavior.
According to Thai media Thaiger, the male tourist shared the video on Facebook, showing a Thai taxi driver sitting on the trunk of his car eating a meal with a plastic spoon from a plastic bag. The car was parked near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
As he filmed, the tourist spoke in Italian: 'Look at our taxi driver, he’s having lunch, he’s eating out of a plastic bag like a dog, just like a dog. I love dogs, but this kind of person is disgusting. Bobby, right?'—referring to his dog.
The driver didn’t seem to realize he was being mocked and focused on his meal.
The video quickly drew a wave of criticism; many commented that the tourist had insulted a local person who was simply eating during a short break. Others pointed out that eating from a plastic bag is quite common in Thailand and is simply part of local life, not a lack of manners.
One netizen commented that the man should respect the locals who warmly receive tourists. The man responded that no one welcomed or cared for him, insisting that as he was traveling at his own expense, he had the right to voice his opinion.
The man even posted the location of his hotel in Bangkok in the comments section, provoking netizens to confront him face-to-face.