mancub

"Now, please count our certificates from the scheme as equivalent to land title deeds so that we can get loans to cover our daily expenses and invest in farming materials for the next crop season."

I would think twice about investing in something that no one wants...

You think nobody wants rice?

Well, Vietnamese rice is certainly in demand . Thai rice, at the price that Thai farmers have become accustomed /led to expect, not so much eh ?

Maybe this time there was, ironically, actually some damage done to the jetski .Operator wouldn't try to scam his own kind, especially if they were, (reportedly),drunk .

I hope one day Facebook will allow users to post nude pics. Can't wait to see those selfies.

That would be Arsebook then .

"Buff " is the one my wife gave me . She loves me really !

Don't look for Thai nationals starting threads similar to those you mentioned......more likely to be trolling , often by a so-called apologist . The intention being to encourage some "Thai bashing " which can then be highlighted.

Don't look for infiltration...look for posters who constanly re-invent themselves .

Like all things, it's all depends on whether said with or without intent to offend , and the correct interpretation of such .

One poster objects to the word septic ( Cockney rhyming slang - septic tank = Yank ).

Well, rhyming slang is light-hearted and not intentionally offensive. However, not being aware of this ,it would naturally cause offence to be taken.

If I came from the USA , I would rather be addressed as a "septic" ,by someone with a grin on their face , than as an " American " by someone with a sneer on their face.

The word itself is not offensive, the tone can be .

Hearing small children call out "falang" after you is certainly more endearing than hearing it from the motorcycle boys !

Immigration offices the world over have it nailed ...we should all just be called " alien " .

So I take it that it is motivation rather than a specific word that causes offense? Septic Tank is OK because of the Australian sense of humor. Correct?

Remember the idea here is to explain what I said rather than launch an attack against me or America.

You have just illustrated my point perfectly . Remember it is all in the interpretation , If, your sensibilities are so easily hurt that you believe I am about to invade America , then you should easily comprehend why some folk believe that the word "farang" can be used in a disdainful manner.

Further explanation for you, as requested;Cockney -originating from London ,England, not Wollongong NSW .

Actually the baht currently shows a depreciation of 0.14% v USD ...

Like all things, it's all depends on whether said with or without intent to offend , and the correct interpretation of such .

One poster objects to the word septic ( Cockney rhyming slang - septic tank = Yank ).

Well, rhyming slang is light-hearted and not intentionally offensive. However, not being aware of this ,it would naturally cause offence to be taken.

If I came from the USA , I would rather be addressed as a "septic" ,by someone with a grin on their face , than as an " American " by someone with a sneer on their face.

The word itself is not offensive, the tone can be .

Hearing small children call out "falang" after you is certainly more endearing than hearing it from the motorcycle boys !

Immigration offices the world over have it nailed ...we should all just be called " alien " .

Here in Pattaya the Tourist Police (Thai) wanted to charge a friend of mine 2,500 baht for taking a complaint and making a report. Don't know if this is general behaviour or an exception

4000 bt in Krabi ,when a neighbour had his bike stolen. Landlady made some enquiries ,found the 18yr old local thief , who claimed he had sold the bike on for 10,000 . His family wanted nothing to do with it as he was considered an adult. Police not interested in tracing the bike,as there was nothing in it for them .

Nett result ...neighbour loses bike,thief gets a talking to and crime prevails.

It's when "mai pen rai" translates as "shit happens".

The median household income in CM is probably less than 25K, so I see no reason to berate farang, who are living alone for 20K. I've met some very nice uni students on the yellow taxis, bright, beautiful, and upwardly mobile....to refer to them as "poor people" means you should look in the mirror. Driving is a liability, expensive, and it's a pain in the arse to park. Drinking and driving not very smart, either. I've been doing about 50/50 time between CNX and the US for years. When I am in the States, what I miss are great cheap thai places and street food; not expensive imitation western food. The girls I miss are the ones, who like me for being a nice farang; not for being an ATM. If I really wanted to drop a bundle to get respect; I would just go to Las Vegas....just not into the fakeyness.

I'm coming in a few weeks to CM. I will buy a condo for cash (probably a cheap one), have an annuity that gives me health cover, and will live off a 100 usd per week. I really don't plan on losing much sleep about finances.

No "fakeyness" in Vegas then..! .Only Fear, Loathing and .....err.......Respect !

I don't want to try to list what's better about my country because it's everything. Even the weather where I live is better with clean air but without the suffocating heat and humidity. We have very mild winters and summers. I can trust the food I eat and the water I drink and even most other drivers.

