spectrumisgreen

24 minutes ago, rosst said:

I worked in China for some time and I came across the " Little Emporer a few times, it needs to be seen to be believed, caused in part by rearing by grandparents. 

Yeah, not been left long myself and seen plenty!.. something in the 'air' there, definately!!

7 hours ago, happyas said:

The kid needs urgent mental heath support and treatment for hidden mental issues.

Er, what was 'hidden' about it, exactly? Pretty sure jumping into oncoming traffic, especially over a big mac, is as UN-hidden as mental issues come!!! (What E-Numbers they been putting in their burgers, lately, anyway?)

Very sad. Love the Star Trek movies.. clearly an incredibly talented and committed young actor, but much much more than that, a young, charismatic life tragically lost to his family and friends. Sincere condolensces.

So many single Thai mothers let these old reptilian westerners into their homes to be 'stepdad' to their young daughters, just on the promise of financial support. They should all be screened and checked, I'm pretty sure that this would be the normal procedure in the west.

So, a guy marrying a women with kids would be screened in the west, yeah? (Implying, as per the norm on here, that this would unlikely happen 'back home'.. well, you're 'pretty sure' they would be, anyway). BS. Simple as.

Police now being gunned down on Phuket.

Pretty much sums up "law and order" on the island.

I went to Phuket once back in 2010, stayed there for 4 days and vowed never to go back. A list of reasons not to as long as my arm

Please reread the list on your arm and show it to all your friends....twice so they don't come here. We are happy without you....maybe go to Pattaya or Chiang Mai so you can stand in line at immigration at 3am for a 90 day report. Cheers!

Was that actually a 'Phuket's better than Chiang Mai (and Pattaya!)' ner-ni-ner retort? Mm.. kay. not that its either my original post, particular concern, nor that I think some folks can't be happier in Phuket. You clearly are. But, well.. couldn't help but trip over this little posted 'hissy' and think.. 1) Chiang Mai and Pattaya just aren't the same sort of places. Each to their own, though I'm in the CM fraternity. 2) 3am for a 90 day report? 3am? Sounds like someone's been feeding you BS. Just a bit funny how some love to eat it just so that they can pass it on.

The graphic photo should never have been published.

It's disrespectful to the victim and to his family.

I really miss common sense, empathy, and professionalism.

And when did you last bump into them Unlikely Lads, in this messed up WORLD?

It appears that the Police intends to oppose bail for the Teacher, fearing that he would interfere with evidence or threaten witnesses who might be students or minors.

- Now of course, if we were dealing with a rich Thai suspect, this would *never* be a fear/concern for the Authorities

So.. whatever.. they can't 'do right' for 'doing wrong' then? So good to see the 'Aaah, but..' mob in!! Top lads, ghouls sitting roadside waiting on the next 'crash' to pass anti-Thai judgement on.

Police said that Theeraphat had no issues with any other students in the area and think it was a case of mistaken identity

So, it would have been perfectly acceptable to shoot the right boy in the head then?

"So, it would have been perfectly acceptable to shoot the right boy in the head then?"

Why would you suggest that? The police certainly didn't suggest it.

Yeah, but this IS the land of Non-Smiling, in fact eternally grumpy farangs, who always know better than the Thai police or any other Thai, and even what they're thinking and intend to do next, right??? All a bit tiringly reminsiscent of, say, endless Grouches a'la Sesame Street, upping sticks to basically go call all their NEW neighbours 'muppets' (whilst usually also inferring - or just outright whining! - how 'normal' it all was, is, back home!!!) Just a thought.

And this actually needed a 'famous' Thai lawyer to tell us the info on FaceBook, this site, or anyone, anywhere, else???

Well, thanks for that. Weird, me thinking that any one of us could just have looked up this bit of 'public' information, googled it, even.

Well, that's how you get to be famous nowadays, I guess.. by others deeming you so!

And all about an old man and a young girl getting married in Thailand. Who'd a thought that could happen? Must be news!!

Somebody needs to be locked up for this and THAT key thrown away, nothing less!!!

Neverthelss, see on here the 'High Horse Brigade' are using this simply as another reason to soap-box sanctimoniously against 'Thai Society'!!! RIP the girls, can't be said enough.. thoughts go out to those lost and their loved ones, so terribly sad is such an event.. but, please you self-righteous nobodies stop acting like such terrible things don't ever happen in our own countries!!! (Oh, yeah.. and go 'back home' if its so eternally spotless!!!)

I think I need the whole story. Why he was pissed off with this other guy. Why he felt violence was the only way to resolve it. He was 60, the retirement age for Thai academics. Did he have debts he needed to pay, why all this fuss over one lost job.

