Thomas_Merton

Off topic, I know, but good to see you back, TM.

Thanks Sadman - see you in Bedlam soon.

Kontinuing zis proses yer after yer, ve vud eventuli hav a reli sensibl vriten styl. After tventi yers zer vud be n mor trubls, difikultis and evrivun vud find it ezi to understand ech ozer. Zen ze drems of ze Guvenment vud finali hav kum tru.’

The Norwegians actually did this with their language.

Any Dane or Swede (who understands Norwegian) will tell you how funny it looks.

Rumour has it the reason Norwegian sounds as though it is sung, is because those Vikings are so happy they no longer make spelling mistakes.

Thomas Mertonism: Are you insinuating that I am tolerating such diabolical insolence from a little piece of animosity such as you? If so, I presume that your presumptions are precisely incorrect and that your diabolical system is insufficient to comprehend my meaning. If it weren't for the discomfiture of removing my velvet glove from my lily-white hand, I'd slap you across the face with this five-pound note. Come, Fido! - sort of shit.

One of our more illustrious members has the following sig:

Taoism: shit happens

Buddhism: if shit happens, it isn't really shit

Islam: if shit happens, it is the will of Allah

Catholicism: if shit happens, you deserve it

Judaism: why does this shit always happen to us?

Atheism: I don't believe this shit

I have found a few additions:

Communism: If shit happens to me, it happens to you too.

Libertarianism: If shit happens, blame the government.

Zen: What is the sound of shit happening?

Rastafarianism: Let's smoke this shit.

Are there any more?

Here's one of my own:

Thaivisaism: George never shits. Thread deleted.

Anti-terrorist experts from the Department of Defence sub-office at the American Embassy in Bangkok are conducting the training.

I think if any of you are around, you better check out these so-called Americans.

This story sounds like a bit of "commercial" propaganda.

To my knowledge the Thai Military and the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) have had at least 20 years of co-operative reciprocal training.

Why suddenly switch to the second best?

I am bringing the 7 year old boy (and the rest of the family) to Pattaya/Jomtien in August.

Been there many times myself, but always viewed the place from an adult perspective.

What's happening, apart from sea and sand, that might interest a 7 year old?

Is there a guide to the new forum software?

If not, could one be made and pinned in this forum?

I think there appears to be many small nuances of which members could be made aware, thus increasing our enjoyment of Thaivisa.

I think you'll find a thread on this subject in the Support Forum TM.

A feature of the newly upgraded board software if I remember correctly.

Did a search in that forum - and found the posting!

It is just like school.

I think Thomas meant TV as in ThaiVisa.

No problem with liability TM... please read the disclaimers in the Forum Rules.

Welcome back BTW.

I meant exactly as I had written: Thaivisa Thailand Expat Forum.

Thanks, Jai Dee - it's good to be back.

If everyone is happy with the legal aspects, then OK, bur personally I think we do ourselves a disservice publishing unsubstantiated allegations of this nature, where the alleged perpetrator can so easily be identified as well as his business

As someone else remarked, how do we know this is not just an OP from a rival competitor?

Is this an award system?

An appreciation system?

A number of times read system?

Or a just a plain boredom system?

Please illuminate.

I think this thread should be closed immediately.

Any thread that publicises an alleged offence of this character without any form of reference - neither a police report nor a newspaper reference - makes TF liable for substantial libel claims.

EDIT// Just to qualify: the fact the OP names that there is a police raport, is not sufficient proof of truth.

Since my return to the UK - not from holiday, but from over 30 years as an ex-pat - I am amazed at the use of this ancient piece hieroglyphics my fellow countrymen call a "cheque".

What's wrong with a Visa card and on-line banking?

You can travel the world with your bit of plastic, getting money from any ATM, in the currency of that land; visit an Internet cafe, drink a cup of coffee and control your bank account.

All you need is money in the bank.

...and don't we all?

When I asked people to compare Costa Rica to Thailand for retirement, lots of people mentioned that there is less crime in Thailand. On the other hand I see lots of reports of crime when reading online Pataya City News at http://pattayacitynews.net/index.html, and the Lonely Planet Travel Forum at http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/categories.cfm?catid=51

So what is the story? Is crime much of a problem or not? What does the new arrival need to know to avoid being a crime victim?

It's a fact of life:

Men bite dogs whenever journalists walk the streets (or fall out of the bars).

To the point: unfortunately, if you are comparing Costa Rica with Thailand, then, IMHO, Thailand is not for you.

Learn Spanish.

I have got to admit, I cannot understand Thaivisa’s fascination with this man.

Is it because there are members who get a thrill out of being scared?

Or are there others, just a little more honest, who think, there but for the grace of God go I?

Who cares what happens to him, or any other proven sicky?

The best punishment for someone like GG, is just to forget him.

<snip>Do you agree?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No;

Please tell us where you are before being critical of others.

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Ok, Mr. Mattnich, you are a moderator on Thaivisa Forum – a position of some authority and even more power.

You have made several serious allegations towards me in for the last 3 hours or so.

Two of them you made in a closed forum. I challenged you to prove them. You have not been able.

Now I challenge you in open forum to prove where in this thread I have been "critical of others".

Then the "others" perhaps can judge whether you ought to reconsider your position as a moderator.

Ex-Pat is simply an abreviation of 'Ex Patriot'.

Was I wrong?

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Scampy you are bloody useless. That's your second mistake this year.

18/11/2005

Rugby fans across the country are waking up to the best possible news this morning.