The only thing that's better for me in Thailand is the availability of younger, pretty girls. That's it.

I think it is important to state that Thailand is a very safe place to walk about in if you are sober and mind your own business, unlike in the UK. Yes, I also mean Pattaya and Bangkok. I am never out in the early hours of the morning though.

Unlike the UK ??? Such a dangerous place to be walking around sober and especially if minding one's own business . Might get assaulted by a Lollipop lady ...........

Ok , giving you the benefit that you are genuine and not, as I'm tempted to think, a creation of the TV Apologetic Society ........here are 3 things that I believe are different :

The soap operas are much worse ...

Treatment of animals is much worse .

Bar opening times are much better .

Sadly, my age has overtaken my IQ ....which explains why I've posted this.

Thainess = Consideration

..But not normally applicable to politicians, road users or anyone who possesses a loud stereo system. !

Think there should be a deportation order for all foreigners that get up on stage ..at least in the go-go bars .

The Thainess that TAT heralds is that of the long lost ideal of a friendly ,smiling ,carefree nation.

Rapid development ,greed ,and the head-long rush for all things materialistic have undermined the "old values" .

Thainess nowadays ,to those who see through the veneer of the "land of smiles" and witness the endemic corruption often means quite the opposite.

Sorry to be that guy, and not casting aspersions on your language ability, but the space comes after the comma not before.

Consider myself suitably humbled ......but I won't lose any sleep over it !

The Thainess that TAT heralds is that of the long lost ideal of a friendly ,smiling ,carefree nation.

Rapid development ,greed ,and the head-long rush for all things materialistic have undermined the "old values" .

Thainess nowadays ,to those who see through the veneer of the "land of smiles" and witness the endemic corruption often means quite the opposite.

Why go to a consulate at all now...if you have to attend in person , only for them to forward the application to London ?.

Now it seems you can apply ( only by post ) to London directly .

Am I missing something here ?

Any bend on any Thai road ,anywhere,anytime of day and you're guaranteed to meet vehicles negotiating it on the wrong side . Seems to be embedded in the unofficial highway code. It's part of the risk taking ,reckless driving mentality . It won't change and accidents are seen as an acceptable by-product ...until it affects personally.

TAT encouraging tourists to come see and take pictures of the carnival atmosphere surrounding these peaceful protests ....and the government issuing deportation orders for foreigners involving themselves in them .

Be careful where you point that Pentax , Igor .

I live here yet I understand that I am only a guest and ,as such, have very little in the way of rights .....

My opinions, being a Farang , are valueless and any political issues in this country are not my business ......So what I find particularly galling in all this ,is that these dim -witted protesters are carrying placards written in English !

Respect my vote ???

...and whom are you addressing anyway ??? ...and why ???

Stupid thing to do..attacking an ATM, BUT why are these guys always hunt as pack? A bunch of cowards..that's what they are..

Because they know that a one on one fight with a bigger and heavier farang is a lost fight. This pack behaviour has deeper roots though. It also has to do with the fear of acting alone. Thai's don't like to do things alone, especially whipping someones ass. What if the farang beats the hell out of the one or two guys. Big loss of face. At least when there are 7 of them, they can be quite sure that they wont lose face. Unless the guy is a navy seal

Really? I've seen some 10 year-old boys training on muay thai at my gym who could likely whoop da ass of 90% of the farangs in Pattaya. So not fighting one on one isn't related to fear on their part but group solidarity. It's like this in most if Asia... You have a dispute or fight with someone you have it with their whole family/group/clan/school etc. Why fight alone when you can bring all your family and friends as backup? Makes sense to me.

Thankfully this logic doesn't extend to the current political struggles. Also, from a personal viewpoint, I'd take my chances with a 10 yr old muay thai kid over 7 grown men ,armed with steel bars, anytime.

At least the kid would have some degree of morality instilled in him from his mentors !

People react differently when they find their masculinity challenged by such deception. Some can laugh it off ,others can't.

Remember the Japanese tourist who fell on his sword because of the "shame" , and recently the Thai guy who gave a "ladyboy" a lift on his motorbike , but stopped and killed him/her ,because him/her touched "inappropriately " whilst riding !

Could just be that she didn't ever want to go to England as much as you wanted it for her. Perhaps she happily went along with the notion because she didn't want to offend or rock your boat ,but when the crunch came ,she opted out and chose not to deal with any confrontation .