Pretty sure that shooting everyone, anyone, wasn't ANY answer, at all, and never could have been!! However you (or HE) look at it, pulling and firing a gun pretty well assures ALL problems and issues hitherto causing the guy to be so 'pissed off' would thereafter REMAIN UN-resolved!!!

Well, I would boycott this university. I would never let my kids study at such a place with hot tempered immature university professors. Imagine if innocent students were unwillingly involved into that farce..........

What are you waffling about? Anyway, glad to see how sure you are that 'boycotting' THIS particular Uni is the answer to, er.. what exactly???

'Should.. should not.. need to.. must...'.. ???.. No sh*. You'd think it had been a fistfight between kids in the playground!!!.. 'Thanks for the telling off, Sir.. won't do it again!!'

just another 'thai drama' so divorced are they from the real world

Yeah, lets all have ourselves another good and righteous smirk!! Cos crap like this doesn't happen in the 'REAL WORLD', yeah? You know, that 'REAL WORLD' of televised slow-pursuits of celebrities wanted for murder, court-cases put out for the whole sick world to get off on, and universities where students wander in and shoot all their class-mates cos they're a bit p*-ed off about something or other. And.. and.. and... That 'REAL WORLD', right?

Have to say the 'Military District Commander' looks interested!.. ''So what time's gin kaow, again?"

Do people really do this sort of thing? Yes, they do! Very distressing!

The father was sleeping out the back and didn't hear anything of this horrific incident? If it is correct that the rapist knew the layout of the house it seems likely he knew both mother and father. He would wait until the parents left the house but if he saw only the mother leave he would know the father was still in there. Strange to me.

Please, nobody say this evil man will get a slap on the wrist; he surely will be properly punished.

Some very 'sick' people, everywhere!! Not that they could ever have envisaged someting so terrible as this happening, but still, neither mother or father really looking out for their daughter as they should, just assuming she'd be okay in the house despite dad sleeping out back, mum out, and the front door unlocked. Hardly vigilant is it, even in respect of possible burglary?

This apart, why do so many posters on here seem to assume Thais always get a 'slap on the wrist' for such things?.. for most anything, really?.. seems to be a posters catch-all phrase for any crime a Thai gets arrested for.. 'will get a slap on the wrist'.. the prisons are FULL of scumbags!!.. and the same people who who seem so sure to claim NO Thais get to see the inside of one, are usually the same people who bleat how bad it is for an 'innocent' foreigner to get locked up here, alongside all these 'scumbags'.. doesn't figure really, does it?

Off topic I know but a bit of a bug-bear, anyway.. Anyway, RIP to the poor girl, condolences to her family.

I do find it almost interesting that in this case the term murder was used, whereas some gobbledygook term was used for killing of handicapped man in Bangkok. Foreigner killing foreigner, sure, murder. Thai on Thai.....?

If I remember correctly, the term "beaten to death" was used and something about knives was included. It seems that much more graphic and descriptive gobbledygook is usually used -- just the way it's done here, I guess. Perhaps the term "murder" came form the Kuwaiti Embassy, where staff would likely have more advanced English language ability or take a more subtle approach.

Either way, clearly once again words, whatever, used as another excuse by the now incumbent and seemingly immovable 'Humbug Parade' to spin negatively on Thailand!.. (For Humbug Parade, read: Expats or long-term 'visitors' who despise the country of Thailand and all it's people so much they choose to stay and will NEVER leave!!.. only BLEAT and BLEAT and BLEAT herein!!!).. Not there aren't plenty of the things wrong (with this whole godforsaken world if we're honest!!) but is there ANYTHING some people hear about or do in this country WITHOUT findong something, ANYTHING, to bleat anti-Thai about it??? Come here for a new life and then constantly moan about it. Mmm.. nope. Don't get it.

I'm actually not there now as I have to work elsewhere (in Asia) for the time being to get the money together and come back and live in Thailand once more.. and I do MISS it, my life there, despite my own sometime issues.. My 'fellow foreigners'.. mostly NOT.

unprovoked?

they started it by pushing the thai guy and then she punches him in the face.

ThaiVisa has terrible journalistic standards. Did you even watch the video before writing the article?

HEART OF GOLD

Your most likely an apologist.

What would you think if this was YOUR FAMILY!!! Protecting ones loved ones is a natural instinct fo us Westerners but you probably have Thainess disease syndrome.

I don't apologise for being a Ferang its my birthright . I'm so proud to be westerner and stay as one backing up all my kind all over the world not taking on another culture just because I lived there - that's insane. You are what you are - so to speak.

Get a life mate !!!

Totally get your argument against the previous post but how is it Thainess, somehow, NOT to protect loved ones, as you seem to suggest? Isn't the whole gist of ALL these sort of stories when they gang up together that they go OTT in their 'backing up' (or protecting) of each other, NOT that they DON'T look after each other, especially against outsiders???

