Common mistake made by expats, visitors etc. is that they function/act the same way when in a foriegn country as they would in the western world.
It is a different reality there. They didn't have the Knights of the Round Table, they have a different set of rules. If you told them that a sucker punch is poor form, they would look at you like you are from Mars. And you are. After the altercation, the loud, foreign guy is out cold and the Thais are finishing their beer. The way they do some things is wrong in our eyes but it doesn't mean we are right.
-In Japan it is polite and encouraged to slurp your noodles. Here it it rude. Their way is more fun.
-In Japan it is polite to suck your snot in and rude to blow your nose. The idea of blowing snot out of your nose repulses them.
-In China students cheat all the time. If you talk to them or their parents, they won't understand why it is a bad thing. The objective is to get the best mark possible. Cheating on an exam is not amoral to them. They have a point.
-In Thailand it is very rude to raise your voice and make a scene. That's why it is the LOS.
-In Thailand, if you cause trouble, you will get a gang of guys to beat you up. It is accepted. Why would you do it any other way? Why would one guy risk getting beaten up? Practically speaking, we are the stupid ones. I'm not talking about hoodlums here btw.
- In Japan they have tremendous structure to their honorific interaction. Bowing at different levels, use of san, use of thank you (which we have all but lost here - it pisses me off when you hold a door for someone and they walk through without saying a word. Common courtesy is not as common as it once was..... rant rant rant.)
We do use Sir, Maam a bit here but it is going by the wayside.
If your opinon is that they are rude, cowards etc. then you are doing exactly what we are accused of. Operating on the assumption that our way is the correct way and anything else is wrong. Well, sorry to say, that puts us in the category of a true ignoramus. When in Rome means.... understand the culture you are a guest of and act appropriately.