British Chavs V Thai Dek Waens (เด็กแว้น)
The British gang culture is dominated by Chavs terrorising people, especially the older and weaker ones, and this trend is well set to continue for many years to come despite the UK government’s desperate attempt to get ‘tough on crime’.
Every country has its own gang culture problem and Thailand is no exception. Here, we don’t have that many Chavs roaming the streets of towns and cities but mind you we’ve got the nasty equivalent in the ‘dek waen’ (เด็กแว้น) 
Dek waens are quite a social phenomenon here in Thailand, particularly Bangkok and as a result their established presence should not be ignored. These young lads tune their motorbike engines up to make them as deafening as possible before racing up and down streets at night while everyone tries to go to bed. 
Linguistically speaking, the term ‘dek waen’ is derived from the loud sound of a modified motorbike engine revving ‘waen waen waen!’ And of course ‘dek’ means a kid. Their girlfriends - typically sat behind - also enjoy a somewhat unique nickname. They’re called ‘dek skoi’ (เด็กสก๊อย) and are often seen wearing very short cut-off jeans. 
While Chavs are normally associated with binge-drinking and knife crime, dek waens often make tabloid headlines for gang-banging young girls, most of whom understandably turn out to be their dek skoi counterparts. So obviously these two species, while distinct in their own right, are a complete waste of space by any society’s standards, and it’s not really easy to judge who’s the lesser of two evils either.
Have you come across any dek waen in Thailand? Are you intimidated by their presence and how do you suggest dealing with them?
Loading ...
July 24th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
“it’s not really easy to judge who’s the lesser of two evils either.”
Are you serious? Gang rapping vs drugs/binge drinking?
Hmmm
July 24th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Sorry mate, i thought you had written rapping instead of “gang-banging”
July 24th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
both sets kill themselves off with equal regularity
July 24th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
haha some interesting thoughts from an ex-chav and ex-goth
Cheers!