Unveiling Thai Public Sentiment towards Transgressive Monks: Facebook Critical Discourse Analysis
Keywords:
LGBTQ Facebook influencers, Attitudes, Thai monks, Discourse analysisAbstract
This study examines Thai public perceptions of Praiwan Wannabutra (commonly known as “Parry”), a former monk who publicly exposed cases of misconduct within the Thai monastic community. Employing a critical discourse analysis approach, the research analyzed 2,428 comments posted over one year on Wannabutra’s Facebook fan page. The findings yielded 12 themes, organized into
three overarching categories: positive, neutral, and negative. The positive category reflected expressions of admiration and support for Wannabutra. The neutral category included comments that avoided direct judgment but engaged in discussion and exchange of religious knowledge. The negative category comprised criticisms directed primarily at monks accused of misconduct and the legal professionals defending them. Overall, the study highlights increasing public awareness of Buddhist principles and underscores the role of social media as a space for discourse on monastic accountability. It further reveals a growing willingness among Thai social
media users to engage openly with issues of ethical violations in the Buddhist monastic sphere.
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