foxboy

Seems like a reasonable question to ask from the OP

Shame it took 21 responses before someone gave a sensible answer!

I hope I never need to turn to this forum for genuine help or advice

Happiness comes from happy people

If you are boring, you will always be bored

Very sad, RIP and condolences to his family.

I stayed there last time I went down to Pattaya and the height of the balcony made me feel nervous sober and I'm only 5'9.

My thoughts exactly.

I used to be told all these apocryphal stories about the Thai mafia, motorcycle taxi drivers, Thai girls' boyfriends/husbands/family, etc throwing people off balconies, which is clearly just absolute BS!

It is simply a case of low balconies (designed for Thai size people), often combined with excessive amounts of drink (and for some possibly drugs) and a desire to lean out to look around.

Add to this the stats from suicide victims (many alcoholics and failed relationship candidates in town) and it is small wonder these events are all too common.

Poor chap was too young to go out like this. R.I.P.

there is nothing wrong with trying to make yourself understood by the listener

if this means reverting to baby-speak/tinglish/pidgin English then so be it if it helps

my friend talks 'regular' English (elaborate code) to Thais and is often misunderstood

I jump in and switch the phrasing around (restricted code) and they get it straight away

if they speak like that, then clearly they will understand you better if you also speak like that.

(even if you sound like a tit to other farangs!)

Indian smuggler paid for by a Nigerian. It is driving me crazy on my visas here, what category do the Nigerians fall in? Please clean them all out.

Not all Nigerians are criminals you know.

To use the phrase "Clear them all out" at best represents an unfortunate state of thinking.

And that is a charitable, benefit of doubt, assessment of the phrase.

Most of the ones in Thailand are

Evidence please and not sensationalist press reports.

I'm not taking sides here, but the Nigerians are definitely 'over represented' in Thai jails.

One out of every five Nigerians living in Thailand is serving a jail term for drug related offences

That is quite shocking isn't it

http://www.punchng.com/news/20-of-nigerians-in-thailand-in-jail/

I didn't know that there were so many hung-up, farang, prudes here in Thailand. I had a farang roll up on a bicycle and 'order' me to put my shirt on a few months back during the cold season when I was catching some sun and warmth by the moat. I told him to mind his own business (my exact wording was a little different than that). Ya'll should find some real social issues to get your panties in a bunch about. Collectively, you have way too much idle time on your hands to get bent out of shape over such a non-issue. Not against the law? Then keep it to yourself and go away!!!

How many TV member do we have channeling Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby) anyway.

the number of 'hung-up farangs' you refer to is a good indicator that many people find it socially unacceptable. The percentage amongst Thai people will be even greater.

But hey, it isn't illegal right, so it must be ok?

You just do what you want pal, don't worry about offending people

Ok you carry on doing it if you think it's acceptable. In fact, I think you and khh should get together and walk down the promenade with your shirts off. Sounds like you'd make a lovely couple

Derp. Now you are really speaking nonsense. No, I don't do the shirtless thing, especially not in Thailand. That doesn't mean that it is unacceptable all around the world, as you are implying.

Off now....enjoy spewing your gar-bage.

I apologise for my facetiousness Dao16. I assumed you was championing an International right to walk around with no shirt on. Clearly it is acceptable to do so in many developing countries, but most definitely not in Thailand. If you, as you have stated, have the decency to respect that cultural norm then you are a decent person in my book.

It's ok to walk around the streets bare chested in Europe, really??? Maybe in your mind

Sounds like you need to get out more. Lots of places in the Americas, from North to South, plenty of places in Europe, Africa. Asians tend to like to cover up men's chests. They have a thing about it. Sorry. Not going to list countries for you. Do some travelling or google it.

My first line was a question not a statement.

So answer the question... where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

You know that Europe is not a country, right? I said "plenty of places in Europe." Doesn't necessarily mean the country you are from where people get their panties in a wad when someone goes shirtless. Again....take a look around the world. It can be an interesting place, especially for those of us who don't spend all of our time concerned with other men's torsos.