NO-ONE does ANYTHING BECAUSE they were drunk!!.. they do it, did it, because they're total ****s (imagine what you will!).. being drunk just gives such no-marks an exuse to let loose their darker sides without having to consider such 'spoilers' as accountability and NOT being a total ****!!! (I'm sorry, I wuz drunk'.. what kids say after throwing up on their mates parents sofa during their first cider-in-a-plastic-cup swilling party innit???!!!)...

thailand is finnished..i dont care what the brain dead rose tint wearers say, this shows a huge problem with THAIS and their society ...land of smiles anyone dont you just love the gentle orange robe wearing culture

The monastic culture that you try to blame has nothing to do with road racing gangs.

He is not saying that, or blaming the "monastic culture". The point he is making is that Thailand claims to be the Land Of Smiles and likes to present itself as a peaceful, Buddhist culture. However, in the last 3 or 4 years at least the behaviour seems to be contradicting this claim.

So many reports of violence, murder, corruption, scams etc, etc that you could easily be forgiven for thinking the country is going down the toilet.

This poor guy was set upon by a gang who obviously have little regard for the law, other people and the Police, and it is not a small gang..

RIP this poor fellow, so young and what a terrible way to go

terryp: 'Thailand is finished' and those who disagree are 'brain dead rose tint wearers' yeah? But, still you stay. Mmm, pretty hypocrital then, I'd reckon. All sad, tragic stuff which could have been prevented for sure, lots of problems to address as always, but ANYONE on here who presumes to talk like any of our own countries are less pretentious about just how 'peaceful' they are, are just, well.. 'rose tint wearers'.. selectively.. so, like it or lump it.. shut up, put up or sod off, basically.. you DO have the choice. And 'brain dead'? Learn to spell before you start throwing things like that around. Sad indeed, though.

If the police had been proactive in stopping these racers this boy might still be alive. You can't stop racers sitting in the police box.

Too right. They knew it was happening and have said so, no excuses!! 'We couldn't be bothered or were too cowardly to prevent such a crime. Any crime, in fact'. Explain that one to bereaved parents.

I have a special gift for this prick if he ever crossed my path.

You mean the guy who got rid of the mongrel that bit his 7 year old son, and was probably likely to bite other kids- if it hadn't already?

As a response to that the dog was now leashed.. and muzzled and the kid his treatment was paid for and they were going to search for a new home. This was just revenge nothing more after the situation was resolved.

How many times had they "resolved" the situation in the past? What's the average life expectancy of a muzzle before the owners decide it's not worth the trouble (or that the heat is off)? A new home where it's an unknown and will be unmuzzled and free to bite more kids? What's the likelihood that there will even be a new home for a viscous dog, or was the "new home" story only an afterthought only after the guy rid the neighborhood of a problem dog?

Sadly, Thailand doesn't have a legal and humane system in place to take care of problem pooches. I'm a dog lover. I have 3. They sleep in my bed. But a dog that attacks children needs to go away. In the absence of a humane and legal alternative, the guy did his neighbors a favor.

Cos this guy was just being a 'good citizen', right? Funny how he wasn't stirred to do the deed at the time of the 'attack' on his lad, as I know I would have been!! Thought he'd see what he could get out of it first, yeah? Then, what the hell, I might as well stab the mutt violently to death!!! Yeah,doing 'the neighbours a favour' alright!! ps: I'd suggest you learn to spell ('viscous' is a whole different word to the 'nasty dog' one I'm sure you were looking for!).. oh, yeah, and you should probably stop sleeping with dogs, and, especially (at least), stop telling people about it!...

Will there be another committee meeting convened to go over the points mentioned again and cover anything not covered in the first meeting? Thailand seems to be over serviced with meetings and under serviced with action on the ground!

Maybe you're right about the meetings.. but then again, just perhaps, you're forgetting about the meeting(s) to discuss what meetings there should be and when they will take place...

It is safest to have an onward flight booked, otherwise the airline may not allow you to check in. Thai immigration does not actually check. If you look affluent, and speak to the supervisor, the airline will usually allow you to check in if you sign a form indemnifying them against any financial cost they could incur if you are refused entry into Thailand. I have quite frequently traveled to Thailand without a visa, and never been refused boarding, but airlines are becoming more strict. If you are of a nervous disposition, have either a visa or an onward flight reservation.

On my return to Thailand, from the UK (Manchester) this year, just after Christmas, the young woman on the check-in desk suddenly announced I wouldn't be allowed to board the (KLM) flight and so obviously wasn't allowed to check-in, as I had no flight booked OUT of Thailand, and was flying in intending on getting just the standard 30-day visa-exempt stamp. Even though I pointed out that I hadn't arranged a 'proper' Thai visa simply because I would actually be flying out of Thailand again two weeks later to start work in China (and had the China Z visa, from London, in place to show for it!), still I was told I would have to book a ticket and return to check-in again.

