How should one respond to aggressive behavior during a local water festival?

Question

During a local water festival, I was walking down a street in regular work attire while on a phone call, clearly not participating in the festivities. A tourist with his family repeatedly sprayed water at my chest and face from close range, despite my polite request to stop due to concerns about damaging my phone. The individual responded aggressively, making inappropriate comparisons to holiday celebrations in other countries and telling me to leave the area. While I understand that incidental contact with water is expected during such events, this felt deliberately confrontational. How would you recommend handling such a situation while maintaining safety and composure?

nelly · Answer

songkran is the big one but this could be any of them, and honestly the move is just to not be on the street in work clothes during it. if ur in that situation the crowd is the real problem, not the one guy. i'd duck into a 7-eleven or a shop with a door and wait it out, staff there deal with this every year. arguing back in english just escalates it, they're usually drunk and looking for a reaction

sabinefuetterer · Answer

tbh the phone is what made it worse. once he saw you cared about it he had a target. best move is pocket it, say nothing, keep walking and dont make eye contact. the guys who do this feed off a reaction so a flat face and moving on kills it faster than any argument

amalieritter · Answer

Honestly the work clothes are the signal that gets you targeted. Locals read that as "this person isn't playing" and most will leave you alone, but some tourists especially the ones who've had a few, take it as a challenge to drag you in. If you're stuck on Silom or Khao San in that situation, don't stand your ground arguing, just keep moving toward the nearest BTS entrance or mall, they're dry zones and security won't let anyone spray inside. The guy comparing it to other countries' holidays is a lost cause, no point engaging, he's already decided you're the problem. Next time just plan around it, either take the day off or accept you're getting wet.

Neu aus Bangkok