Ok you carry on doing it if you think it's acceptable. In fact, I think you and khh should get together and walk down the promenade with your shirts off. Sounds like you'd make a lovely couple

where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

if you are going to visit Thailand at least have the decency to respect their culture

it is most certainly culturally UNACCEPTABLE to walk around here with no shirt on

incidentally, I only disrobe on the beach, I am 46 wear factor 30 sun cream, and have just been diagnosed with skin cancer!

THINK ABOUT IT

in the whole world? seriously?

first of all in any country that's less inhibited about the male body (and/or the female body...)

and in western countries even cold ones in the summer, of course you might find bylaws saying shirts required in this or that place but outdoors if people are uninhibited and feel hot, they take their shirts off. why not?

urban thailand is similar to developed countries in many ways and it's going to keep changing. the overall worldwide trend is towards less inhibition about the human body (and sexuality, which is what covering the body is mostly about when it's not about protecting the body from the elements). you can fight modernization -- which in this case is actually a return to tradition -- and you can try to deny human biology but it's a losing battle...

of course if male toplessness really bothers you that much you can always move to a country where it's illegal

My first line was a question not a statement.

So answer the question... where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

Sounds like you need to get out more. Lots of places in the Americas, from North to South, plenty of places in Europe, Africa. Asians tend to like to cover up men's chests. They have a thing about it. Sorry. Not going to list countries for you. Do some travelling or google it.

It's ok to walk around the streets bare chested in Europe, really??? Maybe in your mind

where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

if you are going to visit Thailand at least have the decency to respect their culture

it is most certainly culturally UNACCEPTABLE to walk around here with no shirt on

incidentally, I only disrobe on the beach, I am 46 wear factor 30 sun cream, and have just been diagnosed with skin cancer!

THINK ABOUT IT

in the whole world? seriously?

first of all in any country that's less inhibited about the male body (and/or the female body...)

and in western countries even cold ones in the summer, of course you might find bylaws saying shirts required in this or that place but outdoors if people are uninhibited and feel hot, they take their shirts off. why not?

urban thailand is similar to developed countries in many ways and it's going to keep changing. the overall worldwide trend is towards less inhibition about the human body (and sexuality, which is what covering the body is mostly about when it's not about protecting the body from the elements). you can fight modernization -- which in this case is actually a return to tradition -- and you can try to deny human biology but it's a losing battle...

of course if male toplessness really bothers you that much you can always move to a country where it's illegal

My first line was a question not a statement.

So answer the question... where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

where in the world is it acceptable to walk around with no shirt on? (other than on a beach)

if you are going to visit Thailand at least have the decency to respect their culture

it is most certainly culturally UNACCEPTABLE to walk around here with no shirt on

incidentally, I only disrobe on the beach, I am 46 wear factor 30 sun cream, and have just been diagnosed with skin cancer!

THINK ABOUT IT

To the O.P.

I had to fast-forward to the end of this thread. 4 pages in and I'd only seen about half a dozen 'educated' responses!

Too many bitter, twisted, ego-driven, know-it-alls on this site I'm afraid. Hopefully, I will offer some 'good' advice.

Do not be put off by this girl. Take her out, pay for everything, have fun, treat it like a Western relationship.. but with the knowledge that these girls are a lot less well off than us. You will work out if she has a 'game plan' - as most people on this site would suggest!

OR she could simply be a shrewd young lady, wanting to date a Western man, but accepting money if it is offered. Would you have more respect for her if she told your friend to keep his money and offered to <deleted> him for free? I wouldn't. If you want a more realistic test to see if she is indeed just looking for 'customers' on the site.... set up a profile with an old fat man and ask the same question, but with an offer of 1500 baht for short time. I'm 99% certain you won't even get a reply. But why shouldn't she accept your friend's offer if she thought he looked cute, and chances are she would have f**ked him for free if it came down to it?