I am not usually of anxious disposition, far from it, but pretty flustered at 4am(!!), and not having ever encountered such a scenario previously on my many flights to Thailand, since first coming in 2007, I struggled somewhat to 'calmly' argue my point, before being sent to the KLM Customer Service Desk, where I again began to embark on lengthy discussion/ debate (I wasn't embarking on anything else, it seemed!!.. sorry.) as previous. What I had to accept, however, was that airline policy for certain countries, including Thailand, and something which is determined according to KLM's decreed understanding of actual Immigration policy of the respective country/ ies (they've got a hefty manual for it!!) meant technically I really should not be allowed to fly into Thailand WITHOUT a valid onward or return ticket showing I will be leaving again before the expiration of the permitted 'stay' period, in my case 30 days.

Having looked through my passport and accepting my (now calm as possible, just tired!) reasoning that I'd simply never had a problem before entering Thailand, and regularly flew [back] in, albeit usually with a long-stay visa, tourist or otherwise, MINUS said evidence of future departure, the Customer Service Manager lady decided that I could, after all, be allowed to check-in and so, later, (thankfully) board!! (Phew!!). I was however, still stirred enough to dwell more than I'd wish on what may happen at the Thai end, in Bangkok, if these rules were truly being enforced, and so found a ticket online whilst in Departure (to China, my intended future work destination), the details of which I saved to my phone.. just in case. I couldn't actually even book the ticket, for some online technical reason, but I hoped the details of the flight would suffice if needed. At Bangkok, the tough-looking lady on the desk end of my Immigration queue, simply looked slightly quizically through my 'busy' passport and then actually seemed pretty happy, when I told her 'No.. no visa this time', to just do me the 'honour' of quickly stamping the 30 days therein, just as always I'd always intended/ hoped/ prayed!!..

Sorry to seem so long-winded, but these events did happen, and did catch me totally unawares, and my full realisation, including on a sleepless and very long flight into Thailand, was that I really could have been flatly turned away at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, without any recourse or right of reply. Not a pleasant thought, especially as I was very much looking forward to a brief, relaxing, return to Thailand, before work commitments would take me elsewhere for some time. (.. and yes, I'm posting this from China!)

These are great comments, thanks a lot.

I was considering doing a CELTA course so if anyone wants to solicit me for a program then please send me a message. I realize I could learn a lot from it but I'm an excellent teacher by now so it would merely be an expensive formality.

I'm more focused on my businesses at the moment so is anyone able to get away with teaching hourly or doing private classes? Are the schools just as zealous for certs with part-timers/hourly?

Seems to me the Thai governement/ Ministry of Education, are getting stricter on foreign teacher requirements to do the job, part or full-time, online, private or whatever.. whilst putting less and less effort and resources (money!!) into their children's education. Hence, it's never a good idea to try to 'work under the radar' and 'get away with it', so to speak, whilst staying in Thailand. Getting caught may well mean getting deported and not being allowed back!... worse if they really want to throw the book at you!! I personally haven't done the CELTA yet, as I've never needed it for any position I've gone for (I have full 120 hour TESOL [TEFL/TESL] cert, which means it wasn't done online and also has teaching practice hours built in, a pre-requisite many places, but even that hasn't always been necessary previously in Thailand.. they always just wanted to see something with the word 'Degree' on it!) but those educators whom I know have completed the CELTA course all say how much they learned from it. Meaning, it wouldn't be the expensive formality you may think, as it is:

1) What is required by genuine 'international' (and so better paying!) schools and centres, whichever country, and 2) It WILL improve your teaching skills however good you already believe yourself to be.

Again, it obviously follows that if you prove yourself to a new company, you get kept on beyond the contract remit, you can get promotions, pay-rises etc.

Note, I wouldn't go for a Thai public school post unless you just want to keep yourself 'busy', 'keep ticking over' as it were, as the pay remains very low, conditions aren't always the best (including often being offered just 11 months, not 12 months, contracts, meaning you're off in April when the Thai teachers are, but WON'T get paid for it!!), and this 'interim' government is also actually looking to phase-out many foreign English teachers, instead 'training up' their own to do the job better. This intent on the government's part, actually amounts to an unrealstic scenario but clearly doesn't bode well for either their own childrens' English language learning, or for foreign teachers in Thailand, and might just explain why I'm actually sending this post from China, where I've just started my new teaching job!!! (Also, nice one.. not.. the British Council, for accepting the govt dosh to do this English training for Thais, and so help put a lot of my old colleagues jobs even further at risk!!!).

Anyway, good luck, and I genuinely hope you find what you are looking for (in your business or your teaching!)...