TIL a new trend has emerged in Bangkok where young Thai men are identifying as “Mexican gangsters” and sporting the clothes, tattoos, and hairstyles of the eses that inspire them

The older I get, the less receptive I am to these types. Don't get me wrong - I used to be that kid. I'm a 35 year old white male and sport a Wu-Tang emblem tattoo on my back. I also didn't go around trying to act like a badass when I was that age. "Speak softly and carry a big stick" - it's my credo.

This past weekend, I was out and ran into a lady I know. She was out with her daughter and her daughter's 23-25 year old wanna-be thug boyfriend. Little Thuglet was maybe 5'-6" and 125 lbs, had sleeve tattoos and an assortment of mismatched urban clothing. We live in a very upscale area and this kid was no doubt raised in this upbringing. Brand new BMW with a surfboard hanging out the trunk - identity confusion I guess...

Anyway, the lady I know introduces me to her (ridiculously hot) daughter and then her daughter's thug princess boyfriend. He starts talking, sounding like Riff Raff having a seizure and when the girlfriend interjected, he goes "shut the fuck up bitch!" and pushes her. The girlfriend's mother tells him to calm down and he pushes her and continues on with his story. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight with this lady's soon-to-be son in law, but I couldn't just stand by. I told him I thought it was best if he left, so he starts his attitude with me. I'm 35 now, but I'm also 6'-2", 200 lbs and work out continuously. I also was raised in a pretty shitty area and have been in more fights than I can remember. As soon as I tell him to back off, he starts flashing gang signs, talking about "disrespect" and how he "owns our town". As calmly as I could, I told him if he didn't get out of my face, he "would wind up in the hospital". His friends that were with him got it and pulled him away, while the mother and her daughter come up and apologize for his behavior and explain that he's always been like that and "he doesn't mean it - it's just who he is"...

They left, I kept my head and am conflicted - I'm proud of myself in the fact I've grown up, but disappointed I didn't curb stomp that little shit.

I get it - there are definitely bad asses walking amongst us - kids younger than me that would beat my ass. But the 18-23 crowd that downloaded some Weezy tracks and got a tattoo and now think they're a badass because they're tougher than anyone else in their gated neighborhood and their parents are afraid of them... Please - people like that need to be dropped off in a real ghetto and see how long they survive. And these Thaixicans are borderline on that level. Drop them off in Mexico, make them watch a beheading and someone dissolved in acid over a $20 drug deal gone bad, and then see if these are people they still look up to...

/r/todayilearned Thread Parent Link - bangkok.coconuts.co