Everyone has their own level of 'acceptability' in Thailand, and it should NOT be the same as it would be in your own country, because you are NOT in your own country. These girls are essentially poor, but they have a very precious gift from God between their legs. Why shouldn't they explore the value of that asset, and use it to make life easier for themselves.

Some men will happily marry girls they met working in bars, some will only date girls like the one you described, and some will only be happy with girls who are lily white. It is essentially down to you and your level of acceptibility. I have toyed with the idea of all three, and have decided that the best one for me is the one in the middle

Good luck my friend. Enjoy yourself and forget what the nay-sayers tell you. Chances are they've been getting wrong for years anyway!

The same thing happened to me in Pattaya, I followed a Thai on a bike turning left.. the cop tried to stop him but the Thai seeing me behind him sped off and the cop gripped me instead.

Had to go to the police station. He wanted to keep the bike as security but I couldn't be arsed walking. So I talked him into accepting my phone as security on the understanding that he doesn't ring his girlfriend!! He laughed and agreed.

500 baht fine, a laugh and a joke with the policeman, a lesson learned for me (to actually read the signs) and no harm done.

I see many Thais getting fined at police check points, and the fine represents a much bigger percentage of their disposable income.

If you break the law and get fined.. suck it up buttercup!

I stopped worrying about things that might or might not kill me a long time ago, god life would be so boring if we listened to all the don't eat this, don't do that brigade, get on with your lives, eat and drink what you like within reason, we are all going to meet the big boss in the sky sooner or later!

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Correct.

A good pal of mine is a surgeon (major organs) and drinks and smokes with the best of them.

When I asked him how he reconciled his actions with his knowledge of the potential damage he may be doing, he just laughed and said "we've all got to die of something"

How can it be anything but 'cultural differences' if they see it as acceptable and we don't?

It's not acceptable here. What do you think would happen if either of us went wandering around, calling random strangers fat? We'd probably end up with a broken nose within a few hours.

you really don't get it do you?

let's just agree to disagree

I think we, in our Western world of political correctness, have become over sensitised to perceived 'insults' when they are often in fact merely ingenuous observations from people who don't see it as derogatory to state the obvious.

No. I hate when Westerners just shrug their shoulders at this stuff, and pass it off as cultural differences. No, it's just bloody rude.

I bet if I started wandering around the streets, telling random people they're fat, they'd be quite insulted, and rightfully so. Nothing to do with culture. It's simply rude. I'm not fat myself, but I do have manners, and am not about to point out the fat guy in the pool.

How can it be anything but 'cultural differences' if they see it as acceptable and we don't?

I'm pretty sure you will inadvertently insult Thais from time to time and they will shrug it off because you obviously don't know better.... so why can't you?

Imagine how full the equivalent Thai forum would be if they had to detail all the insults and rude behaviour from visiting farangs

My feelings can't be hurt by people I don't respect.

I think we, in our Western world of political correctness, have become over sensitised to perceived 'insults' when they are often in fact merely ingenuous observations from people who don't see it as derogatory to state the obvious.

Thais may say "ooh you fat more than before" or playfully call you "chang noi" (baby elephant) or even yell "hey, chocolate man" at Afro Caribbeans and not think for one moment this could be offensive.

Although I do really like Jingthing's attitude as a fail safe approach.. water of a duck's back if you are genuinely being insulted

anybody know any good apps for learning Thai

tons available, but what are the most useful ones out there?

I wonder if the victims of the thefts will have their money returned by the bank?

This would be the practise in England but I'm not sure how it works in Thailand... anybody know??

I'm amazed at just how often I see Thais throwing their waste into the gutter. The fact that it gets washed away into the drain must mean 'end of problem' to them

It always amazes me how tourists are so SURPRISED when they get fined for not wearing a helmet

"but I'm on holiday, surely I can do whatever I want?"

how much do you have to drink to drink yourself 'to death' like this?

is this a common occurrence..

who's going to catch him if he does a runner??

well none of us reading this are teenagers, so perhaps we should all breathe a collective sigh of relief