I think there is a huge difference here on this post. I believe most expats come here well aware of the culture and we do respect it and its people - if nothing else because we all come from countries where we accept and respect people that are different from us (I am not being blind about racist people but most people are not racists) anyway, what I think locals mistake by disrespect is that fact that expats/westerns usually dont agree with some of the culture aspects and local people are not used to criticism or questioning about anything in their lives.

Thats what they mistake by disrespect.