New Zealand has defied the pundits by winning the right to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

     

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I foresee a mass exodus of Kiwis from LOS.

Lucky bastards.

Perhaps we are close to a definition.

The rich or pensioners are the closest to immigrant status in that it is highly likely they will stay until their dying day (or until they prefer doctors who speak their own language).

The rest are ex-pats because regardless of length of stay or intentions, they almost inevitably will be forced to return "home" at sometime.

Do you agree?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rather than "What makes an ex-pat an ex-pat" why not ask the much more relevant question: "What makes a troll a troll?"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

...or even, "What makes a mod a cantankerous old SOB after midnight?"

But then we know the answer to that one, don't we?

In my opnion Sir is correct, but when does one become an immigrant?

Since I am working here without being sent by a home country employer I consider myself an immigrant (tecnically that is)

because I have no intention to return to my country of origin and I 'moved' from there to here....that imo makes me an immigrant and not en expat

guys who are doing the visa un every time do not have a permanent residency in any country and are surely not expatriates or immigrants..

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....In either case resident/citizen – I think the separation between ex-pat and immigrant lies in the intent to remain for the long term. If at some point during your stay (or even at from the very beginning) you intent to stay the majority of your time until the end of your days.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So in other words the expat does NOT intend to stay the majority of time until the end of his days, while the immigrant does?

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IMHO - Yes.

An immigrant intends to take up permanent residence, while an ex-pat does not.

I am sure that some people that start off as ex-pats become and immigrants without really consciously making the decision.

When I first moved over-seas it was to be for three years. I have now lived in Asia for six years, but I do plan to return to the US – just not sure when. Most likely some time in the next three/four years as I have a young daughter and would prefer to send her to school in the US.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Perhaps we are close to a definition.

The rich or pensioners are the closest to immigrant status in that it is highly likely they will stay until their dying day (or until they prefer doctors who speak their own language).

The rest are ex-pats because regardless of length of stay or intentions, they almost inevitably will be forced to return "home" at sometime.

Do you agree?

Should we classify our Ex-Pats? e.g.

Class A

Made a fortune abroad now living a life of luxury in Thailand

Class B

American tax-dodgers

Class C

Those living on a pension in Thailand.

Class D

Those stationed in LOS by their companies.

Class E

Those working and married in LOS

Class F

Married but scraping around to make ends meet

Class G

Not married, just working

Class H

Living in LOS on savings – taking a year break.

Class I

Extended tourists

Class J

Tourists

Class H

Wannabees

For me, I suppose it was the point when I knew I would move out of the UK and wouldn't go back. 

Not specifically an expat to Thailand but of course an expatriate from the UK.

I follow the dictionary defination of  "To remove (oneself) from residence in one's native land."

So that makes me a UK expat in Thailand right?  Not an expatriate of Thailand.  In which case I expect none of us are actually Thailand expats.

Good topic TM, didn't know you posted topics outside bedlam.

Lot of guys I bet think they are expats because they spend 6 months of the year here but I dont go with that definition at all.  Bloody wannabees.

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Not wishing to enquire into you finances, but any stay financed from without Thailand, must have a limitation - unless, of course, one is very rich (or a pensionist).

Surely to have moved to Thailand and out of the UK, not intending to move back, demands some form of income earning activity in Thailand?

The BBC World Service is recognised around the world for its impartiality and unbiased reporting

What a load of crap! It's impossible to put together a newscast without relecting the biases of those putting it together. A station funded by the government is going to take the side of government solutions to every societal problem...and that's exactly what the BBC (in Britain) and NPR (in the States) do.

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This rubbish cannot go without comment.

Anyone who has any knowledge of the structure of the BBC and its Charter knows, this comment is totally without foundation.

Had FreedomDude availed himself of either the BBC or the commercial Sky news in for the last two years he would have been aware of the serious allegations of bias and untruth against the government by the BBC, the subsequent public enquiry and the consequent resignations of senior BBC personnel.

On the subject of the thread:

It would appear that the service that is to be discontinued is the Thai-language service.

The English Language World Service will continue as always.

So the losers are the Thai people who have only Thai, and therefore, not the readers of this forum.

Have you ever considered what makes you an Ex-Pat?

I've never had any trouble calling myself an Ex-Pat, but then I lived out of my country for over 30 years; married a native; speak the lingo; my kids were borne abroad; they went to school in our new land; my son was even called up to do his national service but declined choosing a UK passport (as was his right); my daughter chose the opposite ; I worked and paid taxes in my new land; but I retained my passport considering myself - despite the above - still English and therefore an Ex-Pat.

But what is the definition with respect to Thailand? What makes you identify yourself as an Ex-Pat on Thaivisa Thailand Ex-Pat forum?

What is it that distinguishes you from a tourist on an extended holiday or a backpacker taking a year out?

It must be more than the type of luggage you use.

What makes an Ex-Pat an Ex-Pat?

Isn't it all a bit academic now.

With a cheap mp3 player you can be bloody well right even in the quietest moments?

Thomas, try disabling adblock for a bit and see if the functions come back. I had some buttons and emoticons disappear and it turned out to be the adblock ruleset. Once you do that repost with the results and we'll go from there.

cv

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Removed adblock now let's see:

Firefox is, without doubt the best browser.

Thanks alot cdnvic - you have solved the problem.

//Edit: I have also noticed that the full use of the back arrow has returned - more than compensating for the loss of adblock (which had limited use anyway). Thanks again to the Maple Leaf.